Self Esteem Therapists in San Francisco, CA

Welcome. My name is Angela Grau and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I provide individual therapy for adults experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, interpersonal issues, self esteem , life transitions, feeling stuck in their life or career and grief or loss. You can expect my sessions to feel warm, welcoming, collaborative and creative.

My practice focuses on self-esteem, relationships, and personal growth. I specialize in working with people who are wanting to know themselves well, deepen relationships, and manage anxiety and depression. I help you connect with your inner world (feelings, needs, values) and explore how past experiences have shaped who you are. Through the safety of a compassionate and nurturing therapeutic relationship, we'll get curious about what is holding you back, define what is important to you, explore any unhelpful patterns you may be stuck in, and start trying new ways of coping.

Are you overwhelmed or feel burnt in your job or in life? Do you have anxiety due to family, friends, or work relationships? Do you experience self-doubt or low self-esteem? When we experience trauma, we often find it easier to leave it in the past; however, these experiences can change how we think about ourselves and shiw up in the world. I can support you in resolving past traumas or your current life stressors in order to relieve anxiety, rise up from depression, and improve feelings of overwhelm.

I work with adults of all ages who seek the greatest access to their abilities and skills, wish to understand and accept themselves more fully by mitigating both internal and external obstacles, experience compassion, and act with social responsibility. Such goals may to grapple overcome low self esteem , maintain sobriety, come to terms with painful life experiences, and develop reality-based trust in relatioonships.

My approach is holistic(mind, body and spirit) and I work with individuals and couples primarily around self-acceptance/love, learning how to achieve intimacy and breaking free of conditioning. Helping you discover your deepest truths and find your purpose, desire and drive in life. I provide an opportunity for people to grow and heal, in a safe, supportive, non-judgmental and nurturing environment. This work helps to heal trauma/ PTSD), depression, low self-esteem, addictions and anxiety. I also welcome those who simply want the added flexibility good therapy can achieve, enabling them to live fuller, richer, happier lives.

Welcome! I bring a deep sensitivity and nurturing approach to my therapy practice. I believe that we become who we truly are in a safe, welcoming, and loving environment -- free from judgement and imposed expectation. Working with me you can expect to feel unconditionally seen for who you are, and safely encouraged to explore the most challenging parts of your life. My experience is in working with individuals, families, young adults, and adolescents. I focus on working with life transitions, relationship challenges, identity, self-esteem, career hurdles, anxiety, depression, panic disorders, and early childhood trauma.

I believe beginning therapy takes courage, and I have the utmost respect for anyone taking that risk. I strive to create a warm space of total acceptance for where you are in your journey. For as long as I can remember, I've been interested in people's stories. It's not surprising that I ended up doing the work I do. As a therapist, I listen to a person and help make sense of both their struggles and their strengths. I help my clients find meaning in their experience and move forward to create new stories about themselves and the world around them.

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.

Do you feel like you aren't good enough? Are you sensitive to being hurt in social situations? Do you struggle with issues of self esteem or self worth? If these are common themes for you, your teen/child, or in your relationship, then perhaps we might work well together. I center my work around self compassion. I believe that only from a place of self kindness can we feel grounded within ourselves enough to develop a compassionate relationship with others around us. I use mindfulness and somatic body oriented work in order to help us connect deeper with our self, our inner knowing and to be able to cultivate trust with ourselves.

I'm curious about people: how our unique histories have shaped us, how we relate to each other & what motivates our behavior in relationships. I specialize in processing relationships with couples & individuals struggling with codependency, communication, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem & identity. We often get stuck in repetitive behavioral/thinking patterns that block us from living the lives we yearn for. We may feel misunderstood or disconnected in our relationships. We may avoid intimacy because we don’t want to get hurt again. We may have a harsh inner critic & lack self-love. Do you experience this in your life?

Are you down on yourself, beating yourself up with thoughts like "I'm not good enough, I'm a failure, I should work harder than I do or I'll never get what I want out of life?" Do you focus on your flaws rather than your strengths and maybe have even forgotten what your strengths are? I can help you identify, challenge and change those distorted, negative, self defeating ideas to give you a more realistic, compassionate and affirming sense of yourself.

Accepting new clients (update 2/23): I help clients shine a light on things not serving them - limiting beliefs, low self-esteem, negative habits, self-critical thoughts, or unhealthy relationships. Each of my clients is an expert in their own experience, and my role is to help you understand and take affirming actions and positive steps in the right direction. I am particularly interested in working with people navigating transition, relationship issues, or who have a deep desire for a greater sense of meaning or healthier self-esteem. I also enjoy working with college-age adults struggling with anxiety or depression.

Therapy provides a space to speak freely and be heard with care that can provide a person with more internal space for lived experience, emotion, thought and desire. In psychotherapy, you can express your thoughts and feelings and gain insight into the unconscious sources of your conflicts. With warmth and curiosity, I will provide an attentive ear and a thoughtful mind.

Major stressors bringing you down? Feeling overwhelmed, unproductive, or isolated? Learn how to interrupt racing thoughts, relax under pressure, and bring joy back in your life. What if therapy could help you feel like yourself again? You can regain your energy, manage irritability, and connect with people more easily. It's okay to set boundaries, prioritize yourself, and make space to figure out what you want and need. Together, we can address what doesn't seem right in your job, life, or business and develop custom tools and strategies to help you reach your goals.

If you've stumbled upon this page I imagine that you're trying to find a therapist that you feel like you can talk to, someone who will understand you. From this page and my website, I hope you can get a feel for me and how I work. I see psychotherapy as a place where you get to express yourself as freely as possible within the context of a trusting and supportive relationship.

I am a body-centered psychotherapist and shaman specializing in working with people with anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship issues. I especially love to work with people that wish to embark on the deep, transformational journey of core healing and living authentically. I have nearly 3 decades of body-centered experience including Chi Gung, Tai Chi, Taoist Breathing and Meditation, the Feldenkrais Method, and Somatic Experiencing. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in San Francisco. I work with clients via skype and the phone as well as in-person.

Most of us want the same thing: to be happy. If you are on this website, you are most likely experiencing some discomfort - mental, physical, emotional - and have realized this truth — that sometimes it's hard to go it alone. You may be facing tenacious challenges like loneliness, illness, ADHD, anxiety, loss, low self-esteem, less-than-satisfying relationships, body/food conflicts, procrastination and parenting issues. If so, having someone who knows the terrain makes for a more successful outcome.

Needing support? Feeling anxious? Having conflict with a loved one? Wanting to worry less and trust yourself more? Come in, let's talk and explore together what you need to feel better and more alive. I help my clients reduce anxiety, lift depression, strengthen couple communication, build self-esteem, parent with loving kindness, and create balance and meaning in their life. I can help you feel more authentic, more in integrity with who you are and more connected. I will help you build awareness, heal wounding, and create lasting change. I will support you every step of the way.