Therapists in Oakland, CA

Carl Jung said, "I would rather be whole than good." Very often we put pressure on ourselves to "be" a certain way, so much that life can start to feel like acting versus living. This pressure tends to place stress on individuals and can often lead to anxiety, depression, and stress. I believe that therapy can be a tool to take off the masks we have learned to put on and begin to live from our whole self; finding freedom and our creativity. I believe that through compassion for all the parts of ourself we step closer to freedom.

Are you wanting to be more true to who you are but do not know if it is possible? Do you often repress your desires and ignore your needs? Does this end up making you feel stuck, unhappy, hopeless, sad, frustrated, depressed and/or anxious? Whether you were raised by people who failed to see you and support you, or in a culture that oppressed you, it is important that you do not give up. You deserve to prioritize yourself and be who you are truly meant to be.

Do you identify as LGBTQIA+ or queer curious and struggling in your relationships or authentic sense of identity? Or, are you having a hard time managing your anxiety or codependency? Do you experience low self esteem and want to build confidence? Are you living as an adult survivor of emotional or physical abuse? Are you looking for a therapist who practices fat acceptance and celebrates body diversity? I specialize in these areas, and I'd love to support you in finding self-compassion and self confidence. I also have a specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy and find it a deeply powerful tool to care for ourselves.

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you go; they merely determine where you start.” - Dr. Lauren Fogel Mersy. If you are feeling ready to start, welcome to my practice. I am committed to creating a therapeutic environment where you are met with compassion and competency in order to feel safe to share about the issues, difficulties, and fears impacting your life. I am also honored to welcome you back to therapy if previous experiences with therapy and/or therapist(s) have felt harmful or unsafe.

Do you struggle with depression, anxiety, and trauma? Do you experience difficulties managing family and relationship issues? I believe that healing happens when we pay attention to all the parts that make us whole—our mind, body, and soul. The subconscious mind controls most of our reality and choices, so building awareness and active presence can improve the quality of daily living and assist in not only surviving but thriving through life. As an intuitive & holistic therapist, I will assist you in strengthening your inner psyche and developing new tools to manage negative feelings and thoughts.

I work with individuals, couples, and families. I tend to be interactive and collaborative; I provide a warm & supportive environment to help my clients achieve positive changes in their lives. I am non-judgmental and open minded. I create an individual treatment plan and approach for each client based on each person's needs and preferences. I offer phone/video sessions if appropriate. I am Certified in EMDR which means I have advanced training in this modality (beyond basic training). EMDR is used to re-process traumatic memories, and it can be applied to other things as well.

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Imagine; you are able to shift harsh self criticism, insecurity, people pleasing, perfectionism, impostor syndrome, codependency, & feeling “stuck” in one or more areas of life. You can finally experience self love and acceptance, fulfilling intimacy, great health, & the ability to enjoy your achievements. You unapologetically set limits &boundaries that are in support of your needs & desires, & let yourself rise into a life where you actually have everything you want because you know in your bones just how worthy you are.

Perhaps you have felt you do not fit in somehow in your family, your community, or the larger world. Perhaps you have been navigating multiple cultural identities inside. Perhaps you have felt like your spirit is tender and the struggles of your life are too much to bare. Perhaps you have felt that other people have figured it out and you have been comparing your insides to other people's outsides. And you have felt alone, maybe scared, and confused. And now you want someone to help you be with it all. Now you want a compassionate heart and a steady presence to navigate these emotional terrains.

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.

Hi! I’m Meaghan, I’ve been working with individuals, families, and couples for the past 12 years overcome depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief, substance abuse, codependency and more. No matter where you are at this moment in your life, no matter how stuck you feel, you're not broken, and you have the capacity to heal. I utilize a holistic approach, by using somatic, attachment-focused therapy, that's tailored to your personality and your individual needs, that will help to get to the root of why you're struggling.

Your mental health is very important. Whether you are struggling with a new problem or one that has been on-going, an emotional problem or a bio-chemical one, or even relationship challenges, getting support can make a world of difference. Establishing a safe environment to talk and building a trusting relationship is essential in building a therapeutic relationship. I provide a warm and caring environment for you to trust and share intimate thoughts and feelings, including at times, conflicting thoughts, anxious feelings, depressed mood, traumatic events, etc.

Hi! My name is Michael Southerland, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist working in the Los Angeles, CA area. This means I focus primarily on relationships, be it individuals having difficulty with rough spots in life, couples, children, and families. I am comfortable working with almost any problem. However, my specialties include depression, anxiety, substance abuse and addiction, codependency, ADHD, and especially LGBT + engender identity. Don't hesitate to reach out to me and ask me if I have experience in working with clients like you. I'm looking forward to hearing.

I help intuitive, empathic, & spiritually attuned individuals/couples, LGBTQIA+ and/or BIPOC who often identify as non-monogamous &/or non-heteronormative. I specialize in inner conflict, relational conflict, relational trauma, sexual trauma, spiritual trauma, childhood trauma, anxiety, anger, grief, guilt, shame, & codependency. I hold an emotionally safe space to allow you to feel witnessed, understood, & supported as you process your thoughts & feelings to obtain clarity, increased self-mastery, new skills, & the ability to resolve obstacles to pursuing your heart's desires.

Dr. Stan practices as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY30834) in the state of California. Dr. Stan earned her Bachelor of Social Science from California State University, Chico, and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Stan has been trained in CBT, DBT, Psychodynamic Therapies, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Solution-oriented, and Group Psychotherapy. Dr. Stan works primarily with adults. I typically work with adults with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, OCD, codependency, attachment wounds, first-generation status, substance use, LGBTQIA+, and bipolar disorder.

Though I work with most issues, I specialize in helping people recover from complex trauma. People with narcissistic, abusive, or neglectful parents or partners sometimes develop issues with trusting themselves, have difficulty maintaining close relationships, struggle with an inner critic, vacillate often between depression and anxiety, lack a solid sense of identity, or feel a sense of emptiness when their lives seem great on paper. Sometimes that trauma can even become part of one's identity - I work with clients to build insight, boundaries, self-compassion, and acceptance to free themselves from it & live more fulfilling lives.

I'm curious about people: how our unique histories have shaped us, how we relate to each other & what motivates our behavior in relationships. I specialize in processing relationships with couples & individuals struggling with codependency, communication, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem & identity. We often get stuck in repetitive behavioral/thinking patterns that block us from living the lives we yearn for. We may feel misunderstood or disconnected in our relationships. We may avoid intimacy because we don’t want to get hurt again. We may have a harsh inner critic & lack self-love. Do you experience this in your life?

You feel stuck in your relationships. Feeling stuck with too many things you are navigating . You are out of touch with your needs and desires or how to communicate them effectively. You hate the fighting but don't know how to slow down. That's why I'm here to help. I support you build inner resources so that you can be unfazed by judgements and challenges, centered in your self-love and clarity, have ease in giving and receiving, communicating and decision-making. I am especially skilled in helping multicultural, marginalized identities, neurodivergent, poly/CNM couples with communication, trauma and intimacy.

Are you struggling with behaviors that you know are not good for you? Are you worried and depressed about your life and your relationships? Let me help you sort out your thoughts and feelings and help you get back on track. I also love seeing couples and families. You may bring significant others to your therapy if you wish, to help focus you in your relationship goals.