Stress Therapists in El Cerrito, CA

Therapy Without the Angst! Therapy doesn't have to take years and be intensely painful. I help clients to develop the skills to feel better soon. I'll teach you to calm your anxious mind, feel more confident, and find meaning in life challenges. As a licensed psychotherapist for over 30 years, I've culled the best of many different techniques, for instance: CBT helps change unproductive thinking and behavior; insight therapy offers awareness; and DBT helps to regulate intense emotions and reactions. I offer not just therapeutic techniques but good-old common sense!

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.

As a long-time practitioner, my way of working has evolved from a more traditional dynamic approach to a deep interest in the bridge between mind/body spiritual traditions and contemporary psychology. I have much varied experience working with both men and women who struggle with the challenges of loneliness and living a conscious, fulfilling and spontaneous life. If you are feeling stressed, or if anxiety or depression have you wrestling with problems that never seem to resolve, perhaps it's time to turn for help to a compassionate and engaged therapist.

Feeling overwhelmed? Is anxiety, grief, or stress taking over? I'm here to help. I offer therapy for adults, kids, and families that's strengths-based, collaborative, and solution-focused. We'll create positive momentum from our first meeting. Building on the strengths you or your child already have, I’ll offer tools and strategies to use when challenging situations arise. You'll gain a new perspective, a sense of hope, and practical strategies to use during the week.

Are you feeling challenged to be understood by your parents and this creates awkwardness around setting boundaries with them so that you are treated like an adult? Sometimes, if you have not resolved your conflict with your parents, your personal relationships can be impacted as well. It is easy to feel overwhelmed when your love ones seem to rub you the wrong way. As a first generation Chinese American raised in the Bay Area, I am culturally sensitive to support you healing yo childhood wounding that occurred when you felt neglected by your parents. Learn tools to return to self-approval and release guilt about not being enough.

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 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.

I am glad you’re here and I look forward to working with you. My experience extends to individuals, couples, teens and young adults with a wide array of needs and presentations. Using an approach that is rooted in ethics and accountability my therapy focuses on skills that help finds ways to manage life, relationships, transitions or just being with yourself. I help facilitate growth through curiosity within and outside oneself. I am pulled towards cultures and stories and the meaning and relevance of these personal elements in the lives of those I work with.

Sometimes, the stress of daily life can exhaust our ability to cope. A child struggling in school, family conflicts, traumatic events, major life transitions, the loss of a loved one, friend, or pet, financial and/or medical issues, pregnancy and the birth of a child—all of these experiences can leave us feeling overwhelmed, helpless, and defeated. From experience and research, we know that stressful experiences--sudden or chronic--can lead to feelings of disconnection, sadness, anxiety, low self-esteem, and conflict within ourselves and with our friends and loved ones.

Welcome! I am a licensed therapist with 13 years of experience providing mental health services to adults and adolescents. My style is compassionate, trauma-informed, and grounded in principles of anti-oppression and harm reduction. Whether you are struggling with new symptoms or a previous diagnosis has become more difficult to manage, I offer a warm and welcoming environment in which to explore ways to improve your life.

You are stressed. You can cope with a lot but you might also find yourself avoiding, numbing, distracting, or shutting down. You might be facing a crisis of identity. You might be overwhelmed with work or kids, or you might be at a trouble spot in your relationship. You might have faced trauma or abuse, that cloud your everyday behavior. You might be struggling to live your choices free of needless suffering. You might be in the middle of navigating a complicated transition. You need some help to talk through your feelings about these experiences.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stressed, depressed, anxious or alone? Are you having trouble coping with life’s stressors, chronic health issues, having relationship conflicts, or plagued with unsettling thoughts, feelings and behaviors? Often times these difficult experiences stem from a lack of awareness and disharmony in our lives and not having the tools, strategies and guidance to help us overcome our problems.

I enjoy working with teens, young adults, and adults ranging into older adulthood who're going through life transitions, having unhelpful/negative thoughts, struggling with difficult/complicated feelings, and/or frustrated with everyday stressors. You may experience anxiety, depression, feeling overwhelmed/unable to cope, school and/or employment issues, family conflicts, relationship concerns, financial problems, loneliness, emptiness, and and health conditions. I'll help you to develop positive coping skills, empowering you to work through these challenges with a renewed sense of self and accomplishment, adding in some humor.

Thank you for your interest in me as your therapist. Starting the journey to find the right fit for a therapist can be difficult and I am here to provide any support and guidance through the process. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Social Worker with a focus on children, teens, young adults, and families. I am a Registered Play Therapist and utilize play therapy as a modality in the majority of my work. Play is a critical part of expression and communication for children and youth, but can also be used effectively at any age.

Sometimes we get to places in life where we get stuck. Maybe it’s an issue at the job or at home. Perhaps you’ve been dealing with feelings of depression, anxiety, or overwhelming anger. It is my goal to help you sort out how to deal with your challenges and support you develop into a better you. I also know that I am an African American cisgender male, and I want to use my presence in the therapy field to help increase the comfort level for males and minorities to receive clinical services.

For the longest time, maybe you've taken pride in the fact that you've been able to prove to others and to yourself that you could overcome whatever obstacles were thrown your way. More than just a source of pride, being able to overcome obstacles thrown your way has helped you to survive up until this point. At the same time, a part of you has felt exhausted from this constant push to persist; exhausted from being as independent as you've become so accustomed to being. You wish others took notice of this more. You're not sure they'd still stick around at all if you were less independent. It's a painful possibility to even consider.

Would you like to feel more present in life and more secure in relationships? I have helped many to move past difficult experiences to reconnect with the beauty of life. My treatment focus is helping people to effect change through making different life choices, and on therapy as a working partnership. Trained in both traditional and holistic understandings of mind-body-spirit, my experience includes private practice; crisis work; directorships at mental health agencies; supervision of student therapists; and consultation for providers and organizations. I also integrate spiritual and energy healing perspectives when appropriate.

Many clients I work with have difficulty letting people really see them. Outwardly, they are viewed as smart, creative, and successful, but have a hard time feeling vulnerable and may even feel "broken inside". These clients are my specialty. I provide my clients with the feeling like I always have their back by creating a safe, supportive, and consistent relationship. This allows you to develop the perspectives and abilities that may have felt too overwhelming to change on your own. Through our work, you will feel a strong and steady sense of who you are, allowing you confidence to grow.

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.