Family Therapy in Oakland, CA
See all therapists in Oakland
Dolores Antolín Y Muñiz
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
I have extensive experience and training working with women of color, specifically where it involves oppression and race based trauma (historical and current), Intergenerational Trauma,
family
dynamics, and the process of self-identity and empowerment.
My passion is working with clients from unique backgrounds and/or experiences who often contact me because they want to work on or through complex trauma, such as oppression based and/or inter-generational trauma. Modalities used addresses the concerns of those whose race, ethnicity, gender identification, income, disability/accessability, and other social factors which often go unrecognized/disavowed. Issues that arise for minority groups, such as oppression, racism, and marginalization, are relevant, recognized, validated, safely contained, and honored by me.

Caitlin Rose Marvaso
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA
Verified
Verified
I combine body-centered psychotherapy, emotionally-focused therapy, expressive arts therapy, internal
family
systems therapy, CBT, and somatic embodiment.
I believe in the wisdom of the body, it is constantly communicating something to you, and your emotions are the messenger. I want to help you become an expert at your own body language so that you can heal what has happened to you, and make room for the truth of your soul, by learning to listen to your body's deepest desires.

Meghan Lefkowitz
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I approach each client seeking to genuinely understand their life experiences and current struggles. I work from a place of compassion and support clients in building understanding of their emotions, habits, and relationships. I specialize in working with college students and young adults who often face major life transitions that can bring up a great deal of anxiety, depression, stress, uncertainty and relationship/
family
challenges.

Jessica Cerda
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
In my therapeutic practice, I seek to truly understand and validate my clients’ experiences. No two people or life experiences are the same and by continuously remaining curious about my clients’ experiences, it’s amazing how far back we can uncover unhealed trauma, history and patterns. I often approach therapy through a
Family
Systems perspective, which allows us to dig beyond the self and analyze how our
family
of origin, relationships and/or intergenerational patterns influence how we have come to understand the world and our behaviors. I also enjoy utilizing interventions based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Inte

Sarah Brekke-Velázquez
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I specialize in working with people impacted by trauma and
family
stress and have done extensive work with youth and families.
I believe in healing ourselves and each other as the first step toward healing our planet. My intention as a therapist is to guide people toward empowerment and healing in order to live their fullest and most joyful lives possible. I believe that we all have this capacity within us, and therapy can help us to move through our past trauma, oppressive social conditioning, anxieties and other stresses to be our best selves.

Janelle De Veyra
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified
Verified
Do you struggle with depression, anxiety, and trauma? Do you experience difficulties managing
family
and relationship issues? I believe that healing happens when we pay attention to all the parts that make us whole—our mind, body, and soul. The subconscious mind controls most of our reality and choices, so building awareness and active presence can improve the quality of daily living and assist in not only surviving but thriving through life. As an intuitive & holistic therapist, I will assist you in strengthening your inner psyche and developing new tools to manage negative feelings and thoughts.

Joan A Pezanoski
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
Verified
I have been trained in a variety of modalities (individual, couples and
family
treatment) and utilize methods and techniques that make sense to each unique individual, couple and/or
family
that I am working with.
I am a warm and caring human being with a clear understanding that therapy is not a "one size fits all" process. I fully appreciate the uniqueness of each individual, couple and
family
and will work with you to develop a plan that makes sense to you and addresses the realities of your life. Whether your goal is to improve your relationships, alleviate undesirable symptoms, bring more purpose and fulfillment to your life, rid yourself of unwanted behaviors, or experience more joy in your life, I can help you achieve these goals. Experienced in working with the LGBTQ community.

Alicia A Parker
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
In addition to my work as a clinician, I am a close
family
member of someone who struggled with a lifelong mental illness.
It may seem like we are alone in our journey. We are all waging a personal invisible fight that we share with few people. Individual therapy is a way to help you make sense of your experience, and gain emotional support to push through difficult times. Beginning therapy is an opportunity to start offering yourself more compassion and grace. I’ve spent over 10 years supporting adults and families in crisis. I work with adults and adolescents struggling with grief, anxiety, addiction, depression, panic, and phobias.

Kristy Shanks
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Do you or your child have difficulty maintaining healthy relationships? Are you or your child anxious or depressed? Is your
family
having difficulty connecting? I am here to support you, your child, or your
family
in expressing your feelings, acknowledging your lived experiences, and navigating relationships.

Kelly Albrecht
Pre-Licensed Professional, ASW
Verified
Verified
Are you struggling to process depression, anxiety, relationship/
family
issues, and trauma? These emotional ruptures can cause major disruptions in our lives. The work to process these types of life events is multifaceted, and I can help you identify your feelings and potential relational patterns, build tolerance and acceptance around challenging ones, and set meaningful goals. In order to do so, I utilize various therapeutic approaches consisting of ACT, CBT, and Problem Solving Therapy and somatic interventions.

Heidi Xue
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT, APPC, EMDR
Verified
Verified
I also specialize in couples/
family therapy
.
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.
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Dave Rutschman
Counselor, MA, LPCC
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Finding the right therapist can be hard. Maybe you're facing difficult experiences of grief and loss, serious illness, or
family
conflict. Maybe you're wrestling with depression or anxiety. Or maybe you just have a general sense that your life has lost meaning and direction. Whatever brings you in, I'll offer a warm-hearted and positive space for us to learn together about your particular situation, and about the possibilities for healing and transformation that can be found within it. Having someone to talk to makes a real difference.

Oscar S Ureño
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
4 Endorsed
Verified
4 Endorsed
As a bilingual/bi-cultural psychologist, I ground my clinical understanding of the symptoms that afflict you and/or your
family
in a cultural context and understand the impact of discrimination and oppression may have on the individual and
family
system.
Making the decision to seek out and find the right therapist either for you or for a loved one can be tough. There are many variables to consider and the task can be overwhelming. I work with people who struggle with issues related to identity, mood, life transitions, conflict, trauma and resistance to therapy often because it is mandated. I provide a safe space where you can discuss the details of your challenges and ground the clinical work in the context of the therapeutic relationship.

Brittnay Nichele Stevens
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor
Verified
Verified
I offer Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-centered approach,
family
-centered approach, motivational interviewing, conflict resolution, trauma-focused, strength-focused, and eclectic therapy.
The first step is often the most important step. You are here! In Black and Brown communities seeking mental health services is taboo. There are all sorts of stigmas attached to therapy. Let's work on building a better understanding of what it truly means to be mentally healthy. Feeling lost, stuck or confused? Having trouble communicating your needs? Finding it hard to set healthy boundaries? Need help setting goals? Suffering from anxiety and depression? These are all normal feelings, at times we all struggle to express ourselves, it is okay to put your needs first. It is okay to work on YOU! I can help.
Not accepting new clients

Gregory LH Gayle
Psychologist, PsyD, MEd
Verified
10 Endorsed
Verified
10 Endorsed
We all want to be understood, accepted and loved; this can only happen through honest communication. Making the decision to seek help for you or your
family
can be part of that communication. I provide a safe space to explore, discuss and process important issues that affect the lives of you and your
family
members. I have an eclectic approach to providing psychotherapy. As one size does not fit all, therapy cannot be approached in the same way for everyone. It must be tailored to the specific needs, issues and problems that each person uniquely presents.

Helia Ziaee
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I provide mental health counseling to help and guide my client(s) find a balanced life by providing a safe space to process and talk about
family
issues, marital conflict, job stressors, fertility, postpartum, alcohol and substance use along with other mental health concerns they may be experiencing. The therapeutic alliance is the pillar of the therapeutic process and growth. Having worked in this field for almost a decade, I believe my greatest strength is the ability to connect and empathize with my clients while building on their life skills.

Daniela Girbal
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I am a Licensed Marriage and
Family Therapist
and have experience providing individual and
family
psychotherapy. I utilize an eclectic theoretical approach to therapy as every client is unique and one size does not fit all when approaching treatment. I believe that psychotherapy is a collaborative process and feel honored to be part of my client's journeys of self-discovery and growth.

Leticia Vaca Williams
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
7 Endorsed
Verified
7 Endorsed
You don't have to struggle with day-to-day life difficulties alone. Are you facing personal growth blocks, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, grief/ loss, life transitions,
family
challenges, health or injury problems, work stress, or other types of emotional pains? My clients are diverse and I take the time to get to know your unique needs and goals. My approach is warm, sincere, and direct. You can expect a safe space to express yourself, relief from overwhelming thoughts and emotions, learn tools and get the right support to aid in healing. We can work together to help you regain balance in your life and feel empowered.
Waitlist for new clients

Kendra Feliz Paulsen
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
I use a combination of humanistic/person-centered practices, EMDR, depth psychology, subjective and Gestalt dream work,
family
systems, cognitive behavioral therapy CBT,
family
constellations, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), and Imago Therapy, among other things.
We all have work to do. We don't have to do it alone. In a safe, non-judgmental environment, I explore with my clients their dreams, artwork, relationships, and daily life experiences, to bring light and insight to blockages and barriers to their full experience and enjoyment of life. Such blockages can be past trauma, incorrect embedded beliefs, injured parts, and/or ingrained thought patterns and habits. Once these things are processed and/or healed, new ways forward can be nurtured.

Jonathan Willett
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I have worked with a wide diversity of clients including people experiencing anxiety, depression, addiction, thought disorders, bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress, marriage and
family
issues, and difficult life changes.
I work to build a warm, empathic relationship with my clients to create an environment where we can think together about the issues that bring you to therapy and how best to resolve them. I am informed by psychodynamic theory and utilize this rich tradition to explore unconscious defenses, maladaptive patterns and underlying schemas that can cause a person to repeat problematic behaviors despite their best efforts to change. I also draw from Cognitive Behavioral and Mindfullness practices to support clients with acquiring the tools they need to make those changes.
See more therapy options for
Family Therapy
What do family therapists do?
A family therapist facilitates the process of understanding and improving how a family functions. The therapist will help family members develop empathy for one another. They’ll seek to understand existing patterns, misunderstandings, and conflicts that arise, in order to help the family arrive at a realistic, unified understanding and develop the coping skills they need to build stronger relationships.
How long does therapy for families take to work?
Therapy manifests differently in every family; a common time frame is 12 weekly sessions, but some families may see improvement after just a few weeks. Families should discuss their goals with the therapist at the beginning of the process and periodically revisit those goals to assess their progress together.
How can you encourage a family member to attend family therapy?
You can encourage family members to attend therapy by expressing with both love and concern the challenges you see and explaining how a therapist could help the family navigate those challenges together. An outside perspective can help everyone feel heard, get on the same page, and develop new skills. If family members are still hesitant, it may be helpful to emphasize that family therapy is short-term—it won’t last forever.
Is therapy for families effective?
Family therapy can significantly improve family dynamics and relationships. Research suggests that family therapy can help individuals understand their role in the family, communicate and solve problems together, reduce conflict and draw boundaries when necessary, and develop coping skills for stressors, major life changes, and mental or physical illnesses within the family.