Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapists in Fruitvale, Oakland, CA

Your body is always communicating information to you, and your emotions are the messenger. Maybe it's the consistent feeling of overwhelm, or the throws of depression. Maybe you are experiencing physical pain as a result of emotional pain. Whatever it is, I believe in the wisdom of your body and I want to help you become an expert at your own body language so that you can have more autonomy over your life.

Do you yearn for a better, happier life, but feel weighed down by stress, anxiety, or sadness? Do difficult thoughts and feelings prevent you from doing the things you need to do? You aren’t alone - it is so easy to become caught in a cycle of worry, depression, and negative self-talk, especially in these uncertain times. Along with the stressors that come up in our daily lives, other things can affect how we feel and function, including our upbringing, a relentless inner critic, feelings of disconnect, inherited wounds, and painful past experiences.

I enjoy working with all kinds of people. Doing work on past trauma, depression or anxiety is hard work, and I respect and admire people who are willing to do it. Like physical health, mental health isn’t a one shot, once a week thing. I encourage clients to integrate self-care in ways that make sense to them. Life can be challenging. Things like anxiety and depression don't go away entirely. We change our relationship with them. We practice kindness with ourselves and others. When we feel depressed or anxious, we practice self-care. The work that I do will help you to learn compassion and understanding with yourself and others.

With compassion, presence and warmth, I am here to be your partner and guide on your growth journey. I partner with you to heal emotional trauma and gain self-acceptance through my specialized mind-body approach. I support you through healing limiting beliefs about yourself, developing excellent boundaries, and connecting with your inner-wisdom. You are unique and so is your therapy process, so we tailor our work together to your specific needs and goals. I serve empaths and highly sensitive people, supporting you in coming home to who you really are. Internal Family Systems. Somatic. LGBTQ+. Check out my TEDx talk via my website!

I work from a humanistic, integrative approach. The way that I view Integrative psychotherapy is to honor the process of taking disowned or unresolved aspects (or parts) of the self and bring them together in order to help one find their "true authentic self." This process reduces defense mechanisms, and supports each client to integrate those protective parts in order to engage with the world, themselves and the people they care about. I bring presence, as well as unconditional personal regard to all my clients.

Regardless of our histories, healing is possible. I know because I have experienced it myself & have accompanied people in untenable conditions deepen their awareness & access what they need to heal. I provide therapy for people who want to transform limiting beliefs & patterns, heal attachment trauma and abuse, navigate relationships & complex families, & take accountability for past harm. I support people to feel compassion for all parts of themselves & live with more resilience and joy. My clients are queer & transgender people, social justice organizers, survivors, people impacted by the legal system, addiction, and/or violence.

Do you struggle with low self-worth, addiction, or intrusive thoughts? EMDR helps to process trauma, negative self-talk, reduces cravings, and allows you to live your life with more ease and regulation. I work with adults and teens to relieve symptoms of PTSD, OCD, addiction, and insomnia. I utilize internal family systems/ego-state parts work and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy as needed. Throughout the healing process, you will notice increased self-trust and a release of old coping strategies. You deserve to live life fully, free from the distraction and pain of old wounds.

I am passionate about working with children, teens, families, and couples. I believe therapy should be accessible for everyone and use a sliding scale model based on income to find a fee that works for you. I am trained in EMDR and am a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. I interweave these modalities, along with exercises from IFS, DBT, psychodynamic therapy, and Gestalt therapy, to help you work through issues relating to attachment in relationships, depression, traumatic experiences, anxiety, complex PTSD, grief, addictive patterns, codependency, and LGBTQ+ issues.

Finding a deeper connection to self, others, and life events is part of the work we will do together. Coming into an awareness of your own thoughts and developing compassionate understanding of yourself fosters a loving kindness practice that can go with you into any situation. It also will help you create ease in your body and mind that begins to put a pause on past or future thinking. And as we begin to learn how to drop into the present moment with what is we begin to bring the wonderment of life back into our realty.

I don't "fix" people's lives, I help "fit" people for their lives. You absolutely deserve your second chance for a first class life. I will help you discover talents for accessing your unique reservoir of resources. I will hold forth a safe environment for you to manage your makeover. I am passionately positive about your possibilities to be productive. I have studied the human mind thoroughly presenting myself competent to provide profound insights into your thoughts and emotions. I employ strength-based, evidence-proven techniques to create satisfying long lasting results. Together we can achieve progress in your life's process.

By the time you get to this point, deciding you need help and seeking out a therapist, you have made an important first step towards feeling better. You may be going through a difficult time and do not know how to break out of it. I use my 15+ years of experience to help people through painful times and hard changes. I work collaboratively with you, prioritizing what you would like to work on.

I welcome individuals willing to engage in an active, reflective treatment and try new ways of thinking and relating, both within and outside of therapy. I enjoy working with individuals in professions such as law, medicine, and engineering who seek to better manage the pressures that come with responsibility, and with artists, musicians, and writers, for whom creative expression is an integral part of emotional health. My other specialties include coping with medical illness and navigating caregiving challenges. My practice is open to adults of all ages, cultural backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations.

Relationships take work, but sometimes we don't know what work needs to be done, or how to do it in a way that strengthens the connections between us. That's where I come in. Therapy is like an objective mirror that reflects thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Through this mirror, you can begin to see a clearer picture of your relationship, so much so, that eventually you can carry that image outside of the therapy room & be happy & confident in what you see. In my work, I provide a space for vulnerability & understanding that allows these connections to foster change. We'll collaborate to make a plan that fits your specific needs.

I understand you want to change something; possibly many things in your relationships, in yourself, and in your work and that you are both fearful and hopeful about coming to therapy. I will help you to resolve underlying conflicts, relieve symptoms, and discover what feels meaningful and enjoyable. My personal style reflects who I am in warmth, compassion, knowledge, and authenticity. I work with individuals, couples, and families, using an interactive approach that focuses on long-term psychotherapy as well as short-term strategic problem solving. Through this unique process you will achieve your goals and live the life you desire and deserve.

Difficult times in relationships can often be gifts in that they open the door to a deeper exploration of ourselves and those closest to us. Seen in this light, therapy can be a step towards mutual evolution, rather than just a problem-solving endeavor. I work well with couples and families,helping to create a safe , trusting atmosphere where people can get more in touch with their feelings and express them to others close to them.I also work with individuals who have relationship issues.

Within each of us exists the potential to feel good about ourselves, our relationships and our work. Accessing this potential, tapping into it and learning to apply it generously to everyday life can lead to great success and fulfillment in all of these areas. I collaborate with my clients to identify and address the things blocking their ability to have a true and lasting sense of well being-- depression, stress, low self esteem, past trauma, self defeating patterns and toxic relationships. Together we work actively on transforming these obstacles into self knowledge and new, positive behaviors.

Longing for a different outcome? Want to write a new story? You are probably hoping to find support with the process of healing something that isn't feeling right. Psychotherapy can help by offering an accepting space to look, non-judgmentally, at whatever feels stuck, painful, or unresolved. Use my support and encouragement to help you approach these challenges in new ways, and find new solutions. My goal is to provide you with acceptance and ways to access your own innate wisdom and energy. I offer individual and relationship psychotherapy. Short and long term therapy options are available, depending on your concerns and goals.

WELCOME to Gaylesta: The Psychotherapist Association for Gender and Sexual Diversity. Our members provide mental health services including therapist referrals, education, and consultation. We offer a wide range of specializations, allowing us to serve as a unique resource both the LGBTQ communities and to other service providers. Explore our site to find a therapist, learn more about us, or become a valued member.

My approach emphasizes respect, transparency, authenticity, and collaboration. I believe that most problems exert their influence on people by blinding them to their own strengths, resources and potential solutions. Problems can saturate people's lives in complex and expansive ways. As a curious outsider with training and experience, I work with clients to debunk dysfunctional assumptions, and to challenge problem-inspired patterns. It's an honor to witness and support clients, as they practice living more consistently with their articulated values and goals, progressing towards more preferred ways of being.