Couples Counseling Therapists in Oakland, CA

You zone out on TV or Netflix or scroll on your phone, as procrastination fueled by negative self talk becomes an everyday thing. You constantly doubt yourself and use overwork, food or unhealthy ways to self soothe. Low self confidence gives way to feelings of isolation and imposter syndrome and your ability to make or trust decisions you need to make. You may avoid thinking about certain things. You feel fatigue, discomfort in your gut or tightness in your neck and shoulders. Sometimes you feel dizzy, light headed or shaky. Your can't sleep, there is work and relationship stress and you often don't look forward to the day ahead.

Live your truth. Follow your bliss. Do you. Sounds simple, right? Except that, all too often, we convince ourselves that who we are is not enough, that what we want is undeserved. So we stifle our talents, ignore our truth and deny our deepest desires. Before we know it, we’re living someone else’s life, satisfying everyone’s expectations but our own. All to earn the love and acceptance we don’t feel worthy of otherwise. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Choosing to start therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. I believe all people have a natural inclination toward growth and wholeness and sometimes things get in the way. Exploring these obstacles with compassion and courage can help you cultivate the most important relationship of your life -- your relationship with yourself. Whether your challenge is depression, anxiety, grief and loss, relationships, addictions or career challenges, all you need to get started is the desire to change.

Struggle in your life, your relationship , or family can provide surprising opportunities to cultivate resilience, connection, and meaning. Therapy with me is a collaborative process. I work with individuals, couples , and families to develop a framework that will foster nourishing joy and holistic health. I welcome clients who experience social/racial marginalization. If you struggle with communication, satisfaction, depression, meaning, or difficulty in life transitions, you will find resonance with my mindfulness-based and narrative approach. I work best with clients who seek to ease suffering and aim for transformation.

I offer humor, warmth and unconditional acceptance of whatever you bring into session. I've worked with many different issues across many different age groups including: depression, anxiety, existential and relationship issues and trauma. Many clients come in wanting to unpack their past- others need to focus on the present. I can meet you wherever you are and help you develop a healthy relationship to yourself and others. Children's psychological needs often represent themselves a little differently, but ultimately require the same safe space to explore, unpack and process.

Experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma can be hard to navigate on one’s own. Through the use of integrative modalities, my goal is to help you find your way so that you can manage symptoms, feel your best, discover who you truly are, and move forward in the direction of your dreams whereby your past no longer holds you back. Using warmth and compassion, I also aim to provide trauma-informed care to discuss your struggles without judgment and safely process unresolved trauma and feelings.

Are you going through internal struggle due to trauma? Do you feel anxious and depressed about the future? Do you struggle with family issues and relationship issues? I’m willing to meet you where you are, help you process unwanted thoughts and emotions, and help develop an action plan to effectively cultivate your healing and growth. I’m here to help you explore unresolved feelings (anxiety, depression, anger, helplessness, grief, etc.) and develop skills to effectively cope with them. Thus, you can feel relieved and fulfilled in your relationship with yourself and others.

I believe life is a journey over mountains and through valleys. At any point along the way a large or small obstacle may seem to obstruct the path and potentially end one's journey. Learning techniques to go over or around obstacles can thus become a valued life skill. Helping people learn the skills to navigate through life's good and not so good times is what therapy is for.

Do you have trouble with anxiety, depression, and relationship /family issues due to trauma? Past experiences can create imprints onto your brain that activate your fight/flight responses whenever your emotions feel dysregulated, but life without the constant feeling of being on edge is possible. Those traumatic memories don’t have to permanently influence who you are meant to be. Through therapy, you will gain control of your feelings/thoughts and your response to everyday life hurdles. Healing from trauma can create healthier beliefs about yourself and your relationships along with sustainable changes.

I provide psychotherapy for adults, teenagers and children, consultation regarding parenting issues, and play therapy for children with behavioral or emotional issues. My work with adults has covered a broad spectrum - from people who are having problems with relationships or need help with stress management and coping skills, to people suffering from anxiety disorders and depression. I specialize in women's issues and life transitions. My goal is to help people get through difficult and challenging times and see opportunities for growth.

Seeking support requires plenty of courage, strength, and determination. Taking the first steps toward change can feel both invigorating and nerve-racking at the same time. I aim to create a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental space for you to share your life experiences. One of our most fundamental human needs is to form connections, and I strive to utilize our therapeutic relationship as a guide for growth and healing. As a partner in your personal journey, I hope to empower you to gain the valuable insight and practical skills essential for overcoming obstacles, achieving your goals, and living a well-balanced, self-fulfilled life.

As a therapist, my goal is to use my multicultural knowledge and experience to offer professional services based on respect and trust. The foundation of my clinical work is to remain non-judgmental and culturally sensitive.

I am a queer relationship therapist and am excited about cultivating and nurturing more fulfilling and loving relationships inside and out. It could be that you want to feel more connected, authentic, and loving toward your partners, 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 and authenticity.

Life is harder than expected at times. Transitions, loss, trauma, persistent anxiety or depression, or a feeling that things will never change are just a few examples of the ways in which people can feel less hopeful about their lives. Psychotherapy is a tool that can alleviate the stressors of everyday life, improve one's sense of well being and connection with others and enhance one's self understanding. Over time it can also lead to a greater sense of competency and satisfaction in the world.

You want to be understood. Or maybe you need a little extra support right now. My specialty is helping you with anxiety and depression related to work, relationships, family, parenting and life transitions. Many of my clients are in tech and feeling burned out. Students or recent grads ready for their next step. New parents feeling overwhelmed. Single, young professionals struggling to find a partner . And creative types needing motivation and clarity. Life adjustments at these stages can be particularly difficult and I can help support you through them.

Psychotherapy is a uniquely effective way to address and process deeply rooted issues that manifest in ways that are painful, confusing, and make people feel out of control. I work with children, adolescents, and adults in individual therapy, using a collaborative approach that centers on empathy, understanding, and exploration. My orientation is predominantly psychodynamic, and I tailor my approach to each individual to address unique circumstances and complexities. I strive to create a safe, warm, and validating environment that enables people to share and be vulnerable without fear of judgment.

Psychotherapy offers us an opportunity to better understand ourselves and to create important and meaningful changes in our lives. It also offers an effective way to address questions and feelings that we may find confusing or painful. I approach this work with empathy, warmth, curiosity, and a collaborative spirit. I tailor my approach to the particular needs of each client, offering both the opportunity to reflect and explore as well as down to earth, pragmatic tools to address difficult feelings or behaviors.

Have you been feeling stuck? Having difficulties making changes, or knowing what to do? Are you navigating a sense that something is off? I can help. My clients say I'm easy to talk with because I'm present, compassionate, and am real with them. I listen actively and reflect honestly, engaging in creative, authentic, and occasionally humorous ways. I share tools to help you change the patterns in your life that make you feel stuck. In my strengths-based, trauma-informed, creative and client-centered approach, you will find your way back to yourself: your unique voice, movement, vision, and your way of loving and being loved.