Therapists in San Francisco, CA

One thing that we have in common is that we all experience suffering. A lost relationship, disappointment at work, substance use that has taken control and chronic self-doubt are a few of the common forms. I have found that we can lessen our suffering with acceptance, self-compassion, mindfulness and the help and support of a therapist who seeks to understand your experience. I I am particularly interested in the process of change. Why, when we know that making a change would be good for us, do we not act?

Throughout my 10 year career, I have worked in a variety of settings from high-acuity community mental health and case management to dual diagnosis treatment centers. In this work, I connect with clients to unlock their internal strengths and voice, utilizing music, art and body movement. Believing knowledge is power, I educate clients on the impact of trauma on the nervous system and help them understand how their bodies have learned how to cope and survive through painful experiences.

My name is Jin Niki, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with cross-state licensure in California and Nevada. I work with a wide range of populations and specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, and distressful life transitions. I am a firm believer that in order to achieve overall wellness, one must place priority on creating a life that feels good on the inside rather than a life that appears good from the outside. The wider the discrepancy between the two, the greater the distress from emotional pain.

I offer a grounded, warm, and personalized approach to help adolescents and adults cope with life transitions, chronic distress, trauma, and other mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety. I am passionate about serving members of the LGBTQ+ community, and my research includes the experiences of non-binary individuals in psychotherapy. I also have several years of specific training and experience providing culturally-sensitive psychotherapy to members of the South Asian and Middle Eastern communities.

We all face unique challenges and sometimes it's difficult to know where to start. Let's figure it out together. I specialize in working with individuals experiencing relationship issues, acculturation challenges, and identity exploration. I work with children of immigrants LGBTQIA+ adults and people of color. My approach is non-judgmental, collaborative, and sometimes humorous. I aim to create an affirming environment where you can openly discuss your stressors, preferences, questions and everything in between.

As he trekked through the California wilderness, John Muir said, “Going out is really going in.” Psychotherapy is a similar adventure, but one where going in is really going out. The internal journey of self-awareness leads to external change and healing. My hope is that each person experiences the thrill of growth and exploration of their mind. My training in psychodynamic, attachment, and trauma informed techniques has offered me the “gear” required to guide a summit into the psychic mountains, with the pace and route we determine together.

There are many important reasons why people come to therapy. For some, they may want to learn to manage their anxiety and depression, improve their relationships and set boundaries with others, and/or process painful experiences from their past. For others, they may want to address their perfectionism and unrealistic expectations, learn strategies to manage their ADHD, and/or cope with life or career transitions.

Do you know what you want? Do you want to be free? Happy? Relaxed in your body? Content? Passionate and sexy? Courageous in the face of fear? More connected to your partner or to the Divine? How do you get in the way of living the life you want? Do you constantly judge yourself? Noticing all the ways you "fail" to live up to way you "should" be. Or do you tend to direct that criticism outwards? Blaming others, feeling envy, or always waiting for external circumstances to line up just right so you can finally live how you want.

Time to get your life back on track? Tired of the same old fights? Is your addiction hijacking your life? Wondering if you can continue to deal with the chaos around you? You can take your life back, find some peace and learn how to better communicate with your partner and yourself. We all have deep needs for tenderness, sharing and love.

My role as a psychologist is to help you navigate through a complex and stressful world. I'm most skilled at addressing issues related to depression and anxiety, relationship challenges, and self-esteem. Additionally, I enjoy helping people manage social and behavioral problems prevent healthy interactions with family, friends, and co-workers. I am experienced in addressing the challenges of both adults and children by drawing upon a few different theoretical perspectives to aid in helping individuals understand themselves, the origin of their problems, and how they can make changes in current life to feel happier.

Accepting New Patients (Updated: 9/23). You've probably been feeling anxious, depressed, burnt out, frustrated, or unfulfilled. By now, you've tried everything you can think of to solve your problems. You may have been let down by your friends, your family, or even other therapists and are wondering how I could possibly help you. Don't worry. I won't make false promises and don't offer my clients trendy "fad" therapies. But, with some hard work, I know we can begin the process of turning things around for you.

Joseph has extensive experience treating depression, anxiety, ADHD, substance use disorders and working with the LGBTQIA+ community.

Amy Robbins is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California who has been practicing since 2004. She earned a Bachelor's in Social Welfare at California State University, Long Beach and a Master's in Social Work at University of California, Los Angeles. Amy believes that people who seek therapy are wanting to live their best lives. She bases the establishment of therapeutic alliance, all history and narrative from clients, and all therapeutic techniques she employs to assist clients toward this want. In her spare time, Amy enjoys studying Japanese, cooking vegan cuisine, and reading books of many kinds.

I have been a Licensed Clinical Psychologist since 2011. I have been in the mental health field for over 10 years and specialize in the treatment of adults, couples and families. My areas of clinical focus include but are not limited to anxiety, depression, and mood disorders, trauma and PTSD, marital and premarital counseling, partner-relational, family conflict, parenting/co-parenting skills, life transitions, acculturation adjustments, stress management, and women’s issues.

My approach as a therapist is affirming, collaborative, Strengths-Based, and tailored to each client I work with. I focus on providing a judgment-free zone so that clients have space and support to work on their personal goals. I hope to build a strong relationship with each client because I believe that a strong relationship is important to our ability to work together and helps to strengthen the client's ability to reach their goals. Therapy can sometimes be hard work and often means facing difficult experiences from our past. My hope is that I am providing a space where the client never feels alone in the process.

Are you tired of repeating old patterns that are holding you back in your life? Making the decision to heal, grow, and improve your life with the help of a psychotherapist is not easy and requires trust and faith. Dr. Babbel is a non-judgmental, supportive, insightful, and experienced psychotherapist, providing a safe place for you to explore old habits and new possibilities.

Realizing our potential challenges the very essence of who we are: belief, self-esteem, identity. I have a comprehensive approach that will help unlock problematic thought and behavioral patterns, maximizing the resources available to you as you embark on a journey of self discovery and self worth. Identifying and understanding the obstacles that keep you stuck and hold you back are at the heart of personal and professional growth. Recovering from past wounds clears the way towards a wholesome self, reaffirms personal power, and ultimately leads to a greater sense of worth and self-acceptance.

We all find ourselves at times where we feel lost and confused. Things in our lives may not be going the way we want or we may find ourselves coming up against repeated stumbling blocks in certain areas of our lives. I believe that therapy can help us reconnect to parts of ourselves that we have forgotten about or lost track of. Having these parts back on board helps us to find deeper connection with ourselves, others and the world around us and leads to greater life fulfillment.