Out of Network Therapists in Pleasant Hill, CA

I specialize in working with adolescents and adults who are experiencing challenges in their lives - including school or work performance, relationships with family and friends, or self-esteem. As a parent you might notice your child withdrawing, not interacting as usual with friends and family, getting into more fights or trouble, or struggling with self-confidence. Sleeping and eating habits and other daily routines may be affected as well. When you feel as though you don't know what else to do, reaching out and getting help through counseling can be the best alternative.

I am here! What are you needing and how can I help? I believe that crisis equals opportunity. A crisis that brings someone to therapy can be a pathway to growth and new ways of being, seeing and believing which makes you feel better. With an environment of safety and compassion, an individual has the opportunity to heal almost any wounding whether it happened in childhood or adult life if that is their goal. I love my work, have been doing it for over 30 yrs and have no plans to stop. It gives my life meaning and makes my heart sing.

It takes courage and awareness to seek therapy. If you are experiencing depression or anxiety, difficult relationships (past or present) or going through a life transition I may be able to help. Together we will work to determine whether this will be short-term solution focused treatment or more long-term, deeper work. We will build a safe place for you to experience yourself and help you to identify your strengths as well as areas of challenge. A place that is yours to receive the care you need.

I work with adolescents, and adults. It is my goal to work in partnership with you and the appropriate family and community members to consider all factors which may be influencing your mental health and well being. Together we will design a plan to support your own resilience and innate healing response. My philosophy is more pragmatic, than theoretical. The focus is not merely on the treatment of symptoms of the disorder, but on achieving health, and a renewed sense of purpose, meaning, and joy. I strive to provide responsive and effective assistance with compassion and respect.

In everyone's lives there are times of difficulty, life transitions, unwanted change, loss, and fears. Talking to someone who can assist you in sorting out your thoughts and feelings about these challenges can be very helpful. If you are feeling trapped in unhealthy patterns that are keeping you stuck or making you feel badly about yourself, I can help you identify them and how to change them to feel more empowered and fulfilled. If you are experiencing stress, we can work together to identify and address its causes and develop multiple tools to manage and decrease it.

My orientation is cognitive and behavioral (CBT). I'm a caring compassionate listener and also actively engage with clients to elicit thoughts, feelings, and strategies for healing. My specialties include eating disorders, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, couples, family issues, parenting, and teens. My therapy approach is directive and problem-solving while encouraging self-acceptance and compassion. I believe that everyone is capable of change at their own rate and comfort level. I help my clients eliminate self-critical thinking that too often sabotages their happiness and their relationships.

Are you dealing with a lot right now and feeling overwhelmed? I can help. I use proven tools and techniques that can really make a positive difference in your life - so you can stress less and feel more joy. As a psychotherapist, I'm trained to assist people with a wide range of life issues. My specialty is helping people cope with the tough stuff of life by providing emotional support, proven solutions and helpful coping skills as well as stress management/relaxation training to reduce the negative effects of stress on their lives and health..

Couples/Relationship Counseling. LGBTQ, Poly, & Kink friendly. Clients that like my style seek therapy mostly for anxiety or depression that comes from the feeling that life lacks purpose, feels stuck, or stale; especially during times of heartache, misunderstanding, break-ups, or even death. Many useful moments, crucial moments, can arise at the end of something - unresolved past hurts, spiritual dilemmas, a sudden urgency and passion for figuring out "why we're here" - understanding them and integrating them is what I offer. Closing the old stuff up well means new, exciting beginnings are possible...often in the same relationship!

As I am aware that the process of searching for a therapist can be overwhelming, I would like to commend you for taking this first step. You will find that I provide a warm, respectful environment which will make it more comfortable for you to engage in the process of understanding yourself and your relationships more deeply and fully. I believe that each person is unique, and, together, with genuine curiosity and a safe atmosphere, we will uncover your individual needs.

It's been too long since you felt peaceful, present, and comfortable-if ever. Your brain is always going–worried about the future, criticizing yourself about the past, & hyper-sensitive about what people think of you. The thoughts in your head affect your body, too, with tension in your muscles, uneasiness in your gut, and a heartbeat that amps up at the drop of a hat. You can barely remember what it's like to be relaxed; just getting through the day takes work, and sleep is a nightly struggle. Now it's impacting your health, work, parenting, and relationships. It's hard not to feel hopeless. You're looking for somewhere to turn.

Currently I am only offering Teletherapy via hipaa compliant methods. I enjoy working with clients looking to make positive changes in their life. I work with them to develop coping skills to assist them in managing extreme emotional states and distress, as well as to develop increased interpersonal skills. By developing communication skills clients are able to improve their relationships in all areas of their lives. I have expertise working with a diverse spectrum of individuals including those in non-mainstream relationships and those with chronic mental illness.

Do you feel alone in the midst of overwhelming emotions? Or maybe you feel lost, numb, or not fully alive? When we experience loss, grief, trauma, or any number of life transitions, we often experience disconnection and dis-integration: from within ourselves and in our relationships with others. This may help us to temporarily from feeling pain, but it also severs our connection to joy and spontaneity. You are not alone. Let me help you find your way back to wholeness through integrating your whole being, your relationship with yourself, and your connection with others.

Treating individuals who struggle with an eating disorder takes a provider who has extensive experience in the treatment of eating disorders. One who understands the complexity and power of the eating disorder, and the patience and understanding that is needed to support an individual on the challenging journey towards recovery, maintaining recovery, and relapse prevention. Most often, this journey involves not only the client, but their family and support system as well.

Taking the step to reach out for help and support can be frightening and overwhelming, we commend you for making the move to take care of yourself. At our practice we provide care for individuals, couples, and families that present with a variety of struggles. We want to help you find understanding, growth, and balance in the complex lives we lead in today’s world. Life and relationships can be messy and complicated, we want to help you make sense of this and learn about yourself through the process.

Becoming a parent is a unique and transformative experience. From the moment of conception through the journey of parenting there is an array of unknown rewards, challenges and experiences. At times parents have no idea how they will feel or react to these challenges and realize that they need help and support through their own journey as parents. Research proves the way we were parented, the environment in which we developed, and the situations around us influence the way we feel and behave as parents.

My approach is a combination of talk-therapy and mindfulness practices such as conscious breathing, sensory awareness, and guided meditations. These techniques aim to teach you to learn how to regulate your nervous system and explore the parts of yourself that you wish to develop and grow. For those of you who might be looking to take your process even deeper, I also offer breathwork facilitation which combines powerful breathing techniques with evocative music.

My belief as a therapist is that we all possess innate and unique strengths that are best highlighted when we feel supported. This support is the impetus for change and for developing a stronger sense of resilience. My purpose as a therapist is to support you in finding your own ways to reach peace, wholeness, and tranquility. In doing so, you will help improve your relationships with others.

You're creative and thoughtful and maybe more than a little weird. You need a therapist who will understand you. Someone you can talk to about anything. Someone who will support you on your journey and not judge you for who you are and where you've been. I'm here to give you that support. As someone who has experienced a lot of what life has to offer, from small town to big city to things in the desert, I know what it is like to take a journey and I would love to support you in yours.