Lesbian Therapists in El Cerrito, CA

By the time people start therapy, they've often tried nearly everything to solve their problems on their own. I respect the hard work you may have already done -- and your courage in seeking more support. Therapy can help you free up the "stuck" places in your life. My approach is warm, open-minded, active, and empathic. My goals are to help you find more satisfaction in your work and relationships, feel more self-confidence and vitality, and live a happy, meaningful life. My priority is always to respect the pace and direction that is right for you.

I am an experienced therapist who is described as compassionate, interactive and comfortable to work with. As a trauma informed therapist, I specialize in working with people who have had challenging and traumatic life experiences. I work with individuals who experience a wide range of distress, including anxiety, panic, depression, relationship issues, hopelessness and self doubt. Building a relationship with a therapist with whom you feel comfortable and validated is the first step and I will be thoughtful about your needs.

What would it be like to feel at home in your body, in your mind, and in your heart? How would it feel to truly inhabit your life, with a greater sense of aliveness, ease, and connection? From my experience working with hundreds of clients from all walks of life, I know that difficult times can become a doorway to healing, change and greater connection with one's true self. I have a warm, collaborative approach and will support you in healing the wounds of the past and making inner and outer changes needed for a more fulfilling life.

Compassion and respect are critical to every relationship. I use a collaborative, non-judgmental approach to therapy, using individualized techniques tailored to meet your specific situation and needs. I work with teens, couples, adults and elders. I provide Couples therapy and individual therapy. I'm an artist and occasionally use art as an expressive avenue during therapy. My pursuit of the "why/how" behind life's events led me to pursue Psychology as my profession. I have over 15 years of experience.

I have worked with individuals and families for many decades in many settings. I enjoy supporting people to achieve their goals and find ways to enjoy life.

My clients are often sensitive, intelligent, and creative people who face life transitions, self-doubt, anxiety, depression, and the challenges of liberating passion and creating meaning in life. Many struggle with the legacy of significant trauma. Through acceptance, loving encouragement, and providing a container for self-exploration, I help clients to find a more encompassing love for self and other, develop strength and firmness of character, and tap into the well of their vitality, creativity, and joy.

When potential clients reach out to me they are often at a place in their lives when their habitual way of living is no longer working for them. You may feel stuck, confused, frustrated, overwhelmed, uncertain of how to move forward. You want to do things differently but don't know HOW. You're interested in personal growth, in developing other ways of moving through your life and relationships. Wherever you are, there is always a way forward. As a body-oriented therapist, I use a variety of approaches to help you access deeper levels of knowing and being with yourself; helping you find ease in moving through uncomfortable states.

It's hard to go it alone with painful feelings of confusion, guilt, sadness, anxiety or despair. I help you access and unravel internal knots related to work or school performance, conflictual relationships, gender and sexuality, addictive behaviors, struggles with self-care and body image, or a family history troubled by dysfunction, divorce, addiction, mental illness, abuse, unresolved conflict or estrangement from loved ones.

I am a bilingual (English/Spanish) psychologist with experience working with issues ranging from anxiety and depression to trauma, family problems, and relationship issues. I approach treatment in a direct, dynamic, culturally sensitive, and client focused way. I am particularly interested in issues of diversity, couples, families, work stress, and helping you overcome patterns and obstacles that hinder your personal transformation.

Have you ever felt like you talk about a painful issue over and over but nothing changes? Are you ready to start your journey to real transformation? Therapy helps us shift underlying patterns that cause distress, heal from past wounds, and mobilize inner strengths, so that we experience greater freedom and fulfillment. For 20 years, I’ve helped clients heal and grow, and cultivate lives of meaning and joy. I offer a holistic approach to counseling, which means I draw on multiple healing modalities, and support you in feeling healthy in all ways. I love this work, and am dedicated to helping you create lasting positive change.

If you are a woman ready for more happiness, more peace, & a greater sense of choice, I am here to guide you on your way. Your depression, anxiety, or relationship challenges may be signals that something greater is around the corner. If they persist, though, it’s a good time to find someone who can re-orient you so that you’re on the path of a joyful life, a life of intention, a life where empowerment and “yes!” are within reach. I work with women who feel even just a slight spark of knowing that this path might be available. We may start with mindfulness & how to cope with the effects of trauma and depression so you can thrive.

Depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, problems in intimate relationships and stressful life circumstances are among the reasons people seek psychotherapy. I enjoy helping my clients through their difficulties toward renewal, growth and optimism about their future. In an atmosphere of respect and compassion, my clients and I work collaboratively to explore the difficulties they face and uncover deeper issues which impede the natural resolution of their suffering. This process of self-discovery promotes clarity about the steps which are needed to bring about positive change.

Stress and trauma can take many forms. Sometimes we survive an event such as a car accident, wildfire, assault, or military-related event. Or we may notice chronic struggles with trusting others and ourselves, and feeling stressed and unsatisfied in our relationships. The experience of trauma can significantly impact how we change or grow in each present moment, how we connect and separate from others, and how we experiment, take risks, and resource our creativity. Let's co-create a therapy relationship that works to support the development of loving relationships with self and others.

Welcome! If you are a parent, or an adult struggling with depression, anxiety or memories of painful events, I can help you. I can help you with difficult child behaviors. If your child is angry, if they are fighting in school, or has learning difficulties, I can help you. For many years, I have been investing all my professional skills and my heart into helping wonderful children and families to heal. Please, tell me about your relationship with yourself, and with the world. Please, tell me how I can support and nurture you.

Welcome! Note: email is the best way reach me. Finding a therapist is daunting. The relationship tends to be the most consistent factor in whether therapy is successful, so I encourage you to trust your intuition. I work with adults (not couples) and adolescents over 14 on a variety of issues, including achieving greater mood stability, identity issues, improved relationships and sexuality, and recovery from trauma. I have experience working effectively with people who identify as trans, genderqueer, and those with diverse lifestyles. I also offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in collaboration w/Journey Clinical.

Sometimes amazing things can grow under pressure. Living with stigma - related to a mind that works differently, a body that's unruly or "too much," or a sexuality that doesn't fit behind a white picket fence - asks us to be creative and fierce. The wisdom that can grow here is astounding. But the burden of stigma is heavy, and sometimes it grips us in painful positions. Whether you're feeling exhausted, sick of yourself, or just don't know quite how to relate to other people, therapy with me can help.

When we foster a space of compassion and curiosity we have more room to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, our boundaries and our desires. By creating this intentional space, we can increase opportunities for choice in our lives. Using a combination of relational, psychodynamic and mindfulness techniques I will help you to understand your own emotional landscape, so you can feel better equipped to manage stressful moments in life and have more capacity for joy and meaning. I specialize in working with the LGBTQI population and also with couples of all constellations.

Fearful of change or feeling stuck in an unfulfilling job or relationship? Tired of not being able to figure out what to do differently? Or perhaps someone close to you suggested that you seek help. Given the pace and complexities of our world and our lives in it, it would be an exception not to experience these stresses. I draw on therapeutic approaches that will focus on the strengths that you bring coupled with the most effective treatment for your particular set of challenges. Beginning therapy and choosing a therapist may be overwhelming. I can help you navigate this.

We learn to survive and cope with our circumstances in the best way we know how at the time. Therapy offers an opportunity to slow down and get to know what is really going on inside and to learn to listen to your body's natural wisdom. I am interested in collaborating with you to explore where you're feeling stuck, confused or overwhelmed. I can help guide you to discover new, more effective ways of showing up for yourself and in your relationships. My own love of nature and mindfulness meditation practice informs much of my work with clients.