Psychodynamic Therapists in Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA

People often come to therapy because they feel stuck in their lives, are experiencing anxiety or depression and are struggling with personal and professional relationships. My style is warm, supportive and engaged. I believe that the more access we have to our authentic selves, the more we can live a life that is deeply fulfilling. We will work collaboratively to develop a relationship in which there is room to take risks and experience aspects of yourself that may have been previously unknown to you. You will gain valuable tools to help you reach your goals personally, creatively, and professionally.

I love to work with individuals, who are genuinely curious about who they are and are driven towards a deep understanding of themselves and others. Therapy is not only helpful in times of crisis & questioning, but it proves impactful during periods of stability and strength. I incorporate psychodynamic frameworks, existential processes, somatic or body-oriented exercises, Parts Work, EMDR and mindfulness or spiritual perspectives in order to address the totality of the human experience. Ultimately, our work is driven by your needs. To read more about my approach, visit my website at www.suzannemadamsphd.com

If you are having difficulty with relationships, at work, with parents or children, I can help you identify the issues causing discomfort and learn new strategies for coping, managing and getting more joy in life. If you need someone to talk openly with about your challenges in life, I can listen and help you gain insight so that you can choose the best ways to proceed. If you feel isolated and judged, I can help you build confidence. If you are stuck in grief, I can help you get through it. I can help you see pathways where you might be inclined to see barriers.

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.

Welcome! You are ready for a change. You may be overwhelmed by life, feel depressed or anxious, or have difficulty connecting in relationships. Whatever your reason for searching for a psychologist, a part of you believes in the possibility of a better life.

I work to build a warm, empathic relationship with my clients to create an environment where we can think together about the issues that bring you to therapy and how best to resolve them. I am informed by psychodynamic theory and utilize this rich tradition to explore unconscious defenses, maladaptive patterns and underlying schemas that can cause a person to repeat problematic behaviors despite their best efforts to change. I also draw from Cognitive Behavioral and Mindfullness practices to support clients with acquiring the tools they need to make those changes.

I work from a trauma-informed, relational, and client-centered lens. I integrate psychodynamic and attachment based theoretical approaches. I believe the relationship we build as client and therapist, as well as exploring your relationships outside of therapy, are important avenues for growth. You are the expert on your own life; I am here to listen to you and work collaboratively to empower your inherent strength and resilience. I use warmth, compassion, and humor to cultivate an affirming, non-judgemental, and trusting connection with my clients.

Therapy is a life-changing process of growth, transformation, and healing. It is a safe, confidential space where you can unburden yourself. Where you can begin to unpack the ways of being and doing that no longer serve you. It is a place where you can share your pain. Where wounds are found, held, and tended with care. Where you can connect with your own vitality and dare to live a fuller, more meaningful life. It isn't always easy, nor quick, but it's almost always worthwhile.

I know that coming to therapy can be challenging and I am committed to creating a warm, empathic, and safe space for our time together. I tailor the treatment to meet your individual needs and goals. My priority is to meet you where you are in order to help you on your journey to a more authentic and fulfilling life. I have an integrative style, drawing on psychodynamic, systems, and attachment theories which allows us to look at the root of issues that you may be struggling with. I also draw on cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness and meditation practices to help deal with symptoms by improving coping and self-care.

Ruby (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW 101630) who brings a decade of experience supporting youth, young adults, caregivers, families, and individuals navigate loss and attachment ruptures, anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, family conflict, life stressors, and the life cycle. Ruby approaches her sessions with warmth, humility, and a strengths-based lens, valuing collaboration, authenticity, and creativity.

In every psychotherapy session there is a place where the client and therapist meet and come alive in the present moment. This is the place that I work from. I achieve this through active dialogue, attentive listening and creative exchange. I think it is essential to offer a space where you can feel safe to be honest about what is happening in your life. Whether you're dealing with relationship issues, anxiety, depression or struggling with a life transition, it is the relationship between you and me that leads to insight and healing.

I have worked in the field of psychology for over twenty years. In my psychotherapy work, I provide a safe and respectful setting where you can discuss current challenges, and understand how particular feelings and patterns contribute to these challenges. Often these challenges develop out of prior dysfunctional relationships, and it is in the psychotherapy relationship that new and more satisfying goals and behaviors can be discussed and developed. In our initial appointments I actively listen and engage with patients to develop a psychological framework to understand their challenges, and then set concise goals to address in the therapy.

You might want to work with me if you have a hard time identifying your own needs, frequently over-give, easily absorb other people's emotions and energies, make yourself small, and struggle to assert yourself. Our work together can help you feel more grounded, whole, and in alignment with yourself, with better boundaries, more self-confidence, and healthier, more secure relationships. And as a queer, South Asian therapist, I have a nuanced understanding of identity and the impact of systems on our lived realities.

As our world re-opens, many people are experiencing anxiety, depression, and stress due to recent social isolation and the unpredictability of the future. It can be a highly stressful time for people re-entering the world and for parents and teens. I provide individual adult therapy, teen/young adult therapy, and parent coaching. I am knowledgeable with non-traditional family structures (single parent, multiple caregiver, polyamorous, & LGBT families), transgender adolescent/child issues, anxiety, and neurodiversity . I’ve also begun working with the emotional effects of long Covid and chronic fatigue.

Are you a lesbian couple in the process of deciding to become parents? Are you an individual seeking support while you and your partner are thinking about beginning a family? There are unique decisions that you may be currently facing such as, pregnancy or adoption, which partner will become pregnant, and how will both partners feel involved as parents. It is important for you to have a safe space to explore these questions. There are feelings that accompany the decisions that you are making, and partners may feel differently. This sometimes challenges the connection between you.

I view my role to be that of a listener, supporter, encourager, and advocate. With me, you can expect to be heard and validated, while also challenged as we work to create new patterns and beliefs. ​

I am truly glad that you are looking for support, as the strongest healing happens with the help of others. I approach my therapy work with this attitude of collaboration, whether you're an adult dealing with depression, an adolescent experiencing anxiety, or a couple in need of reaching shared understanding. We'll work on it together, with a mixture of open exploration and focused treatment. Whether the issues are big or small, for yourselves or your loved ones, I can help increase your sense of groundedness, connection, and the ability to live the life that suits you best.

The decision to begin therapy is not simple and often comes at a particularly challenging time in your life. I know how difficult it can be to reach out during these times and my goal is to respond with curiosity, open-mindedness, and empathy. I believe that lasting change can come from exploring and ultimately freeing ourselves from the underlying causes of current symptoms. I want to work together with you to find ways to gain insight and relief. I work in an open and transparent manner, to help answer any questions or concerns you have along the way.

Do you feel depleted from finding the "right fit" couples or individual therapist? Have you just entered into a new developmental life phase (relocation/college/graduation/job change/new relationship/engagement/marriage/separation, etc.). Or maybe your mood, anxiety, communication 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 your own solutions and voice. I specialize in work with individual adults, teens and families. Call or message me for a free 20 minute telephone consultation today.