Therapists in Oakland, CA

Are you looking for a new creative way to deal with difficulties in life and get in touch with your best self? Do you feel like you’ve tried everything with your child, but they struggle to benefit from traditional talk therapy? As art therapists, we incorporate talk therapy with art making to help our clients unlock their creative potential, look at problems with fresh eyes, and develop new creative coping skills for managing with difficult emotions. If you or your child is feeling blocked by past trauma, stuck in destructive patterns, or overwhelmed by depression or anxiety, then I encourage you to reach out. You are not alone.

Whether you or your child struggle with depression, anxiety, phobias, trauma, grief, life transitions, addiction or other conditions, I would be honored to accompany you or your loved ones on your healing journey. Our work will focus on creating the safety and acceptance that allows for change. Because our lives are shaped by the culture in which we live, we can also consider the social forces that may have shaped you, including racial, gender, and class biases.

I specialize in working with folx who identify with the following communities: ethical non-monogamy (ENM), polyamory, kink, BDSM, and LGBTQA+ and who are struggling with anxiety, depression and a history of trauma. I think of psychotherapy as a necessary form of social activism toward a larger goal of equity for people of all races, genders, sexual/relational orientations, levels of ability, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Let's work together to bring you back to yourself, your relationships and your community!

You're here because you want more from life after loss and/or disappointment. Perhaps you've accomplished all you hoped for, and still feel incomplete. Or maybe nothing went as planned, and you're grappling with the loss of the life you so wanted for yourself. I work with high achievers and creatives who are used to making things happen for themselves, yet feel a general lack of joy and satisfaction (especially after achieving their goals or having arrived in mid-life). You might be asking yourself if this is all there is. I'm so glad you're here, because there absolutely is more if you're willing to go within to find it.

Are you struggling with how childhood experiences, losses or trauma continues to influence your life? Are you discouraged at repeating difficult situations or find it hard to get out from under depression or anxiety? I'm glad to see how we can put our minds together to understand your dilemmas and see things differently. Change is possible no matter what your age or your life circumstances when you feel seen, accepted and appreciated for who you are and where you've been.

My experience includes 15 years of helping clients heal themselves and their relationships.The essence of my counseling approach is each person has access to health and well being regardless of what is currently being experienced. I help clients regain that innate health through deep listening and non-judgmental feedback. I work deeply with current thoughts, beliefs and feelings about one's self to uncover deep seated self-judgment that blocks happiness. Anxiety, depression and unhappiness transform into greater peace and understanding. In turn, self awareness is enhanced which leads to greater understanding, compassion and empathy for self and others.

I offer holistic and depthful therapy that is both affirming and collaborative. My clients appreciate my gentleness, compassion & humor. My approach is de-stigmatizing and non-shaming, addressing & coming into contact with held stories and social narratives that may not match your current self or the self that wants to be. I hold an adaptive client centered framework utilizing trauma informed, social justice, somatic, parts work, & attachment based approaches. Sites of harm are often the sites of healing, in forming therapeutic relationship we can explore & come to know these sites and the unique offering &

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.

Some of us experience extremely challenging, even terrible things in life, or we are not able to get over the pain or losses we have experienced in the past. I have studied and trained in the treatment of traumatic disturbances for over a decade and am passionate about helping people resolve symptoms that include: reliving or avoiding memories, negative moods and thoughts, and sometimes "dissociation" (feeling detached from oneself and others). I offer an effective psychotherapy method known as EMDR for addressing such symptoms, along with a compassionate, culturally sensitive approach to issues.

Therapy is an opportunity to come home to yourself and expand your capacity for connection and vitality. My role is to be by your side as you examine parts of yourself that are difficult to face alone. I shine a warm light on experiences, emotions, and beliefs that have yet to be processed, and seek to expand upon sources of strength, expression, connection, and beauty. Whatever the areas of growth you bring to the therapeutic space, my priority is to hold an empathic, non-judgmental, inclusive space in which you feel safe and deeply seen.

I work primarily with adults who are wanting to manage symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and trauma. I will be with you on your path to discovery, recovery, and finding the person you would like to become. I approach therapy with a client-centered approach in order to create a safe, comfortable space for you to share and express yourself, and your vulnerabilities. We will explore healthy ways to process your trauma, regulate difficult emotions, and restore broken relationships. I believe the trust built between Client and Therapist is powerful, and necessary in order to help you through your healing journey.

Are you looking to find ways to make changes so you can live a more satisfying and meaningful life? Are you finding yourself in repetitive patterns that are no longer working for you? I may be of assistance to you. I bring an in-depth approach that builds on your strengths and aims to untangle the roots to what is causing problems for you. This can lead to reduction in painful symptoms such as anxiety and depression, and to finding more constructive ways for you to address life challenges. I bring a gift in helping you fulfill your life potential.

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 use a warm, down-to-earth approach in my work with children, teens, adults and couples. I collaborate with clients to develop a whole view of challenges and strengths, which is informed by my wide breadth of clinical experience across the lifespan. I have expertise in working with infants and parents, developmental disabilities, trauma, and both anticipated and unexpected crises across all ages. I integrate these perspectives so that I can attune to your needs and provide responsive support. My hope is to help you water the seeds of your inner strengths, push through stuck situations, and live with more connectedness and vitality.

Folks reach out because there is something they want to shift in their life and they need some support in making the changes they wish to see. Most commonly, people share with me that they seek therapy because of an increased sense of overwhelm, feelings of hopelessness, changes in social dynamics and relationships, a newfound or returned sense of hopelessness, feelings of loss or grief, and more. My role is to help tap into what you already know, identify the patterns you may want to shift, and develop a greater trust in yourself to enact change in our relationship and in the outside world as well!

I am dedicated to helping you live fully, love freely and express yourself authentically. Together we will work to build the skills and understanding to develop lasting change in your life. Any number of situations can cause you to feel lost, stressed, anxious, unable to relate to your friends, lovers, coworkers or even yourself. I understand how overwhelming these feelings can be, and how lonely you might feel. I can help. Therapy is a time for you to share your deepest feelings, thoughts, fears, hopes, and desires with someone who is whole-heartedly there for you, hearing and understanding you with compassion.

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 work with clients to help them heal from symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma. Therapy provides an opportunity to be completely yourself, without regard to the pressures or demands of the world around you. When you feel safe, you're more free to talk about change. I'll help you build upon your strengths and support you in becoming more aware of patterns that hold you back from achieving your goals. Together, we take a close look at those patterns and work towards healthier options. I believe therapy is an important investment in health and will help you create the foundation for a satisfied life.

I came to this field when I began my recovery 17 years ago, feeling that my lived experience would be greatly beneficial for others struggling to find new ways of being. I believe we all want to be our best selves, and have the capacity for real change. It is my honor to support and facilitate that process, working in genuine collaboration with my clients, and to offer unconditional respect and compassion through the transformation. We can work together on priorities you identify, in a way that suits you. ***I offer a free initial 30 minute session***