Teen Therapists in Shafter, Oakland, CA

People turn to therapy when they are in too much emotional pain, stuck in intractable situations with intimate partners or at work, or acting in ways that are self-destructive or harmful to others. When other solutions have not worked, therapy offers a chance to address and change outmoded ways of being. The therapeutic relationship is key to this work. It offers the possibility of exploring new ways of relating to ourselves and others that can lead to a richer and more fulfilling life. The therapist must provide a place of safety and be a partner in this process.

I enjoy working with individuals and couples from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs. In the last twenty years, I have coached corporate executives, consulted with physicians, and worked with adolescents and adults in individual and family therapy.

Therapy is the process of coming to a deeper understanding of ourselves and how we approach the world while contained in the therapeutic relationship. I aim to create a safe, compassionate, and collaborative space to explore why patterns of thinking and interacting have become painful. In my experience, this process leads to improved relationships and communication, greater confidence and enjoyment in life, relief from feeling stuck, strengthened coping skills to manage life stressors, and progress towards one's inherent potential to thrive.

I work with individuals of all ages, including couples and families, to foster emotional health and equilibrium. Together, we build a positive therapeutic relationship to explore patterns and find solutions. I bring a tailored approach to treatment that draws on elements of attachment theory, strength-based therapy, mindfulness, ACT, and CBT. I apply these approaches to support clients, including teens and young adults facing anxiety and depression, adults and couples navigating relationships, couples preparing for children, and parents seeking support in achieving work-family-personal balance.

I specialize in working with young people and the LGBTQIA community. My professional background in education, clowning, and physical theater deeply informs my work. Using embodied play alongside talk therapy, I find that my clients are able to access expression, relief, and growth. This type of work is useful for kids experiencing anxiety, school and family challenges, and struggling with self esteem. It is also useful for LGBTQIA people to become more deeply in touch with their identities, using a creative lens. I am committed to meeting clients where they are at to develop a space for creative healing.

I love my work! My expertise lies in repairing relationships. I'm a certified Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) therapist through ICCEFT. EFT offers an ideal approach for working with couples, individuals, and families alike. Additionally, my practice is enriched by the invaluable insights from the Gottman Institute, where I have achieved Level 3 training. My clinical journey includes comprehensive training from UCSF's Infant-Parent Program in San Francisco, along with The Psychotherapy Institute, and The Women's Therapy Center, both in Berkeley.

I believe three core things about therapy: 1. People are inherently healthy. 2. Therapy is not just about symptoms. 3. If the therapy is working, you'll know it. Traditionally, psychotherapy has been associated with illness while wellness and depth have been left to the self-help movement. The theory I practice sees everyone as sound at the core. As a result, there is no ceiling on "getting better." Someone with symptoms wants to feel more like him or herself, which I aim to make happen as quickly as possible. At the same time, I help people to achieve clear interpersonal, professional, and creative change.

I work with the person that you are and the body that you have. Together, we can examine and release unwanted patterns in mind, body & spirit. You have choice in your life! Every day you can chose to be your best. I customize my work to meet your individual needs. I use techniques from Control Mastery, a powerful psychodynamic tool that supports letting go of unwanted belief systems. I have been working with body/mind medicine for 20 years. I believe that we CAN heal our past and create our future while focusing on living well in the present.

Hello and congratulations on taking the first step towards healing. My name is Olivia McArthur and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California. As a Black/Multiracial Woman, I am passionate about working with BIPOC individuals. I believe it is important to have a therapist that can relate to your lived experience. My style is playful, reflective, empathetic and humble. I work with youth, adults and parents to address concerns including, but not limited to: stress, relational issues, life transitions, managing emotions, racial trauma and racial identity development.

AUTHENTICITY, ALIVENESS, and CONNECTION are vital ingredients to living a healthy and meaningful life. Unfortunately these qualities do not always receive the proper attention needed to thrive. As a result, we develop coping strategies that often lead us to not getting what we want in life, leaving us feeling stuck, anxious, depressed, and hopeless. Therapy provides a unique opportunity to explore the unconscious patterns that keep us stuck. Therapy can help you make meaningful change to live the life you wish and to create the relationships you long for.

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.

Therapy is a deeply personal experience and there are as many reasons to seek therapy as there are people who seek it. Perhaps you are struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, or shame. You may have suffered traumas or losses and are wondering how these shape your thoughts, feelings and relationships. Maybe you simply have a sense that aspects of your life are not coming together in the ways you desire. Therapy is a space to explore these curiosities, to develop insight into your self, and, ultimately, to find greater fulfillment in your work, relationships, and play.

My goal is to provide a safe and supportive container of warmth, presence, and non-judgement where you can bring both your vulnerability and your strengths. Whatever brings you to therapy, we will explore together at your pace and with your unique needs in mind. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, childhood trauma or grief and loss, we will collaboratively work together to find out what healing might look like for you. Our work together can help you recognize limiting patterns or beliefs, create new options, and shed light on forgotten inner resources.

I am a licensed clinical social worker and certified substance abuse counselor who has worked in the field for the past 15 years. My hope is to use my experiences and skills to help individuals struggling with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD or substance abuse issues find new coping skills in order improve the quality of their lives. My approach combines elements of short-term behavioral therapies (DBT and CBT) with psychodynamic techniques to address problematic behaviors to achieve lasting change.

Life can be hard. Things that may feel easy at one time, feel impossible at another. Sometimes, there are issues that feel like they'll never go away. I work to create an environment where we can think together about what is troubling you and get to the root of the issues, so lasting change can be possible.

My specialty area is in helping people heal from chronic depression and complex trauma. Many of my clients come from backgrounds that predispose them to these problems - such as having a parent with a substance use problem, being the oldest sibling in a high-need family, or coming from an immigrant household. These environments teach you to grow up quickly and you learn to prioritize the needs of others over your own. Later in life, the self-sufficiency that was a strength in childhood can become a barrier to fulfilling adult relationships. No one taught you skills like saying no, setting boundaries, and reaching out for support.

Are you struggling with depression, low self-confidence, or anxiety? Are you having difficulties in your relationships or at work? Are you finding it hard to cope with a loss, life transition, or illness? I have brought warmth, knowledge, and compassion to my work with individuals & couples for over 30 years as a Psychologist. My approach to psychotherapy is to create a safe environment through listening and empathy that will enable you to talk about patterns in your life that are causing you distress. My goal is to help you achieve greater life satisfaction, healthier relationships & new sources of self worth.

I am passionate about working with individuals who are experiencing anxiety, traumas that are single incident events such as car accidents, surgeries or that have occurred throughout ones childhood where they are experiencing physical or emotional symptoms now as a result. I love working with individuals who are looking on ways to feel supported to increase their own self worth in all areas of their life. My style is relational and collaborative and I believe that you are the expert in your own life. I can help support in creating change around what works best for you - I pride myself on meeting patients where they are comfortable.

I have practiced as a therapist for over twenty years and specialize in helping people integrate unresolved aspects of the past in order to live freely in the present. Exploring adaptive strategies which used to help but now are limiting; meeting all parts of ourselves with curiosity and compassion; cultivating consciousness around our thinking and feeling patterns; bringing attention to the body and working with the nervous system to soften areas of tension and holding - these are ways therapy can deepen insight and support ease and well being.