Therapists in San Rafael, CA

In the first few sessions together, my goal is to understand what struggles you are currently experiencing that are causing you distress, and then provide you tools to help minimize those stressors to get to a more stabilized place. Once you are feeling more grounded and able to manage your current stressors, then I encourage the exploration of why these things are present in the first place, where they are coming from, and ultimately when they were initially learned and began. I believe that helping you uncover these important pieces of information are vital to your long-term success in becoming the best version of you possible!

I have worked more than 30 years w individuals & families with serious psychological and relational problems including the mood, behavior and substance problems that tear families apart. I help individuals and families navigate the perilous course of finding solutions while we work to improve serenity and sanity for all. Individual work is relational w/psychodynamic and a Real World approach. I have developed the “Stress-Induced Impaired Coping" model for family system distress and recovery. See my 2019 book: “Freedom From Family Dysfunction: A Guide for Families Battling Addiction or Mental Illness.” http://bit.ly/FreedomFamHC

Many challenges we experience in daily life relate to conflict between parts of ourselves. Each part reflects our body’s own loving attempts to care for us in the ways it knows. When we shift one part of the feedback loop, the whole system rearranges - in our bodies, & in our relationships. My approach to individual & couples therapy is holistic, somatic & client-centered. I start with creating a non-judgmental, inclusive space for you to come as you are. As we form & reach for your goals, our work may include movement, developmental psychology, trauma work, regulation practices, behavior/communication coaching, & creative guidance.

Welcome to my in private practice (virtual and in person). Do you feel distressed and need more support? Many seek therapy to end or alleviate often life long or long term painful symptoms or patterns. They may be too complex to address on your own but be very treatable. I provide a safe, nonjudgmental, supportive place. I work collaboratively to help develop awareness and skills and through therapeutic modalities. This is to improve or eliminate distressing symptoms or problems and assist you in reaching your full potential. Education: UC Berkeley-BA in Psychology and a Doctorate from California School of Professional Psychology.

I have extensive experience working with individuals families and couples impacted by trauma, co-dependency, addiction and co-occurring disorders. Having worked in residential drug and alcohol treatment for over 10 years I bring those years of resources and compassionate experience to my work. My focus on family systems and attachment allow me to treat the entire family, offering the best possible outcomes. I am a Certified Trauma Specialist, a Gottman trained couples therapist and I am one of the few therapists working with Internet and Gaming Addiction.

We all need help sometimes. Clients come to me with a variety of problems, depression, anxiety, parenting, relationship issues and substance abuse. I work with my clients, identifying the strengths they already have and teaching new skills to address the problems that are causing them pain.

At some point in our lives, we all encounter an obstacle--professionally and/or personally--that feels insurmountable. Either we have set ourselves on a trajectory that is not congruous with our core values, or we have lost the steam to persevere. My psychotherapy services will help determined individuals to practice their skills of insight and problem-solving to overcome even the most harrowing obstacles. Whether you are seeking the income that supports your family, or overcoming infidelity in your relationship--your life will undoubtedly improve when you collaborate with someone who is invested in your success.

I have many years of experience and training and feel fortunate to work with adults, couples and teens. I find that most clients come to me when their old ways of coping are no longer working (or they are unhealthy) and the stress is too much! Why do it alone? I hold the hope for my clients when they aren't able.

Family Matters Of Marin is a trauma informed group practice focused on supporting children and families. We help clients create more joy, love, and harmony in their lives. We are deeply interested in learning how our clients would like to change and grow, and supporting them in this process. We work collaboratively with clients to improve their relationships and resolve any trauma from their past that maybe holding them back from living the life they yearn for. We are experienced therapists who use a variety of therapeutic modalities to resolve issues that are hindering our client's ability to be their best selves.

I seek to provide a thoughtful and reflective setting where clients develop greater understanding of their problems and limitations through honest exploration of themselves, and to bolster strengths/foster growth. I provide a friendly and open atmosphere to invite sharing of whatever thought or feeling that comes up so that they can be explored, analyzed and ultimately changed if you want. I work in a collaborative way and do not necessarily see my role as an advice giver, but as a thoughtful companion in helping you find your own solutions and understanding. I use a flexible blend of clinical techniques and theories.

With over 30 years experience, my approach is holistic integrating the connection between mind, body, heart and spirit. Certified in EMDR therapy by the EMDR International Association, I find EMDR to be a powerful tool that I use along with other treatment modalities to facilitate healing. I specialize in working with trauma, eating disorders, addiction recovery, grief, depression, anxiety and relationship issues. I especially work with clients who have trust and abandonment issues due to childhood trauma, neglect or abusive parents. Early dysfunctional family patterns and lack of nurturing can affect self-esteem, intimate relationships and work performance.

I’m a warm, experienced, interactive therapist who brings a compassionate heart, an active mind, and a calm presence to this work. I’m deeply interested in learning what you know about yourself, including your strengths, pivotal experiences, and challenges. Integrating techniques from therapeutic models such as IFS & cognitive-behavioral therapy, my trauma-informed approach to our work is attuned to your individuality. I bring diverse professional & life experience, a sensitivity to culture & all other components of your identity, and an array of tools that you can use to find the growth, solutions, well-being, or healing you seek.

Through authenticity and a wide range of clinical experience, I have cultivated a unique therapeutic style that has helped many of my clients to heal and thrive. It is my mission to create a private practice accessible to everyone in our community where clients feel safe to open up, take risks, be vulnerable, explore themselves, and grow. I've worked with individuals, families, and couples from a diverse spectrum of backgrounds and found that with an open heart, a sincere desire to connect, and clinical integrity, I can affect real change in my clients' lives.

Are you or your child unhappy, anxious, angry, or grieving? Perhaps you are adjusting to a bipolar diagnosis, recovering from trauma, struggling in relationships, seeking personal growth, or discovering your identity. Adults, couples, and children are all welcome in my practice! Together, we will consider the complexity of who and how you are—your unique combination of life experiences, temperament, culture, relationships, and more. In exploring formative experiences and present-day struggles and strengths, we will discover and address what is interfering with you having the life you desire.

I respect the courage it takes to begin psychotherapy and choose the path of healing. Most important is the building of trust. My presence is kind and authentic, with healthy boundaries. An experienced Individual and Couples therapist, I teach relational skill-building, personally and inter-personally. I'm comfortable with all kinds of trauma, relationship difficulties, major life transitions, addiction, loss & grief, spiritual, medical or psychiatric issues. I encourage clients to identify and move closer to what is really important in their lives. I've witnessed lasting change as clients become more secure, creative & alive.

I offer an "Integrated Approach to Psychotherapy" for adults, couples and families. We may first seek to reduce negative symptoms and increase stability in our life, but eventually I support and challenge my clients to graduate from "surviving to truly "thriving" in all major aspects of their life. Relationships have shaped and influenced who we are and many clients appreciate help with essential relationship skills. I am one of the few therapists in Marin and SF actually certified as an Imago Relationship Therapist and have had the honor to assist the cofounders many times with their weekend workshops. on the West Coast.

As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of clinical experience, I provide psychotherapy for children, teens, adults, and families in Marin and San Francisco. My professional focus is helping my clients find the right theapeutic tools so that they can move beyond destructive thinking and feeling patterns, have new insight and healing regarding past traumas, and face their life challenges with confidence.

To others, it seems like you have it all. But underneath lives a different story. Despite your outward success, you feel haunted sometimes by feelings of failure, conflict, self-doubt. At certain moments, a gnawing sense overcomes you, telling you: Something is not right. You've made changes but somehow still end up in the same unsatisfying patterns, repeating the same unhelpful behaviors -- feeling more and more alone. You want to understand your patterns and your past so you can create a different future. You want to learn to feel differently about yourself and how you relate with others. You want to find a different way.

I have been fortunate over my many years of working as a Psychologist to experience wonderful people grappling with difficulties around work, relationships, parenting, aging, illness and/or other potentially painful aspects of life. The work that we do in psychotherapy is individually tailored to help clients to reduce emotional (and sometimes physical) pain and to take the actions (small or big) that we figure out need to be done to face these difficult situations and make them better.