Therapists in Oakland, CA

Life has its ups and downs and I will be there to listen, witness and support you as you move from surviving to thriving. When you feel stuck or overwhelmed, I can help you find new tools to increase your ability to cope. It can feel vulnerable to share your thoughts and concerns with a stranger. My job is to create a safe, non-judgmental space, for you to process where you've been and explore new ways of being. I work with individual adults, teens, and their parents to help create a more fulfilling life - which only you yourself can define.

Often when an individual or couple is seeking out a therapist they're in the midst of a significant transition or challenge that can feel overwhelming. Paradoxically, I believe this is often the time in which the greatest change is possible. By exploring issues through a multi-layered approach, we will identify the deeper truths and lessons these challenges are presenting. By lending tools and feedback, I assist my clients in having a different relationship with their challenges; thus moving away from constriction into conscious growth and empowerment.

We all deserve to feel safe and connected. Sometimes, overwhelming things happen that prevent us from feeling safe and settled in the world. In therapy, we support the strengths that have helped you survive and grow your capacity to move towards the life you long for. Whatever you are experiencing, be that anxiety, depression, or the pain of trauma or oppression, together we will collaborate to tend to what hurts and to nurture the vitality that exists inside you.

I strive to practice with a warm, down-to-earth approach grounded in research-backed interventions. I like to use examples from my own life to demonstrate the therapeutic skills I teach, and work to get to know my clients to tailor treatment to each person’s specific needs and therapy goals. I have two main promises to all clients: 1) I will always use empirically-validated interventions and 2) I will never ask you to do something that I would not do myself. My primary treatment modality is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) because it has a large body of research for a broad range of mental health conditions and stressors.

My experience includes 15 years of helping clients heal themselves and their relationships.The essence of my counseling approach is each person has access to health and well being regardless of what is currently being experienced. I help clients regain that innate health through deep listening and non-judgmental feedback. I work deeply with current thoughts, beliefs and feelings about one's self to uncover deep seated self-judgment that blocks happiness. Anxiety, depression and unhappiness transform into greater peace and understanding. In turn, self awareness is enhanced which leads to greater understanding, compassion and empathy for self and others.

Do you feel like you are being hit with one wave after another, and you cannot catch your breath? Our sense of well being can be compromised by any number of issues from large to small. Stop. Take a minute. And Just Breathe…

Most people I've seen in my many years of practice seek psychotherapy in response to personal loss, trauma, relationship difficulties in love or work, or self defeating thought or behavior patterns that have become unmanageable. As we begin to meet on a regular basis, the anxiety, depression or crisis that propelled them into my office starts to calm. Broader questions like “Why do I keep waiting to live my life in the way I always imagined it to be?” and “Why have my personal or professional accomplishments not provided the fulfillment I hoped for?” then begin to emerge.

Has life Become a struggle for you? Are you looking to build better relationships? Are you feeling overwhelmed during a difficult life transition? Do you feel stuck in your past and unable to move forward? Through our work together, I can help you develop the tools needed to increase your confidence, feel better in your relationships and let go of your past.

I specialize in trauma-informed therapy for anxiety, depression, relational issues, grief and loss, addiction, trauma, and more. I understand that sometimes psychotherapy is sought out in a very challenging time of life, and I am here to offer support through that. I have specialized experience working with creatives of all kinds, in being a singer myself. With experience focusing on young adults as well, I offer guidance for the process of individuation that occurs during these formative years. I enjoy working with clients of all ages, ethnicities, abilities, gender identities, sexualities, and other intersectional identities.

Often clients come into therapy with me when they are stuck in life, in a crisis, or in transition in a relationship or job or when emotions are just becoming too much to cope with. They want a change but are not always sure how to go about it. Taking the step to begin therapy is not easy for most people, but starting therapy often leads to a real opportunity to change, in ways that are not always expected. My style is warm, inviting and engaging, and I seek to connect to each person where they are at in life.

As a life coach with a doctorate in depth psychology, I work in a psychologically savvy way, without losing the dynamism of coaching. I facilitate ‘lucid living’ in my clients – an ability to act, think, and feel in agreement with one’s truest self. Whatever issue you are addressing, I assume that something in you knows the right approach to it, although discovering this may require the help of others. I also assume that no-one wants to merely make the dysfunctional functional: We all desire exceptional levels of vitality, creativity, and resilience.

I work with individuals and couples in any stage of relationship. If we work together, my goal is to help you access and understand the root causes of your struggles so you can truly heal. In my experience, when the origin of conditioned thoughts, feelings and behaviors are fully felt and understood, they no longer have power, can be let go, and in their place comes a sense of freedom, choice and empowerment. Whether you struggle to manage stress, anxiety, and/or depression, or have found the goal of creating a satisfying relationship or career to be elusive, I believe you can move past any limitations with the right help.

I have seen that much of the pain in my clients stems from the emotional or physical stress that is too much for the nervous system. Every person’s experience of events can be different; therefore, the same event/emotion/stress has unique impacts on the person. I approach my work with clients in a very individual way, listening to who they are by clearly understanding both their intellectual and their emotional aspects, and have a strong steady belief in the client's own inner wisdom.

I offer my clients specific tools to help them navigate difficult situations, reduce anxious thinking, manage depression, cope with trauma-related symptoms, set boundaries in relationships, and build confidence in themselves. I specialize in working with professionals in their 20’s and 30’s and enjoy helping them find a healthy balance between work, family/friends, and themselves. I have extensive experience teaching practical skills in these areas to best meet my clients' specific needs. I additionally specialize in helping people navigate relational trauma and work with the parts themselves that may be stuck in the past.

I provide therapy for those experiencing a wide range of life challenges including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, trauma recovery, grief and loss, life transitions and relationship concerns. With my background in Technology and corporate work (over a decade) I am very conversant and knowledgeable of that world. I have extensive experience and expertise in working with Anxiety, relationship issues and highly sensitive people.

Are you looking for therapy services for the first time? Or do you have experience with therapy and looking to continue your journey? While I understand therapy can be a difficult journey, I also believe it to be an insightful conversation. Part of my goal is to assist people with understanding the root causes of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Therapy can also simply be a space to explore thoughts surrounding the difficulties of life. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I can help people understand how life’s difficulties can sometimes be traced to relational patterns.

Everyone has their ups and downs. Life can be stressful and challenging at times. These are the times when it can be helpful for you to talk with someone to support you getting through a difficult time. Whether you have a child having difficulty in school, an adolescent transitioning into adulthood, relationship issues with a partner, or other life stressing events, I provide a safe space to help manage these challenges.

Everyone deserves support navigating life's challenges. I work with teens, young adults, and adults seeking a greater sense of wellbeing in their lives. You may be experiencing feelings overwhelm, worry, stuckness, self-doubt, difficulties in personal or professional relationships, or any number of challenges many of us face.