Therapists in Pleasanton, CA

Sometimes our lives can just be overwhelming. Are you struggling with a more recent change or stressful situation? Relationship, work, parenting, divorce, job/school or overall imbalance in your life? For some, there are long term factors that can be obstacles to relationship, employment and success in our lives. Depression, anxiety, addiction, weight and body issues, often only worsen. Getting support, new perspective and tools to deal with challenges can be life changing and a key for long term emotional wellness.

I work with individuals, couples, families and children of all ages. I work in an empathetic, collaborative, and thoughtful way with each individual or family unit. I believe that each individual and/or family unit is different so I bring different tools to assist. I believe being a good listener is important and I want to help everyone achieve their goals. I also worked years in schools so I have in depth experience working with children of all ages.

Imagine relating to yourself and others with ease and clarity. It is through our meaningful connections with self and others that we expand and thrive. Sometimes life gets sticky and the world seems to fold in on us. And, when this happens, you need someone with an objective, listening ear. If you're ready to navigate awakening to the Self, grief, loss, anxiety, depression, trauma or couples and parenting issues, I offer over 20 years of experience with proven techniques to help you through these tough times.

Are you feeling alone, overwhelmed & lacking hope in your life? Are you just making it through the day....staying in your marriage, tolerating your teens or hiding in your work and wondering "How did I get here?" Therapy2Thrive Ruby Hill Counseling Center, Inc. is here to help. We provide clients with a therapeutic relationship that provides thoughtful, caring counseling building trust and hope for healing. We work with our clients with practical research based counseling skills and interventions to assist you in making choices that lead to more joy and less distress.

Being a first generation Chinese-American immigrant, I am fluent in English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese, and I have passion, experience, and unique cultural understanding in resolving marriage and parenting issues. If you are considering filing for divorce or are wondering whether your marriage was the right choice, it is time to seek help. I will help you reevaluate your marriage, clarify your problems, release you from the constant quarreling wars, and guide you along the path of reconstruction and healing.

I am eager to treat diverse children, adolescents, and/or adults, as individuals, couples, families, or groups. My Specialization is in health psychology/behavioral medicine, i.e. eating disorders, stress management, chronic illness, chronic pain management, sport psychology, grief and loss - including of a pet, and I bring forth significant experience with developmental delays/learning disabilities, testing/assessment, adoption/foster care, mood/anxiety disorders, trauma, divorce, substance abuse, and other life transitions. Additionally, I am open to providing consultation for interns taking the licensing exam or tabulating hours. Seeing my clients start life with renewed vigor is incredibly rewarding.

Merit Psychology Group is a multidisciplinary clinic that offers couples therapy, individual therapy, family therapy, teen therapy, occupational therapy, sensory integration therapy, psychological assessment, neurodevelopmental assessment, psychoeducational evaluations, and forensic assessments. We are here to help and one of our six providers will likely be able to support your needs.

Very often we find ourselves having the same arguments all the time in our personal relationships. Sometimes we get hurt like we have never been before and we can’t understand why it hurts so much. Old patterns and unresolved issues can keep us stuck in the same place at times. Never having learned healthy ways of communicating, we do not know how to get the results we want. So many of us go through these challenges at various stages of our lives, with work, personal and professional relationships and raising children. Some of these challenges can seem overwhelming and can drag us down.

Are you feeling stuck, continually repeating the same patterns over and over that lead to frustration, disconnection from others, guilt, and anguish? Therapy is so much more than symptom management. I provide a comprehensive approach that focuses on helping you to challenge and change old patterns that leave you feeling defeated and stuck so you can begin to heal and thrive. I will help you build the skills necessary to empower you on the path to growth and healing. Whether you are seeking support through a current crisis or seeking to develop a long-term partnership I will be there to help.

At times we can feel overwhelmed with fear and anxiety or stuck in life patterns that do not allow us to access the life we had hoped for.  Part of the "stuckness" can come from past experiences and perspectives we learned from an early age.  Part of it can come from current experiences that leave us feeling lost, afraid, or like we have no control.

Accessing hope, grounding, greater energy, and newfound peace are my specialities and passion, and I assist the patient to take charge in finding harmony and illuminating a vibrant life. Working creatively and eclectically, I emphasize psychophysiology and integrative modalities, the medical end of psychology in my practice, Lifetime Development in Pleasanton, California. Assessing carefully the unique strengths and needs of each child, adolescent, and adult who calls, my goal is to assist clients to become more masterful in their lives at every age. Using the lens of in-depth traditional psychotherapeutic knowledge, I aim for faster outcomes than those possible with "talk therapy" alone.

I specialize in treating those with various mental disorders and behavioral issues to include: ADHD, PTSD, Anxiety, and Personality Disorders. I utilize detailed Psychological Assessment, and empirically supported treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness. I am certified as a DBT practitioner and a life coach. Lastly, I integrate a holistic mindset into my practice, where emphasis is placed on gut/brain health, sleep quality, lifestyle, and diet.

Trained in family systems theory with an emphasis on the whole person, I will work with you to develop insight into all aspects of your life. I am certified in Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) where I provide parents with the tools to approach their children with love, empathy and kindness, resisting the tendency to be punitive. With over 15 years of experience working with adults, teens, children and families, I can help you make the needed changes in your life. Change is within your grasp and begins with us working together to shift your thoughts, emotions and behaviors.

Joy provides families with survival tools and peace of mind to successfully accomplish the monumental task of raising kids and a family - a task that came without an instruction manual and changes at every turn. While she doesn't claim to know every particular circumstance, she has a reputation for respecting, honoring, and supporting people from a wide variety of life experiences. Joy has the ability to not just understand but FEEL your struggle without judgment.