Chronic Pain Therapists in Berkeley, CA

My intention is to create a safe, compassionate space that supports you to experience yourself more fully and to awaken more aliveness, creativity, and meaning in your life. Through awareness of body and mind states and habitual patterns of thinking and relating, we will work together to transform limiting beliefs that keep you from a more fulfilled experience of life. We will lay the groundwork to release the pain of old stories, and to create internal resources to allow you to experience an embodied life with more joy, aliveness and meaning.

Healing and growth, which can be uncomfortable and painful, sometimes take time and support. These are shifts that we do not have to experience alone. Through authenticity, warmth and collaboration, I work with clients to cultivate understanding of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors and we work together to decrease stress and achieve defined goals. Whether it is anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues or health concerns, I integrate evidence-based practices to allow for the transformation of pain into growth.

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.

Are you...struggling with anxiety or mood related symptoms? Trying to make decisions that are authentic to who you want to be now and not who you were in your family? Experiencing discomfort related to unresolved trauma? Dragging through burnout that is stirring up old beliefs about your worth? Feeling ongoing discomfort related to chronic pain? Therapy can help you to feel more comfortable in your mind and body. It can also support you with finding new ways to manage external stressors. I can support you with creating space for change and committing to your own well being.

Successful psychotherapy is a partnership based on trust. People do change, becoming more truly themselves when they find the right, trained therapist and are able to talk freely. I listen to you with respect and you develop greater self awareness. This enables you to communicate more clearly, to reflect on difficult issues, and to let go of outmoded behaviors that do not further your deeper needs.

We are in challenging times with many unknowns. Perhaps you're struggling with depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship issues, or loss. Or you're dealing with chronic pain or trauma. Depth psychotherapy is one path to emotional wellness. If you are open to engaging in this process, I am here to help you to develop a deeper relationship with yourself and others, as well as a practice of personal inquiry. This can involve learning to notice and strengthen what works, let go of what doesn't, and find new behaviors and understandings. The results can include a greater sense of confidence, ease and effectiveness.

With a Stanford B.A./ UC Berkeley J.D., a previous career as an app creator and startup founder, and a journey healing from chronic pain and autoimmune disease, I bring rigor and depth to the therapy room. I help high-functioning individuals and couples build awareness, change, and grow through the use of psychodynamic therapy, DBT skills practice, EFT for couples, mind-body (somatic) work, meditation, and yoga. My practice is informed by modern, evidence-based methods of psychotherapy as well as spiritual wisdom from Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism.

I have created a unique approach to helping people change. My goal is to honor and respect your individuality and to empower you to access your internal resources and infinite potential for growth and healing. I use hypnosis, guided imagery, dream work, somatic awareness and meditation as well as psychodynamic, cognitive and behavioral approaches. I will make you a tape and teach you to use hypnosis to overcome anxiety and depression, stop smoking, change unwanted habits, control pain, improve performance, enhance self-esteem and deepen spirituality.

Telehealth only, early a.m. sessions available, prompt email communication. Are you plagued by "What if..." thoughts? Overwhelmed by fear, worry? Consumed by negativity? Self-talk can be debilitating. It drives behavior, alters mood, interferes with sleep. Feeling stuck or frustrated? Nothing is permanent. Difficult situations at work, with your health or in your personal life can be navigated. Acceptance of your reality, like health, transitions or aging issues, makes a significant difference. Let me help you feel more at peace and learn skillful ways to respond to those thoughts.

I work with individuals who want to overcome persistent behaviors, thoughts and emotions that inhibit their ability to live a life they love so that they have meaningful relationships, deeply fulfilling work and self-confidence. My approach is based on the belief that in order to benefit from therapy the therapeutic relationship must be grounded in direct communication, collaboration and compassion. You need someone to be real who will both challenge and care for you. My patients often reflect they are relieved to finally work with someone who engages in conversation and shares responsibility for the progress of each session.

My approach to the work of psychotherapy is interactive, empathic, and collaborative, relying on intuition, careful listening, offering direct and attuned feedback, and humor to help us build a strong, companionable connection. We will work together to create an atmosphere of trust in which we explore your deeper desires and needs, and examine difficult experiences to better understand and move beyond them to greater self awareness and acceptance. We will talk together in ways that nurture curiosity, compassion, and your creative spirit to help you build more satisfying and mutual relationships, and find the joy in inhabiting yourself more fully.

Do you struggle with low self-worth, addiction, or intrusive thoughts? EMDR allows you to live your life with more ease and regulation by processing trauma, reducing negative self-talk, and neutralizing cravings. I work with adults and teens to relieve symptoms of PTSD, OCD, addiction, and insomnia. I utilize Hakomi style somatic interventions and IFS internal family systems/ego-state "parts work" and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy as needed. Throughout the healing process, you will notice increased self-trust and a release of old coping strategies. You deserve to live life fully, free from the distraction and pain of old wounds.

“The best things in life are on the other side of fear.” You or your teen struggle with anxiety, OCD, or trauma. You spend hours worrying and feeling anxious. You feel tense and you're in a ton of pain. You’ve tried all kinds of ways to get rid of the problem - relaxation, meditation, etc. - and nothing has worked. You’re confused, frustrated, and nearly hopeless. You don’t understand why this is happening, how to make it go away, or even what to do next.

Therapy can be a powerful tool in deepening relationships, moving through pain, tolerating discomfort, and understanding the unknown! My therapeutic work is rooted in guiding clients to realize their own potential. I develop an empathic, therapeutic relationship with my clients to generate self-directed change. By meeting you where you are at, and helping you see parts of yourself that may feel inaccessible, we can move toward you living life the way you want to.

Are you thinking about breaking a pattern that no longer serves you? Often feel like an outsider? Wanting to understand threads between past, present experiences, and possibilities ahead? Utilizing a variety of approaches, I can offer perspective and help you feel understood in order to create change in your life. I provide an affirming space for a lot of people who have had previously unsatisfactory experiences in therapy including LGBTQIA folks. I have extensive training beyond just getting licensed to practice therapy. Working with a clinically astute, sincere therapist can be life-changing.

I approach therapy as education - helping clients to better identify patterns associated with difficulties, develop skills to overcome these difficulties, and learn how to utilize these skills in their daily lives in order to live as optimally as possible. We focus both on addressing the issues that have been plaguing you as well as learning to live more fully and comfortably in each moment and activity you are engaged in. Learning powerful skills helps overcome specific problems, boost resilience against future problems, and more fully enjoy daily life. Therapy is individually tailored to your specific needs and lifestyle.

As a health psychologist, my approach bridges mental and physical well-being, allowing you to reclaim your life from chronic health issues, such as chronic disease (ex. diabetes, chronic fatigue, IBS, CIRS etc.), weight and eating difficulties, stress-related illness, insomnia, pain, addiction, depression, and anxiety. I combine my expertise in multiple state of the art evidence-based treatment methods, with a nuanced understanding of who you are as a person, to create a tailored treatment approach specific to your aims. I also offer opportunities to incorporate mindfulness, music, art, movement, and nature therapy practices, to maximize your therapeutic success.

I am a psychologist for sport, health, and life. I have spent 15 years studying, writing, teaching, and coaching people on how to perform at their best. I have worked with world-class performers from the arenas of sports, business, healthcare, and the United States Army. I have special expertise in Performance Psychology and train clients on how to strengthen the mental and emotional skills that underlie human performance excellence and sustainable resilience. I am a subject matter expert in the field of self-regulation techniques that promote optimism, resilience, alertness, and composure in high-pressure situations.

I enjoy working with adults who are interested in becoming more conscious. We all have reactions to things but there are some reactions or triggers that cause emotional pain. These triggers are usually a leftover piece of unprocessed pain. Unless they are understood and healed, they'll keep coming up. I enjoy working with clients who are motivated and curious about this process. The result is more peace of mind and a more fulfilling relationship with oneself and others.