Therapists in Walnut Creek, CA

We all have strategies for dealing with challenges day-to-day. But over time, many strategies can fall short or even backfire. We may find ourselves withdrawing and avoiding certain aspects of our lives, or overextending and pushing ourselves to the point of exhaustion. This can leave us feeling anxious, depressed, and irritable and can also take a toll on our relationships and physical health. One of my goals as a therapist is to help you identify changes you can make, both big and small, and tap into your motivation to follow-through on those changes.

Finding the right therapist can be a challenging process. When working with clients I believe in being patient and free of judgment. Taking the step to go to therapy can be a big one and I wish to create a safe, comfortable environment for you to explore what is currently causing distress in your life. I believe in the process of change, and I know that each of us is capable of finding our happiness, reaching our goals, and achieving our full potential.

Sometimes it may feel like no one truly understands what you are going through. Maybe you feel like you are stuck in a revolving door of thoughts, feelings or actions that continually block you from getting where you want to go. Maybe the stresses and realities of our current world leave you feeling eroded and hopeless. You may have tried therapy, but still don’t feel like you have all the tools you need to handle the stresses of daily life. Are you tired of feeling powerless to lead the kind of life you envision for yourself?

Making the decision to embark on a therapeutic journey is a difficult and courageous, yet rewarding decision. It's my goal to meet you where you’re at and create an empathetic, safe, and nonjudgmental space for you to discover more about yourself and make sense of the world around you. I use a compassionate, sincere, and culturally competent approach with my clients. By engaging in meaningful discussions and self-examination, I will assist you in identifying recurring behaviors and thought patterns, gain a deeper awareness of yourself, and enhance your ability to handle difficult situations that arise in life.

I work with issues related to anxiety, stress, phobias, perfectionism, relationships, self-criticism, body image, self-esteem and trauma. I prioritize establishing a trusting relationship with my clients to help them achieve meaningful and lasting change. My approach is evidence-based and solution-focused. I customize my treatments to meet the specific needs of each individual and their family, with a primary emphasis on addressing their goals, potential, and challenges. I am dedicated to providing my clients with tools to explore their patterns, decrease emotional distress, manage conflicts, and cultivate meaningful connections.

Understanding "why or how" a problem has become a problem is not enough; "doing something about it" is what matters. If we work together, we'll come up with a treatment plan to tap into the drivers of your struggles and start making a shift. I encourage behavioral-change processes based on your personal values and what's keeping you stuck. If you're not ready to make a change, let's help you move from stuckness to readiness. I specialize in Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). www.eastbaybehaviortherapycenter.com

I provide services for 3 types of issues: 1) OCD, OCD-Spectrum Disorders (e.g., Tics, hair pulling, skin picking, and hoarding), and anxiety disorders; 2) Autism of all support levels; and 3) OCD, OCD-Spectrum Disorders, and anxiety co-occuring with Autism. My work is with children, teens, and adults and I provide services in office, home, and community settings ranging from once weekly to daily sessions. I take a family-based approach when treating children and teens by giving parent and caregiver training.

I have specialized in the treatment of fear and anxiety for over 20 years. My expertise is in integrating a compassionate and pragmatic approach with empirically-supported therapies, such as CBT, ACT, and exposure therapy, to help individuals overcome life's obstacles and live more fulfilling and meaningful lives. I frequently work with individuals struggling with stress, panic disorder/agoraphobia, chronic worry, social anxiety, and phobias. I also have a specific expertise in the treatment of OCD and related disorders and am very passionate about helping people suffering with intrusive and bothersome obsessive thoughts.

I try to create a light-hearted and non-judgemental environment that allows individuals to build confidence and autonomy while gaining back control over mental health struggles. It's important to me that people feel supported as they navigate a journey of personal growth. Oftentimes, people are nervous to share thoughts or worries they have had for years without talking to someone about it. I challenge people to take the risk to open up and work to solve difficulties that have come up, to make enjoying life just a little bit easier.

Therapy can be a helpful and beautiful transforming tool. My primary goal is to create a space for you to feel safe to share whatever you need in our sessions. It is your time, and I am here to help guide you and work with you. You are the expert in your story, and together, we will work hard to find solutions and peace. I specialize in working with teens and young adults but have clients of all ages. I also specialize in OCD, trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder), ADHD, and anxiety. Seeing all clients residing in CA via telehealth.

I work with adults and teens on a range of issues including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety, depression, and substance use. I take a pragmatic approach to therapy and work collaboratively with clients to help them identify the sources of their distress and how to overcome them. I help clients recognize thought patterns that may not be serving them well and teach them to incorporate more effective ways of thinking in their lives. I use a range of techniques including mindfulness, acceptance, and a focus on values.

Welcome! Thank you for checking out my page, and more importantly, for taking this step to invest in yourself! You likely are struggling significantly with something and looking for guidance. You may be wondering if I could be the therapist by your side on this journey. Here's a little about me to help you make an informed decision: My style of therapy is thoughtful, warm, compassionate, non-judgmental, highly collaborative, and results-driven. You are the expert on you (your child), and are likely coming to me for expertise in specific therapies to help you get to where you are heading. As a team we can get there quicker!

I help people 20 and older manage exhausting emotions that torture, pressure them into knee jerk reactions, and make relationships difficult. Using evidence-based practical techniques, with a dash of warmth and humor, we'll work together to see the big picture, map a path, and manage what's in the way of getting some peace.

I specialize in helping individuals (adults 18 and up) work through a wide range of issues. Some typical issues include depression, anxiety, OCD, infidelity, intimacy, relationship problems, addictions, transitions ( Marriage/divorce, career, empty-nest), trauma, ADD/ADHD, issue from childhood and other life issues. I have been treating these and other types of life problems for over 25 years. From my experience, I have found that people benefit from different therapeutic modalities and methods to achieve their goals and potential. Some of the modalities I find useful in addition to traditional in-depth psychotherapy include CBT/ERP, DBT, and EMDR.

I specialize in guiding individuals and families through intricate paths of healing, offering a unique blend of evidence-based models tailored to your specific needs. Whether you are suffering from anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, habits/addictions, perfectionism, or grief, my holistic approach spans every facet of life – from home to work, school to sports. With expertise as a guide and therapist, I excel with those who enter with motivation to address their suffering and make the deliberate choice to dedicate time to their healing journey. This is 360 healing and I am here to help you.

My primary goal in working with every client is to create a space where they feel seen, heard, understood and safe to be their authentic self. I have over 25 years of experience assisting people of all ages and all walks of life in finding a sense of contentment and hope for the future even after experiencing trauma, painful childhoods or unhealthy adult relationships.

Using insight-oriented and cognitive-behavioral approaches, I have developed an effective psychotherapeutic technique that has helped individuals gain relief from symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, uncontrollable anger, obsessive compulsive disorder, alcohol/substance abuse, and child acting-out behaviors. I am a Licensed Psychologist and a member of the American Psychological Association and the California Psychological Association. My clinical focus is in providing psychotherapy to children, adolescents and adults. I see individuals, couples and families.

Being a young adult, child, or teen in todays world can bring up unique challenges. I look forward to partnering with your child to navigate many of life's challenges including the pressures of applying to college, the stress of navigating social media, changing schools, the difficulty of comparing themselves to others, and so much more. Through our work, my clients learn that they do not have to suffer alone and I will partner with them through their personal trials, without judgement.

Seeking therapy for your child can be overwhelming and is important to work with a therapist who is collaborative and consistently available to parents. I specialize in play therapy with young children and psychotherapy for teens and I work with youngsters coping with chronic medical illness. My approach is creative, warm and accessible to all family members and I utilize a variety of treatment modalities, including cognitive behavioral strategies, art therapy, sand play therapy and group counseling. I assist parents in becoming "on the same page" regarding their children and I help caregivers to review their own parenting styles.