Out of Network Therapists in Upper Dimond, Oakland, CA

Life sometimes throws us unexpected problems, losses, and other hurts. It is essential to have a solid support system to help us through the hard times. Family & Children's Counseling Services (FCCS) wants to be that support system for you and your family as you find healing and a restored sense of hope for the future.

People often come to me after trying a lot of different approaches to improve their mental health. Creative people. Queers. Folks with complex identities. Highly sensitive people. People who feel like outsiders at their core. People who feel stuck in ways that are difficult to articulate. Using various therapeutic modalities, including mindfulness, Esalen-trained Gestalt therapy, transpersonal therapy, and somatically informed attachment relational work I help them find ways to feel better and engage with their lives in newer, deeper ways. I assist them in finding a soft place to land and a sense of trust within themselves.

When individuals, couples, families or children make the difficult decision to come to therapy they are usually feeling stuck and often scared. Each of us has our own strength and wisdom which we don't see when we are troubled. My goal is for us to work together to rediscover those qualities. I use a cattail plant as a symbol of how I see therapy. Why? Cattails are found stuck in a marsh and often regarded as weeds. But when looked at carefully they are graceful and strong. Let me help you find your strength and grace.

I help people to live the life they dream of living.

Through counseling, I support individuals, couples and families to identify patterns in behavior and communication. Our work together will be collaborative and strengths-based. It will encourage shifts in the family to promote healthy expression of emotions and communication to improve relationships. I use a directive style of communication and an active and integrative approach. I encourage parents, caregivers and other family members to be involved in the therapeutic process.

Generally, what brings clients to my office are concerns related to work, relationships, and life. I offer both short-, and long-term therapy for individuals and couples. I welcome those from the Latino community. In individual therapy I will work with you to better understand your feelings and thoughts, find new ways for dealing with problems, and be more effective in recognizing and meeting your needs, desires, and aspirations. Couples often want to understand where their communication is not effective. We will work to improve your relationship by strengthening communication skills. I don't work with domestic violence.

Has your love, joy, and excitement in your relationship slowly faded away? Does it seem that no matter what you say or do, things are just not getting better, and you feel further from resolving your conflicts and understanding your loved ones? There is a way back to enjoying your relationships again. I have been doing this work for over 24 years, and I know that if you have not left the relationship, there is still hope. Learn how to get rid of the unhealthy patterns and learn new skills to get unstuck so you can enrich your marriage, family, and many other relationships.

Have you tried to stop looking at porn but can't? Have secrets sapped the trust and respect from your relationship? Do memories of past hurts intrude into the present? Infidelity, porn, or sex addiction -- and the shame that comes along with it -- can take away our voice. Let's talk and make sure you're heard. I have helped many individuals and couples develop healthy sexuality and rebuild trust. It would be my honor to walk alongside you.

My practice is rooted in the belief that there is power in knowing and telling your own story. Who are you? Where did you come from? What's important to you? Let's work together to untangle your story, identify your strengths, goals, passions, and barriers; and make you the author of what comes next. I work with people who want to make positive changes, but feel paralyzed by stress, fear, indecision, or old habits. I can also help you learn concrete strategies for managing uncomfortable thoughts, emotions, transitions, health conditions or problematic relationships.

I believe therapy is a collaborative and creative endeavor, and provide a safe, supportive environment for you to explore your identity, relationships, history, and desired changes. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you create lasting changes, and am also influenced by Mindfulness, Narrative, Relational, and Systemic approaches to therapy. I am certified in the Triple P Positive Parenting Program and trained in Trauma-Focused CBT. I am also supportive and affirmative of clients of all sexual orientations and gender identifications, and can assist with issues such as coming out, homophobia, and LGBT relationship or parenting issues.

Are you having the same conflict over and over again with your partner, adolescent daughter, parent, friend, or boss? Are you feeling ambivalent about having a child or do you already have a child and feeling stuck with your parenting skills? Are you and your partner struggling with infertility issues? Are you feeling depressed, anxious, or wanting to revamp your life? If any of these questions resonate with you then I may be able to help you. I have successfully worked with people dealing with similar life challenges; I hope to have the chance to work with you too.

Are you feeling stuck or overwhelmed? Do you get in your own way, with negative thoughts or behaviors? Do you struggle with intimacy and trust? Perhaps you're gripped by emotions you cannot control; or the opposite - feel disconnected, alienated, unable to get close? Others have found healing and transformation through psychotherapy - there is hope!

If you find yourself struggling in life to feel whole, happy, at ease with yourself and being in the world, or feel frustrated with a lack of intimacy in your relationships, I can help you. It is important when searching for a therapist that you feel an honest connection. I give a free 30-minute consultation to help you decide if working with me is a match. I have trained in trauma recovery, somatic work, psychodynamic, cognitive, mindfulness, bioenergetic analysis. My focus has been working with individuals around healing from PTSD, anxiety, eating disorders, bi-polar, and marital relationship issues.

Whether experiencing distress due to current life circumstances or lingering hurts and difficulties, working with a supportive therapist can help. Each individual and family has its own unique story and set of strengths and struggles. My practice consists of working with children, families and adults. I have provided services in diverse settings including schools, youth and family service organizations and substance abuse programs. I have had the honor of working with people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. I believe in working collaboratively with clients and I strive to provide a welcoming environment that promotes healing, self-acceptance and learning new skills to cope.

I help women become more present and powerful in their lives. In a safe, collaborative setting, I help individuals from all walks of life free themselves from the pain of the past, make better choices in the present, identify and realize their dreams. I also provide psychedelic integration to make the most of insights and experiences gained from expanded states of consciousness.

People come to therapy for different reasons. Some of my clients have difficulties with personal relationships, some are dealing with stress or anxiety, depression, or grief and loss. Some are dealing with traumatic experience. Our work together will help you identify and remove the obstacles that stand in the way of achieving your goals.

I believe patients come to us because they feel grief, anxiety, depression and traumatized or alienated from themselves and others. The suffering you experience comes in many forms and you do not always have the words to say what you feel. I specialize in working with adults and adolescents whom have experienced trauma, depression, anxiety, creative blocks, ADHD, chronic somatic pains and/or are experiencing grief and loss. I also work with couples and families. I have a specialization in expressive arts therapy and sandtray for those who may have difficulty expressing their feelings, memories and experiences through verbal means.

I specialize in treating adult and adolescent anxiety, life transitions (including divorce/separation, career changes, and geographical moves), parenting and co-parenting, and postpartum anxiety/depression. I’m also a certified couples therapist. I draw heavily on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Somatic Therapy to support my clients. I have broad professional experience, including Behavioral Health Lead at Santa Cruz Community Health Centers, extensive work in community mental health, clinical supervision, and program lead at Kaiser Permanente.

As a psychologist, I provide a bridge between traditional psychotherapy and alternative modalities, in a highly individualized approach.Hypnotherapy integrated with psychotherapy can effectively reduce stress and anxiety, while resolving issues of relationships, career, health, or self-development. Hypnosis is a natural way to empower you to "change your brain." Release negative beliefs, shift self-defeating habits to life enhancing ones, discover your "source self" and utilize creative inner resources that you may not even be aware you have.