Psychoanalytic Therapists in El Cerrito, CA
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist supporting children, adolescents, and adults in school based, adult, and crisis settings across the Bay Area. I specialize in anxiety, depression, and trauma, using a trauma informed approach that integrates CBT, mindfulness, and other evidence based practices. I offer a warm, collaborative space tailored to your needs, helping you build tools to navigate life’s challenges. Please use my personal Headway link to learn more, book a session, and review rates and insurance.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist supporting children, adolescents, and adults in school based, adult, and crisis settings across the Bay Area. I specialize in anxiety, depression, and trauma, using a trauma informed approach that integrates CBT, mindfulness, and other evidence based practices. I offer a warm, collaborative space tailored to your needs, helping you build tools to navigate life’s challenges. Please use my personal Headway link to learn more, book a session, and review rates and insurance.
It's hard to go it alone with painful feelings of confusion, guilt, sadness, anxiety, despair. Therapy helps to unravel internal knots related to relationship conflict, work dissatisfaction, and just getting through the day. These issues may be connected to a history of family dysfunction, divorce, addiction, mental illness, abuse, unresolved conflict or estrangement from loved ones. I can help with that.
It's hard to go it alone with painful feelings of confusion, guilt, sadness, anxiety, despair. Therapy helps to unravel internal knots related to relationship conflict, work dissatisfaction, and just getting through the day. These issues may be connected to a history of family dysfunction, divorce, addiction, mental illness, abuse, unresolved conflict or estrangement from loved ones. I can help with that.
An academic in the fields of literature and gender studies with three years of psychoanalytic training, I do depth work with a wide array of people from a feminist, sex-positive perspective.
You may be an artist. You may be an academic. You may be an activist. I have been all three of these, and I speak their languages: of creativity, intellectual enlivenment, and social justice. And right now, in this time of upheaval and unrest, you may be hurting--feeling lost, adrift, burned out, under- or over-stimulated, or simply sad. I am here to connect with you. To listen compassionately. To make space for you to better hear yourself, and to encourage linkages, mentalizations, and trauma metabolizations that will allow you to better listen to the rhythms of your body and use your own mind. I offer you my mind in this pursuit.
An academic in the fields of literature and gender studies with three years of psychoanalytic training, I do depth work with a wide array of people from a feminist, sex-positive perspective.
You may be an artist. You may be an academic. You may be an activist. I have been all three of these, and I speak their languages: of creativity, intellectual enlivenment, and social justice. And right now, in this time of upheaval and unrest, you may be hurting--feeling lost, adrift, burned out, under- or over-stimulated, or simply sad. I am here to connect with you. To listen compassionately. To make space for you to better hear yourself, and to encourage linkages, mentalizations, and trauma metabolizations that will allow you to better listen to the rhythms of your body and use your own mind. I offer you my mind in this pursuit.
My work is rooted in psychoanalytic thinking and often feels like a "mommy-and-me" space meeting Jungian depth work.
Many of the clients I work with are navigating the emotional changes that can come with pregnancy, postpartum, or early parenthood. They may feel overwhelmed, anxious, or not quite like themselves. Some are struggling with the transition to becoming a parent, changes in their identity or relationships, or the pressure to feel happy during a time that can actually feel very complicated. Often, they are simply looking for a space where they can be honest about what they’re experiencing and feel understood.
My work is rooted in psychoanalytic thinking and often feels like a "mommy-and-me" space meeting Jungian depth work.
Many of the clients I work with are navigating the emotional changes that can come with pregnancy, postpartum, or early parenthood. They may feel overwhelmed, anxious, or not quite like themselves. Some are struggling with the transition to becoming a parent, changes in their identity or relationships, or the pressure to feel happy during a time that can actually feel very complicated. Often, they are simply looking for a space where they can be honest about what they’re experiencing and feel understood.
Life can be challenging when we can't break the cycle of anxiety, self-criticism, worry, sadness or frustration, or when we simply feel an intolerable sense of overwhelm. And when we can't figure out how to move forward, working with a therapist is a great choice. With an attentive therapist you will likely feel less alone, and problems that used to feel insurmountable may begin to feel much more manageable. You might be surprised that when you and your therapist examine difficulties from new angles, you will grow and change in ways you never expected.
Life can be challenging when we can't break the cycle of anxiety, self-criticism, worry, sadness or frustration, or when we simply feel an intolerable sense of overwhelm. And when we can't figure out how to move forward, working with a therapist is a great choice. With an attentive therapist you will likely feel less alone, and problems that used to feel insurmountable may begin to feel much more manageable. You might be surprised that when you and your therapist examine difficulties from new angles, you will grow and change in ways you never expected.
Using a depth-psychodynamic approach, I work primarily with individuals who seek a deeper understanding of their inner and outer worlds, and I am particularly fond of working with those in/around their Saturn Return—the quarterlifers (early 20s to mid 30s). Sessions may consist of: exploring your childhood patterns, relationships and attachment styles; analyzing dreams; inner child and shadow work; strengthening trust in your inner knowing; coaching around manifesting your life goals; somatic and mindfulness exercises; and compassionate confrontation around where you are stuck in your growth or blocking the progress of your healing.
Using a depth-psychodynamic approach, I work primarily with individuals who seek a deeper understanding of their inner and outer worlds, and I am particularly fond of working with those in/around their Saturn Return—the quarterlifers (early 20s to mid 30s). Sessions may consist of: exploring your childhood patterns, relationships and attachment styles; analyzing dreams; inner child and shadow work; strengthening trust in your inner knowing; coaching around manifesting your life goals; somatic and mindfulness exercises; and compassionate confrontation around where you are stuck in your growth or blocking the progress of your healing.
When we're feeling deeply lonely or overwhelmed by intense emotions, reaching out to others can feel like the last thing we're capable of. And yet, these are often the very moments when finding someone safe to talk to — without fear of judgment or rejection — matters most. I work with individuals around attachment and relationship concerns, trauma, anxiety, depression, and the complexities of gender, aging, race, class, and sexuality. If an area of your life feels distressing or in transition, let’s explore it together. I welcome individuals seeking relief from shame or difficult change.
When we're feeling deeply lonely or overwhelmed by intense emotions, reaching out to others can feel like the last thing we're capable of. And yet, these are often the very moments when finding someone safe to talk to — without fear of judgment or rejection — matters most. I work with individuals around attachment and relationship concerns, trauma, anxiety, depression, and the complexities of gender, aging, race, class, and sexuality. If an area of your life feels distressing or in transition, let’s explore it together. I welcome individuals seeking relief from shame or difficult change.
Hello, my name is Miriela Cooper and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Camarillo, California, and working statewide via Telehealth. I have worked with children, adolescents, and families dealing. I also work with adults and young adults as well as couples dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, and crisis support as well as grief and loss.
Hello, my name is Miriela Cooper and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Camarillo, California, and working statewide via Telehealth. I have worked with children, adolescents, and families dealing. I also work with adults and young adults as well as couples dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, and crisis support as well as grief and loss.
Feeling stuck in an unfulfilling job or relationship, or unsure how to move forward? Life's pace and complexity can leave anyone feeling unmoored, especially when you start to see how the ways you relate to yourself and others might be getting in the way of the deeper connections you want. I bring extensive clinical training, lived experience, and ongoing personal therapy to my work, allowing me to navigate uncertainty alongside you with both skill and humanity. My approach is highly individualized, drawing on your strengths and the most effective methods for your unique challenges, while offering a steady, attuned presence.
Feeling stuck in an unfulfilling job or relationship, or unsure how to move forward? Life's pace and complexity can leave anyone feeling unmoored, especially when you start to see how the ways you relate to yourself and others might be getting in the way of the deeper connections you want. I bring extensive clinical training, lived experience, and ongoing personal therapy to my work, allowing me to navigate uncertainty alongside you with both skill and humanity. My approach is highly individualized, drawing on your strengths and the most effective methods for your unique challenges, while offering a steady, attuned presence.
Healing is not a solo journey—it’s rooted in connection, culture, and courage. I honor the strength it takes to seek support, and I welcome you into a space where your story matters. As a bilingual, trauma-informed therapist and clinical leader, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating life transitions, anxiety, depression, and the impact of trauma. My approach is collaborative and client-centered, shaped by your lived experience, cultural identity, and personal goals.
Healing is not a solo journey—it’s rooted in connection, culture, and courage. I honor the strength it takes to seek support, and I welcome you into a space where your story matters. As a bilingual, trauma-informed therapist and clinical leader, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating life transitions, anxiety, depression, and the impact of trauma. My approach is collaborative and client-centered, shaped by your lived experience, cultural identity, and personal goals.
We all strive to be our best yet mental health issues can take a toll. I have many years experience providing an intuitive and safe therapeutic environment. Most importantly will be our ability to create a trusting relationship so we can fully understand together what is currently troubling you. Ultimately our goal will be for you to gain both insight and skills to alleviate your distress, whether you are struggling with anxiety, PTSD, depression and/or relationship difficulties, so that you may be able to live a more genuine and meaningful life.
We all strive to be our best yet mental health issues can take a toll. I have many years experience providing an intuitive and safe therapeutic environment. Most importantly will be our ability to create a trusting relationship so we can fully understand together what is currently troubling you. Ultimately our goal will be for you to gain both insight and skills to alleviate your distress, whether you are struggling with anxiety, PTSD, depression and/or relationship difficulties, so that you may be able to live a more genuine and meaningful life.
Anxiety and depression often signal that something important is going on . . . just beneath the surface. Making sense of this pain, how it's guided you in the past, and its current role in perceiving the world, your place in it, and how to get what you truly desire is at the core of our work. Meeting weekly, or more frequently, therapy provides an environment to help reflect, understand, and grow. My experience and interest encompasses formal diagnoses (abuse history, serious mental illnesses, and trauma) or that less defined, more pervasive sense that something is just a little off.
Anxiety and depression often signal that something important is going on . . . just beneath the surface. Making sense of this pain, how it's guided you in the past, and its current role in perceiving the world, your place in it, and how to get what you truly desire is at the core of our work. Meeting weekly, or more frequently, therapy provides an environment to help reflect, understand, and grow. My experience and interest encompasses formal diagnoses (abuse history, serious mental illnesses, and trauma) or that less defined, more pervasive sense that something is just a little off.
My work is integrative, blending depth psychology with studies in attachment, neuroscience, and relational and developmental psychology. I am influenced by analytic traditions which contain a focus on trauma, and studies in contemporary neuroscience, which show how our brains process our affective (emotional) experience, particularly in the context of relationship.
In addition to discussing your current and historical life experiences in our sessions, we may incorporate your dreams and listening to the language of your body.
My work is integrative, blending depth psychology with studies in attachment, neuroscience, and relational and developmental psychology. I am influenced by analytic traditions which contain a focus on trauma, and studies in contemporary neuroscience, which show how our brains process our affective (emotional) experience, particularly in the context of relationship.
In addition to discussing your current and historical life experiences in our sessions, we may incorporate your dreams and listening to the language of your body.
I am direct, genuine and collaborative, and bring a natural curiosity and empathy to my work with clients. I use a relational depth-oriented therapeutic approach with a focus on present moment bodily and emotional experience to help my clients work through hard places, release emotional blocks and feel more creative and free in their lives.
I am direct, genuine and collaborative, and bring a natural curiosity and empathy to my work with clients. I use a relational depth-oriented therapeutic approach with a focus on present moment bodily and emotional experience to help my clients work through hard places, release emotional blocks and feel more creative and free in their lives.
Psychoanalytic work can be transformative.
I work online and am kink and LGBTQ friendly. I offer both psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapy, which means that I practice a unique form of listening that is attuned to all the dimensions of your speech. I’m especially interested in working with trauma in all its manifestations and specialize in understanding the myriad complexities trauma presents.
Psychoanalytic work can be transformative.
I work online and am kink and LGBTQ friendly. I offer both psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapy, which means that I practice a unique form of listening that is attuned to all the dimensions of your speech. I’m especially interested in working with trauma in all its manifestations and specialize in understanding the myriad complexities trauma presents.
I have always found the more relational and emotionally based this work is then the more rewarding and successful it is for clients and myself. I work with a wide range of clients. Their basic desire is to connect with themselves and others. Of late, it seems, many of my clients are couples; men ; adolescents; and mid-life and elderly of both sexes. Each are addressing important problems and/or transitional stages of life. Our work can be fearful and/or fearless, exciting and/or slow and always the challenge of facing not-knowing, making choices and exploring ourselves.
I have always found the more relational and emotionally based this work is then the more rewarding and successful it is for clients and myself. I work with a wide range of clients. Their basic desire is to connect with themselves and others. Of late, it seems, many of my clients are couples; men ; adolescents; and mid-life and elderly of both sexes. Each are addressing important problems and/or transitional stages of life. Our work can be fearful and/or fearless, exciting and/or slow and always the challenge of facing not-knowing, making choices and exploring ourselves.
I specialize in psychoanalytic therapy, which means we go deep to the root of problems.
The world is much too painful, but you are not alone. Things become more bearable when we feel connected to ourselves, to others and to aliveness itself. In therapy, we find ways to live more meaningfully with problems that are intractable. This frees us up to act on our desire for the change that is possible.
In addition to individuals, I focus on couples, families and dyads of any kind. I want to help you bring more honesty and openness to the people in your life, inviting the same in return.
I specialize in psychoanalytic therapy, which means we go deep to the root of problems.
The world is much too painful, but you are not alone. Things become more bearable when we feel connected to ourselves, to others and to aliveness itself. In therapy, we find ways to live more meaningfully with problems that are intractable. This frees us up to act on our desire for the change that is possible.
In addition to individuals, I focus on couples, families and dyads of any kind. I want to help you bring more honesty and openness to the people in your life, inviting the same in return.
When we foster a space of compassion and curiosity we have more room to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, our boundaries and our desires. By creating this intentional space, we can increase opportunities for choice in our lives. Using a combination of relational, psychodynamic and mindfulness techniques I will help you to understand your own emotional landscape, so you can feel better equipped to manage stressful moments in life and have more capacity for joy and meaning. I specialize in working with the LGBTQI population and also with couples of all constellations.
When we foster a space of compassion and curiosity we have more room to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, our boundaries and our desires. By creating this intentional space, we can increase opportunities for choice in our lives. Using a combination of relational, psychodynamic and mindfulness techniques I will help you to understand your own emotional landscape, so you can feel better equipped to manage stressful moments in life and have more capacity for joy and meaning. I specialize in working with the LGBTQI population and also with couples of all constellations.
Initiating therapy can understandably feel overwhelming, that’s why I strive to provide a supportive, non-judgmental, and confidential space for clients to explore difficult parts of their lives. At some point many people find that their familiar patterns and habits of relating to others, coping with stress, and being in the world no longer serve them. Clients who see me often feel anxiety, distress in relationships, dissatisfaction at work or school, overwhelm with life transition, and have a wish for more connection and intimacy.
Initiating therapy can understandably feel overwhelming, that’s why I strive to provide a supportive, non-judgmental, and confidential space for clients to explore difficult parts of their lives. At some point many people find that their familiar patterns and habits of relating to others, coping with stress, and being in the world no longer serve them. Clients who see me often feel anxiety, distress in relationships, dissatisfaction at work or school, overwhelm with life transition, and have a wish for more connection and intimacy.
I am also a graduate of the Psychoanalytic Couples Psychotherapy Group and help many couples navigate difficult patches in their relationships.
I listen in the present with a trained ear for how the past, whether deeply traumatic, or more ordinary, has shaped your experiences, with an eye towards a more fulfilling future. I view psychotherapy as a special blend of art and science, and have background and experience in both.
I am also a graduate of the Psychoanalytic Couples Psychotherapy Group and help many couples navigate difficult patches in their relationships.
I listen in the present with a trained ear for how the past, whether deeply traumatic, or more ordinary, has shaped your experiences, with an eye towards a more fulfilling future. I view psychotherapy as a special blend of art and science, and have background and experience in both.
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Does psychoanalytic therapy work?
Psychoanalytic therapy derives from the work of Sigmund Freud. In this type of therapy, discovering buried thoughts and emotions from the unconscious will help a person work through their difficulties and negative behaviors. Research shows that psychoanalytic therapy can be highly effective, with patients reporting improvement in mood, quality of life, and overall well-being.
How long are people typically in psychoanalytic therapy?
Traditional psychoanalysis is in-depth and is conducted in five sessions every week. Today, modern psychoanalytic therapy is less intense and normally incorporates as few as one or two sessions a week. In some cases, positive change can occur quickly. However, if the condition, difficulty, or behavior is deep-seated, improvement may require many months or years of therapy.
Is psychoanalytic therapy suitable for young people?
Children and adolescents can benefit from this type of therapy. Many kids and teens are often unable to form and communicate their thoughts and emotions. Psychoanalytic therapy uses specific techniques such as dream analysis, symbolism, and free association or word association; all of which can be useful tools for less-communicative young people. Through this therapy, a patient will hopefully make connections between what they feel inside and how the world works outside.
Can psychoanalytic therapy be done online?
Modern-day psychoanalytic therapy is very different from traditional psychoanalysis. While an individual can sit face-to-face with the psychoanalyst for multiple sessions a week, they do not have to. Today, psychoanalytic therapy can be effectively conducted online or by phone. The key is that the individual confronts what is repressed and avoided, and this can be done whether in person or over online video.