Suicidal Ideation Therapists in San Jose, CA

Are you easily overwhelmed by emotions? Do you find that you frequently try to snuff out or avoid sadness, anger, shame, or other strong feelings? If your experience is that your mood or emotions are in the drivers' seat on the road of your life (or holding the remote control to your mind) I can help you regain power and develop greater freedom and flexibility within. As your therapist and guide, I can help you learn strategies and tools for managing difficult life problems and the intense emotions they create. I can help you overcome painful circumstances and build the life you want to live.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and I attended Humboldt State and helped the campaign to expand Redwood National Park by 46,000 acres in 1976. I worked in the rehabilitation of injured workers on the North Coast, I graduated from St. Mary’s College of California, and I secured my therapist license in 2000, 21 years ago. I’ve been at the Calif State Department of Rehabilitation for the last 14 years helping the mentally disabled get an education and employment.

Struggling with a mental health or emotional issue? A difficult child/teen? In your relationship? Difficult life transitions? Addiction issues? Gender Identity? Family reunification? I can help you overcome your problems and embrace a healthier lifestyle. You deserve a therapist who will truly strive to understand the way you think. I will take the time to understand your thought processes, emotions, fears, and concerns. Of course, seeking therapy is not always easy; but you deserve to get the help you need to live a happy, fulfilling life.

Asking for help can be a monumental decision that requires a lot of courage. Finding the right therapist can be an equally difficult task. A therapeutic relationship needs to feel safe and collaborative, as it can serve as a foundation for healing. My goal is to assist you in accessing your internal strengths, exploring obstacles and working to overcome your challenges. Understanding what style or type of therapy you need can feel confusing. I will work with you to create a plan for treatment that is aligned with your needs and personality.

Are you looking for someone to work with you and your family to optimize you, your child, or family's strengths? Are the pressures of school, relationships, work, or society impacting you or your child's ability to feel happy and fulfilled? If so, I am available to work with you to develop wellness strategies to promote health and well-being. Whether you or your child are struggling with depression, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, medical concerns, or academic struggles, working with a trained professional is a way to find support & understand you/your child's needs better.

I have personally suffered with mental health challenges through different stages in my life. I know what it’s like to talk to friends/family but not gain any movement towards a happier life. It wasn’t until I connected with a therapist and admitted to myself that I was sick and tired of feeling symptoms of anxiety, depression, and setting healthy boundaries that I was able to make progress toward a happier life.

I am here to help you embody a way of being that you are nurtured by. Pain and loss are a part of life, and my work gives you a space to share and process your story, make meaning in the face of suffering, and move toward healing and growth. We all get stuck; in overwhelming emotions, unwanted behaviors, and destructive patterns in relationships.

I will endeavor to travel with you fearlessly, honestly and directly through the battles you are facing as a professionally-trained, impartial friend ... who you avoid eye contact with at the supermarket. I work mostly conversationally, but enjoy tangents into creative expression to bypass well-worn defensive structures of the overly-relied-on brain.

Most of us want to solve our own problems, but at times getting help is the wisest move, speeding progress and often bringing desired changes we didn't realize were possible. I help you connect with your inner wisdom and resolve problems while adding skills that bring resilience and strength. My approach is compassionate, non-judging, supportive, and tailored to your uniqueness. Therapy helps with most life challenges because it's really about personal growth: getting better at handling what life brings, and helping the wise, powerful, authentic you come to the forefront, take charge, find meaning, and engage fully.

Pastoral Counselor: Pastoral Marriage and Family Counselor, & Certified Conflict Resolution Mediator, Ph.D. in Pastoral Counseling - Atlantic Coast Seminary, Ph.D. in Theology - Atlantic Coast Seminary, MA in Counseling Psychology Marriage and Family Therapy - University of San Francisco, MDiv - St. Patrick’s Seminary & University, BA in Business Management - San Jose State University, Clinical Pastoral Counseling Training (CPE) - Stanford University Hospital and Clinics Conflict Resolution Mediation Certification - National Conflict Resolution Center Sex Addiction Training - American Association for Sex Addiction Therapy (AASAT).

Are you feeling depressed or anxious? Is your child having difficulties in school? Are you having relational problems? Whether you are seeking therapy for yourself or a loved one, I strive to ensure my patients feel supported as we collaboratively work towards your better quality of life. As a licensed marriage & family therapist, I use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and solution based approaches to help address your needs.

Are you feeling stressed? Do you wake up moody? Is your anger affecting your loved ones? Has your addiction isolated you? Is your relationship suffering? You can feel better and enjoy your life. Sometimes you just need a bit of guidance to find tools and techniques that help you. I shine a light on your toolbox so that you can find the right tools to take charge of your life.

We understand asking for help may not come easy and can be a difficult process. We believe taking those first few steps are one of many ways we believe can impact your quality of life. We take note of each significant accomplishment and celebrate success and help individuals increase self-confidence and awareness.

I am a compassionate marriage and family therapist who is dedicated to providing a safe space for children, youth, and families to grow and heal through counseling. Crystal has experience working with diverse populations in various settings and is passionate about providing services to individuals with diverse backgrounds and challenges. I believe in individualizing clients' care by utilizing a client-centered approach and integrating a variety of modalities such as CBT, Solution Focused, Strength-based and Narrative therapy. I am bilingual and offer services in both English and Spanish.

If you have experienced trauma in your past, if you are struggling with important relationships in your life, or if you are struggling to adjust to life’s difficulties, you aren’t alone. Therapy may help you ease suffering you are experiencing and help you lead a more authentic life. As your therapist, my intention is to help you put your thoughts, feelings, and experiences into words and explore significant relationships in your life. Sharing your story may help you to begin to piece together a greater understanding of why you feel and act the way that you do.

If you've been feeling sad, stuck, and stressed for too long, don't hesitate to reach out. I can help you find clarity and contentment. Our therapeutic relationship combined with mindfulness and experiential methods of psychotherapy, lead to real and lasting changes. Patterns which you once took on to cope with your family or stressors may not serve you anymore. Together we can access these old patterns of feeling and thinking that hold you back, and create new ways to be in your world. You can discover that life and relationships can have meaning and ease.

Are there certain aspects of your life that you are dissatisfied with?  Are there struggles within that leave you drained?  Anxiety, depression, work distress, relationship and family conflict, trauma, grief and loss are all a part of being human.  In therapy, I offer support, tools, help with emotional regulation, reframing your false self beliefs and healing your inner child.  From the school sandbox, to the hospital, to the privacy of a quiet office, I will meet you where you are at without judgement.

Each of us deserve to be seen, heard, and valued. At the foundation of my clinical practice, it is my intention to honor who you are, where you come from, and where you want to go. In fostering meaningful, authentic therapeutic relationships, I engage clients from the strengths-based approach and the holistic perspective, exploring and embracing the idea that our mental health can be shaped by the social, emotional, spiritual, and physical parts of ourselves.

I get it, relationships can be hard even if it’s the one you have with yourself. Even more difficult sometimes is admitting it and talking to someone about it. That’s why I try my best to keep it real, open, and (when appropriate) fun while working on these tough parts of life. I’m here to support you in reaching your goals, whether that’s to have a stronger relationship with your partner, better understand your current state in life or work through difficult anxiety emotions that keep you stuck. I know that reaching out for help isn’t easy but I hope that you do reach out so we can see if I’m a good fit to help.