Therapists in Fruitvale, Oakland, CA

Has your relationship become an angry, sad, or scary place leaving you feeling alone, hurt and discouraged? Are you and your partner feeling lost in conflict cycles you don’t understand and desperately want to change? Many of the couples I work with come to therapy feeling just like you. I understand how much courage it takes to reach out for help and to let another person get inside your relationship, especially when you are feeling so vulnerable. If you are searching for a safe place to explore what's not working in your relationship, and support in creating solutions, I can help.

I believe that the most effective route to change and healing is through self awareness, I strive to work towards that end in all the therapy I do, both with couples and with individuals. I have found that there is no more powerful tool for breaking old patterns and affecting real change than self knowledge. With people who are curious and willing to look inward, I can help them do deep work and find out who they are and why they do the things they do..

I’m Mark Dombeck, Ph.D, a trauma-informed licensed psychologist with 20+ years experience. I’m based in Alameda, CA, near Oakland, CA. I work with adults and seniors (not children), with individuals and couples, both in-person and online. I have three areas of specialization: 1) trauma & dissociation, 2) couples therapy, and 3) adult neurodiversity. I can help you address depression, anger, anxiety and shame issues, emotion-regulation and impulse control issues, executive functioning issues, interpersonal issues, relationship issues, personality issues, attachment issues and trauma issues.

I believe that individual power and potential is boundless, and yet I deeply understand how vulnerable we are to life's pain. The complex emotions involved in loss, family/marital conflict and unpredictable change often require us to find fresh perspective, rebuild internal resources and enhance our self-compassion. I am an active, emotionally engaged therapist with a broad and comprehensive knowledge base that is a touchstone for understanding your individual needs.

I have worked with people who are looking to find deeper meanings about the reasons they feel things like sadness, anxiety, confusion, rejection, and rage, to name a few. When we sit down, we will work together to sort out your feelings and then help with understanding them so that you can have more control over how you think and react. There are many different paths we can follow to make links between the past and current challenges. My goal is to listen and work with you to uncover thoughts and conflicts that can interfere with your happiness and comfort in daily living.

Difficult feelings can be a gateway for personal growth. I work with many individuals struggling with depression and anxiety, trauma, problems in relationships, stress management, and life transitions. My approach is to help you explore those difficult thoughts, feelings, and past experiences which prevent you from being comfortable with who you would like to be, what you want in your life, and the kinds of relationships that you want to have with others.

Relationships take work, but sometimes we don't know what work needs to be done, or how to do it in a way that strengthens the connections between us. That's where I come in. Therapy is like an objective mirror that reflects thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Through this mirror, you can begin to see a clearer picture of your relationship, so much so, that eventually you can carry that image outside of the therapy room & be happy & confident in what you see. In my work, I provide a space for vulnerability & understanding that allows these connections to foster change. We'll collaborate to make a plan that fits your specific needs.

Are you struggling with emotional distress, psychological injury or addiction as a result of childhood trauma or abuse? I specialize in helping young people, adults,and their Families rebound and recover from unresolved trauma and abuse, addiction and compulsive behaviors, stress and anxiety, grief and loss, relationship and intimacy issues.

I work with you to help you identify your real issues, and honest feelings about yourself, your life, your loves, your work, your family. I'll help you create real goals unlock emotional skills and intelligence to accomplish them. If you want to find out how to get practical skills and solutions to your issues, call me and set up a meeting.

Difficult times in relationships can often be gifts in that they open the door to a deeper exploration of ourselves and those closest to us. Seen in this light, therapy can be a step towards mutual evolution, rather than just a problem-solving endeavor. I work well with couples and families,helping to create a safe , trusting atmosphere where people can get more in touch with their feelings and express them to others close to them.I also work with individuals who have relationship issues.

My work is practical, eclectic, and deep. I am gentle and caring, yet focused and effective. I utilize mindfulness, cognitive therapy, and psychodynamic understanding to help clients make the changes they want. I look to see the goodness and strength of each person I meet. My interest in psychotherapy began with my own healing as a young man, and I have continued to grow as a person and a therapist.

Are you wanting to be more true to who you are but do not know if it is possible? Do you often repress your desires and ignore your needs? Does this end up making you feel stuck, unhappy, hopeless, sad, frustrated, depressed and/or anxious? Whether you were raised by people who failed to see you and support you, or in a culture that oppressed you, it is important that you do not give up. You deserve to prioritize yourself and be who you are truly meant to be.

I approach the concerns that bring somebody into the consultation room with the humanistic belief that therapy can best take place through a respectful dialogue that fully utilizes the resources of both the therapist and the client. I regard the blocks that make such a dialogue difficult a worthwhile topic of exploration that can yield a strengthening of the capabilities for problem solving and growth. I am a native Spanish speaker from Argentina, and I offer therapy in that language. I also see multicultural couples that need bilingual intermediation. I have a special interest in couples.

I work particularly well with both men and women with emotional and life issues, childhood trauma, and gay and straight couples with communication and other difficulties. I help individuals with serious mental illness make positive changes in their lives,and work with their families. I work with addictions and the intersection with emotional issues, particularly using 12-step programs.

For over 33 years I have been blessed to work with individuals and couples who put their trust in me to facilitate their own personal healing. Clients have relied on my devotion, warmth, insights and authentic presence to hold them in a safe, sacred space. Through a collaborative exploration, we explore the thoughts, feelings, belief systems that are at the root of life-long patterns. Awareness of these patterns is crucial. However, lasting change requires more than insight. We need to directly experience and release the underlying energies and wounds that block your life force, so you can live and express your authentic gifts.

I have worked with adults and youth for 25 years to help calm anxiety and lift depressed feelings and to find a way out of being limited by difficult emotions. My specialties include helping clients through life changes, issues related to work, school and personal relationships, anxiety and depression. Painful experiences or feelings from the past can cause us to feel disconnected from the relationships and opportunities in the world around us. I can work with you to help shift the unhelpful patterns of thinking and feeling to allow that valuable mental and emotional energy to be redirected towards positive change.

Welcome! As a licensed therapist in the SF Bay Area, I provide online video therapy to individuals with unique cultural identities. My goal as a therapist is to create a safe space that will enable you to ignite your inner strengths and achieve your life goals. I provide individual and family therapy for a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, grief, family conflict and relationship difficulties. I specialize in working with women struggling with issues related to motherhood and with people of color grappling with issues related to race and racism.

Are you feeling stuck on a past relationship or experience? Finding it hard to cultivate compassion for yourself? Yearning for more creativity in your life? Would you like to develop an openness to growth and problem-solving, or a fresh approach to parenting? If any of these topics resonate with you, or you are looking for ways to manage your depression, anxiety, or responses to a traumatic experience, I may be able to work together with you to find answers and new ways of living.

I do best with clients who are impatient for results. The average client sees me for under 12 sessions. My REBT/CBT approach is active-directive and present-oriented. I teach you how to be your own therapist. You're not dependent on me for years or even many months. I regularly suggest homework, enabling you to take an active part in your therapy and make it highly efficient. To understand how I work, go to www.ThreeMinuteTherapy.com. Feel free to call or email with questions: 415-673-2848 or DrEdelstein@ThreeMinuteTherapy.com.