Photo of Tonia Herrero - East Bay Art Therapy, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT, ATCS, Art Therapist
East Bay Art Therapy
Art Therapist, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT, ATCS
Verified Verified
4 Endorsed
Berkeley, CA 94707
Our Art Therapists on staff work with ages 4 and up and have extensive experience working with anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse, self harm, suicidal ideation, grief, life transitions, LGBTQ+ & neurodivergent folx, & more.
Are you looking for a new creative way to deal with difficulties in life and get in touch with your best self? Do you feel like you’ve tried everything with your child, but they struggle to benefit from traditional talk therapy? As art therapists, we incorporate talk therapy with art making to help our clients unlock their creative potential, look at problems with fresh eyes, and develop new creative coping skills for managing difficult emotions. If you or your child is feeling blocked by past trauma, stuck in destructive patterns, or overwhelmed by depression or anxiety, then I encourage you to reach out. You are not alone.
Our Art Therapists on staff work with ages 4 and up and have extensive experience working with anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse, self harm, suicidal ideation, grief, life transitions, LGBTQ+ & neurodivergent folx, & more.
Are you looking for a new creative way to deal with difficulties in life and get in touch with your best self? Do you feel like you’ve tried everything with your child, but they struggle to benefit from traditional talk therapy? As art therapists, we incorporate talk therapy with art making to help our clients unlock their creative potential, look at problems with fresh eyes, and develop new creative coping skills for managing difficult emotions. If you or your child is feeling blocked by past trauma, stuck in destructive patterns, or overwhelmed by depression or anxiety, then I encourage you to reach out. You are not alone.
(510) 350-3061 View (510) 350-3061
Photo of Daniella K Bermudez, MA, LMFT, PMH-C, Marriage & Family Therapist
Daniella K Bermudez
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, PMH-C
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Berkeley, CA 94709
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California, with an office in Walnut Creek, CA. I am a trained psychotherapist certified in Perinatal Mental Health and offer professional therapeutic services covering a variety of issues and concerns. I have clinical experience in the areas of grief and loss, depression, anxiety, trauma, crisis management, suicide prevention, life transitions, parenting stress, and reproductive and maternal mental health. I have experience working in various settings, including community health, prenatal clinic, non-profit organizations, schools and in-home counseling.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California, with an office in Walnut Creek, CA. I am a trained psychotherapist certified in Perinatal Mental Health and offer professional therapeutic services covering a variety of issues and concerns. I have clinical experience in the areas of grief and loss, depression, anxiety, trauma, crisis management, suicide prevention, life transitions, parenting stress, and reproductive and maternal mental health. I have experience working in various settings, including community health, prenatal clinic, non-profit organizations, schools and in-home counseling.
(925) 515-4150 View (925) 515-4150
Photo of Dr. Zillah Jessamyn Hodgkins, PsyD, Psychologist
Dr. Zillah Jessamyn Hodgkins
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
3 Endorsed
Berkeley, CA 94701  (Online Only)
I began my career as a counselor of sexual assault survivors and over the last 17 years I have been gifted to do depth work with various and diverse populations from children to older adults, trauma survivors, those experiencing systemic injustice- racism, sexism, homophobia, depression, neurodivergence, suicidal ideation, grief, and chronic illness.
Therapy is meant to be a warm, inviting, safe, and healing place to learn your true self and find your peace, beauty, and power. I find it an honor to be a guide on your journey of discovery. I am a compassion focused queer therapist who believes in social justice and knows strength and courage grows from our struggles. Life is hard but it is important to know we are not alone and there are many therapeutic skills we can learn such as art, music, self-compassion, narrative, nature, and laughter that can be used to overcome. At Compassion Connects our mission is to heal your whole being!
I began my career as a counselor of sexual assault survivors and over the last 17 years I have been gifted to do depth work with various and diverse populations from children to older adults, trauma survivors, those experiencing systemic injustice- racism, sexism, homophobia, depression, neurodivergence, suicidal ideation, grief, and chronic illness.
Therapy is meant to be a warm, inviting, safe, and healing place to learn your true self and find your peace, beauty, and power. I find it an honor to be a guide on your journey of discovery. I am a compassion focused queer therapist who believes in social justice and knows strength and courage grows from our struggles. Life is hard but it is important to know we are not alone and there are many therapeutic skills we can learn such as art, music, self-compassion, narrative, nature, and laughter that can be used to overcome. At Compassion Connects our mission is to heal your whole being!
(805) 591-8086 View (805) 591-8086
Photo of Daniel Smith, MA, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Daniel Smith
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Berkeley, CA 94703
I will endeavor to travel with you fearlessly, honestly and directly through the battles you are facing as a professionally-trained, impartial friend ... who you avoid eye contact with at the supermarket. I work mostly conversationally, but enjoy tangents into creative expression to bypass well-worn defensive structures of the overly-relied-on brain.
I will endeavor to travel with you fearlessly, honestly and directly through the battles you are facing as a professionally-trained, impartial friend ... who you avoid eye contact with at the supermarket. I work mostly conversationally, but enjoy tangents into creative expression to bypass well-worn defensive structures of the overly-relied-on brain.
(341) 895-4039 View (341) 895-4039
Photo of Stefanie Bell, MA, AMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist Associate
Stefanie Bell
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Berkeley, CA 94704  (Online Only)
My ideology is inspired by the juxtaposition of American narratives, originating from the Deep South and Urban Midwest. Growing up in a Pro-Black, Christian Baptist home I learned how gender, sexuality, and white supremacy can greatly affect our culture, happiness and well-being. Early exposure to the mental healthcare system taught me that oppression can be as multi-layered and intersectional as the oppressed, and diagnosis will continue to be an act of oppression if it ignores cultural context, societal phobias, and systemic oppression. For a great number, our mental health is a representation of how we survive our social climate.
My ideology is inspired by the juxtaposition of American narratives, originating from the Deep South and Urban Midwest. Growing up in a Pro-Black, Christian Baptist home I learned how gender, sexuality, and white supremacy can greatly affect our culture, happiness and well-being. Early exposure to the mental healthcare system taught me that oppression can be as multi-layered and intersectional as the oppressed, and diagnosis will continue to be an act of oppression if it ignores cultural context, societal phobias, and systemic oppression. For a great number, our mental health is a representation of how we survive our social climate.
(510) 240-5906 View (510) 240-5906
Photo of Nicki Koethner, MA, MFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Nicki Koethner
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified Verified
6 Endorsed
Berkeley, CA 94705
Are you anxious, depressed and tired? Are you feeling emotional for no reason? Feeling disoriented and lonely? Questioning everything in your life? I help people to deeply listen inside and let their choices be based on what is true for them. While pain and emotions are part of being human, suffering can be minimized by allowing what is inside of us to be expressed and find acceptance in our experiences. I support you to move through trauma, anxiety, anger and depression to empowerment. Stress-management is part of the work and looking at communication with ourselves and others to have fulfilling relationships.
Are you anxious, depressed and tired? Are you feeling emotional for no reason? Feeling disoriented and lonely? Questioning everything in your life? I help people to deeply listen inside and let their choices be based on what is true for them. While pain and emotions are part of being human, suffering can be minimized by allowing what is inside of us to be expressed and find acceptance in our experiences. I support you to move through trauma, anxiety, anger and depression to empowerment. Stress-management is part of the work and looking at communication with ourselves and others to have fulfilling relationships.
(510) 606-9884 View (510) 606-9884
Photo of Niko Whitmire, PsyD, MFA, Psychologist
Niko Whitmire
Psychologist, PsyD, MFA
Verified Verified
Berkeley, CA 94704
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.
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.
(628) 300-3707 View (628) 300-3707
Photo of Sam Davis, LCSW, Clinical Social Work/Therapist
Sam Davis
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Berkeley, CA 94705
I am a trans Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in working with trans, queer, genderqueer, and gender-nonconforming teens and adults. I have a non-pathologizing approach and deeply value identities outside the "norm." I have fifteen years of experience as a mental health provider, including support groups with teens and adults, individual therapy, and crisis work. I am a Bay Area activist who has fought for transgender rights by organizing provider trainings and public demonstrations. I am a visual artist and storyteller who believes that underrepresented individuals expressing themselves creatively and authentically is powerful and important.
I am a trans Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in working with trans, queer, genderqueer, and gender-nonconforming teens and adults. I have a non-pathologizing approach and deeply value identities outside the "norm." I have fifteen years of experience as a mental health provider, including support groups with teens and adults, individual therapy, and crisis work. I am a Bay Area activist who has fought for transgender rights by organizing provider trainings and public demonstrations. I am a visual artist and storyteller who believes that underrepresented individuals expressing themselves creatively and authentically is powerful and important.
(781) 417-5129 View (781) 417-5129
Photo of Noah Phillips, ASW, Clinical Social Work/Therapist
Noah Phillips
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, ASW
Verified Verified
Berkeley, CA 94710
I love working with children, teenagers, and adults who are excited to explore their inner worlds through play, art, and conversation. Anything can prompt this search—a sudden life change, a chronic sense of stress and overwhelm, a general feeling of malaise and dissatisfaction. On this healing journey, you're the guide and I'm the mapmaker. With curiosity and patience, together we'll discover not only what's going on inside of you, but how to transform your experience of your external reality.
I love working with children, teenagers, and adults who are excited to explore their inner worlds through play, art, and conversation. Anything can prompt this search—a sudden life change, a chronic sense of stress and overwhelm, a general feeling of malaise and dissatisfaction. On this healing journey, you're the guide and I'm the mapmaker. With curiosity and patience, together we'll discover not only what's going on inside of you, but how to transform your experience of your external reality.
(510) 519-4902 View (510) 519-4902
Photo of Larry Santiago, MA, MFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Larry Santiago
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified Verified
Berkeley, CA 94703
I have a particular expertise in working with clients who have diverse cultural backgrounds (e.g. ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation.) I also have a deep association working with artistic/creative type individuals and can address particular issues that arise being an artist confined to a conventional/mainstream worldview.
I have a particular expertise in working with clients who have diverse cultural backgrounds (e.g. ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation.) I also have a deep association working with artistic/creative type individuals and can address particular issues that arise being an artist confined to a conventional/mainstream worldview.
(925) 247-3396 View (925) 247-3396
Photo of Lindsay Focht, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Lindsay Focht
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Berkeley, CA 94704
Through therapy with your child, I will work in building resiliency, learning new coping skills, emotional regulation, and providing a safe space to process memories and current life experiences and traumas. Unlike adults who tend more to communicate verbally or from a logical perspective, children use creativity and imaginative play to express their inner thoughts and feelings, it is often the main way children relate and learn about themselves and their world. Through play therapy, I respond to your child with care, attunement, and skillfulness in helping them understand difficult emotions and make sense of confusing experiences.
Through therapy with your child, I will work in building resiliency, learning new coping skills, emotional regulation, and providing a safe space to process memories and current life experiences and traumas. Unlike adults who tend more to communicate verbally or from a logical perspective, children use creativity and imaginative play to express their inner thoughts and feelings, it is often the main way children relate and learn about themselves and their world. Through play therapy, I respond to your child with care, attunement, and skillfulness in helping them understand difficult emotions and make sense of confusing experiences.
(341) 222-3552 View (341) 222-3552
Photo of Jace Lawa, MA, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Jace Lawa
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Berkeley, CA 94705
You feel isolated, misunderstood...lonely. You’ve been told you’re “too much,” “too sensitive,” or “intense.” You feel frozen in profound suffering. You feel that no one has seen the real you and have a sense that there are parts of yourself that maybe you haven’t seen. Hiding yourself has become unbearable, but you don’t know where to start or who to go to for help making sense of your complex inner world and experiences. We can be deeply wounded in relationships, past and current, but it is also in relationships that we find healing.
You feel isolated, misunderstood...lonely. You’ve been told you’re “too much,” “too sensitive,” or “intense.” You feel frozen in profound suffering. You feel that no one has seen the real you and have a sense that there are parts of yourself that maybe you haven’t seen. Hiding yourself has become unbearable, but you don’t know where to start or who to go to for help making sense of your complex inner world and experiences. We can be deeply wounded in relationships, past and current, but it is also in relationships that we find healing.
(510) 288-5363 View (510) 288-5363
Photo of Dwaine Radden Jr, MA, ACSW
Dwaine Radden Jr
Associate Clinical Social Worker, MA, ACSW
Verified Verified
Berkeley, CA 94702
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!
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!
(510) 281-1753 View (510) 281-1753
Photo of Jane Cabot, MA, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Jane Cabot
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Berkeley, CA 94704  (Online Only)
As a psychotherapist, I act as your collaborator, witness and guide, and bring curiosity and warmth to your exploration. Trauma, past wounding and internalized negative beliefs can make it difficult to know what you need from moment to moment. Therefore, in session, I support you in cultivating self-agency so that you may become familiar with what is right for you at a pace that is both constructive and safe. I am here to help you navigate difficult transitions, past and new traumas, grief and loss, shifts in identity, and a desire to change patterns in relationship on your path towards fulfilling connections to self and others.
As a psychotherapist, I act as your collaborator, witness and guide, and bring curiosity and warmth to your exploration. Trauma, past wounding and internalized negative beliefs can make it difficult to know what you need from moment to moment. Therefore, in session, I support you in cultivating self-agency so that you may become familiar with what is right for you at a pace that is both constructive and safe. I am here to help you navigate difficult transitions, past and new traumas, grief and loss, shifts in identity, and a desire to change patterns in relationship on your path towards fulfilling connections to self and others.
(341) 444-2442 View (341) 444-2442
Photo of Kasey Bogoje - The Mindful Lemon , MA, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
The Mindful Lemon
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Berkeley, CA 94704  (Online Only)
Our mission is to provide quality online mental health and substance abuse services while breaking down the barriers of traditional, office based therapy. Traditional mental health and substance abuse treatment tends to focus on what makes you sick, what you are lacking but at The Mindful Lemon, our clinicians let you sit in the driver’s seat, focusing on your strengths and assets to help you become the best version of you! This can be via traditional talk therapy, medication management, mindfulness techniques, an emphasis on health, wellness and fitness or any combination of the above.
Our mission is to provide quality online mental health and substance abuse services while breaking down the barriers of traditional, office based therapy. Traditional mental health and substance abuse treatment tends to focus on what makes you sick, what you are lacking but at The Mindful Lemon, our clinicians let you sit in the driver’s seat, focusing on your strengths and assets to help you become the best version of you! This can be via traditional talk therapy, medication management, mindfulness techniques, an emphasis on health, wellness and fitness or any combination of the above.
(341) 888-7667 View (341) 888-7667
Photo of Alana Smith-Grove, AMFT, MA, Marriage & Family Therapist
Alana Smith-Grove
Marriage & Family Therapist, AMFT, MA
Verified Verified
3 Endorsed
Berkeley, CA 94707  (Online Only)
Waitlist for new clients
Hi, I'm Alana. Reaching out for support can be hard, especially when you are moving through the groundlessness of loss or transition, feeling stuck, overwhelmed, drained, or ashamed, experiencing a lack of meaning, or when you feel like you have lost a part of yourself. Sometimes the surface of our experience can look and feel one way, like the outer shell of a geode. Therapy can help explore the imaginative possibilities of who we are beyond the shell, towards a more integrated perspective where new meaning can be discovered.
Hi, I'm Alana. Reaching out for support can be hard, especially when you are moving through the groundlessness of loss or transition, feeling stuck, overwhelmed, drained, or ashamed, experiencing a lack of meaning, or when you feel like you have lost a part of yourself. Sometimes the surface of our experience can look and feel one way, like the outer shell of a geode. Therapy can help explore the imaginative possibilities of who we are beyond the shell, towards a more integrated perspective where new meaning can be discovered.
(510) 751-3049 View (510) 751-3049
Photo of Devon Hill - Freestyle Therapy Supervision and Group LLC, MA, AMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist Associate
Freestyle Therapy Supervision and Group LLC
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Berkeley, CA 94720  (Online Only)
As an associate therapist, I strive to help my clients rewrite their personal narratives and work to create a relationship built on understanding, compassion and trust. It’s my goal to help you better understand yourself, navigate your experiences and learn self-compassion. Join me and let’s rewrite your story together. My interests within the field of mental health include assisting those with anxiety and depression, eating disorders, grief and loss, and substance misuse. In particular, I specialize in helping clients with traumatic experiences, with a focus on helping survivors of narcissistic abuse.
As an associate therapist, I strive to help my clients rewrite their personal narratives and work to create a relationship built on understanding, compassion and trust. It’s my goal to help you better understand yourself, navigate your experiences and learn self-compassion. Join me and let’s rewrite your story together. My interests within the field of mental health include assisting those with anxiety and depression, eating disorders, grief and loss, and substance misuse. In particular, I specialize in helping clients with traumatic experiences, with a focus on helping survivors of narcissistic abuse.
(628) 444-4530 View (628) 444-4530
Photo of Rylan Jay Testa, PhD, Psychologist
Rylan Jay Testa
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
Berkeley, CA 94704
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.
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.
(415) 358-0128 View (415) 358-0128
Photo of Alison Hart Siggelkow, MA, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Alison Hart Siggelkow
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Berkeley, CA 94703  (Online Only)
Many people come to therapy uncertain of how they got here. They're hungry for deeper meaning in life, to understand their inner world and discover a self they can love. You may have experienced narcissistic wounding as a child, feel caught in self-destructive patterns or low self esteem. Perhaps you yearn for meaning and a sense of belonging. Your life may feel marred by co-dependency, anxiety, shame or hopelessness. Maybe you just need a place to feel seen. Our work together can help you uncover your deepest needs and teach you to regard yourself with compassion and self-awareness.
Many people come to therapy uncertain of how they got here. They're hungry for deeper meaning in life, to understand their inner world and discover a self they can love. You may have experienced narcissistic wounding as a child, feel caught in self-destructive patterns or low self esteem. Perhaps you yearn for meaning and a sense of belonging. Your life may feel marred by co-dependency, anxiety, shame or hopelessness. Maybe you just need a place to feel seen. Our work together can help you uncover your deepest needs and teach you to regard yourself with compassion and self-awareness.
(845) 250-6904 View (845) 250-6904
Photo of Hilary Beech, PhD, MBA, MSEE, Psychologist
Hilary Beech
Psychologist, PhD, MBA, MSEE
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Berkeley, CA 94705  (Online Only)
Waitlist for new clients
I specialize in serving GIFTED PROFESSIONAL AND CREATIVE ADULTS AND COUPLES. Being gifted is a minority experience, which is hard to own or talk about due to cultural (mis)attributions of elitism and arrogance, so many gifted people have not explored this aspect of their identity and how this may be related to difficulties in their life. You may feel out of step with the world or misunderstood, and not know why, or that you have to hide aspects of yourself. Or have trouble making friends, be told you’re "too intense", feel socially awkward, not understand why others seem to respond negatively to your ideas, or feel deeply disappointed with the world’s imperfections. IN MY OFFICE, YOU CAN BE UNRESERVEDLY YOURSELF. Talking frankly about being gifted can improve your self-esteem and offer relief from self-doubt, loneliness, anxiety, or depression, as you develop strategies to meet the majority culture more effectively. Before becoming a psychologist, I worked for 25 years in startups, nonprofits, academia, and F500 companies. I hold a Stanford MBA and Berkeley MSEE, and have special training in assisting gifted clients. I've also published research on the creative process.
I specialize in serving GIFTED PROFESSIONAL AND CREATIVE ADULTS AND COUPLES. Being gifted is a minority experience, which is hard to own or talk about due to cultural (mis)attributions of elitism and arrogance, so many gifted people have not explored this aspect of their identity and how this may be related to difficulties in their life. You may feel out of step with the world or misunderstood, and not know why, or that you have to hide aspects of yourself. Or have trouble making friends, be told you’re "too intense", feel socially awkward, not understand why others seem to respond negatively to your ideas, or feel deeply disappointed with the world’s imperfections. IN MY OFFICE, YOU CAN BE UNRESERVEDLY YOURSELF. Talking frankly about being gifted can improve your self-esteem and offer relief from self-doubt, loneliness, anxiety, or depression, as you develop strategies to meet the majority culture more effectively. Before becoming a psychologist, I worked for 25 years in startups, nonprofits, academia, and F500 companies. I hold a Stanford MBA and Berkeley MSEE, and have special training in assisting gifted clients. I've also published research on the creative process.
(415) 200-2685 View (415) 200-2685
1
Suicidal Ideation Therapists

How does therapy for suicidal ideation work?

Stress, depression, anxiety, or upsetting circumstances can give rise to suicidal thinking. Therapy can address the events at the core of an individual’s suffering. Understanding why a person may be suicidal can help the therapist and the patient discover alternative methods of coping. A person with suicidal ideation may be mired in catastrophic thinking, and treatment like cognitive behavioral therapy is a good choice for breaking such patterns. In addition, treatment such as acceptance and commitment therapy can help a person manage their distress through better emotion regulation.

Which therapies are best for suicidal ideation?

Specific approaches used by professionals include cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavior, psychodynamic, acceptance and commitment therapies, among others. Cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior therapies are two widely used therapies that can help individuals with painful thoughts and past traumas. These therapies help an individual tolerate distress, regulate emotions, and not act on dangerous urges.

Are there specific medications to be combined with therapy?

The use of medication for suicidal thoughts must be aligned with the underlying cause; conditions such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis may be at the root of suicidal ideation. A psychiatrist may prescribe medications for symptoms, which may include antipsychotics such as aripiprazole or antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

How often and how long are therapy sessions for suicidal ideation?

As with any type of therapy, sessions depend on the individual. Patients may see improvement within 15 to 20 sessions, at an average of 50 minutes per session, while others may opt for 20 to 30 sessions over, perhaps, a six-month period. Still other patients, especially those with co-occurring conditions like major depression and anxiety, may need to continue sessions for up to 12 to 18 months. In some cases, residential treatment may be recommended for an individual who is judged to be at high risk of self-harm.