Therapists in El Sobrante, CA

Are you in a "caterpillar stage" of life? You sense that you could be more, but you find yourself limited by negative thoughts and/or overwhelming emotions. Or are you in a "chrysalis stage"? Your whole life seems to have disintegrated into nothing recognizable, and you are struggling to make sense of it all. From a foundation of empathy, acceptance, compassion, and respect, I provide a safe and supportive environment in which to grow and/or heal. I work from a "client-centered" approach that helps you find your own answers and healing from within.

Meaningful change requires us to ask new questions ... so that new meanings can be made. One of the hardest things is to change what doesn't work, while not knowing how to make it all different. For the past 24 years, I have worked with folks who are trying hard to build a life in spite of childhood abuse and neglect, or who just don't understand why life isn't working out the way they hoped.

I hold a belief that every individual I come across holds within him/herself the power to heal. My role is to help those individuals access their power when they feel they have none. I specialize in the treatment of trauma and anxiety disorders and I am passionate about bringing a sense of hope and empowerment to the individuals I serve. My hope is that individuals will learn to embrace their power, learn to be at ease in their own skin and find loving and fulfilling connection to others; bringing them closer to their personal healing and, ultimately, to the life they dream of living.

Sometimes it seems life asks us to bear the unbearable. A heartbreaking loss, difficult transition, illness of yourself or loved one, the lack of anything that might make your life meaningful and pleasurable—these are some of the issues I respond to and can help with. If you’re suffering or your life lacks purpose look at my website and, if you feel a connection, please reach out. I work from a generous and flexible sliding scale and am committed to providing accessible treatment. Whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to do this alone. Psychoanalytic therapy, especially as practiced by Lacanian analysts, can be transformative.

I approach the process of therapy with the deepest respect for the inherent wholeness and dignity of every individual I have the privilege to work with. I will support you in addressing the challenges of chronic stress and the painful effects of trauma while holding the conviction that your capacity for connection, peace, and well-being is your birthright. And I will accompany you as you begin to find your way back to a truer, more vital and clear sense of who you are and what matters to you.

I am passionate about helping others live more authentic, satisfying and functional lives! With 20 years of experience, my work draws from the latest research and extensive training in mind/body health, neuroscience, attachment and relationships, complex trauma and PTSD and mindfulness practice.  My goal is to create a supportive and enriching environment where we can address your needs in a thoughtful, compassionate and effective manner.

About Us - We are an incorporated psychotherapy group practice established in 1985. We specialize in working with children, adults, families who are dealing with issues of sexual abuse and/or other forms of trauma. We also provide co-parenting, custody evaluation, forensic evaluation, family reunification, and general psychotherapy services, including couples counseling.

Are you thinking about breaking a pattern that no longer serves you? Often feel like an outsider? Wanting to understand threads between past, present experiences, and possibilities ahead? Utilizing a variety of approaches, I can offer perspective and help you feel understood in order to create change in your life. I provide an affirming space for a lot of people who have had previously unsatisfactory experiences in therapy including LGBTQIA folks. I have extensive training beyond just getting licensed to practice therapy. Working with a clinically astute, sincere therapist can be life-changing.

Building relationships is a strength of mine and I love using that as a vehicle for healing and personal growth. I work with adolescents, young adults, families and couples in exploring past trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders and relational issues. I value open communication and a willingness to be vulnerable as the keys to growth and change!

Stress and trauma can take many forms. Sometimes we survive an event such as a car accident, wildfire, assault, or military-related event. Or we may notice chronic struggles with trusting others and ourselves, and feeling stressed and unsatisfied in our relationships. The experience of trauma can significantly impact how we change or grow in each present moment, how we connect and separate from others, and how we experiment, take risks, and resource our creativity. Let's co-create a therapy relationship that works to support the development of loving relationships with self and others.

Authentic change happens from the inside out. It can't be veneered onto one's surface. Painful life experiences create a complex web inside that shapes a person's world. This web can limit one's ability to find joy and meaning in life. Psychotherapy offers a way to access deep emotional experience. As therapy proceeds connections will start to appear between past & current life experience. Problematic internal patterns will become visible and open to reevaluation and change. As internal stress decreases, clarity, joy and meaning will have the chance to emerge.

Therapy can help you overcome difficulties, live creatively, and feel more alive. Many people become stuck in ways of thinking and living that no longer serve them. Through a caring therapeutic relationship, you can develop the courage to live in a meaningful and fulfilling way. Over the past 25 years, I have helped people with a wide variety of issues work through significant challenges, freeing them to make better choices. In addition to my clinical work, I teach and supervise at various training programs throughout the Bay Area, and was the Director of Counseling at California College of the Arts for 15 years.

I treat clients who have difficulty with borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder as well as clients in the midst of a major life transition or grief. Many of my clients struggle to regulate their emotions. They either avoid emotions altogether or feel explosive or out of control of their emotions.

If you are a woman ready for more happiness, more peace, & a greater sense of choice, I am here to guide you on your way. Your depression, anxiety, or relationship challenges may be signals that something greater is around the corner. If they persist, though, it’s a good time to find someone who can re-orient you so that you’re on the path of a joyful life, a life of intention, a life where empowerment and “yes!” are within reach. I work with women who feel even just a slight spark of knowing that this path might be available. We may start with mindfulness & how to cope with the effects of trauma and depression so you can thrive.

Most people I've seen in my many years of practice seek psychotherapy in response to personal loss, trauma, relationship difficulties in love or work, or self defeating thought or behavior patterns that have become unmanageable. As we begin to meet on a regular basis, the anxiety, depression or crisis that propelled them into my office starts to calm. Broader questions like “Why do I keep waiting to live my life in the way I always imagined it to be?” and “Why have my personal or professional accomplishments not provided the fulfillment I hoped for?” then begin to emerge.

I believe in the healing power of bearing witness to and participating in my clients' self-exploration. Whether we are exploring feelings, systems of oppression and their effects on us, patterns in relationships, or family of origin issues, the strength and compassion of an empathic partner in this journey can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and a relief in symptoms. I bring empathy and mindful curiosity to our work together.

Are you too stressed to even be in touch with yourself? Too worried and tense, having a hard time to relax? Are you avoiding people and their expectations (and judgments) because you're tired and feel you don't have much to give at the moment? Stress feels like having a super sensitive burglar alarm ringing loudly throughout the mind and body. It confuses our thoughts. We are unable to see facts or future clearly. Our creativity is blocked or showing up as destructive energy. The body is in fight (frustration and anger) or flight (anxiety and overload) or worse - feeling frozen (numb and depressed).