Family Systems Therapists in Oakland, CA

I work with folks in the intersection of being neurodivergent, BIPOC and queer to navigate the oppressive structures that prevent us from expressing ourselves authentically. Together we can process intergenerational trauma to truly meet your needs. My areas of focus include conscious parenting, eating disorders, and postpartum/perinatal mental health. In our therapeutic relationship, genuine, empathetic care and connection come first. I understand that healing is not only individual but also systemic.

As a therapist, I am committed to creating a safe container where you can get in touch with your own inner wisdom. I will be a collaborator with you on your journey of self-discovery and meaning making, to examine and explore the barriers and patterns that contribute to feelings of stuckness, confusion, and disorientation. I work best with indivusuals who are curious about their internal lives and are inetersted to have a more in depth exploration of their expereinces.

I am a trauma centered, queer therapist incorporating the body, family systems and collective liberation. I center the relational experience and hope for therapy to be a place of support to encounter all parts of yourself. I view therapy as a place to feel and be felt, one that can hold unknown territory. Our bodies know what they need even if for a multitude of reasons there is a not knowing. I orient the therapeutic container to hold the process of disentangling from the myriad systems influencing how we relate to ourselves and others.

Through counseling, I support individuals, couples and families to identify patterns in behavior and communication. Our work together will be collaborative and strengths-based. It will encourage shifts in the family to promote healthy expression of emotions and communication to improve relationships. I use a directive style of communication and an active and integrative approach. I encourage parents, caregivers and other family members to be involved in the therapeutic process.

As a person originally trained in psychodynamics, I care greatly about the experiences and relationships that have shaped you. I am currently perusing more training and consultation in Internal Family Systems and trauma informed approaches. Of primary focus, in my work with clients, is the therapeutic relationship. It is here that our patterns of relating often reveal themselves. Through the safe container of therapy, I invite my clients into new ways of being that invite more creativity, flexibility and deeper relationships.

When you've decided to get help, seeking a psychologist you feel comfortable with is as important as their skill and training. If I'm so honored to have you as my client, you'll find I utilize an integrated approach; a mix of gentle yet direct communication, mindfulness, cultural dynamics including family systems, psychoeducation, skill building using cognitive behavioral techniques, and of course explorative questions that help to uncover the emotional obstacles to your healing and progression in life.

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.

I'm based in the San Francisco Bay Area and provide virtual therapy to adult individuals and couples located in California. I provide a steady, consistent, and safe place to for individuals and couples to examine, understand, and heal their problems. I believe that relationships are the fundamental lens through which we navigate the world as humans; and whether you have experienced trauma or find yourself navigating new stressors or challenges in your life, together we will look to understand the complex systems that have contributed to your current experience.

Sometimes we get stuck, in our own heads, in unhelpful behavior, or as a couple. We strive for change but soon fall back into old habits, patterns, arguments or results. "It will be different this time, once again starts looking frustratingly familiar, but only with added dissappointment and sense of repeated failure. To some this may feel terrifying, to others hopeless. Whether you feel exhausted from worrying or trying to please others, or angry and frustrated with the situation, there is help. Toegther we can shift away from bandaid approaches with the goal of root-level healing and change.

Clients I work with tend to have experienced developmental trauma that interferes with their relationships to themselves, partners and family members; have taken on shame, blame, guilt or distorted thinking/gaslighting from their family systems often throughout generations; and therefore likely experience issues around trust, intimacy, vulnerability and self love. I am committed to helping my clients to gain more peace and safety within their personal bodies, their homes, their relations and their family systems so they can experience more choice, empowerment and joy in their lives.

Hello my name is Dr. Nekolas “Neko” Milton, I am a Registered Psychological Associate. I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. I operate from a client-centered, humanistic approach, focusing on aspects of existentialism, mindfulness, family-systems, multiculturalism, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, while keeping careful consideration of cultural concerns and practices. I have experience working with anxiety, depression, trauma-related diagnoses, and incorporate evidenced-based practices to address maladaptive patterns and behaviors.

Adjusting to life's changes and transitions can be overwhelming. You're not alone and, you've taken the first step toward healing. I have been a psychodynamic psychotherapist for over 25 years working with adults, parents and young children. I specialize in treating depression/anxiety, birth trauma, parenting, co-parenting, early childhood mental health, child development, grief, and loss. I utilize the models of Internal Family Systems, Gestalt Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and for parenting, Filial Therapy, T Berry Brazelton's Touchpoints, Early Childhood Mental Health, Circle of Security, and Fussy Baby.

If you have problems at work, at home, or from places unknown, I will collaboratively work with you to find a path forward. By being transparent and nonjudgmental, I meet individuals where they're at and support them in achieving their goals. I practice with strong ethics around having the folks I meet with be the experts in their own lives. I am committed to understanding individuals' unique stories and finding solutions grounded in their own experiences and resources. As a life-long learner, I practice cultural humility and enjoy working with people of all identities and cultural backgrounds.

If you are having difficulty with relationships, at work, with parents or children, I can help you identify the issues causing discomfort and learn new strategies for coping, managing and getting more joy in life. If you need someone to talk openly with about your challenges in life, I can listen and help you gain insight so that you can choose the best ways to proceed. If you feel isolated and judged, I can help you build confidence. If you are stuck in grief, I can help you get through it. I can help you see pathways where you might be inclined to see barriers.

I work with individuals and couples interested in gaining insight into relational patters with the goal of empowerment. I work with those interested in exploring the intersection of how we are shaped by society and culture, how we are shaped by our ancestors, family systems, and our own beliefs about who we are impact what we imagine we are and may become. I work with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, self-harm, self-confidence, and relational conflict who desire ease and balance. I am interested in sexual empowerment and sexuality, and I inhabit and work with alternative relationship styles including non-monogamy.

I am an African American, cisgender woman, dedicated to nurturing balance, grounded in ancestral strength and wisdom, and empowering intentional living. I have been employed as a Clinician and Clinical Therapist in the Alameda County community humbly serving school aged children and their families. I hope to support children, adults, families, and couples in this empowering work. It would be my pleasure to support you through your journey towards authentic living.

In my therapeutic practice, I seek to truly understand and validate my clients’ experiences. No two people or life experiences are the same and by continuously remaining curious about my clients’ experiences, it’s amazing how far back we can uncover unhealed trauma, history and patterns. I often approach therapy through a Family Systems perspective, which allows us to dig beyond the self and analyze how our family of origin, relationships and/or intergenerational patterns influence how we have come to understand the world and our behaviors. I also utilize evidenced interventions based on CBT, DBT, and more.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with 25 years of experience treating children, adolescents, families and adults. I provide highly indiviudalized therapy to each and every client. I integrate techniques from several theoretical orientations, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, family systems theory, and psychodynamic theory, to formulate an indiviudalized treatment plan for each client. Within the session, I create a safe, compassionate and confidential setting for clients to address their core issues and to work out past and present difficulties.

Could your child use some help with managing big feelings and impulses? Are these difficulties interfering with their functioning at school, home, or with friends? Does your child struggle with constant worrying or anxious ruminations? Are their fears getting in the way of their ability to enjoy life? My therapeutic skills groups are designed for kids who could use work on emotional regulation, social skills, and managing anxiety. Confidence Club can help your child master those skills and build confidence for life! Kids' groups are 12 week modules. Teen anxiety support group accepting ongoing referrals.