Chronic Pain Therapists in Berkeley, CA

Hi! Thanks for considering me as your therapist. Whether you’re struggling with a past trauma or current anxiety, depression, or a major life transition, I’ve been helping people learn to live the best life possible for well over a decade. My interest in mental health began as a young adult after going through countless hours of unsuccessful therapy sessions and deciding there has to be a better way! Unfortunately, people often pick a therapist "out of a hat.” But successful counseling and psychotherapy is largely determined not only by a particular therapist’s expertise, but by the rapport and trust you develop with your therapist.

Would you like to feel more present in life and more secure in relationships? I have helped many to move past difficult experiences to reconnect with the beauty of life. My treatment focus is helping people to effect change through making different life choices, and on therapy as a working partnership. Trained in both traditional and holistic understandings of mind-body-spirit, my experience includes private practice; crisis work; directorships at mental health agencies; supervision of student therapists; and consultation for providers and organizations. I also integrate spiritual and energy healing perspectives when appropriate.

As humans, we are brilliantly complex, wired for connection, attachment, and survival. Our experience of joy and suffering are innately human and are connected to our physical and emotional wellness--inseparable realms. In somatic psychotherapy we hold space for the body to have a language of its own, honoring what it has to say, so that we may more clearly see what is beneath the surface. As a somatic psychotherapist, I am a collaborator, guide and mirror, supporting you in increasing your own sense of exploration of conscious and unconscious patterns of behaviors, beliefs, body signals and cues.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist located in San Francisco, California. I offer in-person sessions in the City and telehealth services throughout the state of California. I work with individuals and couples, with a focus on somatic approaches to therapy and counseling for gay men.

Welcome! Licensed in both California and Maine, I am currently accepting new clients during these challenging times. I bring over 25 years of experience helping individuals, couples, families, and religious and spiritual organizations to heal and thrive. My experience spans a wide range of issues including: trauma, anxiety, depression, psychopathology, relationship challenges, grief and loss, vocational coaching, body and aging. I love to use psychological tools in conjunction with spiritual practices like yoga and meditation. I work via telehealth in California and Maine, and in-person in Portland, ME. I do not accept insurance.

If you're struggling with difficult symptoms, problems in a relationship, or just a lingering feeling that things can be better in your life, psychotherapy can help. I see it as my job as a therapist to help you feel empowered, more alive, and connected to your vision of what you want your life to be. Therapy is new to many of the people I work with and I invite you to see how therapy can give you the tools to change your life.

"I see things differently." I see you fully able to achieve your goals. I see you as one who likely needs a non-judgmental place to talk about things: your future goals, how drug/alcohol use, etc fits w/that future, & how you see yourself getting there: abstinence, sober curious. moderation. I'm a collaborator, one who's committed to listening deeply & providing a space to talk about anything, for individuals/families/all. I am not a therapist; my main focus is on today & tomorrow though we may visit the past. And I follow the science of change & addiction; it shows there's no one way to recover/change & that's great news!

I will interrupt you a lot, that is what meditation does. It interrupts our stories about ourselves and the world around us. I will also listen to you, deeply. That is another way meditation helps, we learn to listen to ourselves deeply. The word akrasia means 'out of control' and is used to describe the way we continue to do things that we know is not in our best interest, or don't do things that we know are in our best interest. Most people feel relief just to know there is word for it. The cause of akrasia is said to be a lack of information and meditation gives us access to the information we need to change.

I offer professional psychotherapy via video and in-person or a flexible combination of the two modalities for adults of all ethnicities, gender identities and sexual orientations who may be experiencing a spectrum of emotional challenges, including anxiety, depression, stress, grief, work/life balance and healthy boundaries.

I greatly enjoy working with the process of self-discovery and meaning making. This involves a passion for helping those who feel stuck to identify and remove the barriers toward change so that they can live a more fulfilling life. I take a relational approach to psychotherapy in which I believe it is the therapeutic relationship that heals. Through an exploration of your life, I enjoy learning about the relationship you have with your struggles, the purpose to be had within them, and the agency you have in the process.

Most of us lug around a suitcase full of our thoughts, feelings, family history and past experiences and have no idea what's in there. Our current responses to and experience of life come from the contents of that suitcase. Together in therapy we gently unpack it. We will see what is working for you, what needs more support and what has served it's purpose but no longer works. I work collaboratively and am curious about all the things that make you who you are. I am particularly interested in working with people who feel misunderstood or unimportant.

The goal of therapy is for you be happy in your love and work. At the heart of it, therapy is about increasing your capacity to alleviate your suffering; feel more connected with yourself and others; expand and enrich yourself; recognize what you want; and recognize the internal and external forces that keep you from getting what you want. These are powerful antidotes to anxiety and depression.

Trauma takes many forms; often in the guise of unprocessed grief and loss. Loss of employment, financial insecurity, divorce, separation, domestic violence and abuse; all must be mourned. We become stuck; often not understanding our own reactions to people, places and things. Our partners, children, colleagues and superiors can appear to feel unfairly entitled to what we have to offer. Our ability to tolerate distress is limited.

I am an experienced psychotherapist specializing in individual and couples therapy. I enjoy working with individual adults and couples, including older adults.

It is easy to feel stuck, confused, or overwhelmed, when dealing with the many challenges that life throws at you. Often there is not a quick and easy solution when dealing with life's more complex challenges, however having a supportive ally throughout the twists and turns can make all the difference. I am committed to supporting people who have experienced oppression, trauma, or other difficult experiences. Figuring out how to live one's life with a sense of meaning, satisfaction, and authenticity can be difficult, and I am here to support you on that journey.

At East Bay Center for Anxiety Relief, we work with adults, children, teens, couples, and families. We also facilitate periodic groups focused on communication skills, social skills, anxiety, depression, and working women. We strive for mindful, efficient, and effective therapy. Our clinicians are trained in research-based models such as TEAM-CBT, ACT and Gottman couples/family models. We work a bit differently than more traditional practices. We don’t cram an hour of therapy into 50 minutes. Instead, we provide full 60-, 75-, or 90-minute sessions.

I am not your run of the mill therapist. Oh sure, I listen well and am very compassionate and calm. But I just don't sit there and ask you how you feel. I do care about your feelings but I am more curious about your experience and how we can increase your awareness so that you can make helpful and inspired choices. As you can imagine I help people deal with any issue you can possibly think of- from depression to life transitions to the loss of a loved one or trauma.

If you are ready to learn more about yourself and develop a positive path toward growth seeking assistance can help you refocus on what's most meaningful to you. People come to therapy for many reasons, including needing help in handling stressful life transitions, to reduce psychological distress, increase one's self worth and to develop a better understanding of themselves. During therapy, we will explore unhealthy patterns by looking at the interplay between your thoughts, behaviors and emotions and how they affect your daily experiences. You will learn to develop fulfilling relationships, ways to cope in healthier ways, and ultimately live a fulfilling life.

Finding a therapist can be a challenge. It can be hard to get a gut feeling from a website. Please watch a brief video on my website to get a sense of me! I specialize in working with people who feel stuck or believe that they have "tried everything." I provide psychotherapy, EMDR, AEDP, IFS, Somatic Therapy, and Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP). I am Certified in EMDR and an Approved EMDR Consultant. In my office, you will find non-judgement and deep safety to heal