In Person Therapists in Uptown, Oakland, CA

Hello! Welcome to my personal profile. I am Steve Foster, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist The majority of my experience has been in working with couples, married and otherwise, to improve communication in their relationships. "Taking the war out of words",and learning to take one another's perspective increase the likelihood of success in intimate relationships. I've also worked with those coping with substance dependency. I am a strong believer in the value of family, and in the power of living a clean and sober, recovery-centered life. Please feel free to call me to discuss your concerns.

If you are struggling with unbearable feelings, loneliness, identity issues, shame, guilt, and/or relationship difficulties, I offer a safe, non-judgmental space for you to explore yourself in relation to your world. My approach rests on the belief that our ways of understanding and coping with the present may be limited by our previous experiences. By working together, we find new expanded ways to help you understand and cope more effectively.

Do you long for a deeper sense of peace, wholeness and connection to life? Do repetitive patterns prevent you from having a fulfilling life and satisfying relationships? Any issue or symptom, such as addiction, depression or anxiety, or an underlying sense of disconnection, fear or doubt, is a message from your unconscious that something inside Is out of alignment. We will collaboratively explore your experiences and their meaning to help you connect to yourself and life in a fuller and more satisfying way.

I provide psychotherapy for adults, teenagers and children, consultation regarding parenting issues, and play therapy for children with behavioral or emotional issues. My work with adults has covered a broad spectrum - from people who are having problems with relationships or need help with stress management and coping skills, to people suffering from anxiety disorders and depression. I specialize in women's issues and life transitions. My goal is to help people get through difficult and challenging times and see opportunities for growth.

If you are coping with anxiety, sadness, relationship conflict, stress, or parenting challenges I help you manage difficult feelings and reduce your suffering. If you and your partner can't talk without arguing, have lost trust, or lost the spark and want to connect we'll identify what's keeping you from being close and develop the secure connection you want. If you are having trouble getting pregnant or needing help from outside parties to create your family we'll work through any difficult feelings and explore your options for family building so you can make decisions that build your family and fit your values.

If you want a more satisfying relationship or an improved sex life, consult with a California and New Mexico licensed psychologist with over 25 years experience working successfully with individuals and couples from many cultures, with specialized training in effective treatment of couples and sexual issues. Having shifted my practice to a couples specialty over the last decade, I now work 95% with couples, plus a few individuals focusing on relationship issues. I provide tele/video-therapy to clients anywhere in California or New Mexico and in person in Santa Fe. Call me for a free telephone consultation.

I have many years of experience in dealing with anxiety, depression, loss, life transitions, addictions of all types, and relationship and identity issues. I think my strength is that I approach people on a very human level, with respect, caring and humor. I feel "we are all in the same boat" (including me) and that we all need someone to take us seriously, listen carefully and know how hard it is to be vulnerable to a 'stranger'. I will do my very best to help you create the life you want. I have lost a child, so I have a special sensitivity to grieving parents and their challenges.

I consider therapy a collaborative effort, guided by your needs. Through meaningful conversations I address your goals, your beliefs & their origins, and look at what's not working for you anymore. Therapy gives you the space you need to look at what is true to you by exploring your boundaries and willingness to go to uncomfortable places. I've been working in a private practice since 2008, first as an intern and now as a licensed clinician. I am attentive, warm, and compassionate. I take my work seriously & believe a little humor can aid in the healing process.

I work with clients to help them heal from symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma. Therapy provides an opportunity to be completely yourself, without regard to the pressures or demands of the world around you. When you feel safe, you're more free to talk about change. I'll help you build upon your strengths and support you in becoming more aware of patterns that hold you back from achieving your goals. Together, we take a close look at those patterns and work towards healthier options. I believe therapy is an important investment in health and will help you create the foundation for a satisfied life.

I provide a safe place to address what's not working for you in your life. We will explore your life journey while bringing issues to light, encourage better life choices to be made in the present. I've worked with a spectrum of issues that leads someone to seek psychotherapy. We will recognize how you came to behaviors that may impact your ability to function and discover what will work better for you to live more comfortably. By creating a healing relationship within therapy we can work together to shed light on issues, developing your motivation to make adjustments.

I am a warm and caring human being with a clear understanding that therapy is not a "one size fits all" process. I fully appreciate the uniqueness of each individual, couple and family and will work with you to develop a plan that makes sense to you and addresses the realities of your life. Whether your goal is to improve your relationships, alleviate undesirable symptoms, bring more purpose and fulfillment to your life, rid yourself of unwanted behaviors, or experience more joy in your life, I can help you achieve these goals. Experienced in working with the LGBTQ community.

As a Clinical Psychologist, I help people create meaningful change in their lives. My approach is self empowering and compassionate with a sensitivity to cultural differences and social justice. My strength as a therapist is in making deep connections with people, creating a sense of safety and helping clients identify and confront their issues. My personality style is warm, sincere, and down to earth. Those who see me describe me as someone who is "caring, warm, a great listener, interactive, and offers honest insightful feedback."

I provide a spacious and patient setting that works especially well for those who struggle with feeling different/not fitting in, self-criticism, and/or setting firm boundaries. I believe there is a natural movement toward wholeness and integrity, given the right environment. I believe all parts of you are valuable, even the ones that seem dark and nasty. Many clients have appreciated a place to say things that could not be spoken elsewhere. I give guidance now and then, but am more interested in seeing where the process goes naturally and spontaneously, through conversation and understanding.

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.

Therapy provides such a rich opportunity for growth and learning, helping persons to recover from the aftermaths of trauma, abuse and loss, meet the hardships of their lives and thrive. In times like this, with so much anxiety about our collective welfare, it can be an invaluable lifeline. In response to the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, we are now offering teletherapy (therapy by phone and online by video) for all our clients, whether new or established. Also called telehealth or telebehavioral health, teletherapy can provide vital care and support to individuals, couples and families.

If you often find yourself feeling out of place or struggling inside—even though other people think you have it all together—I can help. I work with individual adults who are familiar with psychotherapy and want deeper, root-level healing for symptoms related to anxiety and relational trauma. This can include concerns around relationships, life transitions, overthinking, people-pleasing, self-doubt, self-limiting beliefs and thought patterns, boundaries, and self-criticism. My style is active, spacious, and focused on supporting you in slowing down, tuning into yourself, and feeling the healing wisdom that thrives within you.

People are often hesitant to try therapy because they feel it won't work or believe they should be able to handle difficult things on their own. If you're willing to try personal trainers, babysitters, house cleaners, and other services to better your life, doesn't your emotional happiness or the happiness of your family deserve the same focus? I believe that it absolutely does.

Healthy relationships, including the one with ourselves, are essential to our well-being. When problems become too much to manage, the therapy relationship provides a supportive space for recovery and personal growth. Discussing your experiences with a caring professional makes it possible to explore thoughts and feelings as they show up. Regular meetings support the process, offering the chance to know yourself more fully over the course of therapy.

I specialize in working with underrepresented populations, particularly those who work in tech. This includes people of color, women, LGBTQ folk, first- and second-generation immigrants, and first-generation college students, to name a few. The issues that people commonly come to see me for include depression, anxiety, identity issues, low self-esteem and confidence, work stress, and dating/relationship stress.