Eating Disorders Therapists in North Oakland, Oakland, CA

I am a clinical psychologist with over twenty-five years of experience providing psychotherapy and consultation to adults, adolescents, and couples. I have experience treating a wide variety of problems and a diverse population of people. If you are struggling in your life and want to understand yourself better, talking with a therapist has potential to be quite helpful. I work best with clients who are interested in exploring their thoughts and feelings in an effort to learn more about themselves.

If you are ready to learn more about yourself and develop a positive path toward growth seeking assistance can help you refocus on what's most meaningful to you. People come to therapy for many reasons, including needing help in handling stressful life transitions, to reduce psychological distress, increase one's self worth and to develop a better understanding of themselves. During therapy, we will explore unhealthy patterns by looking at the interplay between your thoughts, behaviors and emotions and how they affect your daily experiences. You will learn to develop fulfilling relationships, ways to cope in healthier ways, and ultimately live a fulfilling life.

If you are suffering with food & body image issues, issues of self-esteem & self-worth, relationship issues or dealing with trauma, I can help you. There are so many women who feel as though they are not enough. They believe that they somehow have to be better, look different, lose weight, be a whole different person to have a good relationship and a happy life. They beat themselves up constantly and are always trying to change. Do you understand this feeling? If so, I can help you have a loving relationship with yourself and settle into who you really are.

Are you so overwhelmed that you can't focus on your partner, kids, or other meaningful relationships? Do you feel like letting go of patterns is challenging and find yourself obsessing about your body to the point that eating becomes an ordeal? Do you feel like the past is weighing you down and you can't put it where it belongs, that is in the past? Do you engage in behaviors such as drug, alcohol, or other reckless endeavors that bring about tension and conflicts at home, at work, or other social settings?

I have worked as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist for over 25 years. I work with individuals and couples with a broad range of psychological and relationship problems. I very much enjoy the sociocultural diversity of the Bay Area and my psychotherapy practice reflects this diversity. Helping people maximize their individual potential is a never-ending source of satisfaction. I have special interests in relationship issues, women's issues, cultural concerns, and health-related problems. I also enjoy helping people find a balance between the demands of work, self, spirit and family.

I specialize in working with individuals and couples who seek support in their relationships. I also work with behaviors such as addiction & eating disorders . I provide a safe space to explore emotions, deepen bonds, repair hurts, grieve the past or the unexpected. I won't shy away from the hard stuff. I am trauma-informed, can hold your story, de-escalate crisis, identify and shift patterns where you get stuck and help you find strategies to deepen communication, make meaning and feel hope. The therapeutic encounter is a unique journey. We cannot control what crosses our path, but we can see ourselves as brave enough to face it.

Are you struggling with behaviors that you know are not good for you? Are you worried and depressed about your life and your relationships? Let me help you sort out your thoughts and feelings and help you get back on track. I also love seeing couples and families. You may bring significant others to your therapy if you wish, to help focus you in your relationship goals.

Anxiety can be so overwhelming and persistent that it feels like it's taking over. Sadness, grief, and depression may feel so heavy and unmanageable that the simple but vital parts of life such as sleeping, eating, and work are difficult or complicated. Your pain might be related to a recent stressful event like heartbreak or the death of someone close to you, or maybe it is less acute but feels endless. Perhaps there is an atmosphere of dread, loneliness, fear, and frustration. Relationships become conflict- ridden or devoid of real feeling. There is a sense that you're doing it wrong or always making the same mistakes.

The combination of strong anxiety and strong intellect poses special challenges for those caught in the crosshairs. I help individuals with active, analytical minds to work through anxiety-related problems such as panic, worry, avoidance, and compulsive thoughts or habits. My approach is warm, practical, and evidence-based, grounded in both mindfulness and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Your deepest desire is to find peace with food. Each day is a new battle with yourself and your relationship to food. High tension, anxiety, and fear are ever present. The only way you know how to handle these feelings is through food. You restrict to manage your anxiety for the day. Or you binge eat as a way of numbing out the unwanted feelings. Here’s the thing, it doesn’t have to be this way. I can tell you that there IS a way out. I’ve done it, and helped many do the same. And that is why I am passionate about helping you realize the same is true for you.

My therapeutic intention is to cultivate a safe and supportive space for clients to connect with themselves and express their deepest truths in order to foster personal growth, healing, and self awareness. Together, we will sort through difficult emotions, major life changes, past trauma, negative belief patterns, work stress, relationship challenges, grief and loss, and any other issue that is leaving you feeling stuck, distressed, or not like yourself. We will explore the roots of what is going on, implement tools to promote balance and resilience, process unresolved trauma, and learn how to be more loving to yourself and others.

Choosing a therapist is a significant decision, and one in which it is crucial to trust your feelings. I am a very engaging, warm and thoughtful person. My approach is eclectic and interactive, and is adapted to the unique needs of each individual or couple. Humor, respectful listening, honest dialogue and collaboration are all important aspects of my work. My priority is to provide a safe connection as a foundation for growth, enhanced self-esteem, and well-being. Habitual patterns causing impasses, lack of passion, anxiety and depression, can shift once underlying needs and feelings are legitimized and given voice.

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.