Relationship Issues Therapists in Oakland, CA

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.

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.

The only thing scarier than change, is thinking things will never change. We love our partner, yet we fear love may not be enough. The relationship seems stuck. We constantly miscommunicate. We fight even when there’s nothing wrong. It doesn’t have to be like this and we don't have to find a new partner to have a new relationship. I honor the courage and strength it takes to ask for help. Together we will slow down the process, identify harmful relational patterns, and replace those dysfunctional patterns with new more satisfying interactions.

Therapy provides such a rich opportunity for growth and learning, helping persons to recover from the aftermaths of trauma, abuse and loss, meet the hardships of their lives and thrive. In times like this, with so much anxiety about our collective welfare, it can be an invaluable lifeline. In response to the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, we are now offering teletherapy (therapy by phone and online by video) for all our clients, whether new or established. Also called telehealth or telebehavioral health, teletherapy can provide vital care and support to individuals, couples and families.

Welcome! You are not alone! I offer a personable, approach allowing you to feel comfortable on your healing journey. Together we will identify your areas of concern and develop a treatment plan to assist you and/or child, partner in your journey. I have a wide range of experience that includes disorders such as ADHD, mood regulation, women's issues, and relationship concerns.

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.

Welcome! My name is Anna (she/her) and I offer individual and couples therapy in Oakland and virtually for all California residents. I am passionate about helping you feel more engaged and connected to yourself and the people in your life. Maybe you are feeling lost in your relationships, or aren't getting your needs met. Your partner tells you that you are critical or that you don't open up enough. I understand these patterns. Together we can explore them and the unexpressed emotions or needs that lie beneath. Emotions are a powerful tool and when we can access them and express them to others, we feel more empowered and connected.

Are you ready to start improving your relationships and seeing yourself more clearly? Do you yearn for a sense of belonging where you don’t have to contort yourself to fit in? Would you like to have the person you are becoming witnessed and supported? Groups function as a microcosm of the real world, and give us an opportunity to understand our patterns in relationship and receive valuable feedback. Over time, group members learn they can be more fully themselves with others and gain confidence and capacity for more satisfying connections.

If you feel as if you are alone or different than others you are not. Are you having difficulty focusing, enjoying activities and increased anxiety? Have you begun using alcohol or drugs? Do you find yourself isolating and making excuses to not see friends or family? There is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. You could have a mental disorder. There is help, support and relief for your health issues. Starting therapy today will help you get your life back on track.

I'm a first-generation Asian American therapist who specializes in helping BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) teens and adults process and heal from immigration, intergenerational, and/or childhood traumas. My expertise also extends to other areas, including depression, anxiety, grief/loss, relationship issues, and emotion regulation. Together, we can explore your inner world and unlearn beliefs that no longer serve you. We can enhance your capacity to coexist with various emotions, tap into your body’s inherited wisdom, and develop healthy ways of moving through life’s dark moments.

I am trained to listen deeply, assess the cause of symptoms, and assist in developing strategies to reduce suffering. I have experience helping people cope with depression, anxiety, trauma, chronic health issues, acculturation/adaptation issues, and couple/family relationship problems.

I work with individuals, couples, and families to guide them to achieve more satisfying, meaningful relationships and social adjustment. I believe therapy is a collaborative, creative process to unveil hidden strengths and courage to motivate change and create new experiences in your life. Creating a therapeutic relationship that feels safe and trusting enough to take personal and emotional risks is important. Through an eclectic approach best suited for my client, I have had success treating a wide range of issues including: anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, past trauma, and grief/loss.

Our society often moves fast, and it is easy to get caught up and not allow the time to address the thoughts and emotional reactions that may emerge with challenges and changing life circumstances. With over 10 years of experience serving individuals across the lifespan, I provide an affirmative space for individuals to explore areas in their life where they would like to see growth and change. I also value the opportunities to notice areas of life that feel fulfilling, to explore strengths and reflect on positives. My style is warm and thoughtful. and interactive.

We all deserve to feel seen, heard & understood— and I genuinely want to know you and your story. I believe deeply in the transformative and healing power of a therapeutic relationship that is based in mutual trust, respect and brave vulnerability. I strive to create a safe, warm environment for you to connect with curiosity & compassion in exploring your inner world— together, we will make space for your past experiences, current struggles & the future you imagine/want for yourself. In undoing feelings of aloneness & experiencing emotional safety, we can grow to understand ourselves more fully and begin healing from pain & trauma.

I see youth, teens, adults, and partners, and I have a particular passion for work with emerging adults and individuals who identify as Neurodivergent. I focus on a wide range of issues including identity exploration, self-esteem, navigation of relationship dynamics, anxiety, professional growth, and decisions centered around having children and parenting. I find great joy in supporting my clients to cultivate a better understanding of their emotional experiences in the pursuit of greater fulfillment and connection.

First and, perhaps, foremost, I work exclusively in person. This does not mean I am not available by phone/Zoom/email/text, as needed, but I believe in face to face psychotherapy. I have a very reasonable sliding-scale for fees, which can be addressed in the first, free session. More than twenty years of experience in acute hospitals, a variety of outpatient settings and my own diverse, private practice has resulted in a very astute, intellectual and, above-all, case by case, customized approach to psychotherapy. No therapist is the best for everybody but I might be the best therapist for YOU. First session free.

Awarded Oakland Magazine's "Best Therapist" 2018 & 2020, my specialties include: relationship issues (such as conflict resolution, dating, pre-marital counseling, divorce, blended families, infidelity); grief & loss; addiction, recovery & codependence; anxiety & depression. My approach is both warm and direct-- my clients experience me as accepting and empathic, while also feeling challenged the right amount to grow and change. I am an integrative therapist, meaning I integrate more than one way/theory/model to view and treat psychological and/or relational concerns. See my website for education, experience and credentials.

I have practiced as a therapist for over twenty years and specialize in helping people integrate unresolved aspects of the past in order to live freely in the present. Exploring adaptive strategies which used to help but now are limiting; meeting all parts of ourselves with curiosity and compassion; cultivating consciousness around our thinking and feeling patterns; bringing attention to the body and working with the nervous system to soften areas of tension and holding - these are ways therapy can deepen insight and support ease and well being.

As an Integrative Psychotherapist, I base my approach from the relational work of Psychodynamic Therapy and integrate forms of Attachment Therapy, Narrative Therapy, CBT, DBT, Mindfulness Practices, Parts Work, Addiction and Trauma work - all based in Social Justice. I fully believe that every individual has the power and strength they need to actualize the changes they want, and can shift the old and new narratives of established stories and patterns of their daily lives.