Psychodynamic Therapists in Oakland, CA
The decision to pursue therapy is often not an easy one. However, in working with a therapist, most people find a sense of relief that comes with learning that change is possible. Whether your concerns are long-standing patterns or new adjustments, through collaborative exploration within a therapeutic relationship, new ways of relating and coping can develop.
The decision to pursue therapy is often not an easy one. However, in working with a therapist, most people find a sense of relief that comes with learning that change is possible. Whether your concerns are long-standing patterns or new adjustments, through collaborative exploration within a therapeutic relationship, new ways of relating and coping can develop.
Learn how to feel more connected to yourself, others, and the world around you. Therapy provides all the elements of intimacy: honest communication, vulnerability, and trust. Good therapy is challenging yet warm, providing both structure and empathy for your unique experience.
Learn how to feel more connected to yourself, others, and the world around you. Therapy provides all the elements of intimacy: honest communication, vulnerability, and trust. Good therapy is challenging yet warm, providing both structure and empathy for your unique experience.
I am trained in both psychodynamic and attachment theory, and use EFT for my couples work.
I am a psychotherapist treating both adults and couples, in-person and on-line, with offices in SF and Oakland. I take a relational and collaborative approach to psychotherapy. My clinical orientation is grounded in both Psychoanalytic and Attachment Theory. I am trained in Jungian Analytic Psychotherapy, and (for couples) Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I am also trained in EMDR.
I am trained in both psychodynamic and attachment theory, and use EFT for my couples work.
I am a psychotherapist treating both adults and couples, in-person and on-line, with offices in SF and Oakland. I take a relational and collaborative approach to psychotherapy. My clinical orientation is grounded in both Psychoanalytic and Attachment Theory. I am trained in Jungian Analytic Psychotherapy, and (for couples) Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I am also trained in EMDR.
I offer depth-oriented psychotherapy and Jungian analysis for individuals and couples seeking healing, transformation, and meaning. I find it essential to first provide a safe, non-judgmental and collaborative space to explore your inner life and address emotional difficulties. My approach can help you uncover the roots of anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, other mental health concerns, and develop practical strategies to navigate life's challenges. I bring a holistic approach that works to reduce painful symptoms while building on your strengths, fostering resilience, creativity, and a deeper sense of purpose.
I offer depth-oriented psychotherapy and Jungian analysis for individuals and couples seeking healing, transformation, and meaning. I find it essential to first provide a safe, non-judgmental and collaborative space to explore your inner life and address emotional difficulties. My approach can help you uncover the roots of anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, other mental health concerns, and develop practical strategies to navigate life's challenges. I bring a holistic approach that works to reduce painful symptoms while building on your strengths, fostering resilience, creativity, and a deeper sense of purpose.
I see individuals and couples in my peaceful and beautifully furnished office in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland. I strive to create a comfortable, accepting and encouraging space, since the quality of the relationship between therapist and client is essential to the work.
I see individuals and couples in my peaceful and beautifully furnished office in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland. I strive to create a comfortable, accepting and encouraging space, since the quality of the relationship between therapist and client is essential to the work.
I work towards developing a relationship with you where you can feel safe to express your feelings, talk about your concerns and think creatively about old patterns and past worries that may be holding you back from living life more fully. I strive to create a therapeutic environment where you will gain more awareness and learn to live in a creative and playful manner while developing the capacity to know and realistically meet your own needs. You will find me to be warm, interested, creative, and curious therapist.
I work towards developing a relationship with you where you can feel safe to express your feelings, talk about your concerns and think creatively about old patterns and past worries that may be holding you back from living life more fully. I strive to create a therapeutic environment where you will gain more awareness and learn to live in a creative and playful manner while developing the capacity to know and realistically meet your own needs. You will find me to be warm, interested, creative, and curious therapist.
Ari Neubauer – Couples | Families |
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
2 Endorsed
Oakland, CA 94610
Are you overwhelmed by relationship stress? Do you find yourself repeating old patterns that don't serve you? Are you carrying attachment wounds from emotionally immature or narcissistic parents? Is the weight of past trauma or grief getting in the way of your routine? You deserve to experience respectful, collaborative communication with your partner and family, and deeper emotional safety in your relationships. Children, teens, and adults alike can benefit from a therapy space where emotions are understood and identity is honored. Working with an LGBTQIA+-affirming and neurodivergent therapist, you can show up fully as yourself.
Are you overwhelmed by relationship stress? Do you find yourself repeating old patterns that don't serve you? Are you carrying attachment wounds from emotionally immature or narcissistic parents? Is the weight of past trauma or grief getting in the way of your routine? You deserve to experience respectful, collaborative communication with your partner and family, and deeper emotional safety in your relationships. Children, teens, and adults alike can benefit from a therapy space where emotions are understood and identity is honored. Working with an LGBTQIA+-affirming and neurodivergent therapist, you can show up fully as yourself.
The clients I work best with are battling with the effects of relational trauma, which can be especially difficult because most of us don’t even know what relational trauma is. You might think you had a happy childhood, but now as an adult you find yourself struggling in relationships of all kinds. You don’t know how to set boundaries. You feel selfish when you put yourself first. You feel guilty giving people negative feedback The bottom line is on a deep level you feel that it’s wrong to be your true self if it will inconvenience someone else.
The clients I work best with are battling with the effects of relational trauma, which can be especially difficult because most of us don’t even know what relational trauma is. You might think you had a happy childhood, but now as an adult you find yourself struggling in relationships of all kinds. You don’t know how to set boundaries. You feel selfish when you put yourself first. You feel guilty giving people negative feedback The bottom line is on a deep level you feel that it’s wrong to be your true self if it will inconvenience someone else.
I have great compassion for the human struggle. You don’t have go it alone; it’s far easier with another person who cares & who is trained to help. I’m passionate about the study & practice of psychology. I studied psychology formally at Stanford (BA) and UC Berkeley (MA & PhD) & via ongoing postdoctoral education. I’ve been a Psychologist in private practice for over 30 years. My way of working is interactive & problem solving. I'm open, empathic, and authentic. I’m good at helping people who are going through relationship difficulties, life transitions, anxiety, grief, self-criticism, and emotional trauma, abuse, & neglect.
I have great compassion for the human struggle. You don’t have go it alone; it’s far easier with another person who cares & who is trained to help. I’m passionate about the study & practice of psychology. I studied psychology formally at Stanford (BA) and UC Berkeley (MA & PhD) & via ongoing postdoctoral education. I’ve been a Psychologist in private practice for over 30 years. My way of working is interactive & problem solving. I'm open, empathic, and authentic. I’m good at helping people who are going through relationship difficulties, life transitions, anxiety, grief, self-criticism, and emotional trauma, abuse, & neglect.
I prioritize making the therapeutic environment active and flexible, creating space for all the overlapping spheres of the human experience. Between relationships, career, family, and the rest of the world, our lives and struggles are intertwined, making it sometimes hard to understand where one challenge starts or ends. By exploring the history and interconnectedness of our challenges and strengths, we can develop new understanding and identify strategies that feel nuanced, meaningful, and empowering. I maintain a client-centered approach allowing the client to work in a framework and pace that feels best for them.
I prioritize making the therapeutic environment active and flexible, creating space for all the overlapping spheres of the human experience. Between relationships, career, family, and the rest of the world, our lives and struggles are intertwined, making it sometimes hard to understand where one challenge starts or ends. By exploring the history and interconnectedness of our challenges and strengths, we can develop new understanding and identify strategies that feel nuanced, meaningful, and empowering. I maintain a client-centered approach allowing the client to work in a framework and pace that feels best for them.
With a background in Expressive Arts Therapy, I see healing not as fixing, but as a creative and continuous unfolding. Change—though natural—can stir uncertainty, grief, and resistance, while also opening space for growth. Discomfort invites us to release what no longer serves us and (sometimes quietly) offers possibility: gentle nudges to explore our needs, desires, and the deepening understanding of our evolution—inwardly and in relationship. I’m here to be with you—with steadiness, presence, and trust in your unfolding—through unknowns, edges, victories, and the ongoing process of your unique becoming.
With a background in Expressive Arts Therapy, I see healing not as fixing, but as a creative and continuous unfolding. Change—though natural—can stir uncertainty, grief, and resistance, while also opening space for growth. Discomfort invites us to release what no longer serves us and (sometimes quietly) offers possibility: gentle nudges to explore our needs, desires, and the deepening understanding of our evolution—inwardly and in relationship. I’m here to be with you—with steadiness, presence, and trust in your unfolding—through unknowns, edges, victories, and the ongoing process of your unique becoming.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CADC-II). I got sober 21 years ago and have been in the profession of mental health and substance abuse for the past 19 years. My background includes experience in both outpatient and residential treatment settings. I became a therapist because I have a passion for helping others overcome challenges they face. Congratulations on taking such a big step towards healing and changing the trajectory of your life.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CADC-II). I got sober 21 years ago and have been in the profession of mental health and substance abuse for the past 19 years. My background includes experience in both outpatient and residential treatment settings. I became a therapist because I have a passion for helping others overcome challenges they face. Congratulations on taking such a big step towards healing and changing the trajectory of your life.
Learn how to feel more connected to yourself, others, and the world around you. Therapy provides all the elements of intimacy: honest communication, vulnerability, and trust. Good therapy is challenging yet warm, providing both structure and empathy for your unique experience.
Learn how to feel more connected to yourself, others, and the world around you. Therapy provides all the elements of intimacy: honest communication, vulnerability, and trust. Good therapy is challenging yet warm, providing both structure and empathy for your unique experience.
My clients are adults, adolescents, and couples who feel stuck in patterns they can't think their way out of — anxiety that won't quiet, grief that lingers, relationships that keep hitting the same wall, or a deep disconnection from themselves and their bodies.
Many carry intergenerational trauma, navigate life between cultures, or seek a space where their full identity is truly honored.
Through attunement, presence, and co-regulation, I create a safe container where clients can visit difficult places and process their experience in the company of another. Healing often begins there.
My clients are adults, adolescents, and couples who feel stuck in patterns they can't think their way out of — anxiety that won't quiet, grief that lingers, relationships that keep hitting the same wall, or a deep disconnection from themselves and their bodies.
Many carry intergenerational trauma, navigate life between cultures, or seek a space where their full identity is truly honored.
Through attunement, presence, and co-regulation, I create a safe container where clients can visit difficult places and process their experience in the company of another. Healing often begins there.
Current openings for in person and virtual group therapy. Are you ready to start improving your relationships and seeing yourself more clearly? Do you yearn for a sense of belonging where you don’t have to contort yourself to fit in? Would you like to have the person you are becoming witnessed and supported? Groups function as a microcosm of the real world, and give us an opportunity to understand our patterns in relationship and receive valuable feedback. Over time, group members learn they can be more fully themselves with others and gain confidence and capacity for more satisfying connections.
Current openings for in person and virtual group therapy. Are you ready to start improving your relationships and seeing yourself more clearly? Do you yearn for a sense of belonging where you don’t have to contort yourself to fit in? Would you like to have the person you are becoming witnessed and supported? Groups function as a microcosm of the real world, and give us an opportunity to understand our patterns in relationship and receive valuable feedback. Over time, group members learn they can be more fully themselves with others and gain confidence and capacity for more satisfying connections.
I offer short & long-term therapy to children/adolescents (5-17), young adults, & families feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected. I work with individuals experiencing nervous system dysregulation, burnout, & family conflict, particularly those who are highly sensitive or managing ADHD, anxiety, or depression. I offer ecotherapy (nature-based therapy) as well as traditional talk therapy. We can utilize nature’s profound, holistic resource for grounding & healing, offering practical ways to regulate the nervous system. My goal is to help you and/or your child feel securely connected to self and the world.
I offer short & long-term therapy to children/adolescents (5-17), young adults, & families feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected. I work with individuals experiencing nervous system dysregulation, burnout, & family conflict, particularly those who are highly sensitive or managing ADHD, anxiety, or depression. I offer ecotherapy (nature-based therapy) as well as traditional talk therapy. We can utilize nature’s profound, holistic resource for grounding & healing, offering practical ways to regulate the nervous system. My goal is to help you and/or your child feel securely connected to self and the world.
Learn how to feel more connected to yourself, others and the world around you. Therapy provides all the elements of intimacy: honest communication, vulnerability and trust. Good therapy is challenging yet warm, providing both structure and empathy for your unique experience.
Learn how to feel more connected to yourself, others and the world around you. Therapy provides all the elements of intimacy: honest communication, vulnerability and trust. Good therapy is challenging yet warm, providing both structure and empathy for your unique experience.
Couples Therapist : Laura Prince-McGee, AMFT
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
1 Endorsed
Oakland, CA 94611
Let’s be real—relationships can be hard! Between the constant demands of modern life, the pressure of expectations, and the juggling of so many needs, it’s no wonder relationships can feel overwhelming—and it’s easy to start feeling disconnected. I work with couples who want to feel more supported, understood, and deeply connected in their partnership. Many come to me feeling stuck in the same arguments, carrying old hurts, or unsure how to move forward. Together, we slow things down, truly listen to each other, and rebuild trust and intimacy so your relationship feels safe, strong, and alive again.
Let’s be real—relationships can be hard! Between the constant demands of modern life, the pressure of expectations, and the juggling of so many needs, it’s no wonder relationships can feel overwhelming—and it’s easy to start feeling disconnected. I work with couples who want to feel more supported, understood, and deeply connected in their partnership. Many come to me feeling stuck in the same arguments, carrying old hurts, or unsure how to move forward. Together, we slow things down, truly listen to each other, and rebuild trust and intimacy so your relationship feels safe, strong, and alive again.
Book with me now by clicking on my website! Whether you're coping with stress, going through a major transition, or seeking to better understand yourself, therapy can be a powerful experience. It is a journey that can include healing, learning new skills, coping with difficult things from your past, and preparing for the future. Relationship challenges, unhealthy pattern that you learned in the past, trauma, and major life changes can all cause you real problems. I would like to help you work through these challenges so that you feel more balanced and more like the person you want to be.
Book with me now by clicking on my website! Whether you're coping with stress, going through a major transition, or seeking to better understand yourself, therapy can be a powerful experience. It is a journey that can include healing, learning new skills, coping with difficult things from your past, and preparing for the future. Relationship challenges, unhealthy pattern that you learned in the past, trauma, and major life changes can all cause you real problems. I would like to help you work through these challenges so that you feel more balanced and more like the person you want to be.
My experience comes from 31 years of helping children, adults, couples and families in both Community Mental Health and Private Practice. My approach is eclectic and tailored to each individual's needs to facilitate healing and growth. Through my years of experience I have witnessed over and over again people coming into therapy with great pain, discomfort and despair but with time, (sometimes within a very short time) their symptoms diminish and a whole new person emerges. Crisis times can be extremely painful and distressful but they can also be opportunities for growth and healing through therapy.
My experience comes from 31 years of helping children, adults, couples and families in both Community Mental Health and Private Practice. My approach is eclectic and tailored to each individual's needs to facilitate healing and growth. Through my years of experience I have witnessed over and over again people coming into therapy with great pain, discomfort and despair but with time, (sometimes within a very short time) their symptoms diminish and a whole new person emerges. Crisis times can be extremely painful and distressful but they can also be opportunities for growth and healing through therapy.
See more therapy options for Oakland
Nearby Psychodynamic Therapists Searches for Oakland
- Alameda
- Albany
- Berkeley
- El Cerrito
- Emeryville
- Kensington
- Lafayette
- Moraga
- Orinda
- Piedmont
- San Leandro
- San Lorenzo
Psychodynamic Therapists
Is psychodynamic therapy evidence-based?
Studies have found psychodynamic therapy to be effective in treating conditions like social anxiety, eating disorders, chronic pain, some personality disorders, and depression; indeed, some studies have found it to be just as effective as CBT or medication. What’s more, several studies have found that the benefits of psychodynamic therapy tend to endure—even grow—long after treatment has ended.
How long does psychodynamic therapy last?
Unlike CBT and other more structured forms of therapy, psychodynamic therapy tends to be open-ended and may not be limited to a set number of sessions. It is common for clients to be in therapy for a year or longer and to see their therapist one to three times a week, though the exact schedule and timeline may vary depending on a client’s challenges and progress. However, brief psychodynamic therapy is available, which tends to be more goal-oriented and typically unfolds over 16 to 30 sessions.
Does psychodynamic therapy work?
Research finds that psychodynamic therapy can help someone manage or reduce symptoms of diagnosable mental health conditions like depression or anxiety. The modality may also offer a range of benefits that are harder to measure but just as valuable—such as increased self-worth or healthier relationships. While no therapy type will work for everyone, research and anecdotal evidence suggest that psychodynamic therapy can be highly effective.
What are the limitations of psychodynamic therapy?
Some meta-analyses have concluded that there is little evidence to suggest that psychodynamic therapy can effectively treat certain mental health conditions such as PTSD, OCD, or psychosis, though it is sometimes used to do so. More broadly, the open-ended, free-association structure of psychodynamic therapy may be frustrating for clients who prefer a more structured, time-limited, or goal-oriented approach.