Therapists in Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA

Finding a therapist can be a hard and vulnerable process, and I feel honored that you are considering me. I believe that psychotherapy is a collaborative relationship which starts with the connection we build together. My approach to therapy prioritizes sex positivity and gender inclusive practices. I love to work with clients that identify in the queer, kinky/BDSM and poly/non-monogmomous communities! I earned my BA Women and Gender Studies at Mills College in Oakland, and my MA in Psychology from The Wright Institute in Berkeley. I worked in sex-positive activism, heading programs, and running workshops and trainings.

It isn't difficult to feel scared, vulnerable and not good enough in our complex world, let alone if you have a history of being abused or neglected. Therapy can help you slowly make sense of the past so that you can encounter the present moment with more awareness and vigor. I am psychotherapist with an abiding love of the arts and often work with sensitive and creative individuals, many of whom have histories of abuse/neglect and are struggling to make sense of their past and present lives in order to find a greater sense of freedom/comfort within their own skins.

I specialize in supporting adolescents and adults facing Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Attachment Disorder, Life transitions, and Grief. I enjoy working with clients who are honest and open to being vulnerable and are motivated to make positive changes in their lives and I seek to support my clients in learning coping skills and setting goals to address the challenges they are facing in their lives.

It's an honor to help others live more whole and integrated lives. I guide clients to explore and work through life's challenges from a body-mind-spirit framework. I have 20 years of experience in supporting clients experiencing: depressive and anxious symptoms, grief & loss, trauma, relationship concerns, cultural negotiations, life transitions, and spiritual concerns. I work with BIPOC and LGBTQ working professionals, first-generation and immigrant college students, and clients who are already or interested in Indigenous healing practices including Danza, Sweat Lodge, Temazcal ceremonies.

Choosing a therapist is a significant decision, and one in which it is crucial to trust your feelings. I am a very engaging, warm and thoughtful person. My approach is eclectic and interactive, and is adapted to the unique needs of each individual or couple. Humor, respectful listening, honest dialogue and collaboration are all important aspects of my work. My priority is to provide a safe connection as a foundation for growth, enhanced self-esteem, and well-being. Habitual patterns causing impasses, lack of passion, anxiety and depression, can shift once underlying needs and feelings are legitimized and given voice.

Deciding to start therapy is a sign of strength. I believe all people have a natural inclination toward growth and wholeness and sometimes things get in the way. Exploring these obstacles with compassion and courage can help you cultivate the most important relationship of your life -- your relationship with yourself. Whether your challenge is depression, anxiety, grief and loss, relationships, addictions or career challenges, all you need to get started is the desire to change.

Seeking support can feel vulnerable – especially when the culture around us glorifies “self-made” success stories and aspires to a seemingly effortless, perfectly curated social media existence. The reality of course is that life is messy, and that we all benefit from support. We are impacted by world events, our environments, relationships, the histories of our people (our families, ancestors, communities), and our own unique collection of lived experiences. As a therapist I view my role as that of an ally, confidant, collaborator - and very occasionally a guide.

Are you concerned about your child’s behavior? Are you struggling to understand what is happening for your child? Are you finding parenting overwhelming? I work with children and parents to help them make meaning of life’s challenges and work with children and parents, both individually and together. I bring more than twenty years of experience providing therapy, consultation, and assessments with children and their families to my clinical practice. I have experience working with children and families around many issues including, loss, attachment, adoption, anxiety, depression, atypical development, learning differences and trauma.

I have many years of experience in dealing with anxiety, depression, loss, life transitions, addictions of all types, and relationship and identity issues. I think my strength is that I approach people on a very human level, with respect, caring and humor. I feel "we are all in the same boat" (including me) and that we all need someone to take us seriously, listen carefully and know how hard it is to be vulnerable to a 'stranger'. I will do my very best to help you create the life you want. I have lost a child, so I have a special sensitivity to grieving parents and their challenges.

The therapeutic encounter is a unique collaborative journey. We cannot control what crosses our path, but we can see ourselves as brave enough to face it. People come to me when they are in distress, hurting or stuck and want to improve their life and relationships. I provide a safe space to explore issues with food, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, self-worth, loss and creativity. I love to work with couples using Emotion Focused Therapy. I am insight minded. I can help you face fears, own longings, repair hurt, deepen connection, renew dreams. I can hold your story. I am trauma-informed. I won't shy away from the hard stuff.

If you are having difficulty with relationships, at work, with parents or children, I can help you identify the issues causing discomfort and learn new strategies for coping, managing and getting more joy in life. If you need someone to talk openly with about your challenges in life, I can listen and help you gain insight so that you can choose the best ways to proceed. If you feel isolated and judged, I can help you build confidence. If you are stuck in grief, I can help you get through it. I can help you see pathways where you might be inclined to see barriers.

I strive to create an authentic connection with my clients so we can develop an effective partnership in which healing, trying on new ways of thinking, and exploring change can happen safely. I believe that the foundation of mutual trust, empathy, and curiosity that I create with my clients will help them build meaningful relationships with others, mend old wounds, and learn more about themselves and how they contribute to their struggles. Helping my clients see themselves through a new lens will help them achieve the growth and fulfillment they want in their lives. Please don't hesitate to call for help.

People often come to therapy because they feel stuck in their lives, are experiencing anxiety or depression and are struggling with personal and professional relationships. My style is warm, supportive and engaged. I believe that the more access we have to our authentic selves, the more we can live a life that is deeply fulfilling. We will work collaboratively to develop a relationship in which there is room to take risks and experience aspects of yourself that may have been previously unknown to you. You will gain valuable tools to help you reach your goals personally, creatively, and professionally.

I specialize in both individual trauma and grief work, as well as work with couples. I am a certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist, (CEFT) and I specialize in working with couples to address and remedy destructive communication, breaches in trust, infidelity issues, premarital counseling, and sexual incompatibility. My approach helps couples to reestablish a sense of connection by allowing couples to better understand the areas in their relationship where they have difficulty feeling that they each see eye-to-eye, by facilitating clearer communication of what both are needing from each other in order to feel more connected.

Are you seeking a better relationship with yourself or with others? Are you wanting to heal from the effects of having been raised by emotionally immature or unavailable parents? Need support with identifying and experiencing your feelings? Are you striving to live a more purposeful and meaningful life? I will provide a sensitive, genuine supportive presence where you can feel truly acknowledged with acceptance and without judgment. I will be an active participant in our working alliance to help move you towards experiencing the positive changes you seek and meeting your goals.

We all sometimes face a challenge in life that we just can't seem to resolve on our own. It might be a new chapter in your life that brings unexpected trials: adulthood, marriage, parenting, step-parenting, divorce, children leaving home, caring for your aging parents, the loss of a loved one, or facing your own mortality. It might be a conflict in a relationship with a loved one or in your professional life. Or it might be more of an internal struggle, whether recent or long-standing, that is giving rise to anxiety, depression, struggles with food or alcohol, or other self-defeating behaviors.

I help people build strong, connected and intimate relationships--with their partners, spouses, families or themselves. I particularly enjoy working with couples to improve communication and bring an end to fighting. I also provide reproductive counseling to people who are building families in non-traditional ways, whether due to medical infertility or "social infertility" (LGBTQ and single parents-to-be).

Ruby (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW 101630) who brings a decade of experience supporting youth, young adults, caregivers, families, and individuals navigate loss and attachment ruptures, anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, family conflict, life stressors, and the life cycle. Ruby approaches her sessions with warmth, humility, and a strengths-based lens, valuing collaboration, authenticity, and creativity.

For the past 35 years, I have supported people navigating anxiety, depression, addictions and overwhelm to rediscover their aliveness, and the gifts that can come from even the most difficult experiences. As a highly interactive and warm person, I focus on the quality of our therapeutic relationship, as I believe it is pivotal to the healing process. Deeply intuitive and strength based by nature, I help you recognize your innate wisdom to creatively reshape your life. In the supportive environment of therapy, you are invited to unfold at your very own pace while facing challenges and perceived limitations.