Therapists in Oakland, CA

My ideal client is "high-functioning." Ever heard of high-functioning anxiety, depression, and CPTSD? High-functioners tend to look like they have it all together from the outside, but there's an ongoing battle inside. Queer and neurospicy people, I'm talking to you too! Masking is the norm, and it is done by studying the world to act how they "should." Compartmentalizing and pushing feelings deep down to keep moving forward is how they've survived the tough stuff. Children who grew up worrying about upsetting their family or caring for their siblings often become self-abandoning adults.

Regardless of our histories, healing is possible. I know because I have experienced it myself & have accompanied people in untenable conditions deepen their awareness & access what they need to heal. I provide therapy for people who want to transform limiting beliefs & patterns, heal attachment trauma and abuse, navigate relationships & complex families, & take accountability for past harm. I support people to feel compassion for all parts of themselves & live with more resilience and joy. My clients are queer & transgender people, social justice organizers, survivors, people impacted by the legal system, addiction, and/or violence.

I am devoted to guiding those that are called to improve their lives, whether it is to become the first in their family to be a college graduate, to rise to the challenge of becoming a professional in their field of choice, or to overcome years of negative self esteem. My clients want to find positive connection with themselves, their partners, their families, and communities. My clients have often experienced traumatic events but I have taught them about and shared tools which give them control over how those events affect them, finding peace and strength out of difficult experiences. I offer counsel to adults, couples, & kids.

I have been privileged to have experienced a very diverse clientele. Currently I am accepting clients who are LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, those who are working on trauma or traumatic pasts, 'outside the box' or deep thinkers, and/or those who have lived diverse/alternative lives. When contacting me, please say what about this profile you were interested in, and why you think we might be a good match.

I specialize in working with young people and the LGBTQIA community. My professional background in education, clowning, and physical theater deeply informs my work. Using embodied play alongside talk therapy, I find that my clients are able to access expression, relief, and growth. This type of work is useful for kids experiencing anxiety, school and family challenges, and struggling with self esteem. It is also useful for LGBTQIA people to become more deeply in touch with their identities, using a creative lens. I am committed to meeting clients where they are at to develop a space for creative healing.

I am a trans Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in working with trans, queer, genderqueer, and gender-nonconforming teens and adults. I have a non-pathologizing approach and deeply value identities outside the "norm." I have fifteen years of experience as a mental health provider, including support groups with teens and adults, individual therapy, and crisis work. I am a Bay Area activist who has fought for transgender rights by organizing provider trainings and public demonstrations. I am a visual artist and storyteller who believes that underrepresented individuals expressing themselves creatively and authentically is powerful and important.

So many of us have been harmed by other people, by systems of oppression, and by experiences of collective trauma. These experiences disconnect us from ourselves and from each other, so that we may blame and attack ourselves, or lash out at those around us, or feel compelled to be perfect at the cost of our wellbeing, or numb our feelings, or feel always insecure and unsafe in relationships. People who work with me are curious, wanting to know more about how past experiences are showing up in their feelings, bodies, sense of self, behaviors, values, and relationships today.

In addition to adult individuals and couples, I work quite well with difficult adolescents and pre-teens, and can tolerate a high degree of intensity in therapy sessions. I am uniquely capable of providing a containing and non-judgmental space, and am particularly interested in working with issues that arise as a result of counter-culture lifestyles. I bring a social justice perspective to my work, meaning that I take the entirety of my clients' environment as equally important and formative as their early childhood relationships and mental processes.

You’re in the right place if… You don’t have the community you’d like. You don’t feel trusting of others. Your anger scares you. You don’t feel seen in your relationships. You find yourself prioritizing others above yourself. You’re attracted to the same type of person, over and over. This doesn’t make you ‘less than’. I’m here to create a warm, open space for us to explore these aspects of your life.

The line between what we want, need, and can deal with can be a juggling act. Striking a balance is not always easy. Think of your life as an overflowing suitcase. Consider what it would be like to have help opening that suitcase, and take out or adjust a few things in it to lessen the load. That's working with me. I aim to help you find and learn to value your truest self and work on how to release, shift, or find new ways to carry your experiences and move within - or break free from - the systems you're a part of (systems like: family, school, work, community, and society).

My framework as a psychotherapist is inspired by black feminist sci-fi writer, Octavia E. Butler who saw the possibility of many more worlds than just our own. I believe that transformative internal healing is critical to envisioning and building these worlds without the presence of imperialism, white supremacy, capitalism and cishet-patriarchy. The tools I use to support the exploration of individual, interpersonal and intergenerational trauma are shaped by abolition that rejects punitive and scarcity mindsets and disability justice which strives to value every body.

Concierge therapy offered in Palo Alto, Rockridge & SF locations. You decide on the day, time, location, in-person or online. This modality is for busy professionals/students who want to graduate psychotherapy fast. Sessions are fun and focused. Most clients can graduate from therapy within 3-6 months for life transition problems. For severe trauma and mental health cases, it can a little longer. Specializing in teens, couples and individuals struggling with trauma, abuse, substances abuse, depression, anxiety, grief, suicide, trust, abandonment, severe mental health and anger.

Taking the necessary steps towards mental, emotional, spiritual and physical well-being is not an easy task, and does not have to be done alone. My commitment is assisting and supporting you in finding the unique tool you need to move towards long term healing. My focus is on mind, body and spirit as we work together. I respect the unique and intricate experiences and identities you bring into the therapeutic relationship.

Do you want to find some balance and peace of mind? I can help you through this challenging time in your life. Whether you are an individual needing a safe place to manage unmanageable feelings or a couple seeking to change difficult relationship patterns, I have the skills to help you through this. Together we will work to create more harmony in your life through acceptance of what's out of your control and commitment to change the things you can. I work with individuals, couples and adolescents.

I do free consultations with clients and instant online scheduling because getting help shouldn't wait for a call back. I am here for you, to walk along side you or your family through the toughest moments. We will laugh together, cry together, and heal together. Most importantly, we will grow together.

As LGBTQ minorities, we often find ourselves wondering "where is my community?" and "why can't I just be myself?" It seems like we've tried everything but we don't feel like we belong or we are in a safe place to live & work. We often wonder... when is this going to get better? When can I just live my life fully how I am? Sometimes we feel sad and it can be a very lonely place. We can even forget just how special and unique we are because we are so different and surrounded by those who just "don't get it." We really want someone who can connect to us and make our experiences feel validated, reminding us that we are beautiful.

We are Bay Area Gestalt Institute (BAGI), a non-profit collective of highly trained marriage and family therapists and associates, providing affordable psychotherapy throughout the Bay Area. We offer counseling to individuals, couples, families, and children. Our work is active, creative and holistic. Our therapists work with a variety of issues including: * Relationship Issues * Anxiety * Depression * LGBTQI Concerns * Trauma * Substance Use / Abuse * Eating Disorders * Spiritual * Personal Growth * Integration of Non-Ordinary States

Are you experiencing marital conflict? Do you worry about how conflict with your mate affects your children? I have over 20 years experience working with clients dealing with a wide variety of issues, including family conflict, divorce, child custody, parenting issues, depression, addiction, and anxiety. Research has proven that the parental relationship directly impacts a child's self esteem and social skills. I am a warm, dynamic and solution oriented therapist. I work along side you, to help you identify and overcome the problems which are causing pain in your life.

WELCOME to Gaylesta: The Psychotherapist Association for Gender and Sexual Diversity. Our members provide mental health services including therapist referrals, education, and consultation. We offer a wide range of specializations, allowing us to serve as a unique resource both the LGBTQ communities and to other service providers. Explore our site to find a therapist, learn more about us, or become a valued member.