Therapists in Piedmont, Oakland, CA

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in child and adolescent development with over 15 years of experience working with children, teens and families. I have extensive training in child development and have been employed in outpatient and inpatient facilities, have served as the lead mental health clinician in multidisciplinary teams working with children struggling with feeding issues, and have run social skills groups in addition to providing individual and family treatment. I have a substantial amount of experience with teens suffering from anxiety and depression.

I'm glad to know you're looking into a therapy relationship. I am very interested in helping people manage change in their lives. I especially enjoy working with relationships. My background as a therapist, facilitator, program manager, coach and trainer all contribute toward helping you. I intend to bring intuition, sensitivity and vulnerability to our work together. We can create a map and process to reach your goals. I'm looking forward to hearing how I can help you.

No matter what difficulty you face, together we can find our way through. Most of us change only when what we've been doing completely stops working! In that way, our most challenging times also have the potential to change us in mysteriously positive ways. Let's travel together to find your best life!

Do you need relief from anxiety or depression? Are you and your partner fighting and trying to move forward together? I often help people who are exactly where you are. A collaborative, focused relationship with a caring professional can be a life-changing experience. I have a goal oriented and interactive style, and my goal is always to help you move forward - at your own pace - with ease and acceptance. Check out my website and call for a phone consultation to see if I'd be a good fit for you.

Dear Reader, choosing to seek therapy can be a difficult and stressful decision and I deeply respect your courage. My primary work is with women and men who suffer from depression, anxiety, feel generally unhappy and/or are struggling in their relationship(s).

Healing and growth, which can be uncomfortable and painful, sometimes take time and support. These are shifts that we do not have to experience alone. Through authenticity, warmth and collaboration, I work with clients to cultivate understanding of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors and we work together to decrease stress and achieve defined goals. Whether it is anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues or health concerns, I integrate evidence-based practices to allow for the transformation of pain into growth.

I work with adults, teens, couples, and families who are struggling in their own lives or in their relationships (with children, partners, themselves) in an empathic, non-judgmental, directive and engaged manner. I can help you identify where you are stuck and give you the opportunity to practice trying things a different way in order to feel better. I am experienced in working with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, family/relationship conflict and life transitions. I obtain regular feedback from my clients to ensure we stay focused on client-defined treatment goals.

Are you worried about your child? Are they having trouble in school? Not making friends? Has being a parent become really stressful? Parenting is always a challenge and can be even harder if your child is having emotional or behavioral difficulties. My goals are to help children reach their maximum potential emotionally, socially, and behaviorally and help parents be empowered and have more effective parenting skills. I specialize in working with children who have emotional, behavioral and academic difficulties including ADHD, anxiety, depression, poor frustration tolerance, loss of a loved one, trauma, family conflict, and interpersonal relationship difficulties.

As a psychotherapist, I help clients redefine how they live their lives. I am a licensed clinical social worker who sees children, adolescents and families as well as individual adults. By engaging in a series of conversations, I will help you to challenge the problematic assumptions and ways of being that prevent you from realizing the full potential of your life. I work from a colloborative stance that assumes you are the expert on your life. But my own expertise in helping people overcome emotional problems, troublesome habits and relationship roadblocks can help you create new solutions to old problems.

We all sometimes face a challenge in life that we just can't seem to resolve on our own. It might be a new chapter in your life that brings unexpected trials: adulthood, marriage, parenting, step-parenting, divorce, children leaving home, caring for your aging parents, the loss of a loved one, or facing your own mortality. It might be a conflict in a relationship with a loved one or in your professional life. Or it might be more of an internal struggle, whether recent or long-standing, that is giving rise to anxiety, depression, struggles with food or alcohol, or other self-defeating behaviors.

INDIVIDUALS (couples below): Energy Psychology is a group of self-calming practices involving breathing and touching one’s own face and body. Scientific studies and clinical experience are confirming that Energy Psychology can help with anxiety, relationships, and trauma. You will learn practices to calm down during a conflict, sleep better, or let go of things that bother you. These practices help you by enhancing nervous system regulation, changing the way your brain stores upsetting memories, and bringing in more happiness and focus. You'll learn practices to use at home, in moments of stress or to start your day on a good note

I believe that each of us is a unique expression of Love and that we are at our happiest and most content when we feel in touch with ourselves and our loved ones. I also know that life can be challenging and seem overwhelming at times. Experiences of trauma, relationship problems, transitions, illness/death, and even the world around us can leave us feeling anxious, depressed or alone. My focus is on helping my clients learn the tools that they need to discover or return to the self they desire to be.

A good therapist helps us get to know ourselves fully. Better understanding our motivations, thoughts and feelings reveals more fulfilling, effective choices. Exploring what is getting in our way of having deeply satisfying relationships is essential to living a full life. I often address issues of: understanding a partner's motivations, life purpose & transition, transparent vulnerable & authentic communication, finding/creating fulfilling relationship, confidence & leadership, men in relationship, trauma, and integrating presence in daily living.

Healthy relationships, including the one with ourselves, are essential to our well-being. When problems become too much to manage, the therapy relationship provides a supportive space for recovery and personal growth. Discussing your experiences with a caring professional makes it possible to explore thoughts and feelings as they show up. Regular meetings support the process, offering the chance to know yourself more fully over the course of therapy.

I am now offering SECURE VIDEO SESSIONS - HIPAA compliant- to support you during these times. Please let me know if I can help. My online office is just a click away.

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.

Anxiety sucks. It can keep us stuck in an exhausting inner battle of fear and panic. Perhaps you have had a panic attack and worry about having another one. Or maybe you find yourself frequently worrying about your relationship with your partner. Obsessive thoughts might be keeping you up at night and disrupting your ability to focus at work. And you might feel frustrated or embarrassment that you can't get your anxiety under control. You might be trying to cope with your anxiety by staying busy, distracting yourself with technology, or turning to drugs or drinking. The good news is, it does not have to be this way.

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.