Couples Counseling Therapists in Oakland, CA
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Carrie E Gray
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified
Verified
In an atmosphere of acceptance, understanding and clarity, I am here to support your
relationship
with yourself. Using tools such as mindfulness, insight, somatic and narrative approaches, I create a space where the many parts of you are welcome. Goal setting is a collaborative process and therapy can be long or short term depending on your needs. I deeply support the listening process, as well as the interplay between individual needs and
relationship
needs. I have a particular orientation towards meaning and purpose, and I draw from your values as a means of integrating both difficult and inspiring experiences.
Waitlist for new clients

Casey Loughran
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
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.

Deborah Yarock
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
For the past 30 years, I have supported people navigating anxiety, depression, addictions and overwhelm to rediscover their aliveness, and the gifts that can come from even the most difficult experiences. As a highly interactive and warm person, I focus on the quality of our therapeutic
relationship
, as I believe it is pivotal to the healing process. Deeply intuitive and strength based by nature, I help you recognize your innate wisdom to creatively reshape your life. In the supportive environment of therapy, you are invited to unfold at your very own pace while facing challenges and perceived limitations.

Sonia Beers
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I have significant clinical experience working
couples
and families.
I welcome collaboration and creativity in the therapeutic process! My approach is to listen with curiosity and attention. I am passionate about working with individuals with learning differences, as well as parents of children who've been identified. I support
couples
and relationships that are experiencing challenges because of different "wiring" that leads to misattunement and dysregulation. I understand the challenges that parents can face in taking care of their complex children. Above all, I know how hard it can be to navigate the stressful times, and I am here to help.

J Brandon McMillan M.A
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, IMF
I provide general counseling for adults, adolescents, and
couples
(anxiety and
relationship
issues) I specialize in addictions therapy, chronic trauma (PTSD), family therapy, and adolescent issues (self-esteem and talk therapy).
Over the course of life, people develop coping skills to deal with all kinds of emotional challenges. However, sometimes, individuals encounter situations for which they have no preparation or find the usually adequate coping skills are overwhelmed by the enormity of particular problem/problems. There may be patterns or behaviors that one feels stuck in or fated to repeat over-and-over. (Do you feel "stuck" but you cannot figure out how to release yourself?) In those instances a solution focused, warm, steady, and skillful therapist can assist individuals to understand the root causes of those distressing patterns.

Stephanie Bain
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
I work with people who have been told they're “too sensitive,” “too much,” feel misunderstood, or feel alienated from the mainstream. I work with partners looking for a therapist who "gets it." You are not too intense, too sensitive, or too "out there." The whole of you is welcome with me! The number one reason clients reach out is they are experiencing some kind of distress–and they would like to experience less of it. You want change but are not sure how to get it–therapy is great for that. Or, you simply want to deepen your connection with yourself, your
partner
(s), and the world around you, therapy is great for that, too.

Casey La Herran
Associate Clinical Social Worker, MPH, ACSW
Verified
Verified
For
couples
, I utilize emotionally focused therapy to help
couples
enhance their
relationship
and work through challenges.
Healthcare Workers: Since the onset of the Pandemic healthcare workers have endured greater stressors due to an increase in demands. Due to my experience in the field, I have an empathetic lens to the various needs of all health care professionals. Individual therapy: My goal as your therapist is to help you shift your current perspective to ultimately change your feelings and behaviors to live a happy, healthier life.
Couples
therapy: My goal for
couples
therapy is to reignite communication, passion, and connection.

Christina Boyd
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My approach is centered on building a strong therapeutic
relationship
.
I believe everyone deserves to find their voice, to feel seen and heard. We all long for deep, authentic connections, but we can often get stuck in old patterns with those we love. We end up sacrificing our needs, avoiding vulnerability, or "acting out" in ways we don't understand. I enjoy helping people with trusting their intuition, building self-esteem, communicating effectively, and creating meaningful boundaries and connections in relationships. I work with individuals,
couples
, and families of all ages, backgrounds, and identities. I offer tools for navigating anxiety, depression, stress, and bodily symptoms.

Nicole Woolf
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I appreciate working with a wide and diverse range of individuals that include unsafe upbringings, family/
relationship
issues, and anger issues.
Seeking help can be scary and exciting, and it takes a lot of bravery and courage to take the initial step. You may be feeling like you are depressed and anxious due to your trauma. I aim to meet you where you are mentally and emotionally and help you grow, learn skills, and adapt to new changes. We can work together to identify your goals and needs and address the emotional and behavioral challenges you experience.

Susan Lowe-Thomas, Psy.D.
Psychologist
Verified
Verified
My approach is rooted in a collaborative and trusting
relationship
.
As a psychologist, I support the nourishment of mental health and well-being where ever you may be in your life. The journey can be challenging. Patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving help one navigate through life. Sometimes those patterns create barriers and overwhelming feelings. Conflicts, anger, confusion, people-pleasing, worry, and sadness may interfere. Allow me to use my life's learning and 12 years of clinical psychology experience to help you work toward your goals and find relief.

Liz Tong
Marriage & Family Therapist, MPH, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I have advanced training as a
couples
therapist & particularly enjoy working with interracial/cultural
couples
.
My style of therapy is warm, attentive, & engaged. I believe we all need to be heard, understood & truly seen for who we are; for this is where a sense of self-trust can deepen & self-esteem can strengthen. One of my goals is to help you feel less burdened & less alone in your struggles and also provide coping strategies when you are feeling overwhelmed. I honor the uniqueness of each individual & work in a way that meets your current needs (whether you are moving through a crisis situation, having
relationship
issues, needing help managing anxiety & depression, or healing from trauma).

Rachel D Steinberg
Psychologist, PSY
Verified
Verified
I am a licensed clinical psychologist providing services to adolescents and adults. My approach is interactive, attentive, flexible, and warm. I work with clients with a wide variety of issues, some of the most common being depression, anxiety/stress,
relationship
issues, grief, family of origin* difficulties and life transitions. In our work I collaborate with you to fully understand what brought you in and how I can be helpful. My aim is to help you live a more fulfilling, peaceful, and satisfying life.

Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center
Pre-Licensed Professional
Verified
Verified
If you are seeking help for yourself, your
relationship
or your child or family, consider calling Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center for more information.
Therapy provides such a rich opportunity for growth and learning, helping persons to recover from the aftermaths of trauma, abuse and loss, meet the hardships of their lives and thrive. In times like this, with so much anxiety about our collective welfare, it can be an invaluable lifeline. In response to the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, we are now offering teletherapy (therapy by phone and online by video) for all our clients, whether new or established. Also called telehealth or telebehavioral health, teletherapy can provide vital care and support to individuals,
couples
and families.

Mark Bronnenberg
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
One of the most important elements necessary for deep, self-reflective therapy is the presence of a respectful, emotionally engaged, and caring environment. Successful therapy hinges on the quality of the
relationship
. Over my 25 year career of working with both individuals and
couples
, my approach has been to engage people on several levels: addressing the current situation, early life experiences, conscious and unconscious parts of the psyche, as well as the underlying dynamics that interfere with progress toward healing and wholeness. I approach each individual based on the unique and specific circumstances of his or her life.
Waitlist for new clients

Emily Epstein
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Exploring your
relationship
to yourself, to important others in your life, and how you relate to me will help us in this process.
You may have decided that you need a focused time and a safe place to sort through important issues in your life. How do you know when a therapist is right for you? I believe in trusting your instincts. I invite you to bring your full range of feelings about starting therapy to an exploratory first session to see if we would be a good match. I work with individuals and
couples
of all orientations and backgrounds.

Jessica Gould Deitch
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
My areas of specialty include
relationship
issues, trauma, self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.
I aim to create a space where you feel recognized, understood, and safe enough to explore whatever pain or experience you need help with. My style is warm, collaborative, and compassionate. I use an individualized approach and tailor my interventions to your unique and specific needs. I combine down to earth, practical support with a depth-oriented approach focused on symptom relief and shifting long-standing patterns that have gotten in the way. I also focus on creating a strong therapeutic
relationship
in which each person I work with feels cared for and understood.
Waitlist for new clients

Tricia Kim Walsh
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
Do you feel stressed from helplessness and find yourself bottling up your emotions? Have you just entered into a new developmental life phase (middle/high school/college/graduation/job change/new
relationship
/engagement/marriage, etc.). Or maybe your depression, anxiety and/or relational problems have you so stuck, you can no longer can focus on what is most important in your life. I am an authentic and integrative therapist who is focused on helping you find immediate solutions. I specialize in work with individual adults, tweens, teens and families. Call for a complimentary 20 minute telephone consultation today!

Liz Michaud
Marriage & Family Therapist, BFA, MA, LMFT
Verified
6 Endorsed
Verified
6 Endorsed
Hello, and welcome :) I provide holistic, depth psychotherapy with a specialty in Parts-Therapy. My clients experience support, personal growth and a deeper understanding of self and others. My approach is non-judgmental and honest. It is aimed at helping you feel seen and heard with compassion while helping you see your problems with more clarity. This type of therapeutic
relationship
that combines validation, insight and empowerment can strengthen self-esteem, support the overcoming of negative patterns, and enliven new perspectives on life. I support the cultivation of hope and resiliency as you navigate the complexities of life.

Michael Shaw
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
I offer individual therapy,
couples counseling
, and professional coaching at the charming Market Hall in Rockridge, opposite BART.
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.

Lisa Danylchuk
Marriage & Family Therapist, EdM, LMFT, E-RYT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Everyone experiences challenges in life that are too much to bear alone. Trauma can occur as a result of neglect, abuse, loss, betrayal,
relationship
challenges, sudden changes, natural disasters, war, and really any emotionally overwhelming experience. I work with people who have experienced harm & neglect, or have gone through these types of difficult experiences and seek to heal in holistic ways. I work with many tools including yoga, breath work and EMDR, and will help you find your unique path of healing. If you're facing deep challenges, therapy can help. I'd be happy to connect to see if we are a good fit to work together.
See more therapy options for Oakland
Couples Counseling Therapists
Does couples counseling work?
Research shows that couples counseling is effective; it can reduce relationship distress and improve emotional awareness, communication, empathy, intimacy, and overall relationship satisfaction. For example, emotionally focused therapy was found to be effective for about 75 percent of couples, and those benefits lasted at least two years.
When should a couple seek counseling?
Couples can benefit from counseling if they consistently struggle in their relationship. They may have lost the ability to communicate effectively, become entrenched in harmful patterns, begun to fight more than usual, broken the other’s trust, suffered from a mental or physical illness, or faced any number of other challenges. Many therapists offer free consultations, so if a couple isn’t sure whether therapy is necessary, asking directly can provide clarity.
How can I get my partner to go to couples therapy?
The decision to seek couples therapy is often driven by one partner, who then convinces the other to participate. When discussing the idea, the initiator should be direct and assertive. They can state the problems they see and explain how the relationship would benefit from therapy. In more serious cases, they can also explain how their relationship may suffer without making any changes or seeking professional help.
How does a couple prepare for couples counseling?
The anticipation of beginning couples counseling can be difficult—sometimes more difficult than the first session itself. Taking a few moments to reflect can allay those concerns: What are the current challenges? When and how did they begin? What do they want the relationship to look like in the future? Reflecting on these questions can help individuals or couples articulate their goals. Of course, the therapist will also ask questions and guide couples through the process.