Therapists in Oakland, CA

Do you feel disconnected from yourself? Like you're just not "you" anymore or you're not sure who you are now? Maybe you are in an abusive relationship, just left one, or have undergone a traumatic event or major life transition. You need help rediscovering and reconnecting with yourself. You might feel disappointed with what your life looks like and where you are headed in life. Depression and anxiety have taken the forefront in your life and you want a way back to feeling like yourself, a way back to feeling healthy and interested in life again.

Your body is always communicating information to you, and your emotions are the messenger. Maybe it's the consistent feeling of overwhelm, or the throws of depression. Maybe you are experiencing physical pain as a result of emotional pain. Whatever it is, I believe in the wisdom of your body and I want to help you become an expert at your own body language so that you can have more autonomy over your life.

My framework as a psychotherapist is inspired by black feminist sci-fi writer, Octavia E. Butler who saw the possibility of many more worlds than just our own. I believe that transformative internal healing is critical to envisioning and building these worlds without the presence of imperialism, white supremacy, capitalism and cishet-patriarchy. The tools I use to support the exploration of individual, interpersonal and intergenerational trauma are shaped by abolition that rejects punitive and scarcity mindsets and disability justice which strives to value every body.

You have lost so much in your life, but your biggest loss has been your sense of self. Early on, you learned that it wasn’t safe to be who you are, or be in your skin or your body. So you run away from yourself and become an overachiever in work and in relationships. This hustling for worthiness has left you feeling abandoned and exhausted. You want to trust. You want to heal. You want to be able to dive deep into the beauty of life and laughter that you know is around you. Without knowing yourself, what your heart sounds and feels like - how will you build satisfying relationships and create a life that truly fills you up?

When challenges and struggles in life arise, you do not have to walk alone. Whether you have experienced a recent life transition, loss, setback, have struggled with mental health or addiction challenges, or, are seeking support to heal from a recent or childhood trauma, I will be honored to guide you to gain control of your life and reclaim your personal power. I have committed nearly two decades holding a safe and empowered space for adults, children, and adolescents to discover their human potential, heal from trauma, and develop the tools to live a life of vitality and empowerment.

I specialize in working with adolescents, adults and families in the midst of developmental transitions and significant life events. I am passionate about working with those who have being impacted by acute or complex trauma, mood and/or anxiety symptoms, challenges in relationships and those struggling with challenging behaviors. I offer a space to develop deeper self-awareness, stay action oriented towards change and access resources in order to reconnect to your preferred values and goals. I am in training towards becoming a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and will often incorporate somatic and mindfulness practices.

I enjoy in working with; self esteem & worth, trauma healing & recovery, body image & body positivity, disordered eating & relationship to body, belonging as our birthright, transforming deep shame into liberation, body & sex shame, relationships and boundaries, anxiety, stress & hyper-vigilance, nervous system imbalances, life transitions & identity, honoring grief, loss & death, life threatening illness, cancer, auto-immune disease, rites of passage, aging, adolescence, menopause, women's empowerment, highly sensitive people & empaths, people pleasers, intergenerational trauma & ancestral healing, mothering & the mother wound.

Are you feeling stuck in life? Maybe you’re struggling with relationship challenges, past traumas or work stress? Is shame, anxiety, anger or numbness affecting your ability to be happy? Maybe you’re wondering how your substance use, or that of a loved one, is related to any of this? I’d like to offer you a non-judgmental space to explore behaviors, beliefs and feelings that keep you from living the life you want to live. You are not broken and I would be honored to help you reconnect to the innate wisdom and power of your authentic self. My style is warm, nurturing and empathic.

I am passionate about working with those who struggle with relationships and boundary setting, and clients who struggle with balancing differing sets of expectations due to cultural, physical, or mental factors. I also work with couples from differing backgrounds to deepen mutual understanding and couples struggling through a difficult phase in their relationship looking to increase communication and understanding. I work well with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, immigrant and first and second generation individuals and families, mixed race or multicultural individuals, and those who are struggling with chronic illness.

We all carry wounds that run deeper than we’d like to admit. Sometimes these wounds continue to affect us in the present, even if we hope we’ve put the past firmly behind us. Maybe you’re struggling with people-pleasing patterns, self-judgment, or perfectionism. Perhaps it’s hard to identify how you feel or what you really need. Or maybe you just have a nagging sense that something isn’t quite right. I help clients address anxiety, codependency, trauma, and more in order to reclaim their lives and build the future they want. As a queer therapist, I also specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Navigating life's challenges is never easy, but reaching out for help is a brave first step to living a more genuine and fulfilling life. I have expertise in working with individuals struggling with childhood trauma and trauma-related symptoms such as grief, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and relational conflict. I believe every client is unique and deserves to be listened to and understood in an empathetic way. I am passionate about creating a safe, kind, collaborative and judgment-free space where clients can attain new insights, experience new feelings, and find a renewed sense of physical and mental well-being.

Our life experiences can lead us to question our identity and purpose in the world we live in. This can lead us to anxiety, depression, and trauma. Do you want to improve how you face challenges, function in your relationships, and face overwhelming feelings? I place heavy importance on addressing trauma. Trauma disintegrates the parts that make up your whole self, which can leave aspects of who you are hidden from your awareness. Left unaddressed, anxiety and depression can worsen, which can rob you of the necessary connection that all human beings need to thrive. I aim to help you process unresolved trauma.

I help you overcome your struggles in all your relationships and deepen your relationship with yourself. I guide people working with issues including relationship struggles, depression, trauma, anxiety, addiction, sexuality, loss and cultural disconnections. Using advanced modern therapy techniques, I can help support you with a wide array of problems. Couples and individuals have great success in finding more contentment in their lives by experiencing ways together to alleviate their suffering. Anger, sadness, fear and confusion will diminish and feelings of lightness, joy, peace of mind, stability and self-love will grow.

I provide relational somatic therapy for adults, kids & teens. Therapy with me is integrative, including woven layers of modalities designed with your specific needs in mind. Our work is a collaboration with your mind, body, and soul. Non-judgement. Warmth. Active conversations and appropriate humor. Integrative therapy works successfully to treat mental health issues, emotional distress, and trauma triggers, and is great for kids/teens through art-therapy, body-awareness, and non-directive play. Psychotherapy, to me, is personal, political, & social. It takes courage, strength, and hope to live into who you really are.

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.

Hi, I am an experienced therapist with over 25 years of working with individuals, groups, couples and families. If you are experiencing anxiety, depression, fear, sadness, anger, or confusion, and the serenity and peace in your life is being compromised, I have experience helping people work through and understand these emotions. You can come out on the other side. I believe that everyone is wise and has their own solutions within themselves. I am dedicated to helping you find your solutions and your inner wisdom, so that you can live your life with joy, peace and serenity.

The decision to begin therapy is a courageous step–one that can be life-changing. Whether you are feeling anxious, sad, stressed, angry, confused or stuck, therapy can offer a safe space for you to explore your inner world and gain new insights and skills. I have helped clients across the lifespan manage difficult emotions, heal traumas, gain self-confidence, learn new skills for navigating romantic and social relationships, find relief from long-term mental health issues, uncover creativity and life purpose, and reconnect with their partners in new ways. Therapy is a collaboration and I am here to help you on your journey.

I am a licensed clinical professional counselor and a registered dance movement therapist. My expertise encompasses postpartum, pregnancy, parenting, as well as support for infants, children, and families. My therapeutic approach is rooted in harnessing the body's wisdom, allowing us to explore and effect change through the body. I guide you in understanding body signals and collaboratively develop strategies to facilitate the desired transformations. I believe in the power of nonverbal communication and self-expression to foster emotional growth and strengthen connections within these vital relationships.

Transition, trauma, and transformation are my specialties. Life transition, career transition, transition in relationships, racial trauma, the trauma of loss, sexual assault trauma, imposter syndrome, and personal transformation. Much comes with each and using the mind, body, soul connection I support you in finding healing, and a new sense of being. Healing is done in connection with others through embodied connection, awareness, and meaning or faith. Together through connection, you can bring healing into your life.