My role as a psychotherapist is to help clients acknowledge and harness their innate strengths, enabling them to attain and sustain the well-being they are searching for. What holds us back? What keeps us returning to habitual patterns that limit us? How can we heal from past experiences or learn to cope with current life challenges? Together we will examine your life from many vantage points, with compassion and curiosity. By expanding how you view yourself, relate to others, and respond to difficult circumstances, new possibilities will emerge.

My areas of expertise include:
• Cultivating self-compassion to combat shame, self-criticism, and threats to self worth
• Advocating for the unique issues LGBTQ individuals face
• Understanding and coping with depression and anxiety
• Examining the causes and harmful cycles of addiction and codependency
• Exploring intimacy concerns for individuals and couples
• Supporting clients coping with grief and loss
• Building resilience while navigating life transitions
• Embracing cross-cultural differences and attachment patterns in couples
• Working with childhood trauma

Before diving into the field of psychotherapy, I spent many years in the nonprofit sector where I worked with diverse populations who often lacked critical services. For a decade I dedicated my life to empowering adolescent girls. I am deeply committed to my work as a therapist and have benefited from my own psychotherapy.

I have extensive training in interpersonal group therapy and believe that we are often looking for a way to balance our own needs with the needs of others as we navigate life. Immense healing can take place in the presence of a supportive community.

I am drawn to psychotherapy because of the possibilities it opens for individuals to know themselves deeply and make lasting changes in their lives.

Having received tremendous liberation through various mindfulness and self-compassion practices, I strive to share these tools with as many people as possible in my work.

I have a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Sarah Lawrence College and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. My work is informed by current research about trauma and the large and small ways in which we endure traumatic experiences throughout our lives. I practice a contemporary relational model of psychotherapy and have trained extensively using this model at Integral Counseling Center at Pierce Street, Marina Counseling Center, and Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center.

During our initial sessions we’ll identify your goals and explore whether or not we are a good "fit." By creating a non-judgmental space where you can learn to understand yourself, I will help you find the well-being you are seeking.

Therapy may be difficult at times; change can be challenging. We will talk about any difficulties that arise and use the information gathered to curate your therapeutic needs. Together we will build a strong foundation from which to launch into new phases of your life.


People often seek out psychotherapy because they are experiencing difficulties in their relationships with other people in their lives. Together we will uncover what is making your relationships taxing and examine the choices available so that your relationship to yourself and others will begin to feel manageable and authentic. We may use present moment experiences in therapy to examine wider issues in your life.

I actively cultivate an atmosphere where diversity of all kinds (race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, class, age, ability, religion, relationship status, spirituality) is welcomed and celebrated. I am passionate about gently questioning unspoken norms and expectations learned from family or society that may 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.

• Young Adult: 18-25
• Adults: 26-65
• Seniors: 65+

• Individuals
• Premarital Couples
• Couples
• Persons in Polyamorous Relationships

• Persons with Disabilities

• Emotionally Focused Therapy
• Experiential Therapy
• Humanistic Therapy
• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
• Relational Psychotherapy

I want to help you thrive. If you’re ready to take this step together, please reach out to set up a free 20-minute phone consultation.

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$190 Individuals; $210 Couples

$150-$200

Yes

(415) 255-3305

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susannahharristherapy.com

3225 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland CA 94610

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To schedule an initial session please call me at (415) 255-3305 or email me at susannahharristherapy@gmail.com. I offer remote therapy by phone and video. Please let me know if you're interested in this type of therapy when you contact me.

01/12/24