Mindfulness-Based (MBCT) Therapists in Walnut Creek, CA

The interface between contemporary psychology and the wisdom of contemplative practice spirituality is central to my work with individuals and couples and to my general approach to therapy. With the use of MINDFULNESS based therapy and a non-judgmental and non-pathological approach I create a healing and supportive environment were growth and transformation can take place through our in depth process of exploration. From this general holistic and contemplative perspective I address a variety of issues of emotional, existential and relational nature with both individuals and couples and would be very happy to help you as well!

The clients I work with are tired of feeling numb, overwhelmed, and distracted. They are beginning to question their lifetime of people-pleasing, self-sabotaging, anxiety-related tendencies. And they are looking to experience major shifts in their thinking and major aha moments of discovering themselves. They want to live a full life where they are the one who gets to have the job they love, the relationships that are authentic, and the dreams that are reality.

Deciding to pursue therapy is an important and personal choice. Therapeutic support can help you process relationship issues, difficult life transitions, and gain effective coping skills to manage your mind and body. Therapy is a space to explore and express your authentic self and navigate a journey towards health and wholeness. As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), I have 4 years experience working with adolescents, older adults, and adults in their 20s. I also specialize working with somatic practices, EMDR techniques, and polyvagal breathwork.

I have over 30 years' experience as a clinician, published researcher and educator. I hold a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Masters in Health Psychology. I have developed programs including Stress Management, Insomnia control and Meditation for programs such as Kaiser Permanente. This diversity of experience, allows me to help people understand their thinking processes, identify patterns of behavior and make sustainable changes. I strive to empower people to change both their behaviors and beliefs to allow them to achieve overall well-being and happiness. My philosophy stresses personal insight and responsibility, - integrating the physical, intellectual and spiritual.

My passion is to serve individuals, couples, and families that suffer from depression and/or having experienced various forms of trauma whether that be the loss of a loved one, physical/emotional/sexual abuse, neglect, societal discrimination/oppression/racism, and more. I like to encourage my clients to build autonomy and self empowerment skills so that they can develop the appropriate coping mechanisms in order to achieve their overall goal(s). I hope to support my clients in overcoming obstacles and eventually live a life free of chronic stress and emotional pain .

We all come with different stories, identities, backgrounds, cultures, and representations of our experiences which make up who we are and how we relate to the people and world around us. Therapy is an opportunity to examine, understand, and process these parts in order to find our place in the world, establish healthy relationships, and feel a sense of joy and satisfaction in life. I am passionate about supporting adults and teens through life transitions, relationship issues, anxiety or stress related issues, processing traumas, and navigating existential or spiritual processes.

I help adults and couples with relationship and codependency issues, grief and loss, depression, anxiety and addictive patterns with self and others. I help you to create a relationship with yourself and others based on respect, caring and trust. This helps build the feeling of safety that lies at the core of any successful therapy. My goal is to support you in finding and strengthening your own inner voice. When we learn to free ourselves from old, stuck patterns of relating (in mind and body), we often feel a lightness of being that allows us to experience more joy in our everyday lives.

Thank you for your interest in my practice! I offer my support to people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations. I have a focus on clients who are going through large transitions or grief, deal with anxiety and depression, who have experienced trauma and PTSD, and are over all looking to discover their life’s course. A genuine relationship is at the root of my practice. My hope is that my clients feel they can enter the therapy room as their authentic selves and that they feel an authentic person is also sitting in front of them.

My belief as a therapist is that we all possess innate and unique strengths that are best highlighted when we feel supported. This support is the impetus for change and for developing a stronger sense of resilience. My purpose as a therapist is to support you in finding your own ways to reach peace, wholeness, and tranquility. In doing so, you will help improve your relationships with others.

At the core of many personal issues lie old messages of your sense of worth. Those messages conveyed to you while growing-up that may have minimized your self-esteem. By slowly revisiting the wounded part of yourself, old repetitive behaviors can cease to exist. A new sense of kindness toward yourself will begin to emerge. Allow me to travel with you to discover what is buried deep inside of your soul, exploring what keeps you from becoming all that you want to be. I hold a container of acceptance in the therapy room, while searching for its meaning and resolution.

For over twenty years, I have worked with individuals experiencing anxiety, grief, depression, loss, trauma, substance abuse, and adjustment disorder. My clients are children, adolescents, young adults, and adults. My approach is holistic and focuses on meeting the individual where they are. I incorporate Mindfulness , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic and Humanistic approaches and EMDR in my work. I see each person, not as a diagnosis, but as an individual with strengths and challenges. I would be honored to walk alongside you and support you in your journey.

Feeling restless or easily distracted? Lacking energy, motivation, focus, or direction in life? Spinning your wheels in your career or relationships? Prone to pleasing others at all costs, yet feeling unhappy and misunderstood? Always too busy to stop and smell the flowers? I'd like to help you become more empowered, confident, and satisfied through facing and letting go of your fears, irritating beliefs, guilt, and suffering, so you can learn to communicate more effectively and have healthy relationships. For more than twenty-five years I have provided time-limited and in-depth psychotherapy to individuals, couples and groups.

When you make the decision to further your understanding of yourself, you are one step closer to feeling empowered to living the life that you envision. With a compassionate mind, I am looking forward to supporting and guiding you through the changes that lead to positive growth. With a blend of psychodynamic, cognitive, and mindfulness -based psychotherapy approaches, I provide support and practical feedback to help you effectively address personal issues and life challenges.

I am a psychologist for sport, health, and life. I have spent 15 years studying, writing, teaching, and coaching people on how to perform at their best. I have worked with world-class performers from the arenas of sports, business, healthcare, and the United States Army. I have special expertise in Performance Psychology and train clients on how to strengthen the mental and emotional skills that underlie human performance excellence and sustainable resilience. I am a subject matter expert in the field of self-regulation techniques that promote optimism, resilience, alertness, and composure in high-pressure situations.

It’s early in the morning, and your eyes pop open to the sound of a blaring alarm clock. Groaning, you hit the snooze button as you start dreading the grueling day ahead. Lying in bed, you scroll through your phone, looking for the motivation to get you through this day. Instead, you're met with images of women with perfect bodies and perfect lives. You can’t help but compare yourself to them. A voice says, “that’ll never be you; it can't be.” You try to dismiss it, but the voice in your head gets louder. You can’t shake the feeling that you don’t deserve happiness or success in your life. You feel lost and defeated.

Welcome! My therapy practice is focused on the complexities and challenges faced by teens, parents, and individual adults. I also have a passion for working specifically with pregnant and postpartum women in their transition into parenthood. My approach to therapy is always collaborative and client-centered, empowering clients to create long-term progress and change. I work to promote your innate resiliency and to build insight and tools to help you and your family thrive. My clinical approach is integrative and includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused, Psychodynamic, Relational, and Mindfulness .