Therapists in San Francisco, CA

Are you feeling anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed and are not sure why? Have you been having relationship problems? Reaching out for help shows just how much strength you have. We will work together to identify and leverage your strengths to become calmer and less anxious, more motivated and less depressed. You can expect to develop practical coping skills that you can apply in your everyday life for better relationships and better functioning so that you can thrive. Relationships are our greatest resource yet can also be the source of our greatest challenges. We will work together to restore and enhance your relationships.

There are many reasons we might seek psychotherapy. We might want more or better for ourselves. We may be ready for change but something is stopping us. Perhaps we are grappling with a change, challenge, or uncertainty already upon us. The people I work with face challenges at various life stages, including those related to depression, anxiety, chronic/acute trauma, cultural conflicts, relationships, motherhood, high-pressure academic and work environments, entrepreneurship, and loss.

I work primarily with trauma survivors: people who have gone through experiences that were too painful, shameful, frightening, or confusing to put into words at the moment those experiences occurred. You were or are alone in an unbearable situation. It wasn’t or isn't safe to talk about what you were going through. Those painful events might have happened yesterday, or maybe twenty years ago – but the bad feelings have never left you. One day you decide it’s time to figure out what happened, and how to cope, and how to build a life of meaning and purpose. I hope that day is today. I believe I can help you.

I offer a holistic approach, drawing on depth psychology, somatics, spirituality, psychedelic medicine, relational theory and social justice activism in my work with patients. I am interested in working closely with adults, adolescents and couples, supporting them in their development and helping them reach their goals.

I help people to live the life they dream of living.

If you are looking for ways to heal from past hurts, create a life worth living, or are dealing with anxiety, stress, or life transitions, I can offer you support and skills to help lessen your pain and make you more effective in moving your life forward. You may also be dealing with trauma and, with focused trauma therapy, I can help you find a greater sense of calm. If you are in a couple, and hoping to improve your connection and communication, deal with past hurts, or simply to be more loving to one another, we can work together to create a stronger relationship.

I provide contemporary psychoanalytic psychotherapy for people who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and relationship issues, especially in immigrant and cross-cultural families with a history of complex trauma. I believe that our symptoms make sense in the context of our early experiences, family histories, and systems we live in. We learn resilience and survival strategies in difficult situations that may not be sustainable for us now. Therapy has lasting results when it starts with an exploration of who you are as a whole person, not just the symptoms you are experiencing right now. ​

PLEASE NOTE MY PRACTICE IS CURRENTLY FULL AS OF 5/1/23 As a fully licensed Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist, I bring years of experience to the private practice of psychotherapy. Together with you, I help discover patterns, assumptions, conflicts, and internal limitations that are holding you back from a greater sense of happiness, confidence, connection, self-understanding and future direction. My approach is tailored to your specific needs, and I treat root causes, not just symptoms. I work with couples to help move past stuck patterns, while deepening communication and connection.

At The San Francisco Marriage and Couples Center, we offer couples therapy, marriage counseling, and relationship counseling. We are an organization of professional mental health clinicians with a top priority in providing progressive and cutting edge treatment for trauma, mood, and relationship issues. Our therapists have been chosen for their expertise in helping mood, trauma, and relationship issues. Therapists who practice at The San Francisco Marriage and Couples Center provide as integrative approach to treatment offering Western talk therapy and Eastern complimentary recommendations including meditation, yoga, and qigong.

I specialize in helping adults overcome anxiety and depression. As a Certified EMDR Therapist, I focus on helping clients recover from the effects of trauma. I also enjoy working with couples to develop effective communication skills and reduce destructive conflict. I strive to provide clients with a warm, secure environment in which they feel safe to explore painful experiences from the past that need healing. My approach combines the perspective of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy with more practical cognitive-behavioral methods, as well as using the latest research from neuroscience about how our minds develop and change.

I combine LENS Neurofeedback with ancient wisdom, warmth and caring. Are you longing for someone positive to talk to who cares and understands? Someone who has experience with anxiety, ADHD, head trauma, PTSD, depression and finding your place in life and love? I can hold your issues and teach you mindfulness which brings happiness and relief. Days, evenings, some insurance.

I am here for you. If you are seeking support for life challenges, reach out to me and begin your healing journey today. Meaningful change is possible, and I would like to help connect you to your more fully integrated self. Get the help you deserve, find greater peace of mind, and restore balance in your life. Greater strength, healing, and growth are fostered through connection, and having someone you trust to help guide you as you seek answers is easier than going it alone. This life is here for you, and you can live it more fully. I am here to help you achieve greater fulfillment so you can live your best life.

Something is getting in the way of living the life you want to live. You want to be professionally successful, have good relationships with friends and family, contribute meaningfully to the world and even have some fun. Instead you may be suffering a barrage of negative thoughts about yourself, sabotaging work or relationships or feeling unbearably anxious. I can provide a supportive, respectful relationship where you can face these difficult issues. I have helped many people to curb self/other destructiveness, improve relationships and have a more successful work-life while learning to be more kind to themselves and others.

By creating a safe, non-judgmental, and exploratory space, healing and shifts can occur. I can support you to deepen your self-awareness, transform unhelpful beliefs and patterns, improve your relationships, and learn healthy ways to manage the challenges of your daily life. I provide an empathic, humorous, supportive, and relational approach to my work. I am compassionately direct when needed. We will work together to ensure you are experiencing growth and healing. Together we will discover solutions and take steps to meet your goals.

Few, if any, of us grow up in an environment that perfectly fits our needs. As we grow, we adapt to our surroundings in ways that may run counter to our vitality, health, and happiness. By exploring and understanding the underlying emotional and psychological patterns that shape our lives, we are able to develop choice in whether to engage in patterns and habits that no longer serve us. As a psychotherapist, I provide a curious, and compassionate presence, lending my heart and mind to this process of self-exploration and self-understanding.

Congratulations on looking for a therapist. These are difficult times, and you’re not alone if you find yourself struggling with feelings of depression, worry, and uncertainty. Therapy can reduce suffering and foster the growth of hope, equanimity, joy, and feelings of connectedness. For those starting therapy, I prioritize building a strong rapport within a climate of safety and trust; a compassionate, empathetic therapeutic environment; and clear and responsive communication; and respect for your personal goals and values.

By working together and considering your input, we can effectively tackle any concerns and fulfill your needs to achieve your goals. As Viktor Frankl stated, "Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's way."

What experience would you like to be having? What about your current circumstances do you want to change? My primary expertise is in helping people to not only overcome the thoughts and feelings that are holding them back, but to create the life that they want for themselves. I believe that we all possess the ability to remove internal barriers and to live life on our terms.

While life does have it's challenges, I am here to remind you that there is a path to a gentler, brighter, more playful future, both with our own selves and with our partners and loved one. Therapy can be a wonderful way to rediscover joy, aliveness and connectedness.