Couples Counseling Therapists in North Oakland, Oakland, CA
See all therapists in North Oakland, Oakland
Katelyn Simons
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
This will help us develop a therapeutic
relationship
that will foster openness, honesty, genuine self-discovery and healing.
I practice both individual psychotherapy and assessment for children, adolescents, and adults. I specialize in understanding and addressing coping skills, anxiety, self-esteem, body image, and family conflict. Through therapy, assessment, or consultation, I provide support in navigating individual complexities. Whether I am working with children, teenagers, or adults, my aim is to help those I work with manage overwhelming emotions, navigate challenging situations, and address barriers standing in the way of contentment and clarity.

Guillermina Gigi Valdes-Huckabee
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Welcome, have you been feeling stressed, burned out or overwhelmed? Or Maybe you have even been faced with
relationship
issues, family conflicts, intergenerational trauma, violence, abuse, a life transition, illness or addiction? You don't have to deal with this alone. I am here to meet you where you are and to support your healing journey, reconnect you with yourself, reduce suffering and improve your family life at the same time.

Alison Hart Siggelkow
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I offer humor, warmth and unconditional acceptance of whatever you bring into session. I've worked with many different issues across many different age groups including: depression, anxiety, existential and
relationship
issues and trauma. Many clients come in wanting to unpack their past- others need to focus on the present. I can meet you wherever you are and help you develop a healthy
relationship
to yourself and others. Children's psychological needs often represent themselves a little differently, but ultimately require the same safe space to explore, unpack and process.

Karena Passaro
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
Though challenging at times, a positive therapeutic
relationship
can lead to a greater sense of freedom and fulfillment both professionally and personally.
Life is harder than expected at times. Transitions, loss, trauma, persistent anxiety or depression, or a feeling that things will never change are just a few examples of the ways in which people can feel less hopeful about their lives. Psychotherapy is a tool that can alleviate the stressors of everyday life, improve one's sense of well being and connection with others and enhance one's self understanding. Over time it can also lead to a greater sense of competency and satisfaction in the world.
Waitlist for new clients

Tricia Kim Walsh
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
Do you feel stressed from helplessness and find yourself bottling up your emotions? Have you just entered into a new developmental life phase (middle/high school/college/graduation/job change/new
relationship
/engagement/marriage, etc.). Or maybe your depression, anxiety and/or relational problems have you so stuck, you can no longer can focus on what is most important in your life. I am an authentic and integrative therapist who is focused on helping you find immediate solutions. I specialize in work with individual adults, tweens, teens and families. Call for a complimentary 20 minute telephone consultation today!

Alexander Shen
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am especially experienced in supporting clients dealing with life transitions/stressors, identity exploration,
relationship
issues, and the processing of trauma and grief.
Starting therapy can be both exciting, and anxiety provoking. Whether you are hoping to focus on specific discrete concerns, or exploring broader, longer standing challenges, therapy can be useful in understanding how aspects of one‘s temperament and relational tendencies can interfere with living life authentically, and with reaching one’s full potential. By addressing issues in real-time, while also considering the impact of situational factors and past experiences, therapy can help to identify areas of one’s life to examine, and evolve. Importantly, therapy often promotes resiliency, self-awareness and personal growth.

Jim Conwell MFT
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
Verified
I specialize in effective
couples
therapy. I work with adult individuals, and men with issues in the area of sexuality and intimacy. In working with
couples
I focus on self-responsibility, communication (listening when listening is hard, self revealing instead of finger-pointing), expectations, self-awareness, and remaining intimate through difficulty. Throughout the whole process I integrate a focus on kindness without abandoning or avoiding the truth. I also specialize in assisting and supporting both men and women with building the skill and ability to feel and share their feelings effectively in intimate relationships.

Noelle Clason
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I provide sex-positive therapy to individuals, relationships, and adult families. Most of my clients have non-mainstream sexual, gender, and/or
relationship
identities. Many identify as non-monogamous, are considering opening or creatively designing their
relationship
(s); I help them to create agreements, move through jealousy, heal from infidelities, build trust, and improve communication with partners and metamours. I work with queer, transgender, and nonbinary clients just beginning to question and explore their identities, and those who have been out for years and need therapy from a clinician familiar with queer issues.
Not accepting new clients

Jane Dessing
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I work with people struggling with anxiety, depression, grief/loss, family issues, and
relationship
difficulties. I have extensive training in working with young adults and those going through significant life transitions, such as early childhood transitions, entering or leaving College/Graduate school, or becoming a parent.

Danielle W. VanDeventer
Psychologist, PhD, MSCP
Verified
Verified
I have a history of working with trauma,
couples
, adolescents, ADHD and substance use disorders. I work hard at empowering clients to move past struggles that hold them back and to find a sense of agency and purpose. I use a variety of different therapies and techniques including EMDR, somatic therapies, trauma informed treatment and CBT to name a few of the modalities I offer to clients.

Carolina Bacchi
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
I work towards developing a
relationship
with you where you can feel safe to express your feelings, talk about your concerns and think creatively about old patterns and past worries that may be holding you back from living life more fully. I strive to create a therapeutic environment where you will gain more awareness and learn to live in a creative and playful manner while developing the capacity to know and realistically meet your own needs. You will find me to be warm, interested, creative, and curious therapist.

Jacqueline Esquer
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Although developing and growing the therapeutic
relationship
will be at the core of our work together, I also utilize therapeutic modalities such a Internal Family Systems (Parts Work), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.
As the world turns on, it can be hard to find time and space to reflect on the inevitable thoughts and emotions that arise through this life. I am dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable space to do this along with you. We all deserve a non judgmental, listening ear to explore our inner challenges, strengths and to find opportunities for personal growth. I have experience working with clients who are going through life transitions, coping with anxiety and depression, as well as trying to better understand the way their personal histories impact their thoughts and behaviors today.
Not accepting new clients

I am retired and do not work with any patients!!
Psychologist
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
The therapy
relationship
begins with a conversation that develops a unique life of its own.
Over 40 years of diverse practice has taught me that when people are in psychotherapy they create ingenious ways to grow, to resolve internal/social conflict and to improve their sense of personal fulfillment. They are innovative and sincere. Therapy is more than a serious, shared introspection. It is also a playful interaction. It usually involves a full range of emotions that includes a sharing of ideas and a mutual exchange, which almost always involves a lively conversation. There seems to be one common theme, namely that each person is seeking to find a sense of truth and well-being.
Not accepting new clients

Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
My approach is warm, engaged and focused in the present moment. I support individuals,
couples
and families to improve communication skills, self-esteem and
relationship
capacities. I make use of techniques that deepen the mind-body connection to help individuals heal from symptoms of stress, trauma and loss. I use an integrative approach that is rooted in Somatic, Humanistic-Existential and Transpersonal psychologies.

Sally Walstrom
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
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.

Kathleen Parkinson McConnell
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I provide counseling and psychotherapy to individuals and
couples
in a private practice setting.
"Reaching out is the first step. I invite you to take that first step and CALL me at 510-652-1902. I look forward to talking with you."

Jennifer Howard
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My practice includes the treatment of individuals,
couples
and families, and I have a specialty in working with young adults and family therapy.
My approach is grounded in Cognitive-Behavioral and Attachment Theories. I also incorporate the practices of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). I aspire to meet clients where they are, and help each individual to work on his or her expressed goals. I enjoy taking this journey with clients to navigate some of their most difficult and challenging moments in life, to help prevent troubled kids or young adults from more serious trouble, and to help all clients who seek my support turn their life's biggest challenges into opportunities for growth and lasting change.

Kristine Karaca
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
The decision to pursue therapy is often not an easy one. However, in working with a therapist, most people find a sense of relief that comes with learning that change is possible. Whether your concerns are long-standing patterns or new adjustments, through collaborative exploration within a therapeutic
relationship
, new ways of relating and coping can develop.

Tami Linde
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
Verified
My therapy practice will provide you with a safe environment to examine thoughts and behaviors that may be holding you back from the happiness, peace, and success that you want. I specialize in working with adults in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and
relationship
problems. Additionally, I am a certified anger management facilitator.
Lauren Ores Phillips
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
In therapy, my hope is to develop a
relationship
of mutual trust, respect and curiosity where we can work together to understand the connection between thoughts, feelings and self-limiting behavior.
I provide psychotherapy for adults, teenagers and children, consultation regarding parenting issues, and play therapy for children with behavioral or emotional issues. My work with adults has covered a broad spectrum - from people who are having problems with relationships or need help with stress management and coping skills, to people suffering from anxiety disorders and depression. I specialize in women's issues and life transitions. My goal is to help people get through difficult and challenging times and see opportunities for growth.
See more therapy options for North Oakland, Oakland
Couples Counseling Therapists
Does couples counseling work?
Research shows that couples counseling is effective; it can reduce relationship distress and improve emotional awareness, communication, empathy, intimacy, and overall relationship satisfaction. For example, emotionally focused therapy was found to be effective for about 75 percent of couples, and those benefits lasted at least two years.
When should a couple seek counseling?
Couples can benefit from counseling if they consistently struggle in their relationship. They may have lost the ability to communicate effectively, become entrenched in harmful patterns, begun to fight more than usual, broken the other’s trust, suffered from a mental or physical illness, or faced any number of other challenges. Many therapists offer free consultations, so if a couple isn’t sure whether therapy is necessary, asking directly can provide clarity.
How can I get my partner to go to couples therapy?
The decision to seek couples therapy is often driven by one partner, who then convinces the other to participate. When discussing the idea, the initiator should be direct and assertive. They can state the problems they see and explain how the relationship would benefit from therapy. In more serious cases, they can also explain how their relationship may suffer without making any changes or seeking professional help.
How does a couple prepare for couples counseling?
The anticipation of beginning couples counseling can be difficult—sometimes more difficult than the first session itself. Taking a few moments to reflect can allay those concerns: What are the current challenges? When and how did they begin? What do they want the relationship to look like in the future? Reflecting on these questions can help individuals or couples articulate their goals. Of course, the therapist will also ask questions and guide couples through the process.