Therapists in Alameda County, CA

Are you a fellow highly sensitive person? Do you struggle with regulating emotions, anxiety, striking balance, or find yourself stuck in relational patterns that cause anxiety or depression? Maybe you engage in compulsive habits like binge eating, doom scrolling, or other escapist tendencies that draw you away from living with presence. Maybe you struggle with feeling worthy in your relationships or feeling worthy of healing, or struggle to believe that the fulfilling and healthy life you desire is possible. I'm here to support individuals and couples transform patterns created from trauma to a life of freedom, vitality, and ease.

Welcome to my therapy practice. I offer in-depth and integrative therapy to people seeking to restore their relationships with themselves and others and alleviate mental health concerns. My approach suits clients seeking to understand themselves better, overcome unhelpful patterns, and integrate their inner guidance to increase their capacity to engage with life in harmony with their values, feelings, and needs.

Despite your best efforts to be happy, are you finding that a sense of contentment, authenticity and self-confidence continues to elude you? Do you long for a way to finally feel that you are managing your anxiety rather than your anxiety is managing you? What would it feel like to begin healing the pain of your past, including your most painful losses, and move forward into new possibilities? I work with a variety of issues including depression and anxiety and I specialize in the challenges of grief & loss and low self-esteem.

There is a crisis of meaning and purpose in our society and far too few communities of support to guide us through the difficulties of modern life. I work with clients using psychodynamic, interpersonal and mindfulness-based approaches to help people move from lives of loneliness and alienation to lives of connection and purpose. Creating a safe and nurturing relationship with my clients is of primary importance in my work.

I love to work with people who are genuinely curious about who they are and are driven towards a deep understanding of themselves and others. Therapy is not only helpful in times of crisis & questioning, but it proves impactful during periods of stability and strength. I incorporate psychodynamic frameworks, existential processes, somatic or body-oriented exercises, Parts Work, EMDR and mindfulness or spiritual perspectives in order to address the totality of the human experience. Ultimately, our work is driven by your needs. To read more about my approach, visit my website at www.suzannemadamsphd.com

Childhood trauma can cripple us, it creates overpowering ‘intense’ emotions such as anxiety, depression, and anger when left unattended which begins to create physical symptoms to defend our bodies from the internal wounds. Has there ever been a time in your life where you have experienced this reaction? Are you experiencing these feelings based on current or past trauma from childhood, early teens, adolescence, adulthood, or as a senior? I aim to utilize a variety of actionable techniques to help reduce trauma related symptoms and make lasting changes in life.

Sometimes life brings us challenges that are difficult to negotiate on our own. My clinical approach can help you find new ways of experiencing yourself and approaching life's challenges. I have over 25 years of clinical experience working with individuals and couples. My approach is gentle and effective and includes psychodynamic, somatic, cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness therapy practices. I am a trauma-informed therapist with specialized training in attachment trauma, complex trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as anxiety and stress reduction.

Hello! I am currently offering trauma informed and EMDR therapy. I work primarily with high functioning women who are struggling with depression, anxiety, or PTSD and are ready to get to the root of it all and feel better. Whether you are challenged by intimacy issues, feeling unfulfilled at work or school, or are just tired of being controlled by emotions like anger or grief, emotions can be hard to manage. Lasting change happens within the context of a safe relationship, and regardless of your attachment style or history, I can help you create the changes you want to see in your life.

I specialize in helping clients navigate a variety of issues. This includes, but is not limited to strategies for managing anxiety, reducing rumination, and coping with feelings of being overwhelmed or depressed. In our quest for meaning, it’s natural to encounter deep-seated questions and concerns. I strive to create a trusting and open space where we can explore these issues together. I believe in co-creating the therapeutic space with you, tailoring our approach to what will be most beneficial for your unique situation.

My approach is friendly and collaborative; working with you to explore reactions, emotional patterns, and thought processes. I encourage honest exchange at your own pace while providing tangible techniques to take into your life. I incorporate mindfulness practices from my training as a yoga teacher. My professional background includes two decades of experience in the conflict resolution field with a focus on assisting individuals and teams who have workplace and academic concerns. I work with people from a variety of backgrounds including executives, university faculty, medical professionals, engineers, and people who work in tech and startups.

We live in powerful times, filled with much opportunity and yet so much pressure to succeed that it can be difficult to navigate our personal challenges amidst the demands that come with it. We want to feel connected, whole, and in our purpose, but often feel separate, isolated, and fragmented instead. In order to heal, awareness, compassion and courage are needed to meet the painful spaces and shed light on our shadows, transforming them into opportunities for more presence, fulfillment and joy. I aim to empower the healer within you. As we heal, we serve ourselves and the world around us for the better.

Services: I provide individual psychotherapy for adults, using an approach involving mindfulness based practices and an existential-humanistic mindset. I am a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked across the full spectrum of psychotherapy settings, including private practice, mental health clinics, inpatient settings, and day treatment programs. I have also held numerous clinical leadership roles, such as the director of a county outpatient mental health center, and the director of an inpatient psychiatric unit.

My framework as a psychotherapist is inspired by black feminist sci-fi writer, Octavia E. Butler who saw the possibility of many more worlds than just our own. I believe that transformative internal healing is critical to envisioning and building these worlds without the presence of imperialism, white supremacy, capitalism and cishet-patriarchy. The tools I use to support the exploration of individual, interpersonal and intergenerational trauma are shaped by abolition that rejects punitive and scarcity mindsets and disability justice which strives to value every body.

I bring forth a comprehensive and compassionate approach to psychotherapy. My practice is rooted in embodiment and practicality, aiming to foster profound insights and sustainable growth. Through a collaborative journey marked by playfulness and genuine curiosity, you will embark on a transformative exploration of your inner world. Together, we will uncover the intricacies of your psyche, guiding you towards a deeper connection with your core self and a heightened sense of resilience.

Experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma can be hard to navigate on one’s own. Through the use of integrative modalities, my goal is to help you find your way so that you can manage symptoms, feel your best, discover who you truly are, and move forward in the direction of your dreams whereby your past no longer holds you back. Using warmth and compassion, I also aim to provide trauma-informed care to discuss your struggles without judgment and safely process unresolved trauma and feelings.

Hello and welcome! It is not easy taking that first step to get help. However, the effort and time you put into working towards bettering yourself can be life changing! Whether it is anxiety, life challenges, and/or stress I would love to work with you, support you and be there during your journey.

I'm an integrative psychotherapist working with individuals and couples. My approach is warm and interactive, providing a supportive environment where you can reflect and develop new ways of handling the life challenges you are facing. The focus of my practice is twofold: relationship issues and life transitions (for example: changes in relationships, career changes, relocation, pregnancy, child birth and parenting, facing illness, trauma and loss, as well as seeking more meaning and deeper fulfillment in life). I have extensive experience working with people who immigrated to the US or are of diverse cultural backgrounds.

Do you struggle with anxiety and depression due to your childhood trauma? Are you having problems with your partner or family members due to life transition issues? Are you experiencing increased stress, fears, and doubts around the future? I believe that we all have the capacity to heal our emotional wounds and create meaningful changes. My goal as a therapist is to offer you a safe place in which you can process insights, concerns, and emotions associated with trauma.

When life gets rough, it's important to know there are safe and supportive spaces you can turn to for support. Whether you're seeking real relief from anxiety or depression, needing help establishing better boundaries, questioning your identity, sexuality, or personal relationships or just having trouble managing the day-to-day, we can help. At Life by Design Therapy we believe change is possible for you. We offer holistic and somatic therapy to support you in navigating life's challenges without having to dismiss, avoid, or disconnect from what you truly want. It's time to live life on your own terms and Create A Life You Love!