Therapists in Emeryville, CA

Dissatisfied with your relationship to a partner, boss, or yourself? Do things feel out of control? Finding a good fit with a therapist can play a vital role in getting more of what you want in life. I see myself as someone who guides and facilitates a committed, compassionate and confidential space where we can clarify what is most important to you, and discover the blocks that get in the way of having the life that you want. In my practice I help individuals and couples find their own way to lasting changes.

I look forward to addressing your individual needs. I specialize in treating adolescent issues of all types with a specific focus on depression and mood disorders. I also offer services for people suffering from addiction, in all its forms. I work with adolescence, adults and couples, and of course with the entire family when indicated. I am considered a technical eclectic, which means I use whatever theoretical approach I feel will work best for your situation. We will also draw from film, literature, culture and spirituality in our sessions so that we can make use of your unique personal interests.

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.

As a clinician, I have been privileged to work with people as they transform their difficulties from the past into a richer, more functioning fabric of the present. I have been in practice for over 30 years, working with adults, adolescents and couples. I utilize EMDR for the treatment of trauma, anxiety, and for performance enhancement. I also work extensively in the treatment of alcoholism and other addictions, often treating family members of the addicted/alcoholic individual. In recent years I have been involved in the treatment of firefighters, police, and other First Responders.

Do you feel lost, questioning who you are or where you're going with no easy answers? Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn, we hit a bottom, or we just realize that something in us is different...or something must change. Such times of confusion and crisis are often the meeting point for our work together. They are also openings to self-discovery and real change. I listen deeply for what you want, develop a relationship of trust, and work WITH you to establish the clarity and direction you need.

I feel the theraputic experience is a rich and exciting way for someone to reach their full potential. We all have feelings at times that "something is missing". These are real feelings and will be explored through our relationship. I believe everyone is unique. I don't have a "cookie cutter" approach to treating people. We will get to know each other and deal with the issues together. I work from a psychodynamic viewpoint.I feel everything that you have gone through as a child, young adult, and adult is connected. Our job will be to put the puzzle together.

We all have the capacity to live fulfilling and creative lives, but sometimes difficult circumstances overwhelm us, or we find ourselves in painful relational patterns. I see the transformative power of psychotherapy help people make lasting changes in how they relate to themselves and others, and move beyond protective patterns that limit their capacity for satisfaction and joy. In our collaborative relationship, we will explore your inner world, and when appropriate, the impact of family, gender, culture, sexual orientation, class, temperament, current relationships, life stage, and daily stressors on you and your life.

I have been practicing as a psychologist in private practice for over 35 years. I specialize working with adults and young adults with anxiety and stress. I focus on helping people appreciate their strengths and resilience while earning to navigate the many challenges of relationships and life. My approach is primarily an integrated mindfulness, psychodynamic and acceptance-based cognitive therapy. I prefer to work collaboratively, teaching clients self compassion which can enable them to discover useful skills in overcoming anxiety.

I strive to co-create a safe, compassionate place to explore past relationships and experiences that have molded you and the past patterns that may have held you back from the happiness and peace you deserve. I can help you identify what you want to do differently in relationships and in life. My approach to therapy is deeply relational. I offer the warmth and connection to allow you to gain insight, self-knowledge & self acceptance. Whether you are carrying feelings of sadness or anxiety, the work that we can do together will show you that the changes you want are possible.

Making the decision to seek out and find the right therapist either for you or for a loved one can be tough. There are many variables to consider and the task can be overwhelming. I work with people who struggle with issues related to identity, mood, life transitions, conflict, trauma and resistance to therapy often because it is mandated. I provide a safe space where you can discuss the details of your challenges and ground the clinical work in the context of the therapeutic relationship.

Do you have relationships in your life that are not working, and no matter what you do, it doesn't seem to get better? Are you looking for a partner, but find that it never seems to work out? Do you feel disconnected from others and are longing for relationships that are solid and fulfilling? Relationships take work and psychotherapy is an opportunity to understand who you are in relationship and how to create and healthy and supportive connections. I work with both individuals and couples to explore, cultivate and sustain intimacy.

When challenges, pain and loss insist themselves into our lives, we are left with two options. We can work hard to protect ourselves, harden up, soldier through and try our best not to get hurt again. Or we can feel our way through the breaking down, we can get curious, and allow ourselves to soften and move into our broken heartedness. Sometimes it seems as though we have a choice about whether to move forward in our lives. And then there are those times when it's clear we can't continue in the same way.

I recognize that making a decision to come to counseling is not always easy, and will partner with you at your own pace to engage your natural capacity for healing and change. My style is warm, collaborative and non-judgmental. The way our time is spent together will be unique to your interests & needs. My practice is eclectic and may include mindfulness, expressive arts, nature, as well as traditional talk therapy, which we will discuss in our first meeting together. I'm passionate about providing therapeutic services to youth and young adults; and also work with adult clients & parents.

I provide a down-to-earth approach to self-exploration and personal development, recognizing the universality of both human suffering and human potential. I take a non-pathological approach to therapy, coming from a core orientation that each person is inherently valuable and has an innate capacity for wisdom and wholeness. My approach is dynamic and relational, being informed by a lifetime of psychological and spiritual inquiry.

Are you the outsider of your family of origin? You might be the family scapegoat. If so, you've probably experienced some of the following: treated as less-than, blamed, excluded, gossiped about, disowned, and more. And then, if you'd tried to address things, you might have been met with gaslighting, denial, or being dismissed. Your healthy anger might have been used as further "proof" of your badness or a narrative that you're mentally ill. And around and around it goes. But there is a way out.

Do you recognize some of these ways in which your or others' unhealthy anger gets expressed? Verbal abuse (yelling, cursing, insulting making threats, getting in people's faces). Emotional abuse (criticizing, putting down, intimidating). Physical aggression (hitting, shoving, slapping, kicking, choking, forcing sex). Property damage (breaking things, slamming doors, throwing objects). Internalization (stuffing feelings, seething, developing health problems, doing self-harm). Externalization (blaming others including intimate partners, bosses, co-workers, family, friends, the legal system).

We all want to be understood, accepted and loved; this can only happen through honest communication. Making the decision to seek help for you or your family can be part of that communication. I provide a safe space to explore, discuss and process important issues that affect the lives of you and your family members. I have an eclectic approach to providing psychotherapy. As one size does not fit all, therapy cannot be approached in the same way for everyone. It must be tailored to the specific needs, issues and problems that each person uniquely presents.

I believe in healing ourselves and each other as the first step toward healing our planet. My intention as a therapist is to guide people toward empowerment and healing in order to live their fullest and most joyful lives possible. I believe that we all have this capacity within us, and therapy can help us to move through our past trauma, oppressive social conditioning, anxieties and other stresses to be our best selves.

Life seems really good, right? Your family loves you. You love them too. You love your job, have a great career, or you are are working towards one. yet you feel sad, scared, hurt and lonely. You want to be happy, joyful and hopeful about life. Days and nights all run together and life seems meaningless and without purpose. Your relationships are not fulfilling. You have crying spells but you wear a game face like everything is going great. It's time to find joy and happiness. it's time to build and enjoy nurturing relationships.