Teletherapy for Western Addition - San Francisco, CA

Hello! I am Heather and I am currently accepting new clients, offering both in-person and telehealth services. Are you overworked, constantly doing things for others, and feeling like there is no time left for YOU? Feeling completely burnt out and exhausted, but finding it hard to fall or stay asleep? Or maybe you're feeling completely alone, like it's you against the world and nobody is looking out for you? I'm here to tell you that you are NOT alone. Contact me for a free 20-minute consultation.

I am accepting clients for therapy, coaching, and testing. E-mail is the best way to reach me for a consultation. As a clinical psychologist, I offer therapy and coaching for personal/professional growth. I work with clients to enhance coping with stress, bolster resiliency, and overcome obstacles to living more fully. I also specialize in psychological/personality and intellectual/academic testing and assessment. I have worked with clients of all ages from numerous intersecting ethnic, racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds, as well as a wide range of sexual and gender orientations and various abilities/disabilities.

Our mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. That means we need to look at the context of our past, our relationships, and the world around us to be able to understand ourselves and the challenges we face. As a therapist, I’m here to help you put those pieces together so you can step into a more empowered, authentic, and connected version of yourself. I work with clients who are looking for a combination of improved insight and practical tools to improve their relationships with themselves and others.

Healing isn't something we do best in isolation. As a therapist, I work with clients to build greater connection and community to support them on their path. My clients are women and LGBTQIA+ folks seeking therapy where they can show up and be seen as their authentic selves. Many have a history of trauma or have experienced interpersonal violence, such as domestic abuse or sexual assault. Others are working to manage chronic stress and anxiety at work or at home. Whatever concerns are bringing you to my (online) office today, I'll work with you from a place of respect, curiosity, and collaboration.

YOU are happy with your career but feeling a bit burned out. Do you feel stuck on a notion of "doing the job well/being productive" and integrating "mindfulness" into your life because they seem counterintuitive? I know how you can have a balance in your life by being constructive and mindful at the same time. I can help you achieve your goals! By providing you a few concrete tools based on mindfulness, you will learn to live mindfully and maximize all of your potentials. Are you ready for a more holistic life experience?

Therapy provides a safe container to unlearn who we were conditioned to be. I believe that this experience offers us liberation, which comes from healing our wounds and learning to feel more comfortable being our authentic selves. From a strength-based and trauma-informed approach, I utilize thoughtful questions and share practical tools tailored to your needs so that you leave the session feeling validated and encouraged to achieve your goals.

Congratulations on looking for a therapist. These are difficult times, and you’re not alone if you find yourself struggling with feelings of depression, worry, and uncertainty. Therapy can reduce suffering and foster the growth of hope, equanimity, joy, and feelings of connectedness. For those starting therapy, I prioritize building a strong rapport within a climate of safety and trust; a compassionate, empathetic therapeutic environment; and clear and responsive communication; and respect for your personal goals and values.

Congratulations on starting your therapy journey and taking charge of your mental health! I create a safe and encouraging space for adults, teens, and couples to process difficult experiences and emotions, navigate relational challenges, and get in touch with their authentic selves. I am a client-centered therapist and strive to meet you exactly where you are on any given day. I offer a collaborative and empathetic approach so you feel supported as you navigate life's challenges and reach your personal goals.

Things may be hard right now, but this is only one chapter in the story of your life. My job as a therapist is to walk alongside you as you write the next one. As a psychologist at Stella Nova Psychology, I support women and nonbinary professionals to feel better, and show up in their lives as the people they want to be. My clients learn to build confidence, address negative patterns that are holding them back, and improve their relationships with themselves and others. I see my role as equal parts collaborator, support, and guide for the journey.

People start therapy for a variety of reasons. Are you curious about therapy because you’ve heard its been helpful for others? Maybe you lack contentment in aspects of your life or relationships. You may feel like this is a particularly difficult time in your life and you need help making sense of it. Perhaps you’ve always felt like life has been hard and you don’t want to keep feeling this way. The beauty of therapy is that is it tailored just for you. We work together to make sense of how you are feeling, make changes when it feels appropriate, and allow you to have more choice in your life.

My expertise lies in helping people navigate relationship dynamics (with romantic partners, family or friends), anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, professional fulfillment, and existential well-being. You may have been so focused on achieving external goals that you haven't had the time to address your emotions or past events and it feels like you can't avoid them anymore. Together, we would navigate through the experiences that have been difficult to sort through on your own and have left you spiraling or feeling stuck.

Are you rocking that 'got-it-together' facade, but deep down you're really falling apart? You're not alone. Life's throwing punches, and the struggle is real. You're seeking direction and clarity, but you feel stuck, caught in self-doubt, and trapped in "stay or leave" dilemmas. The uncertainty is unsettling and you start questioning everything about your relationship…and yourself. Whether it's your marriage, career, or the sheer weight of everything around you—I get it. It's like having a hundred tabs open in your mind at once, making it hard to think straight and perform as you envision. You're exhausted. It's time for a change.

For Indian and South Asian Americans who’ve been told that you’re “bad” for not following cultural norms, for questioning these rules, for honoring your needs and desires, for forging your own path, and for challenging the rulebook: doing these things do not make you a “Bad South Asian”; they make you a more genuine and authentic one. You’re HEALING intergenerational curses. You might get messages from South Asians who tell you otherwise, but many of these “norms” are actually trauma responses. That more “cultured” South Asian person you know does not inherently know more than you. You know enough and you ARE enough.

If you are an Autistic adult seeking autism-focused and neurodivergent affirming therapy, I will help you feel safe, supported, and heard with compassion. I am Autistic myself, which often enhances the therapy experience for my clients. Autism-focused therapy is informed by the neurodiversity affirming model to address your unique concerns by reducing autistic burnout, anxiety, depression, masking, the distress of meltdowns and shutdowns, low self-esteem, and difficulties with work or school performance, among many other concerns. I also welcome your authentic self and support my LGBTQIA+, transgender, non-binary, and BIPOC clients.

When you're constantly under pressure, it's easy to feel like you're stuck in survival mode. Therapy can't change the stressors you're facing today, but it can help you respond to them more effectively. As a therapist, I help women in complex, high-stress environments build tools to become more grounded and empowered in their lives. Many of my clients are burned out professionals navigating competing demands, or feeling stuck in ineffective patterns. I have specialized training in sport and performance psychology, and help my clients build skills and systems that support both well-being and high performance.

We are a group of Marriage and Family Therapists with locations in San Francisco, Oakland, and Orinda. We offer child and family play therapy, Hand in Hand Parenting coaching, individual and couples therapy, Brainspotting and trainings. Whether you are a child, parent, or teacher, we want to empower you to connect deeply with yourself and to help you create meaningful and satisfying relationships. Through the tools of play therapy, hand in hand parenting coaching, and relational psychotherapy we help children and adults reflect, build stronger bonds, and find the inner resources to create the family life you are longing for.

We are wired for connection — with our internal selves, with others, and within broader communities. But oftentimes there are barriers. It can be something we learned when we were small and trying to survive, a message from dominant culture that plagues our sense of self, oppressive systems that can be exhausting to fight, and/or an emotional wound that needs time to heal. Whatever brings you to therapy, your awareness of seeking someone to walk with you on this healing path is a great first step!

When life feels like a high-pressure balancing act, therapy can help. I work with clients seeking more ease and grace as they walk through a difficult world. My speciality is supporting Black women and other women of color, clients from immigrant backgrounds, and people from marginalized communities. Many of my clients are also helping professionals who need some space to get out of the "helper" role and focus on themselves for a change.

Change is terrifying, but it can also be beautiful. It can be difficult to navigate cultural, societal, familial, & even personal expectations to give life to your true authentic self. From navigating anxiety, working to understand your sexual/gender identity, navigating what aspects of your cultural make sense for you, depression, or even just trying to get the world to acknowledge you as the person you are - I'm so glad you haven't given up. The change you're working towards will be worth it and oh-so spectacular. I know you have the power, skills, & desire to Transform Your Story. I'm honored to help you any way I can.