Therapists in Oakland, CA

Are you hoping to have more energy? Would you like to be a calmer parent or partner? Are you hoping for stronger or smoother relationships with important people in your life? Do you worry about how your child is doing in school, or how they feel about themselves as a learner? I provide detailed assessments, and individual, group and family therapy to help kids, families and adults build on their strengths. Together we will figure out how to help you, and/or your children, feel better, function better, and live a life with less friction and more fulfillment.

I’m a bilingual (English/Spanish) Marriage and Family Therapist with four years of experience treating cultural diversity issues. I believe every individual is unique and finding the strength to defend that uniqueness is my goal as a clinician. Many times, we find ourselves dwelling in a place of discomfort because we are in transit, in a new position, a new career, a new family or a new country. We are living constantly transitioning from one culture to another one, through life phases, starting new traditions. My goal is helping you to succeed in your own special journey.

Most people who reach out to me feel like there's some sort of a gap between what they want and what they have. This gap is uncomfortable, upsetting, or might be painful. And often it's unclear why this gap exists or what can be done to close it or at least narrow it down a bit. Each one of us has a set of life circumstances that need to be taken into account when attempting to improve on our lived-experience. Psychotherapy is the arena in which those personal circumstances, individual preferences, needs, wants, and struggles can be explored.

Whether you are going through some difficult life transitions, struggling with stress, feelings of loneliness, are in a process of recovery and/or have experienced significant trauma, my therapy approach will support you in unpacking difficult emotions to restore a sense a safety and a deeper connection to yourself, others and the world. I specialize in helping teens and their parents rebuild trust and connection, as well as supporting individuals of any age, who’ve struggled with self harm or any other maladaptive coping skill.

I value working with those who are faced with trauma, mental/emotional health problems, transitional issues, domestic violence, alcohol and other drugs (AOD). I invite the broken, the wounded, and despondent to share their pain and begin their healing journey. Connecting with my clients, while also respecting and honoring their willingness to share and seek help. My desire is to be a vehicle to facilitate the healing process.

Welcome to my private practice! I have been a licensed psychologist for over 25 years! I provide individual and family therapy to children and teens with ADHD, anxiety, depression, behavioral dysregulation and relationship issues. I often involve the parents in the therapy process. I also provide live parental coaching to parents of 2-8 year-olds using PCIT protocol (parent child interaction therapy). I also support neurodivergent children develop specific executive functioning strategies for school and home. I use humor and a child's specific strengths to reach clinical treatment goals. Please click on my website in my bio.

I welcome those into my practice who are struggling with a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I am trauma-informed, with twenty years of experience working with adults, children and families. I have worked with adults and teens who have come to seek treatment for various types of developmental traumas such as childhood physical and sexual abuse, neglect, as well as single incident trauma. I welcome anyone who is looking to create a safe working alliance through which to explore issues with boundaries and self care, whereby I can assist you in the cultivation of a compassionate inner awareness.

In every phase of life, we are presented with new challenges: stress, issues at work, challenging relationships, feeling stuck, depression, difficulties with your kids, difficulties with your parents, pain, loss, anxiety, fear. It is not always easy to manage these challenges when they come our way, and sometimes we just need some support in processing it all, and figuring out what to do next. Everyone needs support, therapy is for everyone. In my practice, I want to get to know you, understand your challenges, understand your needs, and understand your goals. Together we can work toward overcoming the challenges you are facing.

If you are struggling to move on from previous hurts and struggle with emotional outbursts due to memories from your past, I am here to help you process, grieve, and begin anew. I am happy to listen and guide you through life's twists and turns in a way that is best suited for you while also offering my therapeutic perspective. Therapy is YOUR TIME to be heard without judgment or biases!

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.

Selecting the right therapist is essential- here is some information about me and my practice to help inform your decision. I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with children and adolescents. I work collaboratively with parents in creation of goals and throughout the course of treatment. Through play I help children to; express difficult feelings, resolve internal conflicts, learn adaptive ways to cope, and to develop resiliency. I offer free phone consultations in order to help determine if I am the right therapist for your child.

Some people struggle for weeks, months, or even years before considering psychotherapy. And it makes sense — it's hard to confide in a stranger and can take a while to find the right fit. We want authenticity and experience in a therapist but also someone relatable and easy to talk with. When couples counseling, family therapy, or child/adolescent support is needed, the search may seem even more daunting. We need a clinician with the interpersonal skills, temperament, and adaptability to forge a meaningful connection with our partners, children, and the networks who support them.

I work with teens, adults, and couples as they navigate different mental health and relational issues. I also provide parenting support to help parents understand their children's behaviors and emotions, particularly for parents and children who have been through early experiences of trauma. I am also interested in supporting first and second generation Americans navigate different psychological and cultural conflicts, particularly as they move through high school and college.

What would it be like to be understood? No really?! The journey truly starts when we first seek to understand ourselves. Through personalized, identity affirming intervention and an unconditional judge-free zone, I implement healthy relationship building with each one of my clients first. As a result, trust can be established and influences you to be empowered yet vulnerable, ultimately leading to healthy behavior modification and a deeper awareness of how to thrive even through adversity.

I tend to work with and help those that are impacted by anxiety and/or depression on a daily basis, hindering overall well-being but also in specific areas of life as well. I look to support, educate, guide and collaboratively work with my clients of any age, aiming to help them get to where they want to be in their lives. I focus on helping you determine which goals you'd like to focus on that uses your own core values in your life to help bring more meaning to the the thoughts you have and the things you do each day.

It is very common that we find ourselves feeling alone or challenged in our most intimate relationships, even when there's love. Working collaboratively we will focus on understanding what's happening within you, strengthening connection in relationships, improving communication, and facilitating an experience of a felt sense that you are important, heard, seen and loved. My clinical style is warm, empathic, attuned, collaborative and client-centered. I work with individuals, couples & families of all ages & stages of life coping with a range of issues.

As a psychologist, I support the nourishment of mental health and well-being where ever you may be in your life. The journey can be challenging. Patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving help one navigate through life. Sometimes those patterns create barriers and overwhelming feelings. Conflicts, anger, confusion, people-pleasing, worry, and sadness may interfere. Allow me to use my life's learning and 13 years of clinical psychology experience to help you work toward your goals and find relief.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by trying to be everything to everyone? Perhaps you are exhausted by all the effort it takes to "push through" and life feels like you’re just going through the motions? If this is you- Sawubona (sow:'bɔh:nah)- I see you. You are strong, intelligent, hard working and resourceful but you may also be struggling with feeling tired, disconnected, and burnt out. If you are searching for new ways to cope- I can help.