Existential Therapists in Oakland, CA

The essence of effective psychotherapy is found in the therapist's understanding, empathy and caring for you. Trust in our relationship develops from that foundation. My primary commitment to you is to help you grow in self-awareness and self-empowerment, and to help you take the necessary actions that will actualize your growth and development in the world. If you struggle with feelings of fear, shame, helplessness, worthlessness and anger; traumatic emotional, physical and sexual experience; challenges in relationship; dysfunctional behaviors; unfulfilled aspirations; questions about your life's meaning; and physical illness and aging, I can help you.

You are always becoming the person that you are. My approach to depth psychotherapy starts from this premise. Who a person is and how they come to understand themselves is an on-going life-long process. There are times in life when that process is disrupted and as a consequence, we suffer—struggling to locate ourselves and find our way forward. That suffering is best alleviated through collaborative understanding and insight building. In this way, my approach is a holistic one—as I see each individual as a sum of their total life experiences rather than a collection of symptoms.

It may have taken you a long time to get here, or maybe just a few sleepless nights. The fact you're here today means something is different from yesterday. You may be ready for something different in your life. A good fit with a therapist is key in supporting and helping you figure out what and how to make the change(s) you want. I'm genuine, collaborative, and transparent. Fundamentally, we all struggle with making the most of our lives and relationships, with meaning, purpose, connection, and belonging. Therapy brings our expertise together to help identify and create what will make your life more satisfying and fulfilling.

Do you want greater freedom from the impact of trauma, depression, anxiety, substance use or relationship issues, so that you can start to live the connected and vibrant life you've envisioned for yourself? Have you tried plain talk therapy without much success? Many patients have experienced significant improvement from ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) after just a short course of treatment. I offer sliding-scale KAP in my practice, in partnership with Journey Clinical—an organization that has a specialized medical team that determines eligibility for KAP, prescribes the ketamine, and monitors outcomes.

I specialize in both individual trauma and grief work, as well as work with couples. I am a certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist, (CEFT) and I specialize in working with couples to address and remedy destructive communication, breaches in trust, infidelity issues, premarital counseling, and sexual incompatibility. My approach helps couples to reestablish a sense of connection by allowing couples to better understand the areas in their relationship where they have difficulty feeling that they each see eye-to-eye, by facilitating clearer communication of what both are needing from each other in order to feel more connected.

I work with individual women, men, couples & alt. structures. I am particularly interested in the healing of men and women's relationships with each other, both in individual & couples work. My clients often desire to improve relationship w/ self & other, communication skills, sexual intimacy, & changing painful patterns. Additionally, feeling unseen, stuck/misunderstood, low self-esteem, shame or anxiety. My work here is often in uncovering how these issues were rooted, have function, where the strength lies, and how all are an opportunity for transformation into living a more fulfilling life. In the ways uniquely fulfilling to you

My approach is grounded in Cognitive-Behavioral and Attachment Theories. I also incorporate the practices of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). I aspire to meet clients where they are, and help each individual to work on his or her expressed goals. I enjoy taking this journey with clients to navigate some of their most difficult and challenging moments in life, to help prevent troubled kids or young adults from more serious trouble, and to help all clients who seek my support turn their life's biggest challenges into opportunities for growth and lasting change.

As a practicioner on a creative, spiritual, or healing arts path, you face a unique set of challenges, and your work can bring up unconscious issues that you might have never noticed otherwise. Sometimes working with someone to heal on a deeper level can be useful. Together, we can work to help you access your inner clarity and wisdom, feather out the personal, interpersonal, social, creative and spiritual facets of your experience, and bring them together in new and healing ways. You don't have to do this alone! Call me to see how I can help.

I see therapy as a collaborative process. In a sense, you are my guide—and I am yours. Together, we will explore your nature and seek for an embodied understanding of your path toward well-being—as defined by you and your goals. You are the expert of your own experience. I fully respect and celebrate this fact, and encourage in all my clients the growth of self-awareness, creativity, intuition, self-love, acceptance, empowerment, self-support, compassion, imagination, meaning, and sense of purpose—the roots of a healthy life. I am here to help you align with the natural healing power inherent within life, within you.

Life guarantees each of us joy and despair. And yet, our highly individualistic culture seems to over promote self sufficiency. I've found that life transitions, relational and professional challenges are considerably more manageable with consistent support. Through reflection, collaborative brainstorming and guidance in noticing response patterns, clients in my care become more aware. This growing self awareness uncovers outdated beliefs, surfaces issues that need tending and, most importantly, gives folks more agency around their daily life choices. I enjoy this discovery process with individuals, couples and parent/child teams.

Do you feel lost or stuck? Disconnected from your body or emotional needs? Perhaps unfulfilled or as if you can't seem to break free from a relational pattern? I see you. You're not alone & I'm passionate about supporting you back home to your truest self. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, or are experiencing obstacles in your relationships, I want to work with you to gain more clarity & confidence around communication, needs, boundaries & intimacy. I believe that healing happens in relation- whether to self, other, or the environment & I am intentional about creating a conscious, trusted relationship with my clients.

I know the journey of life is not an easy one and sometimes we need some help to get through unexpected struggles and get in the way of living a happy and healthy life. I am dedicated to the holistic healing of the mind, body, and soul. Many people describe me as warm, understanding, and down to earth. I pride myself on integrity, commitment, and passion for the work I do as a therapist.

I work with adults and teenagers who are looking to manage symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma. I will be with you on the journey of healing to discovery, recovery, and connection to your true self. I also specialize in working with individuals experiencing life transition issues such as career/academic concerns and relationship stress. I approach therapy with a person-centered mindset to create as comfortable and welcoming an environment as I can. I believe the trust built between you and a therapist is one of the more powerful tools we as clinicians can offer, and I hope to garner that trust in my own practice.

I specialize in trauma (EMDR certified), grief and loss, career, disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, depression, and anxiety. I provide counseling for individuals, couples, and families dealing with all types of issues and mental health disorders. My approach is process oriented and goal directed while providing psycho-education and resources. I will help you access your inner strength and build tools to cope, grow, and heal.

Is anxiety, depression, or trauma holding you back from being your true self? Do you feel stuck in managing difficult life transitions? Now, every little thing becomes super overwhelming. Those negative experiences reopen old wounds and cause new ones. You tried burying your pain hoping it would go away. You feel lonely and tormented. You feel exhausted, stressed, and angry all the time. You wonder how much more you can take. You are unsure of who or where to turn for help. In the midst of this painful journey, you do not have to go through it alone.

Are you bothered by an upsetting event (s) that you cannot get out of your mind? Do you know something is holding you back, perhaps from your past, but you can't seem to shake it? Have you tried traditional talk therapy, but your past still has a grip on you? Exciting breakthroughs have been advanced in our understanding of how our brains mange memories. The latest research shows that non-traditional therapies like EMDR, can more quickly & deeply help us heal and recover from traumatic events and live more satisfying lives.

People come to therapy for different reasons. Some of my clients have difficulties with personal relationships, some are dealing with stress or anxiety, depression, or grief and loss. Some are dealing with traumatic experience. Our work together will help you identify and remove the obstacles that stand in the way of achieving your goals.

I view therapy as a collaborative process where we work together to understand the challenges you are facing. My initial goal is to provide empathy and relief, while working in the longer term to help you feel more open and able to access parts of your experience that may be hidden. This can be scary and vitalizing, and I view work with each client as a unique journey where the path to healing unfolds over time. For me, the ultimate goal of therapy is to help you both accept and challenge yourself, and thereby become more fully who you are.

I believe people can awake at any time to a full life, one that benefits themselves and others. Some therapy clients I see have a mental health disorder while others find themselves in rocky relationships or they feel trapped between conflicting impulses and expectations. Some are facing a difficult diagnosis or chronic pain or unrelenting grief. Others find themselves in a crisis of meaning or a spiritual emergence. Whatever the case, I help folks find their way to freeing themselves of mental and somatic patterns. I believe change is inevitable, and it’s best to put our hearts into it.