Female Therapists in Oakland, CA

Sometimes, we get stuck in patterns that might have been helpful at some point in our lives but are not so helpful to us now. These patterns show up in the ways we respond in our relationships, in work/school, to challenges, and to ourselves. We’ll approach therapy as collaborators to build up your skills and strengths to get you unstuck. In our work together, we'll gently explore the past, so we can create an action plan for a different future. We'll recontextualize what no longer serves you and make space for your curious, creative self to emerge.

I am a trauma focused therapist for individuals and families who have experienced single or multiple adverse events in childhood or adulthood, and intergenerational trauma. It isn't always easy to reach out for help after these experiences, in my role as a therapist I am committed to assist my clients in this courageous step toward their healing journey. I am currently accepting new clients who live in California for tele-therapy through live video conferencing.

The focus of my practice is working with folks from various communities figure out how to best navigate their lives. As we get older and work towards becoming more successful, it can become harder to figure things out, while also staying true to ourselves and prioritizing our needs. Sometimes we just need a mirror to help us see what is working well for us, and to help us figure out what is next. Whether you are experiencing life transitions, work stress, relationship challenges, anxiety, imposter syndrome, depression, grief or other challenges-I am here to partner with you to help you live your best life.

When challenges and struggles in life arise, you do not have to walk alone. Whether you have experienced a recent life transition, loss, setback, have struggled with mental health or addiction challenges, or, are seeking support to heal from a recent or childhood trauma, I will be honored to guide you to gain control of your life and reclaim your personal power. I have committed nearly two decades holding a safe and empowered space for adults, children, and adolescents to discover their human potential, heal from trauma, and develop the tools to live a life of vitality and empowerment.

I work with the belief that all beings have the inherent ability to be well and their best selves. Through traumatic experiences, the pace of life, and other circumstances that challenge us, we can lose our way. We'll explore your internal inspiration, and the needs and strengths that might have become buried over time and what in the external pieces of your life, work, relationships, habits and stressors can be addressed with a focus on moving you forward to life you deserve to have.

I specialize in critical therapeutic services for adults. I provide strength-based, collaborative & non-diagnostic psychotherapy which focuses on cultivating resilience & insight. The cornerstone of my practice was built on exploring embedded issues of loss & shame that impact identity and are exacerbated by race, class, gender, learning differences & socio/cultural conditions. I work with people of all ages, backgrounds, orientations & ethnicities. My practice was refined through my work serving persons harmed through the provisions of systems: educational, criminal justice, foster-care and/or military systems.

"Reaching out is the first step. I invite you to take that first step and CALL me at 510-652-1902. I look forward to talking with you."

I believe that inside each of our struggles there is a choice and it's from this place that we can reconnect to and reclaim our inherent wisdom and power. My intention in our work together is to help shed light on the path to help guide you home to yourself

There is a common thread I see in many of the clients I work with. We are fighting to be good, to be honest, to be successful and yet we feel lost. Maybe you have done everything you thought you needed to do to be happy and you are still suffering. Maybe you feel you have to constantly perform in order to be accepted. Or maybe you wonder… if anyone saw the real you, all of you, would they stick around? We all yearn to belong. We all want to be free to be who we are. Often times the stories we have learned to tell ourselves keep us trapped in ways of being that are restrictive and exhausting.

Being in therapy is a creative process of self-discovery where your whole self is welcome, just as you are. As I join you by making room for what’s hard to say or what has never been spoken, you may feel transformations in what once felt frozen in place. The space we hold for your words in therapy is enlivening, and often leads to deep insights and relief from painful psychological symptoms toward engaging in life more fully. I see individuals and couples who are seeking relief from ongoing conflicts, experience issues with sexuality and intimacy, or who want to find their way back to who they really are beyond shame and guilt.

Have you landed here feeling lost, overwhelmed, and alone? Maybe you are navigating relationships, life transitions, grief/loss, struggling with depression, anxiety, or trauma? I am here to help. It was through my own personal experience of crisis in my 20's, aided by my observant nature and insatiable curiosity about the human condition, the lead me to pursue the path of a psychotherapist.

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.

At times, life can be incredibly challenging and painful for all of us. I specialize in supporting folks figure out the root of their difficulty and find the clarity and strength to move beyond their hardship. Whether you're feeling lost in how to address your issues or feel weighed down by trauma, I am here to sit with you and help you no longer be defined by these difficulties.

Welcome! I offer psychotherapy to adults, couples and other relationship configurations, families and teens, as well as sex therapy. I am a Certified Sex Therapist (CST) through AASECT and am also a gender care provider. I believe therapy is a collaborative process; you can think of me as a companion as we travel down the roads of your growth together. If you have been thinking about starting therapy, I invite you to contact me. I am committed to helping my clients become the most authentic version of themselves.

Unresolved childhood issues provide recurring challenges in adulthood and may show up in the form of sadness, worry, relationship problems, substance abuse or poor self-esteem. For adults abused as children, complex trauma may leave one with panic, obsessive thoughts, self-harming behaviors, or mood disorders. Sometimes individuals are given many diagnoses and medications and end up in therapies that do not resolve their underlying issue. Dissociative processes go unrecognized in many therapies, resulting in treatment that may not resolve the underlying problem, leaving one symptomatic. In my professional experience most individuals change and grow through a successful therapeutic encounter.

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.

Currently offering Virtual Sessions only. I keep things very friendly & casual by using relatable language, questioning ideas about being 'broken' or needing 'fixing' & avoid certain buzz words that can alienate others. By including humor & other non-traditional approaches in my work, I am a good fit for those looking for someone who is not very 'therapist' like but still has all the experience, therapeutic skills & insight to help create positive change. I am often able to connect with children & adults that have previously not enjoyed or benefited from counseling. I do not see couples or really young children due to telehealth.

I believe you’re here because you haven’t given up. Some part of you knows more is possible — more joy, more connection, more ease, more fulfillment, more meaning. You're grappling with complex emotions and experiences, seeking a safe space to explore and understand yourself at a deeper level. Whether you're questioning your identity or your purpose, grieving the loss of someone you love, feeling stuck in yucky relationship dynamics, or struggling to find your way out of anxiety or depression — therapy offers the necessary time, space, and connection to heal and grow.

Have you been feeling stuck? Having difficulties making changes, or knowing what to do? Are you navigating a sense that something is off? I can help. My clients say I'm easy to talk with because I'm present, compassionate, and am real with them. I listen actively and reflect honestly, engaging in creative, authentic, and occasionally humorous ways. I share tools to help you change the patterns in your life that make you feel stuck. In my strengths-based, trauma-informed, creative and client-centered approach, you will find your way back to yourself: your unique voice, movement, vision, and your way of loving and being loved.