Photo of Couples Counseling Dr. Annie Buxbaum, MA, LMFT, PsyD, Marriage & Family Therapist
Couples Counseling Dr. Annie Buxbaum
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, PsyD
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
San Rafael, CA 94901
Wednesday afternoon appointments still available!- Welcome! My name is Dr. Annie Buxbaum. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and have a Doctorate in Human and Organizational Psych. I work with couples struggling with communication, intimacy, and overall wanting a change in their relationship. My passion also includes supporting clients who are pregnant, postpartum, or struggling with miscarriages and infertility. I am skilled with Brainspotting to support clients wanting to work on Trauma.
Wednesday afternoon appointments still available!- Welcome! My name is Dr. Annie Buxbaum. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and have a Doctorate in Human and Organizational Psych. I work with couples struggling with communication, intimacy, and overall wanting a change in their relationship. My passion also includes supporting clients who are pregnant, postpartum, or struggling with miscarriages and infertility. I am skilled with Brainspotting to support clients wanting to work on Trauma.
(707) 873-3153 View (707) 873-3153
Photo of Renee Owen, MA, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Renee Owen
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
San Rafael, CA 94901  (Online Only)
Do you have the feeling that something is missing in your life? Are you single & dissatisfied, or married but discontent? Is your social or work life not as fulfilling as it used to be, or difficult family relationships getting you down? Positive, solution-oriented therapy can assist you to: *Learn more about your unique personality type, and how you can work with it, instead of against it, to create more fulfillment in your relationships and life;* Develop your ability to understand, empathize with and relate to others with ease & joy;* Discover effective ways of dealing with your core issues, so you feel more fulfilled & alive.
Do you have the feeling that something is missing in your life? Are you single & dissatisfied, or married but discontent? Is your social or work life not as fulfilling as it used to be, or difficult family relationships getting you down? Positive, solution-oriented therapy can assist you to: *Learn more about your unique personality type, and how you can work with it, instead of against it, to create more fulfillment in your relationships and life;* Develop your ability to understand, empathize with and relate to others with ease & joy;* Discover effective ways of dealing with your core issues, so you feel more fulfilled & alive.
(415) 403-2657 View (415) 403-2657
Photo of Maysie Tift, MA, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Maysie Tift
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
7 Endorsed
San Rafael, CA 94901
Are you Super Loyal? An excellent listener, who perhaps doesn’t share much about yourself? The one everyone leans on for support, advice, money, or favors? Are you the glue in your family, and the one who puts out fires? Many of my clients who identify with these kinds of qualities struggle in characteristic ways. Many are uncomfortable acknowledging their own feelings & desires. They make too many sacrifices to avoid being "selfish". They fear confrontation and the possibility of upsetting or disappointing others. They often get drawn into imbalanced relationships... or worse, toxic ones with selfish or narcissistic people.
Are you Super Loyal? An excellent listener, who perhaps doesn’t share much about yourself? The one everyone leans on for support, advice, money, or favors? Are you the glue in your family, and the one who puts out fires? Many of my clients who identify with these kinds of qualities struggle in characteristic ways. Many are uncomfortable acknowledging their own feelings & desires. They make too many sacrifices to avoid being "selfish". They fear confrontation and the possibility of upsetting or disappointing others. They often get drawn into imbalanced relationships... or worse, toxic ones with selfish or narcissistic people.
(415) 799-9000 View (415) 799-9000
Photo of Sunny Sabbini - Cofounder and Business Partner Executive Coaching, MA, Marriage & Family Therapist
Cofounder and Business Partner Executive Coaching
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA
Verified Verified
San Rafael, CA 94901
Your growth should not mean additional stress, overworking, or sacrificing your health, time with family, or other life priorities.
Are you and your co-founder and business partner on the verge of a transition or expansion? You’ve put in tremendous effort to build your business, overcoming countless obstacles. While you’re proud of your achievements, the long hours and dedication have taken a toll on you both. You want your business to have a greater impact, but you're also fearful of losing the original spirit and dream as the expansion gains momentum. Before moving forward, address the cracks in the foundations of your business and partnership, and further grow your capacities. Misalignments make transitions and expansions even more difficult and complicated.
Your growth should not mean additional stress, overworking, or sacrificing your health, time with family, or other life priorities.
Are you and your co-founder and business partner on the verge of a transition or expansion? You’ve put in tremendous effort to build your business, overcoming countless obstacles. While you’re proud of your achievements, the long hours and dedication have taken a toll on you both. You want your business to have a greater impact, but you're also fearful of losing the original spirit and dream as the expansion gains momentum. Before moving forward, address the cracks in the foundations of your business and partnership, and further grow your capacities. Misalignments make transitions and expansions even more difficult and complicated.
(707) 415-4454 View (707) 415-4454
Photo of Annie Bjork, MA, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Annie Bjork
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
San Rafael, CA 94901
Whether it's families, couples or individuals, I bring my enthusiasm and warmth to each person I work with. In therapy with me you won't be bombarded by psycho-babble or heady interpretations. What you will get is my full attention, real talk and an emphasis on being in the moment. Together we will slow down, get grounded and deeply consider what you want for yourself and look at what is getting in the way. I am passionate about helping you see your strengths and fortifying areas that need reinforcement. I also offer support to parents struggling with family life.
Whether it's families, couples or individuals, I bring my enthusiasm and warmth to each person I work with. In therapy with me you won't be bombarded by psycho-babble or heady interpretations. What you will get is my full attention, real talk and an emphasis on being in the moment. Together we will slow down, get grounded and deeply consider what you want for yourself and look at what is getting in the way. I am passionate about helping you see your strengths and fortifying areas that need reinforcement. I also offer support to parents struggling with family life.
(415) 403-2427 View (415) 403-2427
Photo of Laura Elliott, MFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Laura Elliott
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
San Rafael, CA 94901  (Online Only)
The heart and emphasis of my work is to help you know and trust your deepest feelings and to live an emotionally authentic life. When you become more intimate and present with yourself you become more intimate and authentic with others. As you know yourself better, you'll discover how certain emotions, behaviors and beliefs have shaped your life and relationships and you'll become empowered to make many important changes. For over 20 years, I've helped couples and individuals develop increased self-trust and self-awareness, greater life purpose and more conscious, loving and intimate relationships.
The heart and emphasis of my work is to help you know and trust your deepest feelings and to live an emotionally authentic life. When you become more intimate and present with yourself you become more intimate and authentic with others. As you know yourself better, you'll discover how certain emotions, behaviors and beliefs have shaped your life and relationships and you'll become empowered to make many important changes. For over 20 years, I've helped couples and individuals develop increased self-trust and self-awareness, greater life purpose and more conscious, loving and intimate relationships.
(650) 262-3150 View (650) 262-3150
Photo of Susan Pease Gadoua, LCSW, Clinical Social Work/Therapist
Susan Pease Gadoua
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
San Rafael, CA 94901  (Online Only)
Marriage is complicated. When trouble starts, most couples try to fix it on their own. That's a good thing. The problems come when the couple isn't able to repair what's broken, yet they don't seek professional help soon enough. One study reports that most couples wait six years before going into therapy. By then, the layers of pain have piled up. <> After working with couples for many years, I've developed a unique method of untangling the hurt and getting to the heart of the matter. Most couples can heal relatively quickly and enjoy lasting results.
Marriage is complicated. When trouble starts, most couples try to fix it on their own. That's a good thing. The problems come when the couple isn't able to repair what's broken, yet they don't seek professional help soon enough. One study reports that most couples wait six years before going into therapy. By then, the layers of pain have piled up. <> After working with couples for many years, I've developed a unique method of untangling the hurt and getting to the heart of the matter. Most couples can heal relatively quickly and enjoy lasting results.
(415) 335-7752 View (415) 335-7752
Photo of Gary Buck, PhD, Psychol, Psychologist
Gary Buck
Psychologist, PhD, Psychol
Verified Verified
San Rafael, CA 94901
I am a licensed psychologist. I see both children and adults in my private practice. My work with children and adults utilizes our human ability to express ourselves through imagery in art, play, imagination, and dreams in ways that catalyzes healing and inner transformation. With children my work includes collateral sessions with their parents. With adults I also draw on my many years of spiritual practice, using such techniques as mindfulness and Yoga Nidra with my clients.
I am a licensed psychologist. I see both children and adults in my private practice. My work with children and adults utilizes our human ability to express ourselves through imagery in art, play, imagination, and dreams in ways that catalyzes healing and inner transformation. With children my work includes collateral sessions with their parents. With adults I also draw on my many years of spiritual practice, using such techniques as mindfulness and Yoga Nidra with my clients.
(707) 879-8948 View (707) 879-8948
Photo of Michelle Fontaine, MA, MFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Michelle Fontaine
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified Verified
San Rafael, CA 94901  (Online Only)
Therapy is most successful when the work is done carefully and thoughtfully through a process of unfolding and bringing into light those parts of ourselves which have been hidden or misunderstood. It's a collaboration that includes tapping into your own wisdom while also considering new perspectives. We do this work with the utmost compassion and consideration for what is needed in each moment to produce the best possible long term outcome. There will be many new insights which lead to more satisfaction and a deeper understanding. It's my privilege to work with you as we take these steps together toward a higher quality of life.
Therapy is most successful when the work is done carefully and thoughtfully through a process of unfolding and bringing into light those parts of ourselves which have been hidden or misunderstood. It's a collaboration that includes tapping into your own wisdom while also considering new perspectives. We do this work with the utmost compassion and consideration for what is needed in each moment to produce the best possible long term outcome. There will be many new insights which lead to more satisfaction and a deeper understanding. It's my privilege to work with you as we take these steps together toward a higher quality of life.
(415) 798-9515 View (415) 798-9515
Photo of Brian Polis, MS, LPCC, PPS
Brian Polis
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, MS, LPCC, PPS
Verified Verified
San Rafael, CA 94901  (Online Only)
Opening up around the vulnerable and intimate details of our lives can be very uncomfortable. There is so much pressure to be “happy”, “better”, or “perfect”, while receiving messaging that being anything else is unacceptable. We are very adaptive yet often struggle to effectively get our needs met, so may engage in avoidance behaviors and withhold or internalize our feelings to try to prevent things from getting worse. You want to feel more like your true self and get more satisfaction out of your relationships. You need an unconditionally supportive, non-judgmental, creative, and humorous therapist who accepts you however you are.
Opening up around the vulnerable and intimate details of our lives can be very uncomfortable. There is so much pressure to be “happy”, “better”, or “perfect”, while receiving messaging that being anything else is unacceptable. We are very adaptive yet often struggle to effectively get our needs met, so may engage in avoidance behaviors and withhold or internalize our feelings to try to prevent things from getting worse. You want to feel more like your true self and get more satisfaction out of your relationships. You need an unconditionally supportive, non-judgmental, creative, and humorous therapist who accepts you however you are.
(415) 779-2440 View (415) 779-2440
Family Therapy

What do family therapists do?

A family therapist facilitates the process of understanding and improving how a family functions. The therapist will help family members develop empathy for one another. They’ll seek to understand existing patterns, misunderstandings, and conflicts that arise, in order to help the family arrive at a realistic, unified understanding and develop the coping skills they need to build stronger relationships.

How long does therapy for families take to work?

Therapy manifests differently in every family; a common time frame is 12 weekly sessions, but some families may see improvement after just a few weeks. Families should discuss their goals with the therapist at the beginning of the process and periodically revisit those goals to assess their progress together.

How can you encourage a family member to attend family therapy?

You can encourage family members to attend therapy by expressing with both love and concern the challenges you see and explaining how a therapist could help the family navigate those challenges together. An outside perspective can help everyone feel heard, get on the same page, and develop new skills. If family members are still hesitant, it may be helpful to emphasize that family therapy is short-term—it won’t last forever.

Is therapy for families effective?

Family therapy can significantly improve family dynamics and relationships. Research suggests that family therapy can help individuals understand their role in the family, communicate and solve problems together, reduce conflict and draw boundaries when necessary, and develop coping skills for stressors, major life changes, and mental or physical illnesses within the family.