Therapists in San Francisco, CA

Because I believe we are mind, body, and soul, I have a holistic approach in my practice. We are each unique individuals with different problems, needs and wants and therefore require a personalized and individualized treatment to resolve symptoms and conflicts. Emphasizing uniqueness, I utilize an integrative approach in your treatment through the use of various modalities while applying diverse techniques and interventions. This will help you become more in touch with your whole self and recover from any trauma or adverse life experiences and the psychological distress produced by it.

I believe my principal role as a therapist is to create a safe place for people to find their unique paths to emotional well-being and meaningful relationships. Whether you are going through a life transition, feeling depressed or anxious, experiencing a relationship conflict, or struggling with an addiction, making a change is always easier when you have an experienced professional to guide you through it. I can be that guide. Invest the time and energy to improve your emotional health in the same way you strive to improve your physical health. Our emotions need exercise and our relationships need nurturing.

I believe connection between the therapist and client is vital for the therapeutic process. I have 15 years of experience working in mental health and believe in utilizing a humanistic approach along with elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and obtained a M.S.in Psychopharmacology in 2001. I've been in private practice for 40 years and an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSF since 2005. My practice includes individuals and couples seeking help with a wide variety of issues including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, loss, and grief. I work within a relational, psychodynamic theoretical model as a means of understanding and integrating the complex relationship that individuals and couples present. In my clinical work as a therapist and supervisor, I work collaboratively in pursuing goals and objectives.

Within each of us exists the potential to feel good about ourselves, our relationships and our work. Accessing this potential, tapping into it and learning to apply it generously to everyday life can lead to great success and fulfillment in all of these areas. I collaborate with my clients to identify and address the things blocking their ability to have a true and lasting sense of well being-- depression, stress, low self esteem, past trauma, self defeating patterns and toxic relationships. Together we work actively on transforming these obstacles into self knowledge and new, positive behaviors.

My name is Shaw Talley and I received my Masters in Social Work from the University of Washington in 2010. I received my License in Clinical Social Work in 2019 and have 11 years experience working as a Medical Social Worker in the Emergency Room at San Francisco General Hospital. As a therapist I am curious, disarming, calm, compassionate, non judgmental, professional, accountable to growth, emotionally present, passionate, mindful, positive and loving. I practice Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and was introduced to ACT in 2017 during clinical supervision under an experienced ACT therapist.

I am the type of therapist that is always curious and open to helping my clients come up with unique solutions to life's setbacks. Life is very challenging and finding the right therapist should be seamless. If you're interested in finding a holistic approach to seek harmony in mind, body and wellness, this is the first step of awareness for the work to begin.

Thank you for taking a moment to view my profile. I provide an authentic, caring and safe environment that allows for clients to access their own internal resources to do the all-important work of therapy. Evening and Saturday availability.

Are you searching for more meaning, joy or ease in your life? Do you long for more fulfilling work and relationships? Do you wish you had more confidence to live your dreams? It takes courage to take the risk to reach out for help and begin the process of exploring yourself. Psychotherapy is a safe space in which to release old patterns and beliefs so that you can move toward the life you most deeply want. I can help you engage fully with yourself, and we'll collaborate in identifying the specific methods and techniques that work best for you to achieve your specific goals.

Becoming our most alive and authentic self is the goal of psychotherapy. If you are like many of the people that I work with, you have felt that being yourself wasn't accepted or valued in relationships, your family, or the world in general. In therapy, you have the opportunity to non-judgmentally challenge and change these learned beliefs and grow into your true self. I am especially interested in working with couples, relationship problems, anxiety, trauma, sex and sexuality, and LGBTQ.

Are you deciding to try therapy for the first time, or considering a return to this work in a new phase of life? This leap, whether for you, or for your relationship, can be incredibly vulnerable. Healing + change require personal commitment, and trust in the therapist you choose to guide you through the process of re-patterning. The Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy, and Integrative Coaching I provide is insightful, proactive, and inspirational. I will support you to more fully connect with yourself, and more deeply in your relationships. When you are grounded, and your relationships are solid, your work in the world will be meaningful.

Have you recently received a medical diagnosis that has thrown you "off your path?" Do you have an upcoming surgical procedure that has you frightened, and you want to be as prepared as possible? Are you scheduling an elective procedure that will make your life better, but that has inherent risks? Or perhaps you need help in healing from a disturbing medical procedure? One of my specialties as a psychotherapist is to help you manage and heal from such events. I have spent 30 years helping people diagnosed with breast cancer, other forms of cancer, and medical crises as well as life transitions, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and grief.

Are you a man with problems at work, or your relationships? Do you want things to be different? Then you must do things differently. Usually we solve problems by our efforts, or with the support of friends and family. That is often best. Other times, professional guidance is required. If you want an experienced psychologist who is well informed, practical, compassionate, and collaborative, consider working with me. I am ready to help you help yourself. Just email to arrange a phone consultation without cost or obligation. Please note: I provide online therapy to California men only.

I have over 20 years of experience working with adults, children, adolescents, and couples in a variety of settings. My approach involves warmth, honesty, insight, compassion, and humor. My philosophy is grounded in the core Humanistic principles of genuineness, empathy, and respect. Through my work, I have helped people from diverse backgrounds achieve improved health and move toward greater satisfaction in their lives and in themselves. I encourage individuals to tap into their own inherent strengths to find new, and more constructive, ways of navigating life's problems.

When we hold layers of unprocessed experience and emotions, life can feel very constricted. Often we're not even aware that's what's going on. We just feel stuck, and things have a way of feeling like an uphill struggle. That's because the accumulation of stress and overwhelming experiences in our life and relationships can create a new normal that is far removed from who we really are. It becomes harder to connect with our strengths, dreams, aliveness and power.

My professional approach is founded on compassion and dedication. As a clinician, mental health provider, and Bay Area native, I combine innovative, insightful, and progressive thinking, with a strong therapeutic and academic foundation. My approach integrates professional experience, rigorous training, and a recognition of personal perspectives in an effective and sensible way. While I tailor my approach to each client’s individual needs, I draw mostly from multicultural and attachment theories. While focusing on achieving real goals, I also help others develop new perspectives.

If you've stumbled upon my page, you're likely seeking emotional support and helpful skills to navigate life's challenges. Perhaps you've been feeling stuck, anxious, overwhelmed, or disconnected to your work, relationships, or even yourself. This can be very painful to navigate alone. In therapy with me, you can work through negative thinking patterns or habits, common stressors, and allow room for acceptance of things you cannot control. In therapy, you can gain new skills as we talk through your lived experience. Your story is unique, so we will work together to navigate treatment goals that can improve your quality of life.

I work from a trauma-informed, relational space of deep listening, in an open, accepting, and non-shaming manner—welcoming of all that you bring to our session. I believe that each human being is perfectly imperfect. I hold a deep curiosity for my clients’ inner worlds and an ability to hold space for difficult material without shame or judgment, seeing the patterns my clients’ stories, beliefs, and feelings weave and sharing those insights and reflections in our process. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, I work with adolescents, young adults, and their families, and see adults individually and in group settings.