Positive Psychology Therapists in San Rafael, CA

In the first few sessions together, my goal is to understand what struggles you are currently experiencing that are causing you distress, and then provide you tools to help minimize those stressors to get to a more stabilized place. Once you are feeling more grounded and able to manage your current stressors, then I encourage the exploration of why these things are present in the first place, where they are coming from, and ultimately when they were initially learned and began. I believe that helping you uncover these important pieces of information are vital to your long-term success in becoming the best version of you possible!

In my practice, I walk alongside individuals as we explore their past, future aspirations, fears, and present situations, helping them ground themselves in their core values and inner needs. Using different modalities, I nurture self-awareness and holistic wellness, recognizing the mind-body-spirit connection. Together in a safe space, we uncover truths, fostering resilience and authenticity for a more balanced, fulfilling life. And to add some extra sparkle, I sprinkle in themes from positive psychology, bringing joy, light, and humor into our sessions.

Welcome! Licensed in both California and Maine, I am currently accepting new clients during these challenging times. I bring over 25 years of experience helping individuals, couples, families, and religious and spiritual organizations to heal and thrive. My experience spans a wide range of issues including: trauma, anxiety, depression, psychopathology, relationship challenges, grief and loss, vocational coaching, body and aging. I love to use psychological tools in conjunction with spiritual practices like yoga and meditation. I work via telehealth in California and Maine, and in-person in Portland, ME. I do not accept insurance.

I have a straight-forward, nurturing and supportive approach to help you understand and work-through your personal struggles. My style is informal and collaborative and respects the uniqueness of your personality, relationships and situation. I help my clients to feel valued and motivated to make desired life changes. With sensitivity and compassion, we work together to build on your strengths to help make lasting change and move toward leading a more self-aware, content and fulfilling life.

I have many years of experience working with all age groups, people with disabilities, neurodivergent minds, people with autism, LGBTQ+, anxiety, depression, adjustment challenges, grief and loss, aging, dissociation, and loneliness. I highly value supporting people in creating an understanding of the barriers they face both internally and externally that keep them from moving toward the life they want to live and, together, creating a plan to slowly work toward better days.

Central to my practice is the belief in mind-body well-being and enduring resiliency, guiding clients towards a holistic understanding of themselves and their experiences. In our therapeutic journey, my priority is to ensure that our sessions are truly beneficial for you; that you feel fully seen and heard. I will regularly check in to gauge your progress and adjust my approach as needed, based on your feedback and evolving needs. I have a relational style and practice compassionate attunement, meaning I will openly offer reflections so that you never feel like you are talking to a blank wall, or being judged.

I am a seasoned psychotherapist, mediator and transformative leader in my work with individuals, families, couples and organizations. I have extensive experience utilizing restorative justice practices and establishing trusting relationships with a variety of diverse populations. I integrate 23 years of experience working in the criminal justice system and three decades of work as a humanistic psychotherapist to be able to meet my clients where they are at and support them on their transformative journey.

I offer a down-to-Earth, easy-to-access approach. Therapy can facilitate achievement of your life goals, help you move through transitions with ease, and peacefully nurture ongoing relationships. Offering a compassionate and collaborative environment, I can help you develop coping strategies that promote acceptance and healing.

I work with people struggling with anxiety and relationships. You may not know what is getting in the way of feeling good in your life, but you know it's supposed to be better. You may be going through a rough patch and just need support or you may have a history that hurts, either way therapy can help.

If you have found this page you are likely feeling lost, confused, overwhelmed or simply don’t feel like yourself anymore. Maybe you are having a difficult time with a life transition or are struggling to cope with a loss. I am here to help you get back on track so that you can reconnect with your true sense of self and gain confidence that you can tackle problems, now and in the future.

Addiction is a complex illness that has a lasting impact on a person and their entire family. Everyone's best intentions to heal or change can often result in outcomes that perpetuate suffering. The addiction cycle can feel like a rollercoaster with fleeting to no progress, or worse. There is a way off this ride. At Marin Family Recovery, we believe that a person's ability to change their life story and fully live a satisfying life is possible no matter how dark the starting place feels. Addiction is 100% treatable. With life there is always opportunity.

I focus on relationships - and I don't just mean with significant others. What is your relationship with your anxiety or depression? What is your relationship with your trauma, your past? What is your relationship with your thoughts on a daily basis? And how does it all affect how you relate to others? I believe that I can help to untangle the mess and leave you with a deeper understanding of your self or your situation.

When we can skillfully relate to our inner experience/ emotions, we suffer less. I help people: Develop skills to be more adept at coping with the sufferings that are a part of everyone's life. Learn the inner and outer skills for healthier & happier Relationships. Heal Unresolved Issues/Trauma. Healing Trauma is a specialty. With the right approaches (I use EMDR & TAT) it is much faster and easier. I specialize in Trauma, Abuse (Sexual, Emotional, Physical), Relationship Issues. ( Individual & Couples Counseling), Anxiety, Stress, Depression, Death, Dying, Grief & Loss, Spiritual Growth/Evolution, Completely LGBTQ Friendly.

Most people suffer from unconscious guilt and shame stemming from their childhood traumas. Guilt causes us to unconsciously do self-destructive things. Shame causes us to isolate ourselves and hide our true selves. Both guilt and shame make people feel undeserving and isolated. My approach to therapy is to help patients find relief from their irrational guilt and feelings of shame and to develop a realistic sense of pride in who they are.

We all need help sometimes. Clients come to me with a variety of problems, depression, anxiety, parenting, relationship issues and substance abuse. I work with my clients, identifying the strengths they already have and teaching new skills to address the problems that are causing them pain.

I specialize in working affirmatively with sex and gender diversity and sex-positive communities (LGBTQ*, non-normative relationships, open/non-monogamous, burners, polyamory, polysexuality, asexuality, intersex, gender nonconformity/fluidity, BDSM/kink, leather, fetish, HIV+, HepC+, Herpes+). I welcome clients with issues around minority stress, neurodivergence, depression/anxiety, trauma, grief/loss, couples/multiple-partner relationships, parent/child relationships, family counseling. I also welcome those looking to heal sexual trauma or those working through sexual difficulties. I'm a well-trained integrative sex therapist.

I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who came to practice later in life and believe my life's experience makes me a better therapist. I enjoy working with children and older adults facing life transitions. I treat children who suffer from anxiety and depression and those that are victims of abuse, abandonment, and homelessness. I support Transgender & Gender Non-Conforming Clients. Iwork with adults facing a life transition. This may be caring for an older parent, loss of a loved one, or a life threatening illness. These situations trigger a mixed bag of emotions that can be overwhelming.

Are you and your partner wanting help communicating? Feeling emotionally distant? Are you frustrated by the problems with your relationship? Has there been an affair or addiction? I am a Gottman Level 3 trained couples therapist and I can help! I can offer you some leading-edge tools and resources to kick-start change. If you both want the marriage to be saved, that's exactly what we will work toward. But, if one of you is uncertain if you want to save the marriage we can discuss "Discernment Counseling". You learn what it would take to turn it around before you decide to start couples therapy. Don't postpone getting help!

Please call if you are struggling, it is such a challenging time! You may be experiencing chaos, confusion, sadness or conflict. Or everything looks good on the surface - no one would know anything is wrong - but you feel alone and life feels without meaning. You want new ways to live so you can feel better and reach your highest aspirations without so much struggle. I am committed to compassionate kindness and intuitive skilled support, so you can shine your light again, and have your life work better.