Brainspotting Therapists in El Cerrito, CA

In my practice, I see children, adolescents and adults who are seeking help for a variety of reasons. Common areas of need include depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and relationship difficulties. With children, these concerns may express themselves through externalizing behaviors at school and/or at home. I offer an open, non-judgmental, and safe therapeutic relationship. My approach is adapted carefully to individual needs and is inclusive in regard to gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, culture, class, and religious/spiritual orientation. I work with many LGBTQ+ individuals in my practice.

I have In person and online openings! I stay up to date on the most cutting edge therapies to achieve RAPID and long lasting effects. As a Certified Brainspotting Therapist, I focus on neuroscience - YOUR brain can HEAL from trauma, grief, and anxiety. Release the shame and inner critic that is no longer serving you. I help empaths and highly sensitive people who are struggling with overwhelm. Performers and artists have benefited from Expansion Brainspotting to overcome creative blocks! I’m trained in play therapy and drama therapy and work well with children and adolescents.

You want better relationships, with your partner, your family, at work and with yourself. You’re at the point where all of the boxes are checked, but you’re still not feeling happy or fulfilled. You struggle with guilt for wanting more, but know deep down that there's something holding you back. If you’re a couple, you want better sex, deeper intimacy and connection, to resolve recurring disagreements, or support when facing key milestones such as moving in together or getting engaged. You’re in the right place. I specialize in attachment-based therapy for those wanting to improve their relationships, beginning with themselves.

It can feel daunting to begin the search for a therapist you feel like you actually connect with. Especially when you are the one used to taking care of others in your life -it takes courage to focus on what YOU need. Perhaps on the outside you might be holding it together but spend your days feeling disconnected, struggling within your relationships or feeling reactive and angry but not able to identify the “why.” Or maybe you are navigating a big change -a diagnosis of cancer or other serious illness, a significant loss or something else that has your mind racing at night and waking up each morning full of worry.

Welcome! Are you feeling tired of the patterns and old stories that impact the development of your vitality and the best version of your life? Does your sense of self feel fractured? Does your body seem to mirror the internal negative thought patterns that seem to block you creating the life you want to live? Do you feel like there are moments that you cannot imagine living in the internal chaos another moment? I am inspired and honored to work with adults who are motivated to heal and release the negative internal stories, especially from trauma, that have dictated their behavior in order to create their own life worth living.

Accepting New Clients. Do you find it hard to cope with life due to relationship or career-related stress, grief, depression, childhood trauma and PTSD, unresolved family dynamics, or parenting challenges? Sometimes "feeling stuck" could be due to a recent or prior trauma or thinking that you are undeserving. Are you a couple or family who is out of sync or finding hard to communicate? Are you a First/Second generation struggling with family/culture-based expectations or trying to negotiate between 2 cultures? My style is warm, engaged & curious, and my role is to increase awareness and help you develop effective coping strategies.

My name is Haley Woodside and I specialize in individual, couples, and family therapy. I believe that because we are complex and unique individuals, an approach that integrates both mind and body is essential for the healing, growth, and resiliency that is the goal of therapeutic counseling. Treatment specializations include: depression and anxiety, couples counseling, children and adolescents, psychedelic-assisted therapies, stress and/or pain management, life transitions, self-esteem, perinatal and women’s health, gender and/or sexual identity, & LGBTQIA. I am trained in EMDR, Brainspotting, IFS & Somatic Experiencing.

Hi I'm Archana aka Archie. Many of my clients are women facing issues that are in some ways appear manageable to the outsider but in actuality they are struggling internally from day to day. Whether it is anxiety, eating disorders, difficult relationships, or the demands of life like college, work, new or seasoned mom, I apply my extensive experience as an eclectic therapist drawing from multiple east and western modalities to provide support to fit my clients needs. My approach is warm, creative, collaborative, but also I take pride in gently challenging you for deep reflection. After all, you are here for change right?

Are you going through internal struggle due to trauma? Do you feel anxious and depressed about the future? Do you struggle with family issues and relationship issues? I’m willing to meet you where you are, help you process unwanted thoughts and emotions, and help develop an action plan to effectively cultivate your healing and growth. I’m here to help you explore unresolved feelings (anxiety, depression, anger, helplessness, grief, etc.) and develop skills to effectively cope with them. Thus, you can feel relieved and fulfilled in your relationship with yourself and others.

The heart and emphasis of my work is to help you know and trust your deepest feelings and to live an emotionally authentic life. When you become more intimate and present with yourself you become more intimate and authentic with others. As you know yourself better, you'll discover how certain emotions, behaviors and beliefs have shaped your life and relationships and you'll become empowered to make many important changes. For over 20 years, I've helped couples and individuals develop increased self-trust and self-awareness, greater life purpose and more conscious, loving and intimate relationships.

Are you wanting to feel better once and for all? Maybe you can't move on from the past or you're worried about your future. If anxiety, panic, or even depression is stealing your joy, I get it. If traditional talk therapy hasn't helped you feel better, it's time to try a new approach to heal at the source of your pain. For 12 years I have refined my approach through professional training and experience in Relational-gestalt therapy and Brainspotting (derived from EMDR) while centering social justice and trauma-informed care.

My goal is to provide a safe and supportive container of warmth, presence, and non-judgement and humor, where you can bring both your vulnerability and your strengths. Whatever brings you to therapy, we will explore together at your pace and with your unique needs in mind. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, childhood trauma or grief and loss, we will collaboratively work together to find out what healing might look like for you. Our work together can help you recognize limiting patterns or beliefs, create new options, and shed light on forgotten inner resources.

Are you feeling stuck, isolated, or afraid? Life is a constant transition; it never stays the same. It is understandable to feel uncertainty, self-doubt, and even fear. When faced with these feelings, many people turn to themselves, wondering what’s wrong with them. You are not alone. I understand how scary it is to feel like you have to move forward all by yourself in these trying times. Now, more than ever, I believe that human connection fosters one’s innate potential to open the door and see the possibilities that are waiting on the other side. I would be honored to bear witness to your courageous journey.