Therapists in Oakland, CA

Adults/Teens/Families. Bring your anxiety or depression, issues with identity, life purpose and meaning, your trauma, your grief. I draw on 15+ years of experience as a case manager, special educator, and wilderness first responder.

Do you ever struggle with feeling like you’re not enough? Do you feel like you have to prove yourself? Do you feel stuck and triggered by childhood trauma? The symptoms of trauma include anxiety, depression, high conflict relationships, occupational impairment, addiction, and much more. I believe therapy can help you develop a more self-awareness and actionable plan to alleviate these symptoms. I specialized in working with people who are willing to explore past, present, and future challenges and to find tools for personal growth.

You are here! The first step is often the hardest step. In Black and Brown communities seeking mental health treatment is taboo. Stigmas attached to therapy are REAL! Let's work on building a better understanding of what it truly means to be healthy. Feeling lost, stuck or confused? Having trouble communicating your needs? Finding it hard to set healthy boundaries? Need help setting goals? Suffering from anxiety and depression? In constant state of turmoil? These are all normal feelings. Internal struggles rooted in our childhoods show up as chaos in adulthood. It is okay to work on YOU! I can help.

I enjoy in working with; self esteem & worth, trauma healing & recovery, body image & body positivity, disordered eating & relationship to body, belonging as our birthright, transforming deep shame into liberation, body & sex shame, relationships and boundaries, anxiety, stress & hyper-vigilance, nervous system imbalances, life transitions & identity, honoring grief, loss & death, life threatening illness, cancer, auto-immune disease, rites of passage, aging, adolescence, menopause, women's empowerment, highly sensitive people & empaths, people pleasers, intergenerational trauma & ancestral healing, mothering & the mother wound.

Are you or your child constantly finding yourself feeling lost, overwhelmed, exhausted, powerless or helpless in your daily life or in your relationships with others? Navigating the emotional spaces within our relationships, professions and ourselves is a complex and often, scary place to be in. While these spaces can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate, you deserve the space to be heard and met with with empathetic warmth in acknowledging the experiences, beliefs and feelings that have brought you here today. I warmly invite you to begin or continue that journey with me so we can learn, unlearn, explore and grow together.

Seeking help can be scary and exciting, and it takes a lot of bravery and courage to take the initial step. You may be feeling like you are depressed and anxious due to your trauma. I aim to meet you where you are mentally and emotionally and help you grow, learn skills, and adapt to new changes. We can work together to identify your goals and needs and address the emotional and behavioral challenges you experience.

Do you struggle with anxiety and depression due to your childhood trauma? Are you having problems with your partner or family members due to life transition issues? Are you experiencing increased stress, fears, and doubts around the future? I believe that we all have the capacity to heal our emotional wounds and create meaningful changes. My goal as a therapist is to offer you a safe place in which you can process insights, concerns, and emotions associated with trauma.

Hello my name is Dr. Nekolas “Neko” Milton, I am a Registered Psychological Associate. I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. I operate from a client-centered, humanistic approach, focusing on aspects of existentialism, mindfulness, family-systems, multiculturalism, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, while keeping careful consideration of cultural concerns and practices. I have experience working with anxiety, depression, trauma-related diagnoses, and incorporate evidenced-based practices to address maladaptive patterns and behaviors.

I am trained to listen deeply, assess the cause of symptoms, and assist in developing strategies to reduce suffering. I have experience helping people cope with depression, anxiety, trauma, chronic health issues, acculturation/adaptation issues, and couple/family relationship problems.

Throughout life, many of us receive messages that make us question our place or urge us to alter ourselves to fit societal norms. I work LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent individuals who are working on self-discovery and unlearning as well as seeking answers to questions about identity, belonging, and authenticity. Whether you are grappling with aspects of personal identity, past or present trauma or oppression, or challenging relationship dynamics, we will work collaboratively towards positive growth. I also offer support for those seeking help around queer conception, infertility, family building.

Choosing a therapist can be intimidating, especially for people of color. We might wonder if our therapist will understand the significant role of various cultural factors in our experience. I believe each individual brings with them a set of unique experiences, values, and goals, regardless of background. Perhaps you are an individual looking for a safe space to explore your identity, including ethnicity and gender. Maybe you are already in couples therapy and want the dedicated support of your own individual sessions. Or maybe you are having difficulty communicating with family members due to generational differences.

Sometimes the coping strategies that we use no longer work for us. And the usual support systems we turn to, are at times just not enough. Therapy can be an added support to help us figure out new strategies to cope with the challenges and times of transition in our lives. I provide a calm and reflective space, where together we will reach a deeper understanding of what holds you back and what changes you need to make to live your life more fully. Some areas of specialization include women's issues, perinatal and postnatal disorders, early parenting and cancer.

Are you struggling to process depression, anxiety, relationship/family issues, and trauma? These emotional ruptures can cause major disruptions in our lives. The work to process these types of life events is multifaceted, and I can help you identify your feelings and potential relational patterns, build tolerance and acceptance around challenging ones, and set meaningful goals. In order to do so, I utilize various therapeutic approaches consisting of ACT, CBT, and Problem Solving Therapy and somatic interventions.

Nobody’s childhood dream was to grow up and feel overwhelmed, alone, stuck or unworthy. I aim to help individuals heal from trauma-related issues such as anxiety, depression, and relationship/family issues. If you find yourself living without a navigation system to understand emotional terrain or trauma that impacts your well-being; you are not alone. All of us go through rough patches in our lives. My approach is specific to meet your unique needs in a safe and non-judgemental space.

Are you looking for a more joyous and purposeful life? I'm here to help! I believe you enter therapy already equipped for the transformation you seek.

Congratulations, starting the journey towards seeking help is one of the biggest step. My name is Assaf Jaffe and over the past 20 years it has been my privilege to walk alongside client working to make changes. Having trained in Holistic Therapy at Native American Health Center I have tremendous experience with trauma, anxiety, depression and treating addictive disorders.

The challenges of growing up in today's rapidly changing society are enormous. Children and adolescents need to be equipped with skills for survival and growth that were never before imagined. Some of the more common issues I help my young clients with include anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide ideation, perfectionism, self confidence, challenging peer relationships, social anxiety and difficult family dynamics. I also work with parents offering them guidance and support.

Do you feel as though your anxiety and depression are unmanageable? How about feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or helplessness like you’ve hit rock bottom and are struggling to find hope for tomorrow? Once we start to unravel the details of our past and trauma we give ourselves the ability to process feelings that we have long suppressed. I aim to collaborate with you and provide tools to decrease the challenging feelings you are currently facing and achieve a more integrated and balanced sense of self, leading to emotional healing and personal growth.

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.