Therapists in Oakland, CA

My primary area of focus has been working with people who suffer from trauma and anxiety, in addition to depression. I do much work with those who suffer from emotional neglect, abuse histories, & post-traumatic stress (PTSD). I'm certified in EMDR and am continually impressed at the ability of something so simple to so rapidly relieve pain and suffering. EMDR has been listed as one of the leading trauma therapies. It can also be very effective in helping those who suffer from a childhood history of family difficulties and a lack of nurturing. Also trained in Somatic Experiencing.

You're creative and thoughtful and maybe more than a little weird. You need a therapist who will understand you. Someone you can talk to about anything. Someone who will support you on your journey and not judge you for who you are and where you've been. I'm here to give you that support. As someone who has experienced a lot of what life has to offer, from small town to big city to things in the desert, I know what it is like to take a journey and I would love to support you in yours.

My ideal client is anyone—individuals, couples, or families—yearning for a compassionate and culturally attuned therapeutic journey. They face life's challenges with resilience, eager to embrace the vibrancy of feeling "alive." Seeking a therapist who comprehends the impact of social inequities on wellness and life quality, they aligns with my values. Together, we navigate towards the restoration of a beloved community, unlocking the fullness of their lives beyond the burdens. My commitment lies in fostering a therapeutic space where they feel profoundly "seen" and empowered to pursue the desires of their hearts.

I support my clients to cultivate awareness and capacity to unwind from unhealthy thought and behavior patterns. I do this by drawing on their innate strengths and resilience. Collaboratively we learn to navigate challenging emotions and life transitions to rediscover aliveness, power, joy, purpose, care and a sense of connection. I bring dynamic qualities including curiosity, creativity and warmth into sessions for growth towards wholeness. My approach is guided by mindful awareness, honest inquiry and deep compassion. I am grounded in social justice, recognizing how social-historical factors impact well-being. I believe healing is a journey towards liberation.

Clients I work with tend to have experienced developmental trauma that interferes with their relationships to themselves, partners and family members; have taken on shame, blame, guilt or distorted thinking/gaslighting from their family systems often throughout generations; and therefore likely experience issues around trust, intimacy, vulnerability and self love. I am committed to helping my clients to gain more peace and safety within their personal bodies, their homes, their relations and their family systems so they can experience more choice, empowerment and joy in their lives.

Have you experienced awful or traumatic experiences in your life? Have these experiences left you feeling dazed and confused about who you are and how to navigate life? Does your brain and body feel overly tired? Do you worry about just about everything? Have difficulty with decisions and follow through? Perhaps you’re engaging with alcohol, drugs, food, and other things in unhelpful ways to try to numb emotional pain. Negative life experiences leave negative imprints on your brain and body. Heal your brain and body to change your life.

What brings you here? If you are scrolling through these pages, you are likely looking for support, either for yourself or someone you care about. While it is easier now to find psychological support, finding the right person to work with is as important as ever. While working with me you will be received in a warm, non-judgmental, and curiosity filled environment. While considering what brought you into therapy, we will reflect on the circumstances contributing to where you are today. Our focus will be on integrating what has been in order to develop into what can be.

Therapy offers the chance to become more present with ourselves. Together we contemplate the human journey. We can get familiar with our innate mindfulness and compassion. On my journey I've realized that well being can be learned; achieved with a level of skillfulness, a window of tolerance. Getting triggered helps us learn. I help individuals and couples study their nervous systems and their "parts" -- a complex legacy of neurobiological attachment wiring. With a manner that is warm, relatable, and active yet non-invasive, I help my clients find meaning, hope, and the freedom to become who they were meant to be.

IN THE TIME OF COVID, WE ALL HAVE TO UP OUR CONNECTION GAME. Face it, you love your partner, they drive you crazy. And now that we’re around each other 24/7 and some of us with kids crawling all over us, we are not getting our needs met and we are hurting each in ways we are not proud of. Before it was an option to just let our old patterns kind of work. Not now! You are not alone! The whole world is experiencing this. What is essential now is for couples to upgrade. You won't have an 8 hour break (at work) to recover from what your partner just did. We need to actively practice COUPLES SKILLS THAT WORK. It's not optional now!

I work with folks from all walks of life, and specialize in working with gay men and the larger LGBTQ+ community, to alleviate depression, anxiety, shame, work stress, relationship issues, questions of meaning, & life transitions. I use a variety of therapeutic methods, including Internal Family Systems, EMDR, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and psychedelic integration. Psychedelic therapy allows access to deeper layers of self and accelerates progress toward personal growth and healing; it can accomplish in a short timeframe what might otherwise take years of weekly talk therapy. KAP is sliding scale ($150-$175).

As a licensed therapist, I have dedicated my career to helping people thrive. But the uneven nature of the process always struck me as limiting the human potential. Each of my clients has an incredible power to heal other people, but they’re not being empowered to use it when they see me for 1-1 therapy. I now specialize in an innovative and transformative small-group approach called Effective Listening. This unique method is taught in groups of 6 people, and each person gets to learn to use their awesome healing power and to be an instrumental part of each other person’s transformational journey.

My therapeutic training has been centered on experiential, culturally sensitive, and inner work necessary for becoming a healer. I focus on assessing individual client needs and providing compassionate therapeutic interventions to families, couples and children. I use Mindfulness, Progressive Relaxation and Guided imagery as well as Cognitive Reframing to increase awareness and reduce present anxiety symptoms.My specialties include: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression, Trauma and loss Loss, Alcohol and Chemical dependency.

As a biomedical engineer and clinical hypnotist, I have developed a unique approach to mind-body wellness and performance optimization. For over 30 years I have helped people suffering from stress, anxiety, insomnia, addiction, panic, fears, phobias, chronic illness, allergies, weight loss and more.

I support my clients in three key areas: (1) effectively navigating career and workplace challenges; (2) improving their confidence and self-esteem; and (3) enhancing their relationships. As both a therapist and executive coach for 20+ years, I've intensively studied many approaches to psychotherapy and human development to be as helpful and effective as I can. Which of these approaches we'd use will depend on your unique needs and what we decide together best fits for you. I’m focused on significant progress in the short term and even more change and development over time. My approach overall is warm, accepting and personal.