Couples Counseling Therapists in 94604

Folks reach out because there is something they want to shift in their life and they need some support in making the changes they wish to see. Most commonly, people share with me that they seek therapy because of an increased sense of overwhelm, feelings of hopelessness, changes in social dynamics and relationships, a newfound or returned sense of hopelessness, feelings of loss or grief, and more. My role is to help tap into what you already know, identify the patterns you may want to shift, and develop a greater trust in yourself to enact change in our relationship and in the outside world as well!

We all long for deep, authentic connections, but we can often get stuck in old patterns with those we love. We end up sacrificing our needs, avoiding vulnerability, or "acting out" in ways we don't understand. I enjoy helping people with trusting their intuition, building self-esteem, communicating effectively, and creating meaningful boundaries and connections in relationships. I work with individuals, couples, and families of all ages, backgrounds, and identities. Together, we can identify new tools for navigating anxiety, depression, stress, and bodily symptoms often rooted in unresolved trauma.

I work with individual adults of all ages as well as with couples: I like to listen to you, metaphorically speaking, with two ears: what you say and how you say it. I like to understand your internal make-up and the dynamics of your interpersonal relationships. I also want to understand with you how it all fits together. Perhaps, through collaborative curiosity, I can help you alter habits from back then that don't serve you in the here and now of your life at this time. I believe that relationships to yourself and others are critically important.

Psychotherapy isn't one size fits all. It's a unique relationship that develops and responds to your needs, life-experiences, gender/ethnic/cultural identity, challenges and resources. You may be feeling stuck-repeating painful patterns, wanting to make changes but not knowing how. Or you're a survivor of sexual violence and the ways you've been coping aren't working anymore. I meet you where you are and bring my clinical and life experience, deep listening, compassion, acceptance, warmth and creativity. Together we create and draw on the power of a safe, accepting therapeutic relationship to support your growth and wholeness.

Do you want more aliveness in your life, your love, your work, your play? Do you want to develop the skills to engage more creatively and effectively with the challenges you face? I help you to understand and change relationship conflict; communicate more honestly and effectively; recover from grief and loss; stop giving your power away - exude more natural authority and self-possession; move on from addictions and other self-defeating behavior patterns; deal with anger, depression, worry, shame, and self-criticism.

Psychotherapy is an opportunity to develop a new compassionate understanding of yourself and your relationship to others. Whether you are looking for symptom relief or personal growth, the work of psychotherapy begins with establishing a trusting relationship with the therapist who will be your guide, ally, and occasionally your nemesis in exploration. I encourage my clients to become relentlessly curious about themselves by carefully looking at their past and present relationships and the patterns of their emotional and psychological lives.

Our therapists at the Bay Area Center for Couples Therapy can help you and your partner improve your relationship. Don't wait until it's too late. Research has found that couples wait an average of six years to seek help after their problems begin. Whether you're in the beginning of your relationship, been together a long time, have been just starting to struggle, or are on the brink of calling it quits, remember, its never too late to fix your relationship. We use effective, evidence based therapy called Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, which has shown significant improvement in 88% of couples treated with EFT and 70-73% of couples moving from distress to recovery in an average of 20 sessions. Our work is also informed by John Gottman's research on couples.

Anxiety is the most common mental health problem, with an estimated 18% suffering from anxiety disorders at any one time. Fortunately, anxiety disorders are one of the most researched areas of mental health and have numerous treatments with strong research showing its effectiveness. Anxiety can come in many different forms from specific phobias to an inability to stop worrying about most everything. Anxiety can cause physical illness, pain, difficulty sleeping, weight gain, distress in relationships with partners, children, or parents, and can have a profoundly negative effect on work and school.

Therapy with me is casual and warm, while providing you a space for direct guidance and embodied meditation practices to help you on your journey. I specialize in relationships and intimacy and support to improve communication, work through anxiety, and create a fulfilling life. I have training in both holistic East-West Psychotherapy as well as relationship and embodiment-focused life coaching. I have offices San Francisco and Oakland, CA. This holistic, embodiment-oriented psychotherapy offers individuals and couples concrete skills to tackle anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges in a safe and inviting space.

I offer professional and experienced support to make enduring changes. If you are looking at this, you may be having a time of suffering or you may be looking for ways to thrive in your life. Psychotherapy is based on solid research and the world’s wisdom traditions, and is an experience between us that is unique to you. I believe it is the most important journey you can take to move towards healing and living a rich, meaningful life.

As an associate licensed therapist with Integrated Psychological Assessment Services (IPAS) I have a range of experience working with relationship and familial issues, depression, anxiety, PTSD, forensics, and psychotic/personality disorders. I work closely with my clients to develop a collaborative therapeutic working relationship that is transparent, comforting, safe, and judgement free. Always mindful of cultural , gender, ethnic, and economic concerns I also use both my personal and professional experience as an intersectional lens to assist my patients to achieve their own personal therapeutic goals.

I believe that all of us want to live meaningful lives, connected to loved ones and contributing to the world in some way. To do so, we must learn to fully accept ourselves, connect with others in healthy ways, and develop our unique gifts. My intention as a therapist is to create a warm and safe space for you to do the brave work of addressing past wounds, updating stories that keep you small, and helping you grow a sense of inner peace and outer resilience. As social animals, we humans often need trusted relational support to heal and evolve into our true potential. I am honored to be that person and create that space for you!

Welcome to my practice. I have been in practice since 2007 and have been featured on ABC, NBC, and KCAL as an expert psychologist. I work primarily with men who have hit “rock bottom” and would like help getting up. These men are often in crisis when we first meet. The issues I address are typically related to unhealthy sexual behaviors, infidelity, financial recklessness, gambling, drugs/alcohol, dishonesty/lying, and relational conflicts. My therapy approach is a combination of psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, and the 12-Step recovery model. I also share insight from my own painful but redemptive recovery journey.