Psychoanalytic Therapists in Walnut Creek, CA

Are you finding yourself caught in self defeating patterns? Are you anxious or depressed and don't know why? Maybe you are hard on yourself in ways you aren't to others. Or, do you find yourself overly critical of others? Do you wish you were happier, more at peace? We all try and want to live at our best, but many of us find ourselves pulled back into old patterns before we recognize our actions. We cope in many different ways or develop symptoms that are often self destructive. Why do we do this?

Sometimes we notice patterns to our behaviors and relationships that leave us feeling unhappy and/or "stuck." Psychoanalytic psychotherapy can provide a way to understand how we came to develop these patterns, the purposes they serve, and new options for the future.

Living a life where struggling is a regular experience is difficult to change, because no one wants to feel worse. Therapy helps by talking through what's happened, what feels wrong and what ideas you have about it, all which may be conscious or unconscious. What's unconscious surfaces naturally through our work together. Most people enter therapy afraid, because they don't know where to start or are overwhelmed because so much has happened. I can help you navigate this terrain to relieve pain, clarify thoughts and beliefs, and improve well-being.

As a mental health therapist I work from a client centered focus. I support and guide you in managing your mental health concerns. You maybe experiencing symptoms such as depression, anxiety, trauma, stress, or relationship issues. If you have a desire to understand and address the root causes of your life challenges, and you are willing to engage in the therapeutic process to make positive changes in your life then I'd love to work with you. I use a non-judgmental, empathetic therapeutic approach. I work to provide a safe and supportive environment to explore your thoughts and feelings, which in turn helps you grow as human being.

How do we break the spell of trauma? Shame, internalized gaslighting, trust issues, addictions and all the rest. How do we break free? The funny answer is not by fighting them as enemies. But by befriending them. Once we befriend them, they lose their power over us. But how do we befriend an enemy that lives in our Unconscious? Dreams, art, play, and imagination are all natives of this realm. so they are perfect guides through our underworld of rich personal symbolism to befriend shadow elements and integrate repressed capacities, replenishing vitality. Fun breaks the spell.

It is my belief that everyone navigates his or her way through their family of origin and early environment by developing strategies and coping techniques, essentially doing the best one can in the circumstances. Later, these ways of handling relationships and stressors can become limiting. Members of couples and families can also develop entrenched ways of relating that become partially based on assumptions. Frustration, anxiety, disappointment and resentment can result. Psychotherapy enables you to understand the evolution of these patterns and develop more choices in how you respond and relate to others.

Many people come to me wondering why they're unhappy, anxious, or unable to find fulfillment. The problem may seem obvious but a solution impossible. The same painful experiences repeat themselves, but why? And how to change them? If we meet, I will work together to discover how you can come to grips with whatever is troubling you. In doing so, you may discover, as sometimes happens, that there are ways to experience yourself and others that are genuinely different from what you've known thus far.

I am a psychoanalytically trained therapist with a long history working upon addiction, relationship, self-discovery issues. I promote consciousness, and honesty.

Feeling stuck, immobilized and unable to change your life? What's holding you back from being your best self? Through a behavioral lens we work together to identify the behaviors and patterns that are holding you back from your goals and systematically relearn healthy patterns and coping mechanisms that will empower you to make the best decisions for yourself, your relationships or your family. I work from a person centered approach creating a safe space where we work together to help determine your needs and goals.

Building relationships is a strength of mine and I love using that as a vehicle for healing and personal growth. I am experienced in working with adolescents and young adults in exploring past trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, relational issues and identify core conflicts. I look forward to joining you in your journey towards healing!

Has your addictive behavior gotten out of control? Are you struggling with pornography or compulsive sexual behavior? Do you need to repair damage caused in your relationship or rebuild trust? You are not alone and there is a way through it. I am the founder and clinical director of Pathway Therapy Center where we specialize in helping clients get through the crisis that addiction causes and work to find recovery and healing. Further, I offer weekly Men's recovery groups to help building community and reduce shame around addiction; an essential piece of the recovery process.

I work with individuals, couples, and partners as they navigate the effects of sex and pornography addiction. Whether your position is as a person who lives with sex addiction or as a partner who has experienced betrayal trauma, I will offer support and hope as we determine the appropriate and workable course to help you maneuver through difficulties and challenges, create more balance and peace, and discover tools to live life with more joy. Additionally, I am experienced in working with substance abuse and addiction, trauma, depression, anxiety, and personality disorders.

Are you feeling lost in life or in your relationship? My work with couples and individuals is about helping to make sense of what is happening on a deeper level. It may be that you feel anxious, angry or depressed too often. Or you might find yourself acting in ways that hurt instead of help. As we begin to understand what is behind all of this a process gets set in motion. I stay with your through this process as an insightful, empathic and supportive partner.

Life can feel overwhelming, confusing and difficult. Relationships can be challenging. Change and loss can lead to uncertainty. All of this can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression. I help people make sense of their experience, navigate through difficult times and increase their self-awareness to achieve a greater sense of purpose, freedom, and choice in their lives. The therapeutic relationship is a collaborative space where you can work to understand and resolve your feelings, explore thoughts and behaviors that may have you feeling “stuck” in your life and identify relationship patterns that interfere with your well-being.

Welcome! I am a postdoctoral therapist experienced in working with children, adolescents, and adults from a variety of backgrounds, with diverse interests and values. My passion is to help my clients navigate life transitions and challenges in a way that feels meaningful and authentic, in an environment where they feel safe and supported to explore what matters most to them. As your therapist, you can expect me to listen attentively, be curious about your experience, and ask questions that help us work toward your goals in therapy.

Dr. Keiko Miller is a neuropsychologist located in Walnut Creek and is the founder of Aspire Neuropsychological Services. She has worked in the field of Autism since 2003 and has worked in the field of neuropsychology since 2009. She conducts a variety of evaluations of adults and children ages 12 months+. She earned her Psy.D. degree in 2011 and Masters of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) in 2019 from California School of Professional Psychology. She holds an active license in California. Aspire has clinicians from a variety of specialities in an effort to meet our client's needs.

There are times in life when we feel lost and down, when we feel the same story unfold again and again and we desire some change. We may also continuously carry the wounds of previous trauma. As a psychologist and Jungian analyst, my approach is to develop a therapeutic alliance with my patients in a climate of trust and respect for their unfolding life story. Progressively, we develop a relationship with some underlying, hidden aspects of the personality which could, among other avenues, express themselves in dreams. Ultimately, the respectful relationship to one's center, the Self, brings healing and a creative transformation.