Therapists in Oakland, CA

I aim to create a space where you feel recognized, understood, and safe enough to explore whatever pain or experience you need help with. My style is warm, collaborative, and compassionate. I use an individualized approach and tailor my interventions to your unique and specific needs. I combine down to earth, practical support with a depth-oriented approach focused on symptom relief and shifting long-standing patterns that have gotten in the way. I also focus on creating a strong therapeutic relationship in which each person I work with feels cared for and understood.

I know asking for help can be scary. It can make you feel ashamed, weak, or not good enough. Therapy can definitely be scary. But it can also be a beautiful, awe-inspiring, magical, and wondrous journey! I know how to take you on a journey within yourself, even to dark places, in a way that feels safe and healing.

My commitment as a psychotherapist, social worker, and social justice advocate is to explore the depths of transgenerational trauma and peel off the layers of oppression and cultural conditioning so that we can relate to our true self. My experience is working with Black, Indegenious, People of Color (BIPOC), Veterans, immigrant and refugees from Iraq and Syria, foster youth, and LGBTQIA struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, stress, and relational issues. I am committed to treating trauma and am certified in Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

I am a clinical psychologist specializing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for mood and anxiety disorders. I treat adults with depression, anxiety (panic, worry, phobias), social anxiety, ADHD, insomnia, and life stress. In addition to my practice at the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy, I am an Assistant Clinical Professor at UC Berkeley. I believe in a collaborative approach that emphasizes symptom relief, skill building and self-exploration.

My therapeutic approach centers on creating more opportunities for space and reflection. This is an active and transformative process where we learn how to interrupt old patterns of reacting and create room for intentionality in our responses. Many of us operate within the conditions of our early relationships and form ways of relating that we are longing to transmute. I support you as you learn to get to the root of the response, understand it, and to develop tools of self-healing so that you can one day see the well-worn reaction waiting for you, and choose something different.

Learn how to feel more connected to yourself, others and the world around you. Therapy provides all the elements of intimacy: honest communication, vulnerability and trust. Good therapy is challenging yet warm, providing both structure and empathy for your unique experience. We are a collective of therapists with a wide range of specialties. Our intake professionals will help connect you with the right therapist for your needs. We make appointments easy, offering evenings and weekends and flexibility for creative professionals who can't make the same time each week.

I believe that mental health is an important part of overall good health. Often we feel too busy and rushed to pay attention to taking care of ourselves, including paying attention to our mental and emotional needs. I am a clinical psychologist with 20+ years of professional experience working with individuals, couples and groups. I enjoy working with people to explore healthier ways to address issues and problems in their lives. I've found that therapy is most effective when there is a safe environment and a strong working relationship between myself and my clients.

I share parts of my life and experiences, when appropriate, in order to help my clients feel more understood, less alone, and to help them move forward in our work together. I am very open about the fact that I've been in therapy on and off for most of my adult life in order to normalize the struggle of the human condition. Most of the tools, resources, and interventions I use with my clients, I have used in my personal life. This way I can personally vouch for their function and effectiveness.

The essence of effective psychotherapy is found in the therapist's understanding, empathy and caring for you. Trust in our relationship develops from that foundation. My primary commitment to you is to help you grow in self-awareness and self-empowerment, and to help you take the necessary actions that will actualize your growth and development in the world. If you struggle with feelings of fear, shame, helplessness, worthlessness and anger; traumatic emotional, physical and sexual experience; challenges in relationship; dysfunctional behaviors; unfulfilled aspirations; questions about your life's meaning; and physical illness and aging, I can help you.

Some of us experience extremely challenging, even terrible things in life, or we are not able to get over the pain or losses we have experienced in the past. I have studied and trained in the treatment of traumatic disturbances for over a decade and am passionate about helping people resolve symptoms that include: reliving or avoiding memories, negative moods and thoughts, and sometimes "dissociation" (feeling detached from oneself and others). I offer an effective psychotherapy method known as EMDR for addressing such symptoms, along with a compassionate, culturally sensitive approach to issues.

Psychotherapy is a powerful tool for healing. Through a trusting therapeutic relationship, it is possible to improve connections with others, build deeper awareness of feelings and experiences, and find relief from old patterns that no longer serve you. I believe that each client’s strengths provide the foundation for our collaborative work in therapy. Building on your strengths and resiliencies, we can begin to shift places in your life where you feel stuck, and to cultivate hope. It is an honor for me to witness your process and to join you in your journey toward healing.

I strongly believe that all of us are capable of connecting to an experience of profound well being, whatever the circumstances of our lives may be. My goal in therapy is to help you access that state within yourself. I aim to help you recognize and accept the many layers of your experience and to support you in acting skillfully and authentically in the world. My first priority is to create an atmosphere of safety and trust so that you are able to freely explore your challenges, concerns and desires. After we understand your difficulties, we can collaborate to create the desired change and growth.

Right now, you are doing something very courageous! You are taking the first step toward a more meaningful and rich life. You might sense that your thoughts and feelings are holding you back from truly living your life. You might have had traumatic life experience(s) that shaped your life in a way that is unfulfilling and terrifying. You might feel plagued by depression and/or anxiety, feel uncomfortable in your own skin or as if you are not performing to your best abilities. I want to commend you for taking this step and I would feel honored to be on this journey with you, helping you live a more satisfying, engaged and full life.

Navigating life's challenges is never easy, but reaching out for help is a brave first step to living a more genuine and fulfilling life. I have expertise in working with individuals struggling with childhood trauma and trauma-related symptoms such as grief, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and relational conflict. I believe every client is unique and deserves to be listened to and understood in an empathetic way. I am passionate about creating a safe, kind, collaborative and judgment-free space where clients can attain new insights, experience new feelings, and find a renewed sense of physical and mental well-being.

I work with couples, groups, and individuals that feel ready to examine their inner world and outer relationships, perhaps feeling stuck in low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, or confusion. Clients who wish to explore issues around stress, overwhelm, relationships, identity, sexuality, spirituality, psychedelics, or trauma often resonate with my style of psychotherapy. I offer couples and individuals a warm environment that is supportive, collaborative, and direct. Building a relationship that has a safe space for tough and untouchable topics is essential to my work.

Life isn't always easy. Whether you're dealing with an existing challenge, a current stressful situation, or you're turning a page to start a new chapter of your life, I believe we all can benefit from someone helping us to manage these changes and transitions. My therapeutic goal is to help you better manage your life's challenges and to provide you with tools and strategies to achieve your personal goals.

I provide therapy to individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, or simply going through a difficult time in their life. Maybe it's related to your work or relationships; sometimes, it can just be plain hard to work through it on your own. And that's where I come in. Therapy with me means taking the time to get to know you and help you find solutions or new ways to manage whatever it is you're going through so you can start feeling better. Some of the type of clients that I enjoy working with are young adults, recent graduates, those trying to start a family or new parents.