Therapists in Shafter, Oakland, CA

Selecting the right therapist is essential- here is some information about me and my practice to help inform your decision. I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with children and adolescents. I work collaboratively with parents in creation of goals and throughout the course of treatment. Through play I help children to; express difficult feelings, resolve internal conflicts, learn adaptive ways to cope, and to develop resiliency. I offer free phone consultations in order to help determine if I am the right therapist for your child.

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.

I help people unwind places of stuckness or struggle in life, through working with ways the past may be influencing the present and impeding your capacity to thrive. My intention is to meet you where you are at: whether you have a need related to a specific challenge such as anxiety or depression, are facing a time of stress or transition, or are ready to devote time to intentional change in your life. I work with both individuals and couples.

If you are reading this, it may be that you are searching for a corner of the world where you can allow yourself to feel confident, welcomed and accepted, just as you are. Perhaps you need some support to notice, understand and express some of your more difficult experiences. Maybe you have felt your unique identity become problematized, pathologized and invalidated during crucial or difficult periods of your life. This can often be the experience of people who call themselves twice-exceptional or neurodiverse, as well for those who are on a journey of gender expansion or transition, and intersex children and adults.

Therapy can help you overcome difficulties, live creatively, and feel more alive. Many people become stuck in ways of thinking and living that no longer serve them. Through a caring therapeutic relationship, you can develop the courage to live in a meaningful and fulfilling way. Over the past 17 years, I have helped people with a wide variety of issues work through significant challenges, freeing them to make better choices. In addition to my clinical work, I teach and supervise at various training programs throughout the Bay Area, and am the Director of Counseling at California College of the Arts.

Are you worried about self-defeating tendencies? Why do you get in your own way in relationships, at work, in school, or in expressing your inspiration and creativity? We look together at the barriers to success that interfere with productivity and peace of mind. Because I co-authored the book, "Procrastination: Why You Do It; What To Do About It NOW," (and because it took me six years to complete my dissertation!) I like to help people overcome procrastination and achieve their goals. My other specialities include: grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, sexual and gender confusion, low self-esteem.

If you are looking for a therapist for yourself or your child, it is likely that some part of your or your child's life is not going the way you expected or would like it to be. Some things that seemed they should work perhaps aren't, or not as well as you'd like. Perhaps your child's feelings are stronger than you had expected, or they are not developing in other ways, and are missing developmental opportunities you know would be healthy for them and want them to have. Perhaps it seemed they might grow out of some of their difficult behaviors or feelings, yet it is hard to determine if they are on that path of growth.

Do you recognize some of these ways in which your or others' unhealthy anger gets expressed? Verbal abuse (yelling, cursing, insulting making threats, getting in people's faces). Emotional abuse (criticizing, putting down, intimidating). Physical aggression (hitting, shoving, slapping, kicking, choking, forcing sex). Property damage (breaking things, slamming doors, throwing objects). Internalization (stuffing feelings, seething, developing health problems, doing self-harm). Externalization (blaming others including intimate partners, bosses, co-workers, family, friends, the legal system).

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.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist working in Oakland, CA in a private practice setting. I have 12+ years of clinical experience working with adults in short and long-term psychotherapy with a range of issues including depression, work related stress, anxiety, relationship issues, substance abuse/dependence issues, issues related to sexuality and sexual orientation, and emotional issues related to the challenge of adapting to chronic medical problems.

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.

Making the decision to seek out and find the right therapist either for you or for a loved one can be tough. There are many variables to consider and the task can be overwhelming. I work with people who struggle with issues related to identity, mood, life transitions, conflict, trauma and resistance to therapy often because it is mandated. I provide a safe space where you can discuss the details of your challenges and ground the clinical work in the context of the therapeutic relationship.

People seek therapy when they feel unhappy, anxious, stuck in patterns and relationships that don't serve them or acting in ways that are self-destructive. Therapy can address and change outmoded ways of being. The therapeutic relationship is key to this work: It offers the possibility of exploring and understanding more effective and satisfying ways of relating to ourselves and others. I work with children, adolescents and adults in individual therapy, using a collaborative approach that centers on empathy, understanding, curiosity and exploration.

My approach to therapy is warm, direct, and collaborative. I believe that deep healing is possible for every client, and I provide support grounded in the latest scientific research. I work with clients who are feeling depressed, anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck. Often, my clients want to learn how to become kinder to themselves, and would like to feel more connection, purpose, and ease in their lives. I work with adolescents, teens, adults, and families.

As an engaged listener, I strive to create an atmosphere of respect and understanding, while also being compassionate, non-judgmental and warm. Within this safe space, we can explore family and relationship patterns and address your specific needs. I tailor sessions to meet each client’s challenges, developing trusting relationships that help him or her move towards a life of playfulness, passion and purpose. Your unique journey is made up of the circumstances, choices, beliefs and values that make up your reality. Together, we will determine new ways to bring tranquility, vitality, and fulfillment to your life. www.drzackberman.com

Starting therapy is not easy, and I hope you'll soon feel comfortable with me because of how I listen and become interested in the details you bring, helping you start to feel safe and at ease. I'll listen to the layers of what you say, and do my best to notice patterns which you may be unaware of. Together we'll think about the present moment of your life, your history, your needs and desires, and what gets in the way of your greater happiness and satisfaction.

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.

Are you looking to transform your life? Are you tired of being caught in self-destructive patterns? Are you hoping for real change? If so, I am interested in collaborating with you to create the life you want. I am dedicated to helping you achieve your therapeutic goals quickly and fully. In my practice, I see people accomplish profound change on a daily basis. My style is straightforward coupled with compassion. In individual or couples therapy, I work diligently to help you overcome barriers to contentment in intimacy, relationships, work and family life.

I am an experienced psychotherapist specializing in individual and couples therapy. I enjoy working with individual adults and couples, including older adults.

As human beings, we walk the planet with a complex matrix of shame, hurt, and resistance that can be peeled away like layers of an onion. With patient, careful, and non-judgmental guidance we can work to discover the deepest core of our beliefs, desires, and needs, expanding our stories and drawing meaning from our experiences. With this improved awareness, we can build tools and resources for addressing challenges, and perhaps more importantly, create a more peaceful relationship to those challenges. As a result, we become better at our relationships with ourselves and others.