Therapists in Oakland, CA

There are elements to all of us that are hidden and unknown until we encounter right timing. It is important to uncover these secret parts of self, yearning to be discovered, with the right support. A few things you should know about what it's like to work with me: My style is warm, witty, compassionate + forthcoming. I value transparency, kindness, justice + joy. I'm directive when called for + I like to challenge my clients to go deep. I draw from my own experience of trauma + healing.

I welcome those into my practice who are struggling with a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I am trauma-informed, with twenty years of experience working with adults, children and families. I have worked with adults and teens who have come to seek treatment for various types of developmental traumas such as childhood physical and sexual abuse, neglect, as well as single incident trauma. I welcome anyone who is looking to create a safe working alliance through which to explore issues with boundaries and self care, whereby I can assist you in the cultivation of a compassionate inner awareness.

We learn to survive and cope with our circumstances in the best way we know how at the time. Therapy offers an opportunity to slow down and get to know what is really going on inside and to learn to listen to your body's natural wisdom. I am interested in collaborating with you to explore where you're feeling stuck, confused or overwhelmed. I can help guide you to discover new, more effective ways of showing up for yourself and in your relationships. My own love of nature and mindfulness meditation practice informs much of my work with clients.

Dear potential Client, Congratulations on making it this far! Choosing therapy is difficult and even more is taking steps to actually meet with a therapist. I have made this journey myself and found lots of reasons to procrastinate making "the call". If you choose to move forward and contact me, I am happy to consult with you about what you're looking for and how I can support you.

I am a warm and caring human being with a clear understanding that therapy is not a "one size fits all" process. I fully appreciate the uniqueness of each individual, couple and family and will work with you to develop a plan that makes sense to you and addresses the realities of your life. Whether your goal is to improve your relationships, alleviate undesirable symptoms, bring more purpose and fulfillment to your life, rid yourself of unwanted behaviors, or experience more joy in your life, I can help you achieve these goals. Experienced in working with the LGBTQ community.

I am not your run of the mill therapist. Oh sure, I listen well and am very compassionate and calm. But I just don't sit there and ask you how you feel. I do care about your feelings but I am more curious about your experience and how we can increase your awareness so that you can make helpful and inspired choices. As you can imagine I help people deal with any issue you can possibly think of- from depression to life transitions to the loss of a loved one or trauma.

I am passionate about supporting creatives, artists, innovators and activists looking to break limiting patterns and cycles in their art, work, relationships and sex lives. In our sessions together we will explore ways to work through personal, creative and/or intimacy deadlocks, create and thrive while living in a world that often does not view your work/existence/desires as valid, manage symptoms of emotional overwhelm, creative fatigue, sexual shame and “imposter syndrome" and challenge habitual responses to help discover and reintroduce the parts of ourselves that may have been left behind, unexpressed, repressed or unexplored.

If you are dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, grief and loss, trauma, life transitions- whatever you may be going through in life, you don’t have to do it alone. I am here to support you. Let's work together to build tools to manage the stresses of life and explore the connection to your authentic expressions of self today.

As children, and throughout our lives, many of us are taught, through our families, our peers and our culture, that parts of the truth of who we are—our feelings, thoughts, desires, expression or identity—are bad or wrong, and that we must cut off and bury those unacceptable parts of ourselves in order to be loved. We spend much of our lives living with a fractured sense of self, without ever really knowing why we suffer, feel incomplete, ashamed, and never enough, filling the holes in our hearts with poor substitutes for the acceptance, love and connection we so truly need.

Welcome. You have arrived. Now what? Something brought you here. Perhaps the burden of pain that weighs on your body, mind and spirit. What is the nature of this pain? How is it impacting different parts of your life, your sense of identity, your relationships, your sense and purpose as a human being? Psychotherapy is an offering, a kind of healing art, a form of medicine that may help transform various symptoms of pain, manifesting in unhealthy, hurtful or even harmful thoughts and behaviors into something more healthy, wholesome and functional.

My goal is to provide a safe and supportive container of warmth, presence, and non-judgement where you can bring both your vulnerability and your strengths. Whatever brings you to therapy, we will explore together at your pace and with your unique needs in mind. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, childhood trauma or grief and loss, we will collaboratively work together to find out what healing might look like for you. Our work together can help you recognize limiting patterns or beliefs, create new options, and shed light on forgotten inner resources.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I have 16 years of experience as a psychotherapist. I utilize psychodynamic/solution focused/CBT/ trauma informed techniques. My work is influenced by my belief in social justice, and humanism. I will work with you through the difficulties of your life and support you in your journey to create the life you deserve.

Hello. I'm Jayeon Kim. I help people overcome unwanted emotional, relational, or behavioral patterns. I expertise in depression, anxiety, perfectionism, multicultural or interpersonal issues—with family of origin or an intimate partner—and complex developmental trauma (CPTSD). CPTSD means that you have experienced prolonged difficulties especially in your childhood or adolescence, such as emotionally neglectful parents or a culture that didn’t accept or foster who you really were. I integrate psychodynamics (depth work), existential, humanistic, client-centered, gestalt, somatic experiencing, and internal family system (parts work).

Are you asking, How can I find love? or, What is missing in my relationships? Are you stuck in complaining and blaming, or avoiding and withholding? Are you noticing your relationship struggles make you feel lonelier rather than more open to each other? I provide an environment of safety where you may explore how you are stuck and how your persistent conflicts spoil your potential for intimacy. Tracking the repetitive patterns of communication, and the stories which confirm your most negative beliefs, I will strengthen your awareness to the influences that affect whether you keep repeating old patterns or open to real change.

Clients come to me due to anxiety, grief and trauma related concerns while facing stressors and life transitions. Life is difficult when you are experiencing mental health struggles due to health, family or marital situations, dating hardships, work conflict and/or past life experiences. It affects self confidence. You could be struggling while navigating the impact of immigration, cultural background, identity, inter-generational differences, interpersonal challenges, and career demands on your worldview and yourself. As an Asian therapist, I not only have familiarity but also cultural competency in helping APIDA individuals.

My style of therapy is warm, attentive, & engaged. I believe we all need to be heard, understood & truly seen for who we are; for this is where a sense of self-trust can deepen & self-esteem can strengthen. One of my goals is to help you feel less burdened & less alone in your struggles and also provide coping strategies when you are feeling overwhelmed. I honor the uniqueness of each individual & work in a way that meets your current needs (whether you are moving through a crisis situation, having relationship issues, needing help managing anxiety & depression, or healing from trauma).

I am a queer, disabled, cis woman of white and indigenous descent, well-versed in the nuances of navigating life with a disability. Often, therapists without disabilities either overemphasize or underplay its impact. In our sessions, we'll find the right balance for you, focusing on what truly matters—whether that's disability, queer issues, or other areas of your life. You’ll have a supportive space to discuss any topic without needing to first educate your therapist about your disabled and queer identities, ensuring our time is focused on your growth and well-being.

Many people want to change some aspect of their life: to feel more joy, less anxiety, more freedom to act, or to say no! To find their authentic voice in relationships. To stop hating themselves. I offer a safe, welcoming environment for clients to explore their worlds. With equal parts gentleness and honesty, we discover their strategies and limitations. Through this clear seeing, choice emerges. We then work to stablize the tender, newer Self. I think of this process as cultivating "self-agency." It's one of the most important things we can do to increase our vitality and happiness.

I work with Individuals and Couples developing better skills for communication, coping with stress and life transitions, and relationship building skills. I offer deeply attentive and compassionate Therapy that doesn't shy away from hard conversations and is culturally responsive. I am active in your sessions, asking thoughtful questions, observing strengths and progress, and checking in. I use an eclectic mix of Attachment Theory, Somatic Therapies, Gottman, and RLT. I help people reconnect with their inner knowing to become their best selves. I work with lots of LGBTQ Clients in Couples, who work in Security, and who are teens.