Therapist Directory

Aren’t emotions the worst? I mean, you’re chugging along in your established routine that includes all of the things you’re supposed to do to be healthy, happy, and successful and then boom! Overwhelming anger or despair pops up out of nowhere and knocks you on your ass and, despite your efforts, there seems to be nothing you can do to stop it.

I get it. You are extremely intelligent, highly disciplined; you don’t need any more self-care tips. What you do need is someone there when you feel out of control, who won’t be intimidated by how deeply you feel and who, in fact, relishes the opportunity to walk with you on this terrifying and exhilarating journey of being human. I’m confident that we can transform your emotions from the disruptive force they are now into a source of inspiration and vitality.

My personal history, including growing up in a strict Catholic family, struggles with depression and anxiety, and ties to queer, kinky, and sex worker communities, is what inspires me to do this work.

I earned my master’s degree in counseling psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies, a school which combines an education in a diverse array of Western and Eastern psychological traditions with rigorous self-inquiry. I trained specifically in Gestalt therapy, an existential approach that emphasizes awareness of the present moment and freedom of choice, at Church Street Integral Counseling Center.

My role as your therapist is to create a space where you can be unapologetically yourself. I notice those moments during therapy where you stop yourself from saying or doing something and encourage you to express yourself freely and without judgment. We all act in accordance with our unique view of the world and I am curious to learn more about yours.

My core values have evolved to support the intimate connections I see as foundational to a healing relationship. They include: honesty—in an attempt to get to the truth of our shared experience; non-violence—respecting the right of all to create and pursue their own meaning; openness-—to hold my beliefs lightly enough to be able to learn from others; compassion—recognizing how difficult it is to be human; and courage—to hold my ground despite the difficulty.

• Young Adult: 18-25
• Adults: 25-65

• Individuals

• Artists
• Gender Fluid or Gender Non-Conforming Individuals
• LGBTQIAA+ persons
• Persons in Kink/BDSM Communities
• Persons Recovering from Traumatic Events/Experiences
• Spiritual Seekers/Practitioners
• Women
• Other:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Gestalt Therapy
• Humanistic Therapy
• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
• Relational Psychotherapy
• Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy

• Cash
• Check
• Credit Card

$150

$50-$150

Yes

(510) 640-8676

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jessgioia.com

1101 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 201, Alameda CA 94501

• Wednesday Morning
• Wednesday Afternoon
• Wednesday Evening

Send an email to jess@jessgioia.sprucecare.com or leave a voicemail at (510) 640-8676 with a few days and times you are available for a free 15-minute phone consultation. In this call we will discuss the specifics of your situation and, if you decide we may be a good fit, schedule our first therapy session.

Rawna Romero, LMFT 41466

02/11/2020