Therapists in Alameda County, CA

Many of the clients I work with have either lost or struggled to develop a sense of control in their lives and relationships– having fallen into destructive patterns of substance abuse/addiction and impulsive and/or self-harming behaviors. Others may be struggling with an excess of self-imposed control– leading to a sense of isolation and fear of taking healthy risks. Some are confronting a major life-transition, loss of identity, divorce, death of a loved one or faced with a pervading sense of meaninglessness. All are, in one way or another, seeking to increase their sense of personal agency and effectiveness in daily life.

There is a crisis of meaning and purpose in our society and far too few communities of support to guide us through the difficulties of modern life. I work with clients using psychodynamic, interpersonal and mindfulness-based approaches to help people move from lives of loneliness and alienation to lives of connection and purpose. Creating a safe and nurturing relationship with my clients is of primary importance in my work.

I have In person and online openings! I stay up to date on the most cutting edge therapies to achieve RAPID and long lasting effects. As a Certified Brainspotting Therapist, I focus on neuroscience - YOUR brain can HEAL from trauma, grief, and anxiety. Release the shame and inner critic that is no longer serving you. I help empaths and highly sensitive people who are struggling with overwhelm. Performers and artists have benefited from Expansion Brainspotting to overcome creative blocks! I’m trained in play therapy and drama therapy and work well with children and adolescents. Email me to be directed to online scheduling!

If you could let go of anything, what would it be? I provide short-term, intensive therapy that resolves the cause of your issue. I am a practitioner of Mimetic Therapies. This means I facilitate profound and transformational experiences in the resolution of Trauma/PTSD and Grief/Loss, as well as panic, depression, phobia, and pain for anyone- regardless of background- interested in feeling better. My ideal client is done talking about it, done doing workbooks, done understanding the cause. I connect deeply and directly with the parts of you that have been trying so hard to protect and heal your self and cause them to collaborate.

My clients often feel like they're too much: too scared, too anxious, too angry, too sad, too weird, too quiet, too loud, too bad, and even too good. Whether something big and traumatic happened to make you feel "off" or you just got born this way, we work together to explore it, accept it, and do something you feel good about with it. My goal is to help clients find the way to be most themselves in the world so that they feel confident enough to learn new behaviors and different ways of connecting for successful relationships with themselves and others.

My philosophy builds on unique strengths and sensitivities of each individual. Taking a supportive coaching role and utilizing a psychotherapeutic framework, I help clients develop and successfully execute their goals while developing a better understanding of social nuance in relationships and in the complex group dynamics of their home and work environments. My psychotherapy practice supports neurodivergent adults integrating their gifts amidst the challenges of great sensitivity and intelligence and is uniquely suited for midlife adults approaching transitions, relationship or career changes, birth, death and divorce.

Life is full of unexpected events and struggles, which are sometimes overwhelming. I strive to create a safe and welcoming environment where children, adolescents, and adults feel comfortable to explore ways to achieve their goals. Having a person who listens with no judgment, who cares, and who can help you gain some perspective and insight is extremely valuable. Together we will create a plan that will allow you to regain a sense of empowerment, purpose, and happiness in your life.

I believe in taking a developmental approach to understanding the root causes of your difficulties (understanding patterns over time) and then addressing the problem within the given context of your life. I facilitate a deep inquiry into what has blocked the healing process and help people to recognize how to create the life they desire. I believe in the innate resilience of all people to heal if given the space and time. All of my training and clinical experience inform my work and allow me to use an integrative style that is adapted to the individual needs of each client.

Life can be challenging in the best of circumstances, and during the pandemic (and since then,) we all know how much harder things became for so many people. Isolation. Frustration. Depression. Grief. Relationship conflict. Job stress. These stressors can be overwhelming for anyone. My therapeutic approach is flexible based on the needs of my clients. I frequently draw on clinical techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Attachment Therapy. I am also committed to helping couples navigate relationship difficulties using components of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and DBT.

Is loneliness, grief, self-doubt and static hum of floating adrift governing your sense of being? Do you miss feeling like YOURSELF? Being Human is Hard. These past few years have put our minds and bodies to the test in ways we are only beginning to understand. I am with you. I can help you navigate the road back to your infinite fabulousness where you will have the confidence to hold the relationships, purpose, and self-love you seek.

You don't have to struggle with day-to-day life difficulties alone. Are you facing personal growth blocks, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, grief/ loss, life transitions, family challenges, health or injury problems, work stress, or other types of emotional pains? My clients are diverse and I take the time to get to know your unique needs and goals. My approach is warm, sincere, and direct. You can expect a safe space to express yourself, relief from overwhelming thoughts and emotions, learn tools and get the right support to aid in healing. We can work together to help you regain balance in your life and feel empowered.

The decision to begin therapy is a courageous step–one that can be life-changing. Whether you are feeling anxious, sad, stressed, angry, confused or stuck, therapy can offer a safe space for you to explore your inner world and gain new insights and skills. I have helped clients across the lifespan manage difficult emotions, heal traumas, gain self-confidence, learn new skills for navigating romantic and social relationships, find relief from long-term mental health issues, uncover creativity and life purpose, and reconnect with their partners in new ways. Therapy is a collaboration and I am here to help you on your journey.

I provide culturally sensitive, empirically validated psychotherapy services to individuals, couples and families, ranging from adolescents to seniors. I am committed to the therapeutic process as a collaborative journey and consider it a great privilege to be entrusted with my clients' most deeply-held thoughts and feelings. I am actively engaged with those who are grappling with issues of anxiety, depression, bereavement, relationship problems, life transitions, trauma, interpersonal difficulties and creative blocks, addressing my client's concerns in a humanistic and holistic manner that transcends preoccupation with pathology to work toward a life of deep meaning, creativity and interpersonal fulfillment.

Life is full of challenges that generate varied degrees of stress, anxiety and depression, even substance abuse. Challenges may include: Personal and family relationships, finances, career, illness and loss of creative engagement with your self and the world. Psychotherapy can offer time and a special place for self discovery, reflection, revitalization, resilience, insight, empowerment and access to your creativity; creative expression and creative living. Our lives can be what we imagine and want them to be. We can develop our active imagination to envision a life of purpose, meaning and the joy we are meant to have.

Every individual has a unique life story that leads them to seek help. Each stage of life provides challenges that are opportunities for growth. I work with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship issues, grief and loss, and a variety of stress related medical conditions. I also have a special interest in working with men struggling with intimacy in their relationships and maintaining work-life balance. In over 20 years of experience as a therapist, I have learned that listening with empathy and developing trust with my clients are the most essential elements for healing and emotional growth.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this bio. I want to first congratulate in you on taking a step of putting yourself first. Taking that first step could have many mixed feelings of excitement, fear and uncertainty. I am here to be a support system for your self growth and development. Many things in life can occur which can hinder our growth. Such events can be disheartening (e.g. divorce, death of a loved one, stress in school or work, etc.) or even events that are normally viewed as positive (e.g. recently getting married, moving in together, getting a new job or promotion, children, etc).

I have practiced as a therapist for over twenty years and specialize in helping people integrate unresolved aspects of the past in order to live freely in the present. Exploring adaptive strategies which used to help but now are limiting; meeting all parts of ourselves with curiosity and compassion; cultivating consciousness around our thinking and feeling patterns; bringing attention to the body and working with the nervous system to soften areas of tension and holding - these are ways therapy can deepen insight and support ease and well being.

Have you recently experienced a traumatic loss and are feeling lost and overwhelmed with grief? Are you in the midst of a major life transition with your career or relationship? Perhaps you are an artist experiencing a creative block? Art Therapy may be the answer for your or your teen. As an Art Therapist, I specialize in guiding clients through grief and loss, life transitions, trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and blocks in creativity and self exploration. I help my clients to harness the power of creativity to deepen emotional exploration and uncover feelings that may be challenging to otherwise articulate with words.

Whether you are coping with stress, going through a major transition or loss, or seeking to better understand yourself, therapy can be a powerful experience. It is a journey that can include healing, learning new skills, coping with difficult things from your past and preparing for the future. Many things can get in the way of being your own preferred version of yourself. Sometimes it is relationship challenges, sometimes it's an unhealthy pattern that you learned in the past, or something else entirely. We can work through these challenges so that you feel more in touch with person you want to be.