Couples Counseling Therapists in Palo Alto, CA

My typical client is an adult of exceptional intelligence, creativity, achievement, and kindness, who needs to address problems in his or her life. These problems include depression, anxiety, the disease of addiction, childhood trauma,the addictions of others, and/or difficulties in forming or enjoying relationships. Too many people emerge from childhood with wounds from parental loss, abuse, or neglect. Some carry genetic loadings for addiction. The aftermath of these is devastating, despite success and "looking good." Revealing the pain to another person and revising basic assumptions about yourself and others in a safe relationship can help.

Welcome to my practice. I have many years of experience helping individuals and couples successfully deal with anxiety, depression, childhood trauma, stress, low self-esteem, relationship problems, and parenting challenges. I enjoy helping people grow in their personal and professional lives.

Life presents us with many opportunities, moments of fulfillment, lack of fulfillment, trauma and/or terrible loss leading to difficulties in emotional intimacy, isolation, panic, resentment, depression - even despair. Our histories and fears mold our choices and can prevent us from achieving a more meaningful fulfilling life. Therapy involves, in part, a journey into the life of buried feelings/beliefs about self and others. Coaching involves emotionally intelligent problem solving. My clients typically consist of professional adults and couples who feel stuck in their lives/relationships. Some are in acute distress, others are unsure of the source/nature of their more chronic difficulties.

Tech executives and their families - While the Valley is innovative and pays well, ambitious people end up in an always-on environment feeling lonely, anxious & overwhelmed. You feel that you are never good enough. Immigrants & families - Your move to the Bay Area that started as dreams of a better life filled up with conflicts because of acculturation issues and a lost support system. If you have experienced the gifts of psychedelics, the promising pathway to healing the soul. I hope to be able to guide through your journeys and to help them integrate.

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.

Sometimes it takes the gentle mirroring of another person to help see what is no longer working in our lives. Habits formed to survive difficult childhoods may be wrecking havoc. Communication styles may be sabotaging love. We may feel overwhelmed in parenting, or facing a big life transition. I work closely with my clients to increase communication skills and develop greater personal awareness. I teach nervous system regulation in order to stay calm and effective during conflict, difficult conversations, and life transitions. From therapy you’ll learn to operate from wholeness and authenticity, and gain acceptance for self/others.

Do you have a loved one with Alzheimer's or related dementia and are feeling overwhelmed? You are not alone. I specialize in helping caregivers (adult children or spouses) with their complex emotional reactions, ongoing loss & grief, and finding better ways to cope. Having a difficult time when trying to navigate cognitive decline is central to being a helping family member. Professionally, I am experienced and well trained. Personally, I have been on a similar journey with my own mother who had dementia for 10 years.

Richard is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 45 years of experience specializing in individual and marriage and family counseling, adolescent psychotherapy, job and management counseling. He has been trained in multiple approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Collaborative Problem Solving, and significant Family Therapy strategies for resolving couple as well as parent child conflict. He has taught many parenting workshops throughout the Bay area. He is a Member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT).

I am a psychiatrist providing psychotherapy and/or psychopharmacology, depending on the client's needs. I believe it is important to offer individualized care based on the client's problems, concerns and preferences. My style is warm, collaborative and interactive. I can help with a practical, solution-focused approach for current problems. I also do exploratory therapy to address unresolved issues from the past that may be interfering with living your life as fully as possible. My clients also seek depth therapy to promote personal growth, insight and self awareness. LICENSED IN 20 STATES--Virtual therapy and med management.

Wouldn't it be nice to become clear about how you want to live your life? The dynamic process of a patient and therapist working together so that troubling thoughts and feelings, unrealized dreams and hidden fears can emerge in the therapy session strengthens the ability to grow in meaningful, important, and intimate relationships. Working with the concept of how individuals balance both the need for autonomy and the need for connection, I will help you sort out how to relate and hold on to yourself.

I am CA state licensed marriage and family therapist, National Certified Counselor and Registered Yoga Teacher. I maintain a private practice in Palo Alto, Redwood City and Berkeley and see clients for individual, couple psychotherapy and career counseling. I have taught courses for Kaiser Permanente in Behavioral Health and served as a coach/facilitator in Medical Weight Management. My training includes over 10 years in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) and 7 years in Control Mastery, both evidenced based treatment approaches to help clients build their inner resources and motivation to reach their goals.

Professional affiliations: National Associations of Social Workers, Academy of Certified Social Workers Clinical Interests: Couples , family/ relationship issues, life and employment transitions, personnel management challenges, conflict resolution and cross-cultural topics

I believe that the mind and body are interconnected. We often experience emotional pain when our bodies are struggling with illness or medical problems. As a therapist with specialized training in health psychology and behavioral medicine, my work emphasizes this mind-body connection. My primary areas of expertise focus on the treatment of insomnia, coping with illness, sexual health, chronic pain, and stress management in adults. Additionally, I help individuals cope with psychological concerns, such as anxiety, depression, adjustment to life transitions, and relationship difficulties.

It is my firm belief that people do their best with the situations life hands them. My goal as a therapist is to help people work through their stuck places, let go of old behaviors that helped them survive in the past but are no longer useful, and learn new behaviors that will contribute to greater enjoyment and connection in their lives. I see myself as an active guide in this process, and I am enriched by seeing people learn to accept themselves and others, and thus live the fullest and most satisfying life possible.

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I'm here to support you in navigating life's challenges. Whether you're dealing with ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Trauma, or any other issues, I'm here to help.

Are you or loved ones facing challenges you want to work through in safety and confidence? Reacting to life events with worry or sadness? Ready for a new beginning? For better or worse, our experience is shaped by expectations and habits that are maintained by loyalty to important relationships, and by cycles of confirming experience. They affect our happiness, our relationships and the success of our endeavors. Therapy can help. In a safe empathic relationship , unhelpful expectations and habits can be retired, and happier habits of relating to life and others can be learned, chosen and implemented.