Racial Identity Therapists in 94115

As a Black, queer femme with mixed ancestry, I carry with me both a personal and professional understanding of the systems of oppression and domination that entangle with identity and wreak havoc in our lives. I have specific interest and experience working with those struggling with racial identity, sexual identity and gender identity; those healing from and finding their independence from/within dysfunctional family dynamics; folks who have been affected by intimate partner violence and dating violence; and those seeking to uncover patterns of intergenerational trauma within themselves and their family systems.

When you've decided to get help, seeking a psychologist you feel comfortable with is as important as their skill and training. If I'm so honored to have you as my client, you'll find I utilize an integrated approach; a mix of gentle yet direct communication, mindfulness, cultural dynamics including family systems, psychoeducation, skill building using cognitive behavioral techniques, and of course explorative questions that help to uncover the emotional obstacles to your healing and progression in life.

Are you a person trying to explore your gender, race, or sexuality? Do you struggle to communicate your needs, set boundaries, and be assertive? I challenge you to speak your truth, understand yourself, and be authentic while maintaining boundaries. I use humor and a strong therapeutic relationship to help you be your ideal, most grounded self. When I think about transforming and changing one's life, I always reflect on Audre Lorde's powerful words. "What are the words you do not yet have...Next time, ask: What's the worst that will happen? Then push yourself a little further than you dare. "

You don't have to do it alone. People often come into therapy when they have hit a crisis in their lives. It can be hard to feel like your usual coping mechanisms are not working anymore, or the situation you are dealing with is more than you can handle. Having a warm, compassionate, supportive, and qualified ally to listen and help with these issues in a safe and confidential space can help you feel less isolated and overwhelmed.

As we change and grow, and get caught up in the daily grind, we forget to tend to our relationships and they can begin to feel burdensome. Part of what I do is normalize that relationships are work. Over time they disappoint us, trigger us, and often serve as mirrors for parts of ourselves we like the least. We start to forget that they bring us joy and purpose and get wrapped up in toxic thought patterns. The neglect breeds contempt and then we feel more disconnected than ever. My passion lies in helping you reconnect with yourself and your loved ones.

My integrative approach views you as a complete person, considering mind, body, spirit, culture, and personal history. These elements are incorporated in a dynamic therapeutic process that engages your senses and encourages prompt symptom relief. You will learn practical tools to cope with stress, identify triggers and end destructive patterns. This improved self-knowledge strengthens your mental health, relationships, and work-life. Through my extensive personal and professional experience, I have developed a vast and deep therapy tool kit. I look forward to exploring treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.

I am so glad you're here. I understand how daunting it can be to take steps towards healing. Perhaps you feel misunderstood by the people around you. Or perhaps you are accustomed to confronting problems alone, without the help of others. Whatever you might be facing, I am here to assure you that you are not alone. I am honored to walk alongside you as you step outside of your comfort zone to embark on your journey to growth and self-discovery. I offer warm and collaborative therapy services to individuals and couples who are seeking to work through past traumas and challenges with identity.

Life can be very overwhelming and lonely at times. When this feels too much to deal with alone, psychotherapy can be a place to have someone else see your struggles and help you bear them. I believe that through a meaningful relationship, we can work together to help you understand why you are suffering and how you can have more options for relating to yourself and others. For couples, being in a relationship itself can feel impossible. Through allowing in a third person to witness your dynamics and understand both members of the couple, it can be easier to communicate with each other.

Finding balance and living a fulfilling life is easier said than done. The concepts may seem simple, but the reality is that it takes patience and bravery to ride out the waves. As a therapist, I encourage you to find confidence, purpose, and meaning to live authentically in the present. I have experience and passion working with those experiencing multigenerational trauma and transitions, as well as a special emphasis on creative/artistic lifestyles, and cultural competency. Prior to becoming a therapist, I was a music journalist. My roots reside in the Bay Area. I currently also serve on the Board for Donaldina Cameron House.

Are you battling depression, anxiety, trauma, anger, or seeking healthier coping mechanisms for difficult relationships? Do you identify as culturally diverse (e.g. BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, etc.)? Are seeking support tailored to your experiences? Our inclusive group practice is here for you. We're here to navigate your struggles with you as you heal from traumas; embrace change; discover alternate ways of thinking, feeling, behaving, and being; gain insights into how your past impacts your present; finding solace and emotional release in co-created healing spaces; and live the life that aligns with your truest, most liberated self.

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.

I specialize in working with Asian Americans on issues such as anxiety, stress, relationship and cultural identity issues. I want to learn how your unique environment and experiences have shaped who you are today and the challenges that may occur as a result. I make space for both process oriented and result oriented therapy. My clients have shared that they and enjoy discussing practical tools that they can practice outside of session as well as having space to express their thoughts and feelings.

Ruby (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW 101630) who brings a decade of experience supporting youth, young adults, caregivers, families, and individuals navigate loss and attachment ruptures, anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, family conflict, life stressors, and the life cycle. Ruby approaches her sessions with warmth, humility, and a strengths-based lens, valuing collaboration, authenticity, and creativity.

Sometimes it can be very difficult to get relief from emotional problems on your own. It's hard to dedicate the time and space to figure it out. Often the situation feels too confusing and hopeless to confront alone. In my practice, I work together with people grappling with universal struggles such as how to connect with others more freely and build healthy relationships, how to identify work that is meaningful to you and feel successful doing it, how to be more accepting of yourself, and how to move on from past trauma and disappointments.

My work with you begins with the recognition that it takes courage to seek help. You may have questions about why you feel the way you feel and why you do the things you do. I believe you are not defined by your symptoms. Whether you struggle with love, work, or relationships, whether you are in crisis or you have received a mental health diagnosis, I believe that your true desires, conflicts, and needs are meaningful and worth actively getting to know. From our first session together, I meet you where you are.

Before your day starts, your heart and mind are already racing, your back and neck feel tense, and your stomach feels queasy. You have this feeling that you are stuck and not sure how to get out of this situation. You think to yourself, “What is happening to my life? Why do I feel this way?” Worry, fear, avoidance, racing heart and negative thoughts. In other words, Anxiety!!! It’s taking up all your energy and controlling your thoughts, emotions, and body. It feels like the anxiety is running your life.

Often, much of the suffering a person experiences comes from difficulties in relationships; with others and with oneself. With compassion and understanding, I can help you explore what gets in the way of having satisfying relationships. As part of that process, we can look at ways to communicate more effectively. I have special interest and experience in working with people from different cultural backgrounds, of mixed cultural backgrounds, or in cross-cultural relationships. I have worked with many clients who are adult children of alcoholics, and understand the challenges of such an upbringing. I work with individual adults and couples.

Things may be hard right now, but this is only one chapter in the story of your life. My job as a therapist is to walk alongside you as you write the next one. As a psychologist at Stella Nova Psychology, I support women and nonbinary professionals to feel better, and show up in their lives as the people they want to be. My clients learn to build confidence, address negative patterns that are holding them back, and improve their relationships with themselves and others. I see my role as equal parts collaborator, support, and guide for the journey.

You’ve spent a lot of time being the version of yourself that you believe others have wanted, but it's exhausting. You’re tired of the overwhelm, anxiety, states of panic, feeling depressed, uninspired, or being unseen. You might also be trying to process big life questions that need honest reflections. Gone are the days of trying to manage it all on your own, it's heavier than you thought. You're now ready for professional support.