Expressive Arts Therapists in Castro Valley, CA

Is your marriage or partnership showing signs of stress? Not sure if blending families is a good idea? Over 60% of blended families in the U.S. do not succeed and this impacts children's mental health. I help couples in conflict or who have grown apart create a more loving home using evidence-based methods, including the Gottman Method, Terry Real's Relational Life and Bader-Pearson Couples Therapy. I utilize compassion- and mindfulness-based methods to improve your parenting AND your partnership at the same time, while addressing the underlying causes of conflicts. I work primarily with adults.

Are you someone who is often taking care of or thinking about others? Do you struggle to find time for your needs? Do you feel overwhelmed with everyday demands? Do you feel unseen or without a voice? Maybe you have been told you are too much or you want too much, but your needs and desires tell a story. Will you allow yourself to tell it? Asking for help can be difficult and wondering how things could change might be scary, but you do not have to do this alone. Every day I support people who struggle with these same issues and more. I want to invite you to take the first step so you can get the support you need and deserve.

I completely understand that life can be tough sometimes and we all need someone to rely on. That's where I come in. I am here to offer you a safe space, a listening ear, and support. Whether you're dealing with trauma, career challenges, relationship struggles, or low self-esteem, I am here to support you every step of the way. And if you're going through grief, loss, microaggressions, abuse, or identity issues, please know that I am here for you and I will do everything in my power to help you cope and overcome these challenges. You are not alone.

I offer psychotherapy services catering to various stages of life - children, teens, adults, couples, and families. My approach is client-centered, humanistic, and strengths-based, carefully considering your unique social and cultural context. In addressing addiction, I advocate for and practice a harm-reduction approach. My clinical interests and experience include working with addiction, anxiety, depression, family dynamics, trauma, neurodivergence, grief, and work stress. In my work with couples and families, I focus on enhancing connections, improving communication and conflict resolution, and fostering healthier dynamics.

Hello there, I'm Susie. I'm a bilingual therapist who speaks English and Spanish. I have specialized training in Art Therapy and EMDR. In my work with individuals and groups, I am compassionate, collaborative, culturally sensitive and creative.

Would you like to better manage your emotions? Are you feeling like you're not good enough? Feeling unseen? Difficulty sharing your thoughts? Are you concerned that your teen or child has really strong reactions or difficulty managing a transition? The individuals and families I work with are diverse and are seeking support to address complex challenges, such as relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, or response to a stressful life event. Estoy al servicio de adultos, familias, y jovenes, que buscan enfrentar a los retos de la vida, y de niños/niñas con dificultad para controlar sus emociones y comportamientos.

Bienvenidos/Welcome! I am a bilingual/bicultural Spanish-speaking therapist located in the East Bay area of California. I have been working with children, teens, and adults of color struggling with an array of concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship satisfaction, life purpose, trauma, postpartum depression, and spirituality, related to life transitions, family stress, trauma, and grief. Although my work has focused on the unique needs of minorities and underrepresented individuals, being a member of that community is certainly not a requirement for your personal development.

My approach balances compassion with being direct. My clients experience care, acceptance and belonging, while also feeling challenged the right amount to grow, change and decrease suffering. I offer empathy while actively engaging my clients by setting weekly treatment goals, building coping tools/resources, and providing skills/knowledge to build self-awareness and integration. We are deeply influenced by our cultural identity and heritage. I am committed to the values of respecting and celebrating diversity, and supporting social/political policies of equal rights and opportunities.

Life's demands may, at times, be emotionally distressing. At different stages of life, you might feel particularly challenged by the pressures of school, college, work, and family life. Through the work of therapy, you can begin to feel a sense of satisfaction and success in your life again. I offer online psychotherapy services for adolescents and adults utilizing an integrative approach. Therapy may include creative art therapy, parent support, ADHD coaching, and other therapy services to promote, support, and facilitate emotional well-being.

Despite our best efforts, sometimes it just doesn’t seem like life goes quite the way we planned. Family/relationship conflicts, worry about a child’s choices/behaviors, feelings of overwhelm/anxiety, grief/loss or a major life transition are often a part of our lives. And, unfortunately, sometimes these events are compounded by a lack of support or critic voices. Although it may not feel like it, I truly believe we are all doing the best we can in any given moment with the tools & information we have at that time and am passionate about supporting you in discovering your strengths and new strategies to create the changes you seek.