Narrative Therapists in Berkeley, CA

Finding the right therapist can be daunting, and for some, it can be the most difficult step. I offer a free 15 minute phone consultation so that you can assess if we are the right fit. I work with teens and adults presenting with concerns such as depression, anxiety, trauma, grief/ loss, chronic health concerns, relationship issues, and life transitions. In our work together we will explore your strengths and root you in them. We will define your values and explore how to live your life in harmony with them. We will also create space for the areas in your life where you want change and navigate the path to get you there.

Welcome to my practice! I’m honored that you have landed here. The intention of my practice is centered on healing from childhood wounds. I hold space for my clients to process through their childhood experiences, and explore on a deeper level, how their childhood has impacted their lives; then and now. What is your relationship with self and others, and how is it connected to your childhood? As an adult child-survivor, I hold a deep passion for those who have made the vulnerable choice to heal from the pains of their childhood.

My practice is devoted to therapy with gay men and counseling for gay couples. I specialize in gay, bisexual and trans issues, including relationships, intimacy and sex, as well as depression, anxiety, trauma, isolation and HIV. I have written extensively about the psychological and social issues of gay men and gay communities. My most recent book, released by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (and Penguin Random House in the U.K.), is "Out of the Shadows: Reimagining Gay Men's Lives."

Feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or stuck? Feel unseen or undervalued? Going through a big transition or feel like you need something to change? Let's unpack this together. We'll delve into what's holding you back, challenge societal expectations, and rewrite your story authentically. In sessions, I offer autonomy and acceptance, creating a safe space for deep exploration. My aim is to walk beside you as you discover yourself, heal, and flourish. It's time to find balance and joy in your life.

Life will present us now and then with the unexpected.  This clearly is a time of major change for all of us. Not all of this is new nor is it novel. Even in the most normal of times we often do experience unwelcome events, the loss of a loved one, disability, addiction, economic insecurity, loneliness. To live is perhaps also to suffer. But we need not suffer alone. You will find me to be a compassionate, capable psychotherapist. Working together, I can help you to live a happier, more contented and fulfilling life. So then, where are you now? Where would you like to go from here? Would you like to create a new narrative? 

Are you unsure about how to solve a problem? Feeling anxious or depressed? Hate yourself? Do the same problems keep reoccurring? Are you struggling with a transition? Do you have concerns about your relationships and struggle to express your needs with partners, friends, or family members? Struggling with a part of your identity? Are you having difficulty sleeping? Do you have no appetite or find yourself overeating? Feeling tired, lacking concentration, and having difficulty motivating yourself? IF SO, I can help you. Therapy will ignite change in your life, and I look forward to supporting you in seeking that change.

I specialize in working with individuals, couples, and families. My work relies on a strong and supportive therapeutic relationship wherein profound exploration and sustained healing takes place. My primary goal is to support you in living the life you want to live, which means I practice deep intuitive listening, I offer calm presence, and I support your growth by understanding your values and motivation. I have been licensed since 2014 and I have felt honored to be alongside every individual I have supported. I understand that the process of deepening relationship with Self in order to make change takes courage and vulnerability.

For over 20 years I have been supporting people through difficult times towards a way of being that allows more ease, freedom and connection. I help clients with feelings of anxiety, depression, low self-worth, shame, loneliness. Talking together in ways which nurture curiosity and compassion, we will look at what troubles you, what brings you hope. We will be attentive to the past, and yet our focus will be on how the past's legacy is impacting your life now. Our work will be relieving of past pains/traumas and will bring more calm and ease, a greater sense of connectedness in present time.

I have found that my style and approach are a good fit for individual adults, especially women, who are struggling with low self-confidence, stress, anxiety, perfectionism, a harsh internal critic and work life balance. I work to help my clients not only address their current symptoms, but also understand where those symptoms are stemming from for enduring, long term change. My approach to therapy varies based on the needs of each client I work with. I am collaborative, relational and empathic. I most frequently use Relational Psychodynamic Therapy, a Feminist and Narrative perspective, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy & Mindfulness.

I am a trauma-informed, somatic therapist, passionate about supporting and empowering adults and children through therapy. I have an interest in working with adults on: complex & acute trauma, emotion regulation, anxiety, relationships, self-esteem, grief, and life transitions. With children, I treat: anger, traumatic events, adjusting to change, general/social/separation anxiety, friendship skills, bullying, frequent arguing, self-esteem, school-based issues, OCD, and PANS/PANDAS. I welcome clients who are queer, gender-nonconforming, and in poly/kink/non-traditional relationship structures.

I have extensive experience as a therapist working with individuals, couples & families. I communicate genuine care & respect, empathy & non-judgment which creates an environment of safety & understanding, while a belief in goal-oriented therapy promotes generative shifts & sustainable changes. My clinical orientation is informed by psychodynamic, narrative & family systems theories, as well as my committment to racial, restorative + transformative justice. I have long worked with those impacted by violence and believe that wellness is integral to creating community safety.

It has been my experience that all people need some support at times with understanding themselves and their relationships better. Most people interact with all types of relationships throughout the day. How we manage, interpret, and reflect about these experiences with ourselves and the one's closest to us matters. It is an important step towards understanding ourselves when we can gain insight on how we affect others and how others affect us in our daily lives. How we see ourselves and the meaning we make of our experiences can support a deeper knowing of oneself.

I aspire to create a space for children, teens, and adults to feel seen and valued. I strive to maintain a decolonial and feminist lens and I believe that true compassion and empathy can help us uncover what we need to thrive. I am training in treating anxiety, in particular obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Selective Mutism, employing family interventions, school collaboration, and individual sessions when working with children.

Mental health challenges are due to the aftereffects of traumatic experiences. Trauma can place a strain on your family, work, relationships, and even cause issues with self-worth. I specialize in trauma therapy along with treating personality disorders, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and addiction. All these disorders can look different from person to person, and that is where our therapeutic journey of empowerment and self-exploration begins. I concentrate on creating a safe space of growth and self-discovery through unconditional positive regard, emotional regulation, and guided activities.

My practice is guided by a belief in the healing power of being with. I bring compassionate witness and a warm, collaborative, relational approach that is informed by psychodynamic, somatic, feminist, narrative, attachment, and trauma theories. A deep commitment to social justice, and attunement to the impacts of social and systemic oppression, grounds my work.

Our life experiences can lead us to question our identity and purpose in the world we live in. This can lead us to anxiety, depression, and trauma. Do you want to improve how you face challenges, function in your relationships, and face overwhelming feelings? I place heavy importance on addressing trauma. Trauma disintegrates the parts that make up your whole self, which can leave aspects of who you are hidden from your awareness. Left unaddressed, anxiety and depression can worsen, which can rob you of the necessary connection that all human beings need to thrive. I aim to help you process unresolved trauma.

My passion is working with clients from unique backgrounds and/or experiences who often contact me because they want to work on or through complex trauma, such as oppression based and/or inter-generational trauma. Modalities used addresses the concerns of those whose race, ethnicity, gender identification, income, disability/accessability, and other social factors which often go unrecognized/disavowed. Issues that arise for minority groups, such as oppression, racism, and marginalization, are relevant, recognized, validated, safely contained, and honored by me.

Therapy can be uncomfortable, and challenging for folks, because it causes them to confront unpleasant emotions or memories. Therapy can be helpful because those unpleasant things are often making people's lives difficult, and therapy can help create a place to better understand and deal with those uncomfortable things. I find that I work best with clients that want to address things that make them uncomfortable, but don't know how to do so, or are reluctant to do it alone.

I am an experienced and interactive therapist who cares about helping you feel better as soon as possible. I will work to help you identify and accomplish your own goals. Together we will create a safe environment to help you feel comfortable and understood without judgement. My approach varies based on individual needs, and is influenced by several types of therapeutic orientations including Hakomi, Narrative, Mindfulness-based CBT and Brainspotting. I specialize in working with adolescents, young adults, families and women. Everyone is welcome.