Therapists

As a therapist, I am warm, supportive, nurturing, and direct. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, the stresses of everyday life or the aftermath of trauma, we will focus on both alleviating your immediate sources of worry and distress and increase your sense of safety, security and well-being. As a holistically and somatically-oriented therapist, I believe it is important to integrate the mind, body and spirit in the process of psychotherapy so that deeper awareness and true change is possible.

Relationships are unique and come in countless shapes and sizes over time. Right now, relationships are happening and changing in your life every day. I provide opportunities to explore your relationship to relationships; to gain customized tools for current and future relationships; and to catalyze what is working in your relationships and heal and transform what is painful and challenging.

Have you experienced abuse or violence? Are you struggling with the aftermath these traumatic events are having on your life? Let me help you learn how to cope with your symptoms, create more stability and structure in your life, and move from surviving to thriving. I specialize in working with survivors of trauma, abuse, and violence, and have experience helping people who have survived these circumstances with rebuilding their lives. This often includes working through post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, panic attacks, depression, insomnia, anger, and other related issues.

I am interested in aliveness. What is alive in you? Where are you stuck, and where is there flow? What parts of your life are hard and what parts are easy? There are natural, pervasive patterns and rhythms to life and we all live them differently. By tuning into your unique rhythm we can find ways to bring more ease and freedom to your relationships with yourself and others. I believe strongly in listening to the language of the body as well as the brain. I also believe in the importance of honoring all of your feelings; all parts are welcome.

It sucks to live with thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that aren’t welcoming, hopeful or kind, doesn’t it? When that inner stream is clouded with shame, negativity, or apathy, therapy can be a filter to clear out the toxins and make way for the new–the braver, the steadier, the integrated, the you that has the room and gumption to flourish. Getting acquainted with your badass, authentic self deserves your full attention, intention, and compassion. Leveraging somatic practices and the latest in neuroscience and clinical intuition, I am here to help you contact your innate self-righting capacity and embodied wisdom—a personalized treasure trove. Sessions with me often include attention to the body and the breath, mindfulness and visualization work, art, movement, talk, humor, and embodied metaphor. Let's get to it.

I help men and women who suffered neglect as children, allowing them to become more self-actualized people in the world. Do you say yes when you mean to say no? Do you overextend yourself? Do the needs of others come before yours? If you have grown up in a neglectful family, you may not know how to advocate for yourself. I can help.

Finding the right mental health therapist is not always easy or convenient, but I hope your experience here is different. If you are new to therapy, it might feel uncomfortable talking to a stranger at first. If you have been in therapy for years, you might dread having to "start over" with someone new. Wherever you are in your journey, I will do my best to work with you in a way that is collaborative, integrative, and synergistic.

I specialize in PTSD, complex trauma, and recent traumatic events. After working with me, my clients report feeling calmer, more patient and self-aware, and able to express their own strengths, needs, and limits. They are able to notice how and when they might use internal and external resources.

I believe that each person and situation is unique, my approach is to collaborate with my clients to understand their unique needs while providing support and tools that help to achieve their goals. Together we will explore the root of the issues that need to be addressed and find the best way for you to confidently move forward in your life.

Relationships can be the most rewarding, and the most frustrating, things in our lives.

We want them. Well, we want the good parts. And when we are not getting the good, we think hey, maybe I am just better off on my own. But where does that leave us? Usually craving and wanting a relationship again.

Love, communication, and intimacy are probably not the things you learned in school. Most likely you are relating to others based on what was modeled to you growing up or what you saw or read on TV, the internet, or in magazines.

Therefore, let's pause, take a step back, and start to explore what lies beneath the surface.

LOVE is the most organic thing—but it's also complicated.

Learning to be your own person in a relationship while developing deep intimacy is something within your reach.

Whether you are coming to me as an individual or as members of a couple, I welcome the opportunity to begin a dialog with you.

Finding a therapist that meets your needs is challenging. If you're familiar with therapy, you're probably tired of repeating your story . . . and if you're new to therapy, you're probably dreading that initial appointment. Regardless of your past experience, my priority is to help you feel safe.

Being seen, heard and validated in a nonjudgmental space can be powerful. There is power to be gained from accepting your authentic self. As a therapist, I collaborate with you to harness this power. I am passionate about creativity, transparency, and personal growth. I believe every individual is unique and deserves a care plan that embraces their identity.

There are many reasons why people come to therapy whether it be anxiety, depression, stress, abuse, or life changing events. It can be a relationship gone wrong or perhaps a message that you cannot show your true self. We can get stuck in this place and you are not alone. Therapy is an opportunity to have a new kind of relationship, a relationship in which you can come to know yourself in a new way. Come as you are; you are welcome here.

I work with individuals experiencing burnout, loneliness and blocked creativity. Maybe you’re experiencing apathy, hopelessness, overwhelm, negative self-talk or straight-up rebellion from your body. Being a human in these times is not for the faint of heart. Therapy can help. Working together, we can identify strengths you have, patterns you’d like to change and the resources to help sustain you.

I create a space for you to explore, breathe, relax, create, use metaphor, and get weird and playful to find answers and healing.

My own experience with depression and anxiety led me to this work, and for that I am grateful. Psychotherapy has given me the opportunity to examine the story I have been telling as my own from new and different perspectives. I have had the opportunity to sit with uncomfortable feelings and have learned ways to keep cool as they moved through and beyond me.

In order to facilitate your healing, we will have real conversations about you and your life - the kind of conversations that sing in your heart and mind and take you to places you never expected. Together we will make sense of your inner disturbances that are creating outer conflicts in your life. I can help you overcome others’ anxieties and expectations of you so you can discover your own alive and authentic self.

Skillful, therapeutic conversation can absolutely change your life.

It is easy to feel stuck, confused, or overwhelmed, when dealing with the many challenges that life throws at you. At some point in our lives, many of us go through periods of intense struggle where things just don’t feel right, or experience deep longing for something that feels missing. These times can be hard, painful, and uncomfortable, but can also be a profound opportunity for making important changes in your life. Often there is often not a quick and easy solution, however having a supportive ally throughout the twists and turns of life can make all the difference.

Are you dealing with feelings of loss or being overwhelmed? Is shame or guilt overtaking your thoughts? I work as your teammate to support you in identifying and breaking free from challenging personal and interpersonal patterns to create more of what you want in your life. My therapeutic focus is building a strong but flexible container to process forgiveness, grow self-awareness, and redirect stagnant energy to better suit your desired direction in life. I bring a gentle spirituality and affirming, nonjudgmental witness to my work with all of my clients across a range of issues.

To be seen and understood for who you are by someone with good intentions and real knowledge, can help you know that you are real and that your experience of life is also real. To be understood in this way is at the heart of being human. It is also at the foundation of building a resilient sense of self that allows you to overcome your wounds and achieve your full potential. We need to be fully human before we can evolve and transcend as either psychological or spiritual beings.

Is there something you've always been scared to say out loud, because if you did, nothing would stay the same?

Or

Like in that serenity prayer, do you want to know the difference between what you can change and what you have to accept?

Wisdom's hard to come by in this angry world, and serenity can be fleeting. This is your one shot, so you might as well speak your truth. Let’s figure out what you need and what you already have, so you can stand tall and be exactly who you are. What you believe is your Kryptonite may also be the root of your superpower. I'd even bet on it.

I specialize in grief counseling and helping older individuals and couples navigate the challenges of aging.

We live in a world that has no time for grief and no patience for the physical and emotional challenges of aging. Because our culture has so little tolerance for these experiences, people are forced to push down their feelings and pretend that they’re not in any pain. As a result, it's easy to become lost in your grief and frustrated in your efforts to find meaning and joy as you age.

I also work with the families of substance abusers, helping them get their lives back on track and find a level of happiness whether their loved one is using or not.

Feeling like The Giving Tree? Worn down to the stump? Kids struggling at home or at school? Parenting can be so hard. So can growing up.

I specialize in providing support for childhood and parenting challenges. I have a knack for helping families sift through life’s complex knots, create space for new insights, maximize what’s working, and let go of what isn’t. Learning to respond intentionally rather than react can help both parents and children communicate and thrive at home and in the classroom.

Sometimes we are quick to pathologize ourselves and our children. I believe it’s important to help families understand the differences between tendencies, issues, and true disorders, all of which can be addressed within a supportive and caring therapeutic relationship. I provide a strengths-based holistic approach to therapy.

People naturally strive to make sense of their experiences. Each of us has an innate ability to heal from old wounds and to integrate them into a greater whole. Just as seemingly imperfect threads are woven together, the difficulties we work through and overcome become part of our extraordinary journey. My desire is to help you accept and embrace the richness of your fabric.

Often the beliefs we carry about ourselves don't originate with us or it can be hard to locate the source of our emotions. Maybe you are in a place where the pain feels overwhelming; maybe certain thoughts and memories seem like they are just too much to handle; or perhaps you are well aware of patterns you would like to change but don't know where to start. The belief in your own capacity to heal and move beyond these struggles may feel flimsy at best, but I am here to remind you of your own strength. After all, you made it this far and you are not giving up now. Part of my job is to help you hold what feels like "too much" and to figure out a path forward together.

You not sure what to do, but you know you need support.

Your kid is having meltdowns over seemingly nothing. You’re in the middle of a major life transition and feel lost. Your own childhood or trauma history is getting in the way of parenting and relationships. You want your family to feel whole and connected and your child to be content, confident, and calm. But it all feels impossible and overwhelming.

You can reach a place of acceptance and peace without ignoring your needs. I help children, teens, and parents reconnect and rediscover their resilience, finding their inner calm.

I strive to meet you where you are--holding your innate wisdom and resiliency alongside the parts that feel incongruent, sticky, stubborn and shameful--honoring that each part is communicating or responding to something...past and/or present. My intention is to hold and co-create a grounded, non-judgemental space for that which is said and unsaid; honoring and reflecting on silences. Therapy with me may include traditional talk therapy, movement exercises, parts work, breathing exercises, and expressive arts--and the inclusion of any of this is fully dependent on you.

Do you struggle to feel satisfied with yourself? Does it feel like no matter what you do, it is never enough? Maybe you project a self-confident image, but internally you experience feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. You long to feel at peace with yourself, but the self-judgment and pressure leave you feeling anxious, depressed, and isolated. You are tired of living like this and are ready to figure out another way. I can help you overcome the obstacles that keep you feeling stuck and will guide you to build healthier relationships with yourself and others.

I specialize in working with individuals who struggle with self-criticism, shame, and low self-esteem. After working with me, my clients report feeling more grounded, whole, and confident in their own skin. They are better able to navigate personal relationships, life transitions, and work-related stress.

The way we relate to ourselves is key to our wellbeing. Unfortunately, in times of difficulty we can be harshly self-critical. This can lead to depression and self-loathing, making it even harder for us to achieve our goals. I help my clients cultivate a kinder inner voice and develop greater self-acceptance so they can walk through life with more confidence and resilience.

Together we can explore what blocks your path to living at your full potential. I work in a warm, direct way that will help us demystify what might seem complicated or difficult. My practice is informed by mindfulness, meditation, and the natural world. I have experience in personal training, nutrition, and somatic-based therapy, which can be parts of my holistic, body-mind therapeutic approach.

Therapy allows us to explore ourselves more deeply through the unique relationship that is formed between therapist and client. From my end, I will bring to our relationship a sense of nonjudgment, warmth, and humor along with professional expertise.

Seeking support for life's inevitable challenges is a courageous and powerful choice. Consider me a partner on your path of increasing empowerment. Therapy can offer a safe space for exploration and acceptance of a wider range of your life experience, which can lead to positive change.

I strive to be flexible, open, and inclusive, and thus draw from varied psychological and philosophical orientations. I am actively engaged in anti-oppression work, both personally and professionally. I honor diversity and welcome people from all walks of life.

I help people who are seeking deeper meaning, connection, and purpose in their lives. As a queer- and spiritual-identified woman, I often work at the intersection of spiritual, sexual, and gender identity, supporting the complexity of that experience. People like me often find communities that will honor one part of their identity while ignoring the others. In my practice, LGBTQIA-identified individuals and couples in the Bay Area can access a safe therapeutic environment that affirms each layer of their identity, facilitates meaningful connections, and awakens purpose. My unique relational-Gestalt psychotherapy approach encourages clients to tap into their true potential and live a life with deeper meaning and fuller joy.

I also specialize in autism and educational therapy. Anxiety can have a large impact on quality of life. If you have autism, strict behavioral methods will not reduce chronic anxiety because they do not address the underlying social and emotional experience. My well-developed approach uses the latest findings in psychology, education, and neuroscience to tremendously reduce autism-related-anxiety.

My role as a Holistic Psychotherapist is to offer a gentle hand for guidance and support through all of life's difficulties. I am passionate about individuals and couples who are searching to find their true and whole, authentic self. Through Mindfulness-Based Approaches, Experiential Practices, Yoga Therapy and other Holistic modalities I empower individuals and couples to live their true authentic self from the inside out and outside in.

Life can be hard at times and not having the right tools can be challenging. Whether you are struggling with past trauma, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, addiction, or events in your life that are emotionally draining, we can work together to figure out the best way to live your fullest life. I have a direct, honest, and compassionate style of communicating that allows us to focus on your goals in a collaborative and constructive way, but most importantly in a way that makes sense to you. Let therapy guide you in the direction you want to go.

I work with individuals and couples to address relationship ambivalence, anxiety, major life transition, depression, stuckness, conflict, poor communication and other issues. Together, we work to expand your awareness of thoughts, feelings and physical sensations to transform your experience into one of purpose, pleasure, joy, energy, and connection.

Having a hard time? Feeling stuck? Let’s Talk.

Intuitive practical counseling with a skilled and compassionate therapist.

Choosing the right counselor is important.  My approach is warm, open and collaborative; working with you to explore reactions, emotional patterns, and thought processes. I encourage honest exchange at your own pace while providing you with tangible techniques to take into your life.

Change and growth are hard; sometimes growth doesn’t feel like growth at all. Instead of moving forward it might feel like moving backward. Sometimes we want to change something about ourselves. At other times we want to change something about a relationship in our lives. And sometimes we don’t want to change, but are forced into it by a life circumstance. Life is always changing and sometimes it just feels like too much to handle on our own.

I offer a warm, honest, and collaborative space within which we can explore issues that are troubling you. My aim is for you to feel more fully alive, to find the flexibility and resilience for stronger connections to others and a more vigorous pursuit of your goals and dreams.

Change is possible. Deep, long-lasting change comes from within and radiates out into the world.

The practice of therapy is inspirational to me. It is an incredible joy to witness clients becoming more of their truest selves and really stepping fully into lives they want to live. My approach is holistic with a focus on relationship and what is happening for you now. I believe that by working with our experiences in the moment, we can impact the hurt and trauma of the past.

Life can be very confusing sometimes! My understanding is that each of us is different and there are no easy answers for most of life's questions. I am happy to be engaged in the mystery of life with you. Using my humanistic and transpersonal approach, my goal is to help you create meaning out of life and develop coping skills. I acknowledge all spiritual and religious traditions, including atheism. At the end of the day, I don't know the "right" answer. All I know is that being kind and brave is important. I want to honor the things that are important to you too.

As we grow up, we learn to survive in complex familial, social, and political systems. These inherently adaptive survival strategies lay the foundation for how we relate to the world around us, one another, and ourselves. Unfortunately, these strategies can leave us feeling cut off from longed-for parts of our experience. As adults we may begin to feel limited by old patterns that no longer serve us. This is often when we seek out therapy. I am interested in providing a space for you to remember your known and lesser-known parts. By drawing on your intrinsic source of vitality, rooted in the erotic, we will forge new pathways of connection as you learn to accept, love, and embody yourself.

You’ve done everything you can think of, looked at things from every possible angle. Things aren’t quite right… Maybe you feel like it’s your fault, and keep thinking about how things could have gone differently. Maybe you wonder if you have what it takes to make a change and find the things that bring fulfillment. Maybe you have lost something important to you. Everyone experiences periods of feeling lost and confused—and those are perfect opportunities to take a deeper look at things.

People describe me as authentic, insightful, kind, honest, and hardworking.  I bring my full self to each session as your ally, supporting you to face the unknown with my genuine attentiveness and clear communication while offering therapeutic care informed by: process work, somatic work, trauma-informed practices, mindfulness, and dynamic experiential approaches. I have experience helping people with a wide range of issues including: family conflict, power dynamics, relationship challenges, communication difficulties, overwhelming emotions, trauma, identity issues, and struggles to belong.

Recent neuroscience confirms that we are all hard wired to heal, given the right conditions. I work collaboratively and interactively to harness your innate healing capacity to assist you in going beyond symptom management to profound transformation. My practice is somatic and relational, and I specialize in working with couples as well as people who’ve experienced emotional, sexual, and physical trauma.

I work well with clients who have anxiety, depression, relational trauma, big emotions, or dissociation. Clients who have a history of being bullied or struggle with intense inner criticism or imposter syndrome are also a good fit. In addition, I work well with those on a spiritual path. My clients often feel what they need to share is too big or burdensome for the people in their lives to meet with sensitivity and presence. Or they feel stuck in behavior or thinking patterns that cause them pain. I also work with couples that would like help reconnecting on a relational, emotional, sexual, or physical level.

Ready to rediscover who you are?

I don't trust myself.

I'm tired of letting opportunities pass by because of self-doubt and tired of the regret I feel afterwards.

I know that changes in actions and beliefs can lead to growth and I realize that greater self-knowledge can help awaken a sense of purpose. But even though I've tried time and time again to develop a sense of empowerment, I'm not reaching my goals.

If any of these statements resonate with you, you're not alone. We live in a society that barrages us with negative external messages that silence our inner knowing— that powerful sense of intuition that rests just beyond our consciousness. When we are disconnected from our intuition, we can lose our sense of purpose.

Rediscovering your inner knowing can be hard work, but I'm here to help. Let’s work on making changes in a way that feels right and supports your process. You’ve been holding on to fear and negative messages. It’s time to let go. Let me help you on this journey.

There is a lot of pain in the world. Unprocessed trauma lurks everywhere, including in our intimate relationships. Often, we are playing out unconscious patterns. When a couple finds a trusted guide who can shine light on what lies outside of their awareness, they can begin to unwind stuck patterns, find new pathways, and become allies in each other’s healing.

You’re not broken, though at times in life we can feel that way. It can be difficult, but reaching out for support is the first step to feeling like life is working again. I work with individuals and couples to help facilitate their process of living a fuller, deeper, more authentic, and balanced life, through Mindfulness Based and Somatic Psychotherapy. It’s an honor to sit with my clients and be a part of their journey.

Humans are pack animals. We depend on our relationships to survive. So, when we are deprived of the love and care of supportive relationships, we find ways to meet these needs in their absence. These strategies help us minimize our pain allowing us to survive childhood and navigate adulthood.

Now you are finding that these survival strategies are becoming problems of their own. Do you struggle with letting your guard down, even for the people you love? Is it difficult to put your needs over the needs of others? Have you developed habits of avoiding "feeling" and find that you are disconnected from the world around you?

Therapy offers a unique relationship that invites you to explore your patterns and practice new ways of relating to others. I offer warmth, curiosity, and openness as together we seek out your ideal YOU and explore how to let this person shine through in all your relationships.

I'm here to help you understand and accept yourself, make sense of difficult experiences, and find more of what makes you truly happy. This might mean working through unprocessed trauma that is holding you back or examining your patterns in relationships. Whatever path our work takes, I believe self-knowing and self-compassion are at its core. Who are you, what is hurting inside you, and what do you need to feel whole? Let’s get curious and find out together.

I can help by joining you in exploring your anxiety, your fear, your grief, and your relationships. Together we will be able to look at patterns which may be negatively impacting your ability to function and unravel them for a more fulfilling and satisfying life.

Therapy can help you:
• Decide how to have strong relationships with appropriate people

• Share what you hate and love about yourself and others

• Better communicate your needs and wants

• Discover ways to be kinder to yourself

My first priority is to help create a safe-enough space for us to explore with honesty, clarity, and even humor your experiences, your relationships, and what feels true to you. This includes what happens in the therapy room, which can often mirror what happens in your other relationships.

What brings us to therapy may be something we want to change or “fix” about ourselves or our relationships. Fortunately, on the human journey suffering is actually the call that wakes us up, because it creates an openness and desire to explore our lives. What we discover can be surprisingly beautiful: lost parts of ourselves, innate wisdom we didn’t know we had, a new sense of aliveness and freedom. Trained in mindfulness and Somatic Experiencing, my holistic approach is curious, intuitive, and playful. Please call me for a free phone consultation to see if I’m a good fit for you.

I am comfortable working with individuals who are dealing with a wide variety of issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, goal setting, disability and chronic pain. I work with individuals using a variety of modalities including, cognitive behavioral therapy, guided meditation, expressive arts therapy, authentic movement and ritual creation.

You may be looking for help healing from a troubled past, facing fears and uncertainty about the future, or coping with the everyday challenges of your present life, work, and relationships. Help can take many forms. Support from family and friends, your faith, nature, pets, actions you take to advocate for your health and wellbeing, and encounters with healing places or people can change your life and shift your perspective. Help can also come through the authentic relationship you develop with a therapist who is a reasonably right fit for you.

My somatic psychotherapy practice is collaborative and trauma-informed. I work with adults and couples who want more satisfying, authentic relationships with themselves and others. I provide support dealing with interpersonal and emotional challenges, managing stress and anxiety responses, and facing the intensity of change, loss, and life's uncertainty.

I engage with you as a compassionate, therapeutic companion, work with you to lift burdens of past traumas, and transform internal patterns that interfere with being present in your life and relationships. I integrate training in trauma and touch into my psychotherapy practice and want to help you live in more accordance with what really matters to you.

You have a feeling things could be better. Your life is mostly working well, except for those few areas that feel like a struggle. Reaching for a helping hand is powerful. Together, we can build on your strengths, implement practical tools, and harness your innate healing power. Therapy is usually a lot of talk. Somatic therapy gets you into your body where experience has always lived, even before you could speak. Utilizing my hearty toolbox in combination with the wisdom of your body, mind, and spirit, we will help you create the life you desire.

Therapy is neither magic nor science, but I believe that therapy has the potential to be magical and transformative. I offer a warm, supportive environment to help individuals explore deep trauma as well as ordinary issues that impact daily life and long-term goals. I strive to inspire creativity through nature, and incorporate creative arts and somatic techniques into my practice. My specialties include: LGBTQQ issues/identity, working through grief and loss, helping people make sense of political wounding, healing survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, positive aging, body image, building long-term relationships, and life transitions.

My role as a psychotherapist is to help clients acknowledge and harness their innate strengths, to attain and sustain the well-being they are searching for. I am passionate about gently questioning unspoken norms and expectations, whether learned from family or society, that can limit our ability to connect with our most authentic selves. I empower clients to take supported risks, guiding the therapy with empathy, honesty, humor, and a belief in the transformative power of relationships.

Let’s admit we all have broken places. It is part of the human condition. We all have situations we just can’t figure out on our own. In my 20 years as a social worker, most of my clients start therapy saying some version of “I just don’t know what to do.” Together we cultivate the emotional safety necessary to examine where you are and where you need to go, as well as the courage to get there step by step.

Do you feel paralyzed when facing a major life transition—deciding a career path, stepping into adulthood, becoming a couple or separating, becoming a parent or not? Perhaps your relationship is frozen and you and your partner can't talk without fighting or can't agree on a shared vision for your lives. By working together we can shed a kind light on the dark places and approach them with safety and curiosity. You determine the pace as we make sense of things and find the places where movement and change can happen.

Are you ready to take your life to the next level? Are you ready to be unstuck and start feeling fulfilled in your life and relationships? My work is to support my clients in reaching their potential. I am passionate about helping individuals and couples thrive.

Sometimes trauma can be so difficult that part of the psyche splits off. This experience is sometimes referred to as soul loss. I use classic therapy as well as Hypnogression (a modern take on shamanic soul retrieval) to identify and resolve experiences that resulted in a splitting of our soul.