Sexual Abuse Therapists in Downtown, San Francisco, CA

I help individuals who are seeking support through significant life changes or are suffering from past wounding to heal and to deepen self-awareness.

You may have decided that you need a focused time and a safe place to sort through important issues in your life. How do you know when a therapist is right for you? I believe in trusting your instincts. I invite you to bring your full range of feelings about starting therapy to an exploratory first session to see if we would be a good match. I work with individuals and couples of all orientations and backgrounds.

Life is a journey that we all have to take. Sometimes you need a little assistance getting through tough times and life's transitions. Therapy can be the avenue in which you take control of your destiny and make strides towards creating a better life for yourself. I look forward to assisting you on that journey by meeting you where you are at and leading you to where you want to be

People have questions about therapy or selecting a therapist: When is the right time? What can it help me with? How do I find the right therapist? From my perspective, therapy is a process where we can change our internal sense of self to enjoy and engage with the world more. We can alter beliefs about ourselves and world that may not work nor support us in becoming who we want to be. Therapy is like this: helping to move you to an awareness of all that you're capable of with the ability to tolerate feelings that arise in life.

Being a therapist is one of the greatest joys in my life. It allows me the opportunity to encourage and witness the human growth process in a profound and personal way. Research shows that modern day distress is caused by isolation and disconnection, which many of us feel even in relationships. We are social creatures who thrive when we feel connected, especially to those who matter the most to us. The work and goal of therapy is to explore and strengthen our connections, first and foremost to ourselves, then to our partners, our families, or people in general.

Perhaps some of the important pieces of your life have not fallen into place yet, leaving you feeling stuck. Balancing dating/relationships can be challenging, especially with work, family, and personal life. Experiencing this day after day can feel hopeless, but I am glad to say that you CAN make things better. Men are often taught to dismiss and devalue their feelings. Perhaps it was a lack of support of our emotions growing up or a deeply ingrained acceptance of the social norm that celebrates a very specific definition of masculinity. Either way, it can result in unaddressed anxiety, resentment, or depression.

Stress can be very painful and impact every aspect of our lives. When we experience profound stress - from our relationships, our jobs, mental or physical illness or chronic pain - the world can seem a hostile place. This intensifies if we have histories of trauma. The result: a deep sense of disconnection. We feel cut off from our own internal intelligence and alienated from the people and things we love. Some people also struggle with addiction or other behaviors that add to suffering. The good news: stress can't destroy the core of who you are. Your vitality and wisdom are there for you to reclaim.

Are you stuck somewhere? Did you hit a wall? Do you want to heal an old wound? Restore access to yourself? Cultivate a deeper understanding of the world around you? Explore repeating patterns? Break toxic cycles? Come as you are. Do you want to adjust to the changes in your life? Absorb a loss? Reassess your life goals? Overcome a challenge? Increase your self awareness? Be more present in the moment? Find your voice? Feel more empowered, more vibrant, more whole? Come as you are. I specialize in trauma, attachment wounding, adverse childhood experiences, dysfunctional narratives and toxic relationship cycles.

Whatever you have lived through--healing is possible. I provide therapy for people living outside of the mainstream, whether because of values and ideals or personal identity. Therapy with me doesn't require that you or I believe there is anything wrong with you. Instead it is a place where both of us work collaboratively and creatively to develop an environment where you can take more and more risks to be yourself. It is a place to keep growing. It is a place to get real about what matters to you and what challenges you. Keywords: radical, queer, artists, activists, social justice, progressive

As an Integrative Psychotherapist, I base my approach from the relational work of Psychodynamic Therapy and integrate forms of Attachment Therapy, Narrative Therapy, CBT, DBT, Mindfulness Practices, Parts Work, Addiction and Trauma work - all based in Social Justice. I fully believe that every individual has the power and strength they need to actualize the changes they want, and can shift the old and new narratives of established stories and patterns of their daily lives.

What if there is nothing wrong with you? What if you never had to judge you again? My specialty is inviting clients to their greatness and success; clearing the energies that don't allow for achievement, creativity, and possibilities. I work with clients from all walks of life who are demanding freedom and change. My clients tend to be the seekers, the highly creative, and the dissatisfied dreamers of the world who want more out of living. If you have "been there and done that" and know that more is possible, I would be an ideal therapist for you. My new book "What If You're Not As F-ed Up As You Think You Are?" is all about this.

It takes courage to address pain, childhood wounds, traumas and unresolved beliefs and patterns which negatively impact relationships, emotions, goals, motivation and sense of self. I deeply believe in one's innate knowledge and capacity to heal, and aspire toward wholeness. I teach simple tools and practices, in addition to supporting you on your journey. This empowers your vision, your heart, and your perception of the world around you, creating healthier relationships and increased joy. My practice includes: relationship issues, depression, trauma, addiction, family conflict, grief, life changes and children's behavioral issues.

As a therapist, I bring a wealth of multicultural knowledge and experience to the table, ensuring you receive professional services built on respect and trust. Let’s bust the myth together: therapy isn’t just for those who’ve faced trauma. Whether you’re seeking clarity, a self-esteem boost, or solutions to life’s challenges, talking with a therapist can be life-changing!

People seek me out because they find their current situation intolerable - they are sick and tired of experiencing shame, intense anger, depression and anxiety. Perhaps they want to work on their addiction - the thing they use to numb the painful experiences. Their relationships are suffering as a result of their behaviors, being closed off, or "too much" for others. Many struggle with feelings of inadequacy, perfectionism and a deep sense of futility, which prevents them from taking charge of their lives and confidently pursuing their heart's desire.

Seeking support for yourself and/or child requires courage and humility. I strive to provide each of my clients with a safe, comforting, and non-judgmental environment where we can build a therapeutic alliance based on trust. When we experience emotional safety, and the basic need of being seen and heard, we can begin to understand our ourselves more deeply. My style is warm, interpersonal, collaborative, and challenging at times, focusing mainly on our relationship in order to promote long-term fulfillment.

Meaningful change requires us to ask new questions ... so that new meanings can be made. One of the hardest things is to change what doesn't work, while not knowing how to make it all different. For the past 24 years, I have worked with folks who are trying hard to build a life in spite of childhood abuse and neglect, or who just don't understand why life isn't working out the way they hoped.

My clients are most often dealing with communication concerns, issues of intimacy and complications related to life changes. When traumatic events impact their daily lives, they may seek assistance. Occasionally couples and families experiencing stress in their relationships may need an objective listener and guide to help them figure out how to reestablish balance. With the many demands of life and work, we work together to find pleasure in their families and for parents to reinstate parental authority within the family structure.

Would you like to live a more fulfilled life with meaningful relationships? Do you want to make more sense of your life and your role in it? You have taken the first step! Finding the right therapist can be scary and confusing. I believe that a personal connection is the corner stone to a successful therapeutic experience. Sometimes traumatic events can bring us to lose our sense of well-being and our center and we need help regaining them. I am honored to support you on your path to regain a greater sense of yourself. I love working with adults, adolescents and couples.

Welcome, my name Dorene Paul and I am a licensed psychotherapist and marriage counselor. I have had the honor of practicing therapy for over 20 years, working with adults, couples and youth with a wide variety of issues. In my experience, each person comes to therapy with a unique set of experiences, feelings, issues, gifts, goals, therefore I use a variety of therapeutic approaches, from cognitive to current psychodynamic approaches and EMDR for those dealing with past trauma. In therapy I am your companion and counselor on a deeply meaningful journey.