Therapists in Upper Laurel, Oakland, CA

Life isn't always easy. Whether you're dealing with an existing challenge, a current stressful situation, or you're turning a page to start a new chapter of your life, I believe we all can benefit from someone helping us to manage these changes and transitions. My therapeutic goal is to help you better manage your life's challenges and to provide you with tools and strategies to achieve your personal goals.

I'm Dr. Dean Leav, licensed psychologist and qualified medical evaluator (QME). I've been featured on NBC, KCAL, HLN, and other programs as an expert psychologist. I provide Evaluation Services, including (and not limited to): diagnostics (ADHD, Autism, Learning Dis.), cognitive/neuropsychological evaluations, workers' compensation (QME/AME), immigration-related evaluations, pre-adoption psychological evaluations, parenting/bonding assessments, drug & alcohol evaluations, pre-employment evaluations, and legal/forensics/criminal evaluations. These evaluations may be used to meet eligibility for certain services or accommodations.

Sometimes life can present challenges and we need someone to accompany us on that journey. I am a strength based licensed marriage and family therapist. I have experience in providing mental health services to adolescents and adults. My experience includes treating trauma, psychoses, depression, and anxiety. I implement an eclectic approach while providing a safe environment in order to work towards exploration, understanding, and healing. I assist my clients with navigating through difficulties and hardships.

I am a queer relationship therapist dedicated to supporting partners in relating across difference from a place of loving wholeness. Maybe you want to feel more connected, authentic, and loving toward your partner, or you may need to repair from breaches of trust. You may not have met your “inner children” yet and want to develop a trusting relationship with them. I enter as a compassionate guide to walk that path with you. I'm here to witness, support, and make space for you and your partners to feel, share, and nurture all parts of yourselves, so that you can experience more of your own agency, authenticity, and wholeness.

You are feeling overwhelmed by your thoughts and emotions. You feel disconnected from those around you and maybe from yourself. Maybe you shut out the world. Maybe you don't feel like yourself. Maybe you are not sleeping well. Maybe it is challenging to create boundaries. Past negative experiences may be contributing to your current concerns. You want to find a way to manage these feelings. Your goal is to have an awareness of yourself and triggers. With the right tools and interventions customized to your needs, healing is possible.

Some of us experience extremely challenging, even terrible things in life, or we are not able to get over the pain or losses we have experienced in the past. I have studied and trained in the treatment of traumatic disturbances for over a decade and am passionate about helping people resolve symptoms that include: reliving or avoiding memories, negative moods and thoughts, and sometimes "dissociation" (feeling detached from oneself and others). I offer an effective psychotherapy method known as EMDR for addressing such symptoms, along with a compassionate, culturally sensitive approach to issues.

I became a therapist after a deep dive into my own healing and self exploration at a young age. Having a fascination with human development, I love witnessing change! My goal is to fill in gaps and heal traumas from the past, supporting my clients to move towards greater stability, freedom, and peace in the present. I attend to the cultural, spiritual, emotional, and mind-body aspects of wellbeing. I treat ailments including trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and relationship issues with teens to older adults, couples, and families. My clients want relief through deeper self-awareness and agency, and are ready for change!