Gestalt Therapists in San Francisco, CA

"Look within. All you need, you have. Use it. Behave as best you know; do what you think you should. Don't be afraid of mistakes; you can always correct them; only intentions matter. The shape things take is not within your power; the motives of your actions are." (Nisargadata 1973, p.365)

I offer you an empathetic, direct, and practical presence in your journey towards healing. After becoming a physician (I am a licensed Obstetrician Gynecologist), I discovered another calling of mine is working with people and their emotions. As a therapist who is also a physician, I bring knowledge and wisdom of medicine, the body, and the mind-body connection. With this background, I offer you a unique, experienced, and well-rounded therapist. (For safety reasons, I am currently only offering online therapy sessions.)

Are you feeling anxious, like you can't "just be," always thinking about the next thing, and finding it hard to enjoy the day to day? I work with individuals who are struggling with anxiety, self-doubt, burn-out, co-dependency, or are grappling to find joy and meaning in their life or work. My passion is helping individuals change painful patterns, set healthy boundaries, develop skills to help them cope more confidently with their emotions and life, increase their self-awareness, and reconnect to themselves more deeply. I also work with couples who are feeling disconnected from each other and are ready to reconnect and communicate!

You may be considering seeking help because you feel trapped, stuck, confused, in pain and hoping your life can be more than it currently is. I assist individuals, teens, couples and groups to see what is in the way, how to move past it and achieve the goals they have set. My style is warm, engaging, interactive--and dog friendly. I hope this site gives you a little information about how I work. Feel free to contact me if you have questions or I can assist you.

I am inspired by transformation, by the possibilities, freedom, and implications of deep personal change. I’ve seen it in myself and my clients. Moving from stagnation to aliveness, from isolation to love. I’m honored to work with you on your path of healing, self-discovery, growth, and transformation.

Welcome therapists and psychiatrists! Engaging in psychotherapeutic work is emotionally exhausting and mentally taxing. Because of the intense and confidential nature of the work you do, it can also be extremely isolating and lonely. Being your best self requires continued attention to your psychological, spiritual, and physical well-being. Having a confidential space to process through the demands and challenges associated with being a helping professional is vital to optimize the good work you are doing with your clients.

Often in life there are unexpected events or life transitions that challenge our abilities to cope or understand our sense of self or purpose. When what has been helpful to navigate life is no longer working, symptoms may show up in the form of sadness, depression, anxiety, stress, physical ailments, feelings of isolation, or an overwhelm of emotions that may be difficult to manage alone. I view therapy as a unique opportunity for honest observation and exploration in service of creating a deeper connection with your inherent nature as a way to discover how you can find support from yourself, as well as, feel supported by others.

So many couples end up in a never-ending battle to feel HEARD. After empowering thousands of couples for over 20 years... I have found the most strategic & fun ways to help couples connect on a deep level for good. I help couples & individuals breakthrough old patterns keeping them from bringing out the best in themselves and their partner.

At The San Francisco Marriage and Couples Center, we offer couples therapy, marriage counseling, and relationship counseling. We are an organization of professional mental health clinicians with a top priority in providing progressive and cutting edge treatment for trauma, mood, and relationship issues. Our therapists have been chosen for their expertise in helping mood, trauma, and relationship issues. Therapists who practice at The San Francisco Marriage and Couples Center provide as integrative approach to treatment offering Western talk therapy and Eastern complimentary recommendations including meditation, yoga, and qigong.

My goal as a therapist is to serve as a compassionate witness, creating a safe space for clients to explore their whole selves - body, mind, and spirit. Together, we can map the territory of your lived experience and find the road that leads to a place of knowing, confidence, and satisfaction. I welcome the whole you. The places of lightness and the places of darkness. I welcome your multitude of backgrounds and experiences. I welcome the parts that follow the rules, as well as the rebel parts that march to a different beat. Come just as you are - to discover who you can become.

So often we live in the grip of anxiety and depression. Our families pull out our worst, the realities of adulthood drain us, loss of loved ones or our own capacities become existential reality, yet the good news is we can always make changes in ourselves to increase our resilience. The work of psychotherapy is serious business. While humor and levity in the present can help lighten difficult memories, we will dive deep into the past with expert attention to inform movement into a more complete future.

Life can be full of ups and downs; you may feel isolated, alienated, unable to trust, have low self-esteem or relationship problems. Therapy helps you get through these difficult experiences, I listen to your concerns and create a safe space for you to resolve them. I help you explore your thoughts and feelings, uncover your strengths and vulnerabilities, develop a deeper understanding of yourself and your life, deepen self-trust and create the changes you want. Feeling heard and understood brings comfort and relief. I help you release inner blocks which leads to more vitality, creativity, self-expression and fulfillment.

Relationships are challenging no matter what. They are especially difficult if you've had minimal guidance in learning healthy ways of dealing with conflict or asking for what you need. This lack of exposure to healthy ways of relating can show up in friendships, in a romantic relationship or at work through behaviors such as avoidance, accommodation or other ineffective actions. The result is disconnection and dissatisfaction. It is important to understand how you show up in relationship in order to make a healthy change. I am here to help you with this process.

I believe Psychotherapy can be a “point in the right direction” to bring change, healing, and a new sense of hope into your life. This is a place you can talk about anything, where you can explore fears, frustrations, hopes and all the parts of yourself. You don't have to be in crisis for therapy, it's good to have someone to talk through things. I am a deep and attentive listener, as well as interactive. One of my goals is to give you my "toolbox" so you can manage life outside the office. I have on online co-parenting course that helps parents transition into a healthier relationship. I support couples together, an separate.

Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, feeling unmotivated, burnt-out, or struggling with your intimate relationships? I work with clients wanting to change habitual and painful patterns such as self-criticism, guilt or shame, difficulties in romantic relationships, issues with communication, or struggling to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

My ideal client is someone who needs help reaching their highest potential and decrease emotional suffering. They should be ready and willing to begin receiving guidance on how to reach their peak. I believe in self-determination and that individuals can find solutions with the right support.

The individuals I work with come from many different backgrounds and lifestyles. Depression, anxiety, alcoholism, addiction, relationships challenges and other issues do not discriminate, but affect all races, religions, lifestyles, education levels, and income brackets. My approach to each individual situation varies based on clients' needs and preferences. I may choose from cognitive behavioral, object-relations, humanistic, transcendental, family systems, or other therapeutic approaches, based upon a client's needs. Couples may be involved in traditional marriage or an alternative lifestyle.

My approach as a psychotherapist is to meet my clients where they are, honoring their unique life experiences, offering strategies and responses that address their specific needs. I understand psychotherapy as a collaborative process. I practice listening deeply, with curiosity and respect, to support my clients’ innate capacity for self-awareness, growth, and well-being. Effective therapy requires authentic contact between therapist and client.  I am a fellow traveler, working on my own growth and transformation, while in service to my clients.

My practice is rooted in the strengths-based perspective, and informed by the interconnectedness of all things. I recognize the relationship between mind, body, and spirit (or soul), and the complexity of being an individual influenced by multiple, dynamic systems. Therapy is a collaboration between client and therapist, as we are all practitioners and students in our own rights. We all have within us an innate wisdom and knowing to share and to affect positive change.