Aetna Therapists in Oakland, CA

Daily work stress, relationship conflicts, past unhealed trauma, life stressors that just seem unmanageable - all of these things impact our well being and our ability to function well in many areas of our lives. I am passionate about holding a space for individuals who are struggling and finding their way back to peace and balance. I have been practicing for 13 years with a bulk of my experience in a medical setting helping people navigate emotional and physical trauma, stressful family/relationship dynamics, adjustment to illness/injury, anxiety and depression.

My style is an honest approach to a client-centered model that allows for the client to guide the direction with my support. Together we can navigate through some of today’s hurdles and stress such as depression/anxiety, trauma, relationship/communication issues, loss/grief/bereavement, and family conflict. With the mutual understanding that we may not be able to change certain aspects of our life, I am here to help you process, adjust expectations, cope, improve communication skills, set boundaries, and strengthen your resilience.

My belief is that every human being strives for and has the capacity to fulfill his or her own potential. It is my role to help them realize their potential and believe in themselves to pursue their potential to the fullest.

I have been working in the mental health field for over 20 years. I have depth in experience and understanding of struggles that people face in their daily lives. My therapy style is warm and relationally based. I also use a solution-focused approach which focuses on individual's strengthens and resources to build upon tools and techniques that will last long after therapy is completed.

Sometimes we’re not able to make the changes we want in life without additional support. Congratulations on taking this step! It is a scary one, especially when there can be cultural barriers and stigma to receive therapy. My goal is to support you to remove barriers to growth and change, so you align with your most authentic self, have healthier relationships, and feel a sense of peace. I am dedicated to creating a space that is warm, compassionate and accessible where you feel safe to explore the way in which you can build a more fulfilling life.

I strongly believe that everyone wants, can, and has the right, to be a healthy, happy individual who can grow and be successful. However, sometimes life gives us circumstances or unexpected events that make us feel this goal is out of our reach. Whether it be substance abuse, grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, anger or something else, I believe that with the right tools we can grow from these experiences and learn to cope. I feel that therapy is most successful when it is a collaboration between the therapist and the client.

I believe each person who comes into therapy has unique experiences, knowledge, strengths, and needs. I believe in gaining and providing insight to draw from each of those areas in a way that allows clients to feel seen, heard, and validated in an authentic relationship. I know that time is valuable and I aim to share as much knowledge, insights, and coping strategies as possible to assist clients in their journey to feeling and living a better life. Taking the steps to seek therapy can be a challenge. It is my mission to create a safe space for clients to heal and grow, and encourage personal freedom.

I fully believe that being a therapist is what I am meant to do in this lifetime. Since graduating with my MA in Clinical Psychology in 2013, I have had the privilege of working with a variety of individuals. With my collaborative, no-frills style, I can help you gain insight and help you learn how to help yourself.

I work from a foundation of client-centered, trauma-informed, narrative approaches/philosophies, and utilize Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) in practice and interventions. I feel confident in short-term models that include psychoeducation, skill building, and processing in tandem. I care deeply about the emotional health of my clients and wish for their independence and freedom from emotional distress interfering with their goals and values.

My approach aims to enhance awareness of various processes relevant to variables that influence thoughts, emotions, and behavior. As specific content is examined without being stuck in it, learning happens from the actual process. Likewise, psycho-education is a key component of my approach, as new insights and skills are learned, practiced, and honed to produce the desired change.

Expansive Therapy is a bicoastal therapy practice with locations in New York City and Los Angeles. We offer online therapy to individuals and couples anywhere in New York State and California State. We have a diverse team of therapists offering a wide variety of modalities and specialties, and all of us are LGBTQ affirming. Our mission at Expansive Therapy is to create a safe space to heal and grow, to expand the things that are working, and to encourage personal freedom.

In life, we all encounter challenges and stress. I am here to help create a warm and collaborative therapeutic environment to work together on goals. I offer a non-pathologizing and empowering understanding of human issues to make the changes you wish to manifest in life.

*****Please see my website at: www.janvitekphd.com/.***** A genuine, empathic, and caring relationship is at the heart of meaningful and helpful psychotherapy. I focus on creating a safe, warm, and reflective environment in which to explore thoughts and feelings and identify patterns of behavior. I seek an optimum balance between safety and nurturance and challenge and directness. Good psychotherapy is about making better choices about how to take care of yourself, how to form satisfying relationships, and how to attain your personal goals.

Do you find yourself anxious or depressed because you are not achieving your goals? Are you "stuck" in an unsatisfying relationship? Are you repeating behaviors that are self-defeating? I have many years experience in helping people identify their true needs and change their behaviors so that they can feel in greater control of their life. It is my belief that in a compassionate and supportive setting, painful and difficult emotions can be understood and integrated into oneself, providing a greater sense of well-being.

I have a strong training background in behavioral approaches combined with almost 20 years of experience as a licensed psychologist working in a high volume environment. I find the best way to help clients is to be genuine, establish a strong relationship, and work hard together to help move towards relief and healing.

My work is informed by social justice theories, including the framework of intersectionality. I am dedicated to treating the trauma of racism (intergenerational, acute, and chronic), internalized oppression, and racial identity development.

Do you have Chronic Physical Symptoms, Low Self-Esteem, Ineffective Communication, Difficulty Setting and Maintaining Boundaries, Increased Fighting or Withdrawal from Others, Persistent Grief or Sadness, Intense Feelings of Guilt and Shame or Unpredictable Anger and Tears? These are all symptoms of Stress, Anxiety and Trauma. I design my sessions to be a safe, collaborative space where we focus on moving toward healing and change by helping you Identify and Remove the Blocks to moving forward towards the life you want. I respect and honor different religions, abilities, backgrounds and identities, and I am LGBTQ+ friendly.

I am a bilingual Spanish-speaking clinician. My experience includes working with a diverse range of clients from different backgrounds and cultures, who are struggling with various mental health issues. My passion is to bring people healing, whether that is from a traumatic experience or one of life’s many stressors. I believe healing can come from both acceptance and change. Life is constantly changing, and therapy can provide individuals with the skills needed to cope with those challenges. I like to integrate different techniques and modalities as they best fit each person, to help them reach their individual goals.

Having a comfortable and relaxed partnership with your therapist is so important when exploring the raw parts of ourselves. We often keep these tender sides hidden and experience shame that we don’t “have it all together.” In order to feel ready to illuminate issues that need attention, we must be able to deeply trust the person doing that work by our side.