Existential Therapists in Oakland, CA

Difficulties in life limit one’s capacity to experience joy, to move through painful experiences with flexibility and strength, and to live fully. The difficulty might manifest as depression, anxiety, and perhaps just a feeling that more is possible. Is a persistent feeling of lethargy or being down keeping you from taking the steps you feel you need to take? Do you worry excessively about the future, or about what others think? Do you feel that you are missing something? Are you trying to come to terms with existential realities?

I am a therapist who believes that healing is done within the context of relationship. This includes an individual’s relationship to their body, their environment, and interpersonally. I seek to help empower my clients in order for them to gain confidence in their own capacity to be successful. I hope to offer individuals an opportunity to enrich and find deep meaning in their lives

I love to work with people who are genuinely curious about who they are and are driven towards a deep understanding of themselves and others. Therapy is not only helpful in times of crisis & questioning, but it proves impactful during periods of stability and strength. I incorporate psychodynamic frameworks, existential processes, somatic or body-oriented exercises, Parts Work, EMDR and mindfulness or spiritual perspectives in order to address the totality of the human experience. Ultimately, our work is driven by your needs. To read more about my approach, visit my website at www.suzannemadamsphd.com

Services: I provide individual psychotherapy for adults, using an approach involving mindfulness based practices and an existential-humanistic mindset. I am a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked across the full spectrum of psychotherapy settings, including private practice, mental health clinics, inpatient settings, and day treatment programs. I have also held numerous clinical leadership roles, such as the director of a county outpatient mental health center, and the director of an inpatient psychiatric unit.

My ideal client is highly intelligent, intellectually curious, and sincerely open to change. Many clients, including lawyers, have "checked all the boxes" and have hit walls of frustration and dissatisfaction. I have navigated those profound challenges and my life's work is to help others find their authentic paths. As a licensed psychotherapist and attorney, I also work with other attorneys to secure reasonable accommodations under the ADA to address challenges attorneys experience around anxiety and depression within law firm environments, especially Big Law settings.

What am I doing with my life? If that question resonates with you, we should talk. Existence is beautiful, sure, but it can also be very painful. I focus with clients on identifying sources of pain or unhappiness in their lives, and discovering effective ways to manage or eradicate these. Emotional agony manifests in many different ways, from substance abuse to depression, from burnout to existential despair, from anxiety to self harm and suicidal thoughts. We will explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences together, and we will make things better.

Are you experiencing difficulties concentrating? Do you ever feel that your mood is so low you can’t get out of bed? Do you struggle with anxiety or obsessive thoughts? Are you finding yourself wrestling with existential thoughts? Maybe you’re experiencing a combination of issues that just don’t let you feel like yourself? Whatever you’re experiencing, I’m here to help. Through our work together, we can identify your core issues and make a plan to address them using an individually-tailored and holistic approach to achieve your goals. Let’s embark on this journey of healing together!

Hi there! Finding a therapist can be a daunting task. Perhaps you're seeking extra support during a hard time, wanting to enhance your relationship(s), or feeling ready to explore some shadowy areas in your self. Maybe you are facing some existential or spiritual questions, and seeking personal transformation. All of these are vulnerable pursuits, and you want to find a therapist that feels comfortable for you! I'd love to talk with you and see if our connection feels right for the special work ahead of you.

I create an experience tailored to your individualized needs and goals. Instead of sticking to a template, we’ll identify how to ensure you feel most comfortable expressing yourself. Therapy can deepen your awareness—which could mean welcoming back parts that you feel disconnected from, discovering new thoughts or ideas, or working with feelings that don’t seem to fit easily in your day-to-day life. As a result, you’ll start to better understand the unique factors that influence your relationships and behaviors: your strengths, values, intuition, and emotions. With new perspectives, you can prepare to live with greater authenticity.

Psychotherapy is one of many ways to improve the quality of your life and your relationships with others. While emotional wounds from the past are often the source of challenging symptoms, our sessions focus on the present as well as the past. I place great value on a solid therapeutic relationship and through this relationship, insights will surface and positive changes can occur. My style is collaborative, interactive, and supportive. I work with an open caring heart and humbly bring my authentic self to our sessions. I welcome individuals and couples of all ages and from all walks of life.

If you are feeling stuck in your life, if you want to try something radically different from typical talk therapy, with the possibility of profound and rapid results, I can offer you Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). KAP is used effectively for treatment of depression, addiction, PTSD, chronic pain, and other psychiatric diagnoses as well as for existential, psychological and spiritual crises and growth. Working with KAP, you may experience shifts in your sense of self, a decrease in negative/repetitive ways of thinking, greater hope, self esteem, and self-compassion. Let's chat and find out if I can be the therapist for you.

A good therapist helps us get to know ourselves fully. Better understanding our motivations, thoughts and feelings reveals more fulfilling, effective choices. Exploring what is getting in our way of having deeply satisfying relationships is essential to living a full life. I often address issues of: understanding a partner's motivations, life purpose & transition, transparent vulnerable & authentic communication, finding/creating fulfilling relationship, confidence & leadership, men in relationship, trauma, and integrating presence in daily living.

I work with clients from diverse communities who seek support for challenges related to racial and ethnic identity, major life transitions, and existential concerns. I also provide psychedelic integration support that is culturally sensitive, based in reciprocity and acknowledgment of indigenous cultures, and trauma-informed. Forgiveness, compassion, and patience for ourselves and our own unique healing processes are key to embracing our inherent strengths and finding self empowerment. These are valuable tools I hope to help you cultivate.

For over 11 years I have been developing a specialization working with adults to repair phase-of-life injuries, traumas, and persistent interpersonal and occupational troubles. I bring an open mind rooted in existential philosophy; I incorporate narrative methods to assist my clients in re-narrating experiences into useful, meaningful and life transformative stories. I have a useful background teaching in secondary schools in California for 12 years prior to becoming a therapist.

With warmth, curiosity and practicality, I will partner with you in our sessions to discover what healing and change look like for you. Whether you'd like to learn how to better manage anxiety, move through a big transition with more ease, recover from a traumatic event, need help navigating the loss or death of a loved one, or want more support with adjusting to a new or ongoing disability or medical condition, you don't have to do this alone. Together, we can figure out the stuck places, help you identify your goals, and equip you with the tools to chart your path forward.

I view psychotherapy as a collaborative process between therapist and client, where the relationship is part of the healing process. My style is active, creative, and holistic. I will meet you where you are, not-judging, engaged and curious. I work with clients who struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, shame, relationship distress, life transitions, and existential dilemmas (questions about the meaning of life, questions about dying and death). I also have experience working with individuals struggling with dual diagnosis (addiction and mental health issues combined).

During unsteady times, we can become consumed and overwhelmed by our own pain and suffering. We may hide from the world and even from ourselves. The idea of being seen may evoke shame, fear, and anxiety that can keep us stuck. In our work together, we will practice navigating the crashing waves of life, diving below what seems to be true, and connecting with something larger than ourselves.

Are anxiety and stress keeping you from living your life to your fullest potential? Are you feeling stress weighing on you internally or causing you to feel exhausted and hopeless? Together we will explore ways to grow, further develop self-acceptance and unearth traumatic experiences and daily stressors that are hindering you from achieving this potential. I will be available to provide an unbiased listening ear and warm spirit as you reimagine the life you want for yourself. In this safe and accepting environment, we will develop an action plan to better manage your unique symptoms and your life.

Are you looking to escape the influence of negative childhood experiences? Are there problems standing in your way, such as depression, anxiety, addiction, codependency, or trauma? Do you want to be more fully yourself, to experience a greater sense of wholeness and freedom? Do you want to become more aware of unconscious motivations? We can find answers to these questions and work towards a greater sense of meaning in your life. I can help you to understand your dreams as a source of guidance. I am highly trained and bring over 30 years of experience to helping people from late teens to older adults with a wide variety of problems.