Couples Counseling Therapists in North Oakland, Oakland, CA
See all therapists in North Oakland, Oakland
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

Clare Trimbur
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Starting therapy can feel both exciting and a little scary--it's really important that you find the right fit for you, your teen, your child, or your family. Whether you're struggling with parenting, relationships, depression, anxiety, or family stress, psychotherapy can bring renewed hope and present unexpected solutions. Psychotherapy can also reduce feelings of depression and anxiety so that you can begin to reinvest in all that makes life meaningful again. Through a trusting therapeutic
relationship
, you may learn a great deal about yourself, allowing you to make changes in your life.

Sarah Brekke-Velázquez
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
My work is grounded in mindfulness and somatic awareness, with an emphasis on creating a safe and accepting therapeutic
relationship
.
I believe in healing ourselves and each other as the first step toward healing our planet. My intention as a therapist is to guide people toward empowerment and healing in order to live their fullest and most joyful lives possible. I believe that we all have this capacity within us, and therapy can help us to move through our past trauma, oppressive social conditioning, anxieties and other stresses to be our best selves.

James Castro Seishas
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, MFT
Verified
Verified
I work with individual adolescents and adults, as well as
couples
.
I view therapy as a collaborative process where we work together to understand the challenges you are facing. My initial goal is to provide empathy and relief, while working in the longer term to help you feel more open and able to access parts of your experience that may be hidden. This can be scary and vitalizing, and I view work with each client as a unique journey where the path to healing unfolds over time. For me, the ultimate goal of therapy is to help you both accept and challenge yourself, and thereby become more fully who you are.

Patrick Kenneth Whalen
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
My time is split equally between two offices -- Rockridge and Palo Alto. I help
couples
, families, individual adults and teens face a wide range of challenges, including healing from early life trauma (all severities, including Dissociative Identity Disorder), Bipolar Disorder, personality disorders, personal and professional transitions,
relationship
and family struggles, dilemmas of faith and fulfillment, and meditation and mindfulness cultivation. I especially enjoy psychotherapy involving collaborations with other therapists and/or blending meditation and other kinds of spiritual practices with psychotherapy. I value diversity -- my clients come from a wide range of orientations, economic means, and cultural backgrounds.

Rebecca Medrano
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I work with children, teens, and young adults in my practice. I believe that therapy is a deeply personal and intimate undertaking that allows us to privately express, explore, and make sense of our current and past lives. My work is grounded in psychodynamic, developmental and holistic approaches and is trauma informed. I pay special attention to the therapeutic
relationship
as this is the backbone of a meaningful therapy experience.

Christine Woods
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified
Verified
I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and I specialize in working with individuals/
couples
in recovery from sex addiction, pornography addiction, and/or love addiction. I have experience supporting betrayed partners who are struggling to make sense of how best to move forward in the wake of traumatic discovery. In my work with
couples
affected by sexual addiction/betrayal/infidelity, I focus on the
relationship
repair process.
Couples
therapy sessions are focused on providing immediate structure and tools to facilitate authentic communication skills and rebuild trust and connection. I am an Ally of the LGBTQ+ community.

Alexandra Mitnick
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MPH
Verified
Verified
I specialize in using creativity, humor, and the arts in working with adults who are having intimacy and
relationship
issues. I enjoy working with individuals and
couples
, especially
couples
who are experiencing the stresses and complexities of family life. People have described me as inquisitive, insightful, curious and warm. I offer a solid presence, as well as a fresh, down-to-earth, and direct point of view to support you in your life's pursuits. 5 years of training in AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) and 5 years of training in PACT (Psychobiological Approach to
Couples
Therapy). PACT Level 3 completed.

Teisha Y. Levi
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I offer support in exploring your beliefs and behaviors to help move you towards a meaningful and healthy
relationship
with yourself and those around you.
What has happened to you? Have you experienced hardship, life changes, or something traumatic? I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California and Texas. I have over 10 years of practice experience. I received my master’s in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University with a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy. I have worked in various settings including county mental health office, community mental health clinics, schools/universities, and hospital settings.
Not accepting new clients

Randall Wyatt
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
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.

Autumm Beard
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I have training to address trauma, work stress, cultural/racial issues,
relationship
and family conflict, parenting, grief, depression & anxiety.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by trying to be everything to everyone? Perhaps you are exhausted by all the effort it takes to "push through" and life feels like you’re just going through the motions? If this is you- Sawubona (sow:'bɔh:nah)- I see you. You are strong, intelligent, hard working and resourceful but you may also be struggling with feeling tired, disconnected, and burnt out. If you are searching for new ways to cope- I can help.

Sarika Bahl
Psychologist, PsyD, MEd
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
An important factor contributing to a positive outcome in therapy is the
relationship
between client and therapist.
Are you experiencing low self esteem? Dealing with grief or loss? Is your child or teen struggling? Feeling anxious or depressed? Psychotherapy can help you form a better
relationship
with yourself, your family, and others. I work collaboratively with clients, establishing a warm, empathic environment that feels safe and free of judgement. I provide individual psychotherapy and family therapy across the lifespan, and have training and experience working with children, adolescents, parents, and individual adult clients. I offer telehealth (anywhere in CA) as well as outdoor therapy (in the East Bay).
Not accepting new clients

Robin Furner
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified
Verified
I am a Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT) and I currently focus on working with individual adult clients. I have significant experience helping clients with
relationship
and attachment issues, vocational and family stress, trauma and/or abuse history, depression and substance abuse. I also have experience working with artists, musicians, writers and others who experience mental health challenges that impact their creative work. I really enjoy the process of helping people move past the obstacles and challenges that can hinder their ability to pursue their personal hopes and dreams.

Alison Trules
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
As we build a safe and comfortable
relationship
, I will help you understand the source of your pain while we work towards the goal of you having a greater capacity to enjoy life and cope with its challenges.
If you are seeking deep personal change or going through a life transition, it may feel difficult to make choices. If you are experiencing conflict or suffering and know that something needs to change, psychotherapy will provide a structure where you can identify patterns that have previously led to unhappiness or frustration. I will help you develop new ways of understanding yourself and relating to others in your life. I am a warm, experienced and compassionate psychotherapist that will help guide you through this process of change so that you can be your most authentic self and live your life with increased comfort and meaning.

Leigh Lyndon
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
I welcome individual adults,
couples
and older adolescents to my practice.
Life moves so quickly these days, it's hard to take the time to really think about who we are and how we are living. Often, it takes years of patterns that are hurtful or self-destructive to wonder why we aren't feeling happy or fulfilled. Psychotherapy can provide the time and space to really understand and experience ourselves in a new way. I will listen with curiosity and warmth and will collaborate with you to help effect positive change in your life and relationships.
Not accepting new clients

María Romero Jackson
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. My approach is to be warm and deeply interested in both your struggles and your strengths. I work with clients who wish to understand and shift their anxiety, depression, self-criticism, and
relationship
difficulties. I particularly enjoy working with clients who carry marginalized identities including women, queer, trans, and POC clients. Central to my approach is the belief that cultural and environmental factors deeply play a role in our development.

Shendl Tuchman
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
Relationships are big challenges. Who are we when we interact with those around us? Do we let others see us for who we really are? Can we see them? I specialize in working with individuals and
couples
as they try to manage their relationships: preserving them, ending them or changing them. This includes the effects of divorce and moving from a pre-divorce to a post-divorce family from deciding how to tell your children to determining how you want to define your co-parenting
relationship
.

Jane Moran
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified
Verified
I welcome and affirm folks of all sexual and romantic orientations and proclivities, gender identities and expressions, and
relationship
styles and configurations.
I love working with folks who are curious, creative, and ready for a mindful and somatic inquiry into what’s really going on in that wild land of the subconscious. I believe therapy is a powerful tool for personal, interpersonal, and social change; an opportunity to update behavioral and relational patterns that have been passed down through traumatized families and cultures - including patterns of shame, ineffective relating, and emotional neglect. I offer weekly individual therapy via telehealth through Heart In Balance Counseling Center in Oakland, and in-person ketamine integration through the Center for New Growth in Eureka.
Not accepting new clients

Maria S. Nucci
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
I specialize in the treatment of anxiety disorders but also deal with a wide range of other issues including depression,
relationship
issues, parenting concerns, grief/loss, work related issues, women's issues, developmental disabilities, etc.
I am licensed in clinical and developmental psychology and have been in practice since 1991. I enjoy doing individual psychotherapy with adults but also have a great deal of experience working with children, adolescents and their families. I view each person as an individual and work to help them develop to their full potential, whatever that may be. I tailor my approach to the needs of the person and work to develop a strong
relationship
based upon trust and respect.

Heather Buchheim
Pre-Licensed Professional, AMFT, APCC
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Your
relationship
with yourself is key to how happy you are at home, at work, and beyond. I collaborate one-on-one with clients to cultivate self-compassion and heal from old wounds so they can move from surviving to thriving. I act as a guide and sounding board, with a commitment to respecting each individual as the expert on their own experience. As a queer, genderfluid therapist and activist, I support partners in monogamous and consensual nonmonogamous relationships, and I’m committed to honoring and uplifting the lived experiences of people from underrepresented racial backgrounds, abilities, genders, and sexualities.
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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.