Couples Counseling Therapists in San Francisco, CA

Our life experiences can lead us to question our identity and purpose in the world we live in. This can lead us to anxiety, depression, and trauma. Do you want to improve how you face challenges, function in your relationships, and face overwhelming feelings? I place heavy importance on addressing trauma. Trauma disintegrates the parts that make up your whole self, which can leave aspects of who you are hidden from your awareness. Left unaddressed, anxiety and depression can worsen, which can rob you of the necessary connection that all human beings need to thrive. I aim to help you process unresolved trauma.

Life can be better... we can feel, think, and live more in alignment with the ways that we really want to. Psychotherapy is an effective tool that can help get us there. While friends can help relieve loneliness and various medications can ease symptoms, the process of psychotherapy helps us to change the way we experience and interact with our feelings and with the world around us. For the past 20 years I have had a full-time psychotherapy practice and have helped many individuals and couples activate potential and live fuller more rewarding lives.

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist committed to treating individuals, couples, and families. My clinical interests include treating couples’ issues in transition periods (preparing for marriage, parenthood, or divorce), spiritual or religious issues, depression, anxiety, trauma, and other life transition issues. I use a variety of therapeutic approaches in working with clients and the relationships they have in their lives. Using an integrative change model, I highlight the strengths of different theories to fit the client’s identified needs.

I work with individuals and couples who want to shift relational problem patterns by healing from trauma, deepening their self-awareness, and strengthening their connections with others. I offer tools to help people gain insight into their behavior, learn how to effectively manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and ameliorate destructive cycles. Collaboratively, my clients and I improve their self-concepts. I use a relational, attachment-based framework and draw on EMDR therapy when indicated.

* ADULTS: I work with issues of loss, stress, anxiety, depression, abuse, sex addiction, spiritual guidance, and developmental life changes.* CHILDREN: I invite their stories that may be troubled due to emotional and academic issues. Through play, art and sand tray, I address issues of divorce, traumatic losses, abuse, adoption, bullying and low self esteem that may be affecting your children. * COUPLES: My passion is to help the couple find a yet unknown way to a compassionate, loving, open communicative relationship; to become vulnerable to the pain and wounds of each other's soul.

Life can present us with challenges we're not prepared for. Underlying issues can make it difficult to cope resulting in difficult moods -- anger or irritability, overwhelm, depression or anxiety, sadness, grief. Other reasons for therapy include relationship troubles (e.g., romantic, family, friends), unresolved trauma, demanding life transitions, stubborn self-defeating patterns, and low self-esteem undermining your life. Psychotherapy can help you move proactively through these challenges with better outcomes and more confidence.

In-Person Therapy in the Outer Sunset. Do you and your partner have the same argument repeatedly without finding a resolution? Are you struggling to manage your child's tantrums or having difficulty agreeing with your partner on how to parent your child best? If you are facing these challenges, attending therapy could benefit you. Together, we will work towards rebuilding trust in your relationship, healing old wounds, and developing healthy ways to relate to your partner or child. It's time to invest in your well-being because you are worth it.

I can help you make changes in your life. I work with adults, couples, families and children to address stress, emotion and identity. I provide a nonjudgmental, safe and supportive space for you to explore stuck and challenging relationships, alter unproductive thoughts and behavior patterns and navigate transitions in your life. While therapy doesn't have all the answers, working together on some of these issues can help you to feel more empowered. I enjoy working with LGBTQ families, those who identify as polyamorous, and women of all shapes and sizes.

Learn how to feel more connected to yourself, others and the world around you. Therapy provides all the elements of intimacy: honest communication, vulnerability and trust. Good therapy is challenging yet warm, providing both structure and empathy for your unique experience. We are a collective of therapists with a wide range of specialties. Our intake professionals will help connect you with the right therapist for your needs. We make appointments easy, offering evenings and weekends and flexibility for creative professionals who can't make the same time each week.

Sometimes we feel stuck and need understanding into our own feelings, thoughts and behaviors. We may wonder if there is a way to face difficulties in our lives that allow for change and growth. We are all conditioned through our familial, cultural and societal systems. By examining the intersections of our identities, we can look closer at how early experiences have shaped us. Through self-reflection, we may be able to begin to unlock patterns and increase our awareness around areas where we struggle.

Dr. Rebecca Poplawski is a licensed clinical psychologist with an interest in trauma, couples therapy, and mood disorders. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings throughout California and has experience working with a wide range of presenting concerns, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and borderline personality disorder. Dr. Poplawski works from several modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and emotion-focused therapy.

Something doesn't feel right, but you can’t quite figure it out. Or, you know exactly what you'd like to change, but you're not sure how to get there. You feel exhausted, overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, burnt out, sad, or lost. I help couples at any stage improve their relationship functioning. I work with high achievers, corporate & tech leaders and creatives who want to build skills for managing stress, tolerating difficult emotions, and balancing drive with ease. I bring insights from ten years of experience in Fortune 100 and tech startups (series A - IPO), and a lifetime of involvement with creative communities.

Whether you're facing communication challenges, navigating conflicts, or seeking to deepen your emotional bond, I aim to support you in creating a more fulfilling and loving partnership. I understand the importance of a supportive, nurturing, and non-judgmental environment for couples to feel safe and valued as they navigate their relationship. My goal is to ensure that our work together is collaborative, focusing on what matters most to you and your partner. With extensive experience in working with diverse populations and a wide range of relationship dynamics, I bring a wealth of knowledge to my practice.

In a fast-paced world, relationships can suffer under stress, leading to a sense of disconnection. Embracing the Gottman Method, I specialize in couples therapy & marriage counseling, helping couples navigate complexities, re-establish communication, and rejuvenate their bond. Beginning the journey to a healthier partnership is a brave step. My role is to ease this process with an empathetic and practical approach. Recognizing the unique tapestry of each relationship, I apply evidence-based strategies to create a safe space for both partners to grow and reconnect.

No matter what is happening in your life and what you are going through, you can expect me to hold a dedicated relational container to meet you with compassion, empathy, warmth, and curiosity. I believe these qualities of mine are what make a therapeutic relationship successful to accompany your healing and transformative journey. I don’t take your trust lightly, and I believe trust and safety are earned in an on-going process.

Being a therapist is one of the greatest joys in my life. It allows me the opportunity to encourage and witness the human growth process in a profound and personal way. Research shows that modern day distress is caused by isolation and disconnection, which many of us feel even in relationships. We are social creatures who thrive when we feel connected, especially to those who matter the most to us. The work and goal of therapy is to explore and strengthen our connections, first and foremost to ourselves, then to our partners, our families, or people in general.

You have the right to exist in the world just as you are. If you're here, something within you may be initiating growth. Maybe you're tired of feeling 'stuck', maybe there are questions you have yet to voice or maybe there is a dissatisfaction with your life or your relationships, most importantly the relationship you have with yourself.

It's not always easy to be a person. My job as a therapist is helping you figure out what works for you. I'm particularly good with clients who feel they don't fit the mold of societal expectations. I enjoy working with people who may be cautious about psychotherapy. My areas of expertise include relationship issues; depression and anxiety; chronic illness and disability; the impact of illness on couples and families.

People often begin therapy because they are in emotional pain or a crisis and need relief from their suffering. While difficult, it is often the catalyst that opens the door to creative life force and new possibilities in living in the world. Psychotherapy is a deeply personal, individualized, alchemical process. I serve clients in the areas of trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), relationship issues, anxiety, addictions and self-development. I assist clients in not only getting relief from their suffering but also enhancing their personal and spiritual lives and having healthier relationships with themselves and others.