Therapists for Teens in Berkeley, CA

I work with people who are suffering and are looking to better understand why they feel the way they do. My clients are open to exploring the role that internal unconscious forces, as well the role that the social environment, play in how they experience themselves and others. Long term psychotherapy is not only beneficial for dealing with suffering. Once a person has made progress with the primary life concerns, room is created for expansive growth, including the attainment of goals, and I believe that it is equally important to go through this process accompanied.

I provide individual, couples, and group psychotherapy to children and adults. I have experience in treating numerous psychological disorders and supporting patients through difficult times, grieving, pandemic related stress, conflictual relationships, and troubling emotions. Along with the general areas of psychology, I specialize in the treatment of trauma. I have worked as a trauma researcher for ten years at the Palo Alto VA and Palo Alto University, publishing a book chapter on personality disorders and paper in the Journal of Threat Assessment and Management. I also provide assessment and expert witness services.

You really can have a life where you feel more connected, self assured, happier and at peace. You probably have been struggling for awhile and now you are ready to courageously face the difficulties that have kept you from living your best life. Your difficulties may stem from an unsatisfying relationship, unfulfilling job, or a history of trauma.

Through co-creating a supportive environment that offers you opportunities for self reflection and gentle challenge, I will work with you to recognize the ways that painful and/or traumatic experiences have shaped your sense of value and impact your ways of relating to yourself and others. I support and stand alongside all who are survivors of emotional, sexual and/or physical violence and strive to create space for increased self love and resilience. I look forward to meeting you and discovering how we can address patterns that no longer serve you as we build awareness and skills to support you in gaining the life you want to live.

Hello and Welcome. I know starting therapy can be a daunting process. Whether you’ve been in therapy before or if it’s your first time, it’s hard to be vulnerable and to give voice to the feelings and experiences that bring us discomfort, pain or shame. And, therapy can be incredibly rewarding. Creating meaning out of our dark and painful experiences is a transformative process. That’s why I got into this work.

Therapy with me involves working with the body as much as the mind. This can be challenging for some, but leads to long-term resolution and healing in a more complete, organic nature. Through Somatic Experiencing (SE), I have been trained to work with various forms of trauma (developmental, event specific, chronic/long-term) and the way in which our survival energy becomes trapped in our bodies. We embody our lived experience.

Therapy is many levels of psychological work from resolving conflicts, to understanding the secrets we keep from ourselves and how they impact our lives. In addition to joy and success, many of us also experience trauma, grief, fear, anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, and shame, as well as physical illness. Fortunately, these challenges are a portal to self-knowledge that allows us to grow and to learn. Therapy is working together in a collaborative process tailored to meet your needs. It leads to profound understanding about how you make sense of yourself and others in your life, and how to change the ways you impact your world.

Creativity can be foundational to positive and longstanding change. We come into the world with an innate skill to solve the many problems that arise during development. Sometimes these solutions bring up new challenges or get in the way of our relationships and our ability to enjoy life. I work with children, adults, elders, and couples who are struggling to adapt to a stressful world. By developing a trusting relationship where exploration is welcomed and analyzed, we are able to find new ways of functioning, new solutions to our interpersonal conflicts, and improve our ability to flexibly adapt to our changing world.

I enjoy working with children, teens, and adults who are looking to develop their inner strengths and resources to live a more fulfilling life. I also offer parent coaching for those looking to build awareness and skills to best support their child. I understand that mental health difficulties can negatively impact many areas of our lives. I believe that these difficulties are an opportunity for growth and to learn about oneself. I work collaboratively with my clients to determine what well-being looks like for them in all areas of their lives, and to create a path forward towards that well-being.

I have been a licensed Psychologist for over 25 years working with individuals, couples and families. My practice is informed by Mindfulness-Based principles and practices and am trained in Psycho-dynamic and Depth Psychology, including MB-CBT. I also use Somatic methods to complement our discussions and inquiry. Most importantly I seek to offer a safe, open and welcoming space for you to explore your sense of self, your life history and the challenges you may be facing at this time. I have found this to be the basis for discovering your own capacity to make meaningful change and to promote growth and well-being in your life.

I am a licensed clinical social worker with more than 20 years of experience. I work with individuals, couples and families using a strength-based, solution oriented approach. I am trained both psycho-dynamically and in family systems work. I utilize the Developmental Model for couples therapy. I work with adults, couples and families and with children and adolescents facing school issues, behavioral issues, grief and loss, trauma, life transitions, separation and step-parenting and family of origin issues. I will work with you to set achievable goals in therapy in order to promote positive individual and/or family change.

January, 2024: I currently have some lower-fee ($120-180) openings for teenagers, adults and families with children in these age groups who belong to households with incomes below $100k. I work to help my clients experience more vitality, control, connection, focus and flexibility in their lives, depending, of course, on what they are looking for. My clients often seek relief from patterns of painful feelings, negative thoughts and self-sabotaging behaviors that stem from their experience of growing up in particular worlds and particular histories that were traumatic or difficult or confusing. We work on understanding and change.

Many people seek therapy to alleviate painful symptoms and suffering. In my experience, insight about oneself can often be the best healer. And while therapy can lead to change, it can also bring the satisfaction of becoming even more fully oneself. My approach is warm, interactive, and non-judgmental. I strive to help you understand the meaning of your troubles and their origins, which may be familiar or altogether new to you. I welcome many forms of communication - although talking may be the primary vehicle for our explorations, much can be learned from the body sensations, images, and fantasies that appear in your sessions.

A licensed clinical psychologist, I provide psychodynamic psychotherapy to individuals and couples throughout California. I offer compassion, patience, and safety as we endeavor to better understand what has brought you to therapy, and how to move through to something new. My work is trauma-informed and grounded in principles of empowerment.

I work with adolescents, adults, and couples seeking insight, self-knowledge, and healthier, more fulfilling relationships. Many of my clients are immigrants or children of immigrants from families where mental health and therapy are not routine topics of conversation. Coming to therapy can feel strange and intimidating. I strive to provide a warm and supportive space for clients to face the things in their lives that are distressing, to confront painful aspects of themselves and their pasts, and make positive and lasting changes.

I love working with clients who want to be free of ingrained patterns that aren't working, whether from sub-optimal parenting or other experiences. Often these patterns are held in place through painful and threatening feelings stemming from conditioning or our natural dependency on challenged parents. I resource and support clients' present lives, which may mean touching in to what happened to connect to a source of reactivity. Clients who enjoy working with me want more aliveness and freedom, more flow and resilience. They want encouragement & new challenges, and will attend to their experience, unfolding the paths forward.

I recognize that seeking therapy means that you or a loved one have determined a need for connection beyond that of friends and family. Knowing how difficult and intimidating this outreach can be, as a psychologist I strive to establish a safe space where clients can speak freely and be listened to intently. The work we do together is about creating an alliance that allows you to delve into painful memories and face feelings that can be frightening or uncomfortable. We do this work in collaboration, so I can hear your stories, and create a meaningful relationship.

My name is Dwaine, and I welcome you to my profile with empathy, openness, and real talk. My mission is to provide a safe and welcoming environment as you begin this journey towards your goal. As a therapist, I want to help my clients recognize their capacity for self-sufficiency and heal the spirit that carries their overall well-being. I enjoy assisting people to heal and trusting their vulnerability. ​ Healing is difficult when you don't know where to begin, especially when your wounds are deep. Finding the right therapist for BIPOC and other marginalized individuals can be challenging to navigate. You've found your therapist!

I believe therapy is a collaborative process that can lead to powerful transformations and enrichment. Life presents us with many challenges and my aim is to help you live a meaningful life even when difficulties or pain are present. I use what matters to you most as a guide towards making changes in your life. I offer specific strategies and tools that help shift your relationship to difficult thoughts and feelings, and take steps towards your personal goals. I strive to create a space that is respectful, warm, and welcoming to all. I specialize in evidence-based and mindfulness approaches within a culturally sensitive framework.