Therapists in Oakland, CA

Whether sitting with individuals or partners, I am here to remind you of what you already know but might have forgotten: you are enough. Many clients find their way to me because they want to work through challenges related to their identity, acculturation, sexuality, gender expression, relationship formation, and early traumas. My identities as a queer, non-monogamous, sex- and kink-positive, immigrant woman tend to attract potential clients who share some of these positionalities.

I work with clients in CA and FL. I provide individual (not couples) therapy to curious people who are ready to get to work! I specialize in working with Black, POC, & LGBTQIA+ individuals and Fat/bigger-bodied people of all genders.

My framework as a psychotherapist is inspired by black feminist sci-fi writer, Octavia E. Butler who saw the possibility of many more worlds than just our own. I believe that transformative internal healing is critical to envisioning and building these worlds without the presence of imperialism, white supremacy, capitalism and cishet-patriarchy. The tools I use to support the exploration of individual, interpersonal and intergenerational trauma are shaped by abolition that rejects punitive and scarcity mindsets and disability justice which strives to value every body.

I specialize in working with folx who identify with the following communities: ethical non-monogamy (ENM), polyamory, kink, BDSM, and LGBTQA+ and who are struggling with anxiety, depression and a history of trauma. I think of psychotherapy as a necessary form of social activism toward a larger goal of equity for people of all races, genders, sexual/relational orientations, levels of ability, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Let's work together to bring you back to yourself, your relationships and your community!

I specialize in couples and relationship work. Clients I tend to work with are individuals, couples, and those in relationship who may identify as: unsure, big dreamers, creatives, somatically curious, spiritual seekers, longing for belonging, gender expansive, queer, non-heteronormative, neurodivergent, anxious, depressed, grieving, insecure, psychedelically-inclined, powerfully sensitive, emotionally dysregulated, substance users, attempting intimacy and deep relationship with others, and/or trauma survivors. I am offering ketamine-assisted therapy for NY residents. I am also an SEP.

Seeking therapy is a brave gesture. It is a proclamation that you are ready to create something new, which means you are already on a path toward change. We are living at a unique time. Many people feel overwhelmed by the speed at which we are performing. Many are questioning what a life well-lived really means. It takes intention to create the kind of life that we hope for, and many of us didn't acquire the tools growing up, to help support that creation. Common to all of my clients is a desire to live more closely to what their gut is telling them rather than following old relational patterns or living by rules created by society.

Welcome! I support my Clients' path to arrive at a freer, more empowered version of themselves. I am passionate about working through an intersectional and trauma-informed lens with everyone. I respect my Clients deeply and give them my genuine warmth and attentiveness. I am a good fit for people who are nervous about therapy, people working on boundaries, self love, finding their voice, embodiment, healing from trauma/complex trauma as well as folks from all parts of the LGBT+ family. I am here for gender exploration, questioning, arrival and take a non judgmental stance on all corners of consensual sex/sexuality/kink/non-monog+

What I believe: Relationships are unique and come in countless shapes and sizes over time. Right now, relationships are already happening and changing in your life every day. Love is available in ourselves when we choose it, and choosing love in ourselves brings more love into our relationships. Yes, all relationships shift and change, and at the same time, love can regenerate again and again in the most mysterious moments and forms if we stay open and curious.

I believe that our minds and hearts, like our bodies, possess an innate wisdom and ability to heal, given the right environment and structure. Sometimes we get stuck in old patterns and beliefs that helped us in the circumstances we learned them in, but need to be updated in order to allow us to fully embody our best, most authentic and empowered selves. Therapy can assist us in learning more about what automatic programs our system is running, and give us the tools to make these changes.

We all deserve to feel safe and connected. Sometimes, overwhelming things happen that prevent us from feeling safe and settled in the world. In therapy, we support the strengths that have helped you survive and grow your capacity to move towards the life you long for. Whatever you are experiencing, be that anxiety, depression, or the pain of trauma or oppression, together we will collaborate to tend to what hurts and to nurture the vitality that exists inside you.

How you feel towards yourself can profoundly impact your relationships, work, school, and more. And a lot can make it hard to feel your best. You might be: Exhausted by a relentless self-critical voice...Considering your next steps to feel authentically aligned with your gender and sexuality...Struggling with boundaries and people-pleasing... Stressed and stuck in your closest relationships...Curious about non-monogamy but unsure where to start...Looking for nonjudgmental guidance navigating dynamics within polyamory and kink — not to mention managing all of this under capitalism. No wonder you'd like support!

My style is compassionate yet direct, soft yet forceful. I combine traditional talk therapy with somatic therapy (i.e., therapy involving awareness and work with the body). I have a background working in the corporate world and understand the challenges unique to that space. I trained at the California Institute of Integral Studies and incorporate not only that training but my years of post-graduate education and time spent studying different energetic and intuitive healing techniques into the work I do with you. Visit my website at www.allisonzamani.com for more information.

I work with Individuals and Couples developing better skills for communication, coping with stress and life transitions, and relationship building skills. I offer deeply attentive and compassionate Therapy that doesn't shy away from hard conversations and is culturally responsive. I am active in your sessions, asking thoughtful questions, observing strengths and progress, and checking in. I use an eclectic mix of Attachment Theory, Somatic Therapies, Gottman, and RLT. I help people reconnect with their inner knowing to become their best selves. I work well with Couples, LGBTQ Clients, and Teens.

I specialize in working with couples and 2+ partnerships, in which one or more of the partners identifies as bi, pansexual, or experiences multi-gender attraction. I support the members of these partnerships in building fulfillment and security in their relationships, while also enjoying full expression of their identities. I help each person regulate and understand their own system, in order to have more freedom in the ways they show up with each other. I also work with individual, queer-identified adults and teenagers who want to develop pride, comfort and agency by unpacking & separating from the impacts of systemic oppression.

Hello, fellow introvert! Do you ever find yourself thinking, “no one likes me!” or “what’s wrong with me?" Does shyness keep you from confidently connecting with friends, romantic partners, and colleagues? Perhaps you know deep down that you'd be happier if you had more authentic relationships, but avoiding people (and therefore rejection) feels, well…safer. If so, you may be struggling with social anxiety. You probably feel like you never received the "How to Not Be an Awkward Human" manual. Well, good news - we've helped hundreds of shy individuals like you build confidence and develop deep, meaningful relationships.

Are you searching for a therapist to help you integrate your insights into change in your day-to-day life? Do you need a space filled with wonder, openness, & curiosity where you can safely explore your inner world? Perhaps you want to talk about the psychedelic state you experienced during Ketamine Therapy or other 'non-ordinary' states like meditation but feel afraid your therapist won’t get it or know how to make meaning with you? Do you wonder if it’s possible to find someone who will honor the impact of your experiences, your story, and your path in a safe, co-creative relationship?

My belief in human resilience guides my work, and I hold deep trust in each person's unique path towards a full life. I approach my practice with warmth, presence, honesty, and respect. Together we can examine painful experiences, old belief systems, and barriers that may be keeping you stuck while honing in on your unique strengths. Therapy work encourages deepened self-awareness and compassion, allowing you to embrace a greater sense of agency and alignment in your day to day life. My hope is that our work inspires you to create space for the life and relationships you have been striving for.

Are you asking, How can I find love? or, What is missing in my relationships? Are you stuck in complaining and blaming, or avoiding and withholding? Are you noticing your relationship struggles make you feel lonelier rather than more open to each other? I provide an environment of safety where you may explore how you are stuck and how your persistent conflicts spoil your potential for intimacy. Tracking the repetitive patterns of communication, and the stories which confirm your most negative beliefs, I will strengthen your awareness to the influences that affect whether you keep repeating old patterns or open to real change.

I help people reconnect to themselves when they feel helpless, overwhelmed, or lost in their relationships—at home or at work. I work with developmental and relational trauma which impacts the way we show up in relation to others, particularly those we have intense attachments (family, partners) to or where power dynamics are at play (like work). In the safety of therapy, you can begin to make sense of your experiences and listen to what your body and emotions are trying to tell you. Over time and with practice, you will learn skills and techniques to become your own safe refuge.