Couples Counseling Therapists in Oakland, CA

I work with people who are experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship stressors, and life transitions, as well as those who want to heal from childhood trauma and emotional neglect. I specialize in trauma focused therapy using Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Attachment Therapy, and Expressive Arts Therapy. During individual sessions we will work together to identify and change the thought, behavior patterns, and beliefs that are keeping you stuck and suffering; help you gain greater access to your innate healing capacities and resilience; and grow your capacity for self-compassion, joy, creativity and connection.

With 20 years of experience, I work with individual adults, adolescents and couples from a trauma-informed model that integrates DBT, psychodynamic, family systems and Mindful Self-Compassion perspectives. Through therapy I can help you to achieve your goals, develop an increased understanding of yourself and build new ways of coping with life’s challenges. As a Certified Mediator with a background in divorce mediation I can lend informed support to those struggling with divorce-related challenges. Furthermore as a transracially adoptive mom of two I hold a strong interest in helping others navigate the world of parenting.

I believe that mental health is an important part of overall good health. Often we feel too busy and rushed to pay attention to taking care of ourselves, including paying attention to our mental and emotional needs. I am a clinical psychologist with 20+ years of professional experience working with individuals, couples and groups. I enjoy working with people to explore healthier ways to address issues and problems in their lives. I've found that therapy is most effective when there is a safe environment and a strong working relationship between myself and my clients.

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist and registered MFT Supervisor, specializing in depression, anxiety, and trauma. I offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy. I use a Somatic and Mindfulness based therapy approach to help clients discover what beliefs they are holding that may be narrowing their experience in the world. Together we will use our connection and relationship to support your longings, grow your passions, and heal old wounds. Going inward we clean out that which is old and no longer serving us, and moving outward to connect and create with people and pursuits which can support and nourish our True Self.

Difficulties in life limit one’s capacity to experience joy, to move through painful experiences with flexibility and strength, and to live fully. The difficulty might manifest as depression, anxiety, and perhaps just a feeling that more is possible. Is a persistent feeling of lethargy or being down keeping you from taking the steps you feel you need to take? Do you worry excessively about the future, or about what others think? Do you feel that you are missing something? Are you trying to come to terms with existential realities?

I work with people going through big changes who need support. Perhaps your relationship ended, you lost a loved one recently, or you feel very stuck in work or your relationship pattern. I have lived and worked in the East Bay since 2010. I have two children and I enjoy helping individuals who are navigating challenging stages of life with their family. Let's talk!

Do you feel misunderstood and overwhelmed? Is people pleasing or code switching exhausting? Do you feel disconnected from YOU? Are you searching for a space that is safe to be YOU? Are you hyperaware of your melanin in white spaces? Are you searching for a therapist that understands the minority experience? I recognize the struggles of living while Black. And I champion disrupting White Supremacy and systemic racism. I am a firm believer in order to dismantle racism and White Supremacy we must individually address our trauma, unlearn internalized racism and develop skills to elevate our thinking and regulate our emotions.

Do you find yourself struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, self-esteem, identity, and difficult life transitions? Do you find yourself feeling stuck and can’t seem to focus or move forward? There are many ways to get unstuck, and this is the work I love to do to help you heal, grow and live a more fulfilling life. I use an integrative approach including attachment-based work, DBT, CBT, IFS, and mindfulness, bringing in each as needed. Above all, I strive to hold space and empathy for your life experience.

Whether you're looking for short-term or long-term therapy, I provide a safe and caring place for you. Our sessions are focused on what is important to you, as well as what is important for you. I give special consideration to your cultural background, and work with you in a way that is respectful and effective. I don't just listen without commenting, but interact with you and help you express thoughts and feelings if that is what you need. Therapy can be painful and frustrating, but is almost always beneficial. I look forward to working together.

As Psychology Today's "Ask Our Therapist" columnist and executive director/psychologist for our Ask Our Therapist online service, every day I learn about and respond to the very diverse and meaningful struggles that people share.

I work with queer and trans people, and welcome clients who do not fit those identities. I am particularly interested in working with—but not limited to—relationship dynamics, gender and sexuality exploration, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, sensitivity, neurodivergence, inner child work, fat justice / liberation, and connecting to self-expression. I invite clients who are sitting with the questions of… How can I live fully as myself? What's happening in my relationship to self? To others? To the world? I value supporting you in your authentic expression beyond constructs and rules, and I work very experientially.

Relationships take work, but sometimes we don't know what work needs to be done, or how to do it in a way that strengthens the connections between us. That's where I come in. Therapy is like an objective mirror that reflects thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Through this mirror, you can begin to see a clearer picture of your relationship, so much so, that eventually you can carry that image outside of the therapy room & be happy & confident in what you see. In my work, I provide a space for vulnerability & understanding that allows these connections to foster change. We'll collaborate to make a plan that fits your specific needs.

Many of the people who reach out to me for therapy describe themselves as disheartened and distressed with some major part of their lives. Some feel sadly disconnected in their intimate relationship with a primary partner or spouse. Others feel they can't find a way to communicate and connect with a parent, child or sibling. Other people want relief from feeling anxious, depressed or overwhelmed by stress. What they all have in common is a genuine desire to feel more deeply connected in their relationships and to live more fully and with greater ease. Does this sound like you?

My style as a clinician is warm, caring, thoughtful, and engaged. I aim to help you make sense of your experience in a way that is both meaningful and healing, given your unique identities. Therapy takes courage, asking us to explore the parts of ourselves that make us feel afraid, ashamed, or unlovable. Gradually, we develop the capacity to be intimate with ourselves, and only then can we truly feel comfortable with others. We may discover an inner strength we never knew was possible.

I can’t change the world around you, but I can help you find your footing. Whether you want to feel comfortable in your own skin, struggle to set boundaries, get trapped in a cycle of people pleasing, or seek meaning and connection—therapy is a place to listen deeply to your inner wisdom and experience. Together, we can access the resources to understand who you are and make the changes you’ve been struggling to make. While I have specialized training in perinatal mental health, I work with adult clients (18 years and older) from a wide variety of backgrounds, in all phases and transitions of life.

Do you feel like you're doing everything you're supposed to do, but feeling constantly stressed, overwhelmed, or helpless? Are you stuck in unhealthy relationship patterns? Are you living in your head so much that it’s getting in the way of your relationships, health, or work? Are you constantly busy yet feel unfulfilled, like the ‘go’ button is stuck in the on position? Maybe this is you, or maybe this is your partner. I’ve worked with lots of clients like this — working through trauma, identity issues, anxiety, and stress to live a healthier, more meaningful life.

Do you find yourself having a difficult time coping with anxiety, depression, and trauma? Do you have a hard time communicating and setting boundaries with others? Life is full of obstacles and hardships that may be difficult to overcome without the right tools, resources, and, guidance leading to the manifestation of these symptoms. I specialize in working with adults, couples, and adolescents using a Psychodynamic approach to explore unconscious thoughts and behaviors. In doing this, we are able to collaboratively recognize old ineffective patterns and process unresolved feelings and trauma.

Therapy is a space you carve out with me to reconnect - with yourself, your goals, your life’s meaning, your passion, your creativity, your spiritual path. We all struggle with difficult things at times; they pull us away from who we want to be, or the path we intend to walk in life. I believe relationships are the most important healers we have in our lives – starting with your relationship with yourself! Extending to all your other important and beloved relationships - with family, friends, community, planet, and spirit. No matter where you are, your journey to self-empowerment and joy begins Right Here. I will be there with you.

Maybe you are dealing with new and difficult circumstances, or maybe you are ready to confront issues that have been bothering you for some time. Wherever you are, I will meet you there, help you discover where you would like to be, and move in that direction with you. Psychological pain often comes from being stuck in patterns of thought, behavior, and emotional response that were necessary to our self-preservation at one point, but that are no longer serving that purpose. You have gotten where you are today thanks to your inner strengths; my job is to help you build on those strengths while helping you change harmful patterns.