Brainspotting Therapists in Oakland, CA

Change, healing and growth are no small tasks. I know this first hand and am here to help others find their own success overcoming the pain and obstacles they encounter throughout life. I work collaboratively with individuals to identify sources of stress, discover unsuccessful patterns, embrace difficult feelings and develop both internal and external resources for getting to where they want to go. I hope to foster greater self-awareness, acceptance and compassion in all of my clients. I work frequently with adults struggling with depression, anxiety, social anxiety, trauma, grief/loss, attachment wounds and life transitions.

Are you feeling stuck in life? Maybe you’re struggling with relationship challenges, past traumas or work stress? Is shame, anxiety, anger or numbness affecting your ability to be happy? Maybe you’re wondering how your substance use, or that of a loved one, is related to any of this? I’d like to offer you a non-judgmental space to explore behaviors, beliefs and feelings that keep you from living the life you want to live. You are not broken and I would be honored to help you reconnect to the innate wisdom and power of your authentic self. My style is real, warm and respectful of your choices, whatever they may be.

If you desire growth, change, and an improved quality of life - it would be my honor and pleasure to support you in that process. Perhaps it shows up for you as feelings of anxiety or depression. Maybe it's the frustration with the state of the world. You might be a high performance athlete or artist working through a creative block. Whatever it happens to be for you, you want something different for yourself and I am here to collaborate with you to bring about the change you desire.

In my practice, I see children, adolescents and adults who are seeking help for a variety of reasons. Common areas of need include depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and relationship difficulties. With children, these concerns may express themselves through externalizing behaviors at school and/or at home. I offer an open, non-judgmental, and safe therapeutic relationship. My approach is adapted carefully to individual needs and is inclusive in regard to gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, culture, class, and religious/spiritual orientation. I work with many LGBTQ+ individuals in my practice.

Grief Recovery Support Group beginning June 2024! I have In person and online openings! I stay up to date on the most cutting edge therapies to achieve RAPID and long lasting effects. As a Certified Brainspotting Therapist, I focus on neuroscience - YOUR brain can HEAL from trauma, grief, and anxiety. Release the shame and inner critic that is no longer serving you. I help empaths and highly sensitive people who are struggling with overwhelm. Performers and artists have benefited from Expansion Brainspotting to overcome creative blocks! I’m trained in play therapy and drama therapy and work well with children and adolescents.

The toll of trauma, stress, anxiety, & depression builds over time, things that once seemed manageable turn into a life that's not our own, because we're stuck in survival mode. It's exhausting. As a therapist, my goal is to collaborate with you to safely navigate your inner landscape and put pieces together so you can uncover your unique abilities and create a mental health toolkit that will carry you through a lifetime. I am here to support you in working through unresolved feelings and conflicts and guide you toward healing. Therefore, you can feel empowered, rejuvenated, and enthusiastic about life again.

When difficulties are too much to handle or the next level of growth seems just out of reach, you may find yourself living with pain & stress. Some stress in life helps people grow, but chronic stress has a negative effect on your mind, body, emotions & spirit. You may find yourself using old mental, physical & emotional coping tools to survive, yet feel unable to make real change. Your ally in holistic healing, I offer a supportive, warm presence so you can explore what's difficult, hone your strengths, & gain simple yet powerful mind/body tools.

Are you going through internal struggle due to trauma? Do you feel anxious and depressed about the future? Do you struggle with family issues and relationship issues? I’m willing to meet you where you are, help you process unwanted thoughts and emotions, and help develop an action plan to effectively cultivate your healing and growth. I’m here to help you explore unresolved feelings (anxiety, depression, anger, helplessness, grief, etc.) and develop skills to effectively cope with them. Thus, you can feel relieved and fulfilled in your relationship with yourself and others.

In a world that often seems overwhelming with so many competing priorities, you might find yourself struggling to understand what's important, what you need or how to feel more free. Perhaps you feel stuck in a life or confused about what to do. You might often get blocked because you don't know where to begin. I'm here to help. I offer a compassionate, safe, and often humor-filled space where your journey of discovery and healing can start.

Have you experienced awful or traumatic experiences in your life? Have these experiences left you feeling dazed and confused about who you are and how to navigate life? Does your brain and body feel overly tired? Do you worry about just about everything? Have difficulty with decisions and follow through? Perhaps you’re engaging with alcohol, drugs, food, and other things in unhelpful ways to try to numb emotional pain. Negative life experiences leave negative imprints on your brain and body. Heal your brain and body to change your life.

As a complex trauma therapist, I specialize in a variety of modalities including: brainspotting, accelerated resolution therapy (ART), somatic experiencing, mindfulness meditation, and expressive arts. I work with teens and adults who have experienced childhood trauma.

Do you feel stuck in the same loops, repeating old patterns, and self-defeating behaviors? Through a mindfulness-based, somatic, and trauma-sensitive approach, I support you to break these cycles, let go of limiting beliefs and be free to live the life you want. I specialize in supporting individuals who struggle with issues related to anxiety, perfectionism, low self-esteem and depression. My style is warm, authentic and direct - I'm here to help you feel more grounded and self-assured so that you can better navigate relationships, life transitions, and daily stressors.

Are you wanting to feel better once and for all? Maybe you can't move on from the past or you're worried about your future. If anxiety, panic, or even depression is stealing your joy, I get it. If traditional talk therapy hasn't helped you feel better, it's time to try a new approach to heal at the source of your pain. For 12 years I have refined my approach through professional training and experience in Relational-gestalt therapy and Brainspotting (derived from EMDR) while centering social justice and trauma-informed care.

You don't have to struggle with day-to-day life difficulties alone. Are you facing personal growth blocks, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, grief/ loss, life transitions, family challenges, health or injury problems, work stress, or other types of emotional pains? My clients are diverse and I take the time to get to know your unique needs and goals. My approach is warm, sincere, and direct. You can expect a safe space to express yourself, relief from overwhelming thoughts and emotions, learn tools and get the right support to aid in healing. We can work together to help you regain balance in your life and feel empowered.

Is loneliness, grief, self-doubt and static hum of floating adrift governing your sense of being? Do you miss feeling like YOURSELF? Being Human is Hard. These past few years have put our minds and bodies to the test in ways we are only beginning to understand. I am with you. I can help you navigate the road back to your infinite fabulousness where you will have the confidence to hold the relationships, purpose, and self-love you seek.

Do you have a trauma, a significant loss, a relationship or a childhood memory, that seems to invade every part of your day, and you just can not seem to get past it? We all experience life events that change us, and therapy can help the healing process so you incorporate your pain into your life in a positive way. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Brainspotting & Somatic Experiencing (SE) are very effective tools to help process areas in your life or in your body you are feeling stuck. You can regenerate your self, and experience life in a new way.

My goal is to provide a safe and supportive container of warmth, presence, and non-judgement where you can bring both your vulnerability and your strengths. Whatever brings you to therapy, we will explore together at your pace and with your unique needs in mind. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, childhood trauma or grief and loss, we will collaboratively work together to find out what healing might look like for you. Our work together can help you recognize limiting patterns or beliefs, create new options, and shed light on forgotten inner resources.

Even living in progressive California, being part of the LGBTQ+ community can be beautiful, exciting, challenging, and heartbreaking which makes finding a LGBTQ+ friendly therapist that much more important. You might be questioning your sexuality. You might wonder where you fit in. You might simultaneously love your queer life, but feel like an outsider from your biological family or the rest of the world. You might be mislabeled or misgendered by others and it’s painful to not be seen for who you are. Being part of the LGBTQ+ community might only be one part of who you are and it might not be why you’re coming to therapy at all.

"I see things differently." I see you fully able to achieve your goals. I see you as one who likely needs a non-judgmental place to talk about things: your future goals, how drug/alcohol use, etc fits w/that future, & how you see yourself getting there: abstinence, sober curious. moderation. I'm a collaborator, one who's committed to listening deeply & providing a space to talk about anything, for individuals/families/all. I am not a therapist; my main focus is on today & tomorrow though we may visit the past. And I follow the science of change & addiction; it shows there's no one way to recover/change & that's great news!