Therapists in Sebastopol, CA

Are you looking for rapid, drug-free relief from depression or anxiety? I help adults and adolescents dealing with stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, chronic health problems, and relationship issues of all kinds--without the use of medications. My clients tend to be creative, philosophical, or intellectual people, and often (like myself) were raised in more than one culture.

Are you feeling stuck in unhelpful thinking or behavior patterns? Is anxiety interfering with your ability to enjoy life? Do you need help with parenting or relationship issues? Are you having trouble sleeping? Are you struggling with chronic pain or illness? Is it difficult to make decisions?

Whatever issues, conflicts, or relationship problems that you may be struggling with, I can help you begin to have a new experience of yourself, to be able to create more satisfying results. Within a gentle, yet direct, relationship, I will offer you more clarity and encourage needed changes. I am highly experienced at teaching practical skills and tools to better understand and deepen your relationship with yourself, your loved ones, and life in general. People who have worked with me over the years say that what is immediately noticeable about my style is the safe, down to earth experience and support I provide.

Nurturing and guiding our children is one of the most beautiful and challenging experiences. As a parent myself, I have a deep and meaningful connection to the work with children and families. Staying regulated and resourced is wise but a difficult balance to find. Often our children's needs are difficult to understand and manage. Working with a professional through the world of play can unlock meaning making for the entire family. Please reach out to learn more about my approach and share your own needs around tending your family's heart.

I imagine you are here because you are experiencing some kind of trouble, or unrest in your life or relationships. Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed by work, by parenting, or feeling haunted by a history that caused you deep pain? Many of us, no matter how many close connections we have, can be living our lives feeling very much unseen, and alone. I wholeheartedly believe that though we may feel lost or under-resourced in the moment, we already have everything we need inside of ourselves to be living a life of deep fulfillment, joy and an experience of wholeness in our lives.

Video Sessions are available. Have you ever felt stuck in old patterns of thoughts, feelings, moods, relationships? Are you a person who knows your true potential and longs to spread your wings? I invite you to imagine what it would be like to be free from the clutches of anxiety, depression, trauma and chronic distress within relationships. Recent breakthroughs in the field of psychotherapy can help you gain lasting relief from core struggles that hold us back from a life of greater meaning and fulfillment.

I know that we are whole all the time. I know that we are essentially good. Yet, I know that every one of us is not always able to believe this. As an extremely relational person and nature loving being, I have come to realize that a human thrives through healthy relationships and time in nature. Both of those provide mirrors to the wholeness and the goodness of that human.

There is nothing quite like emotional pain. We carry it with us everywhere. It messes up our life. Sometimes it makes us want to hide from other people; sometimes from ourselves. Sometimes we turn to various escapes to quiet that insistent feeling in our bodies. We look to one solution after another until we learn to mistrust every solution. And we are right. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. In fact, there isn't even a one-size-fits-all question. You are unique, and only you have the answer. My role is to help you find it.

I have worked with people from many different places and cultures and support people of all ages. I’ve seen how stress and trauma show up in family systems and how systemic injustices impact everyone from kids in classrooms, to people with privilege, to single moms unable to access mental health care.

Are you feeling called to open your heart and mind to live in a way that is meaningful and authentic? Would you like to free yourself of well-worn limitations from limiting beliefs, shame, or trauma? We are in the midst of radical, collective transformation and the time is ripe for utilizing that energy to make changes in our lives. Change can shake free some of our deepest fears and most dysfunctional patterns, but it also provides opportunities for new and beautiful growth. When we feel supported, we are better able to navigate change. And when we change as individuals, we help shift the collective consciousness.

I believe we all carry within us everything we need to heal. There are also times in our lives when we need extra support to access inner resources, healing and growth. As your therapist, we will explore together ways that old habits, patterns and history limit the life you want to be living. Whether you are stressed, anxious or overwhelmed, facing big life transitions, worried about your teen, or longing for more meaning and connection in your relationships, you are not alone in your struggle. It is a courageous act to get support and I honor your unique life journey.

Do you struggle with relationships or feel cut off from your own vibrancy and purpose? Do you long to move forward in your goals and dreams? Are you living someone else’s life and don’t really know what you want or could accomplish? Are feelings of anger, loneliness or depression keeping you powerless to change? I can offer you a safe and effective environment of support that will empower you to heal and transform your relationships with yourself and others. You will receive a unique individualized program of specific tools and skills to help you navigate your way towards vibrancy and passion.

The bumper sticker on my car says DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK. This statement sums up one of the most important wishes that I have for my clients and supports the work that we will do together. It is my opinion that our beliefs about ourselves and the world are our most powerful tools for change (for good or ill) that we have. At your own pace, we will explore the ways that your beliefs affect your thoughts and feelings, and work toward your goals, both great and small.

Look at birds: they make great sky circles of their freedom. How do they learn to do that? They fall, and in falling, they are given wings. -Rumi

We all want to feel happy and connected in our lives, but the last two years have been so hard with the pandemic and all the political turmoil that many of us feel a heightened level of anxiety where even the smallest stress can feel overwhelming. My 30 years experience in the treatment of anxiety, depression, life transitions and addiction issues support you in overcoming stuck and repetitive negative thoughts and behaviours and lead you to a thriving life. My focus is on supporting my clients in finding their unique process of self-healing. I am able to help you move into a way of living that is fluid, flexible and creative.