Couples Counseling Therapists in San Francisco, CA

Thank you for stopping by my profile! I'm a queer-identified therapist practicing in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. In my practice, I bring a comprehensive, holistic approach to healing, integrating all domains of life - from relationship, to spirituality, to work, and beyond - and draw on my own experience of healing in these areas to support your well-being. I have a strong belief in the positive power of change and am passionate about helping you find your strengths and achieve true healing.

Sometimes we feel anxious, depressed, ashamed, disappointed, or just plain numb because we think we should be better, faster, smarter, or simply not have these feelings at all. With the goal of moving forward in a more positive direction, relationship challenges, communication breakdowns, trauma history, substance use dependency, procrastination, fear, isolation, grief, positive expressions of anger, coming out, are just some of the things we work on in therapy. The solutions my clients seek are often found within, and I help them find them with insight, gentle nudging or sometimes with stronger, more direct interventions.

To me, a large part of therapy is about grieving, acceptance, and peace within ourselves and others; I am particularly good at helping people get in touch with their feelings. I tend to work with the heavier side of therapy, that include drug/ alcohol /cannabis addiction, domestic violence, narcissism, borderline, sex/porn addiction, sex offense, sexual shame, couples working through sobriety-recovery dynamics, infidelity, poly relationships, court, and anger management. I tend to work really well with those who enjoy dark humor, who are avoidant by nature, and those who are seeking redemption from guilt/shame.

The decision to start psychotherapy is significant as it often means that you are suffering in some way or you've realized that what you have been doing is no longer working, and you are seeking change in your life. As your therapist, I will help you find meaning in the connections of your story and the patterns of your relationships, as well as discover and challenge your conflicts, assumptions and limitations. Through this exploration, you will be able to know yourself more deeply and live with more freedom, possibility, joy and self-understanding. My approach is collaborative, warm, and authentic.

I am a Licensed Psychologist who works with adults in psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and couples therapy, Over the last 25 years, I have helped people with a wide range of problems including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, sexual concerns, interpersonal relationship issues, career obstacles, blocks in creativity, and the process of coming to terms with difficult and traumatic life situations. Usually my work extends further in helping people discover and develop a more lively and authentic sense of self, which in turn brings a sense of deeper meaningfulness and engagement in life.

Jamie Moran, LCSW, CGP, has worked in Mental Health and Health Care since 1984, focusing on individuals, couples, groups, and organizations. He currently leads seven psychotherapy groups for Gay Men weekly in San Francisco, and the Pandemic has allowed for members to join from outside of the Bay Area. Current groups are on Zoom, in the office (reflecting Covid health guidelines for office meetings), or a hybrid combination.

My approach to therapy begins with evidence-based treatment, addressing the immediate reasons you’re seeking support, followed by deeper work with the subconscious once your day to day becomes more stable. Together we can return agency to your life by collaborating on tangible solutions while uncovering the origin of limiting beliefs. I work with couples and individuals to recalibrate patterns of behavior that leave them struggling with depression, anxiety, co-dependency, or substance use.

Are you rocking that 'got-it-together' facade, but deep down you're really falling apart? You're not alone. Life's throwing punches, and the struggle is real. You're seeking direction and clarity, but you feel stuck, caught in self-doubt, and trapped in "stay or leave" dilemmas. The uncertainty is unsettling and you start questioning everything about your relationship…and yourself. Whether it's your marriage, career, or the sheer weight of everything around you—I get it. It's like having a hundred tabs open in your mind at once, making it hard to think straight and perform as you envision. You're exhausted. It's time for a change.

No matter who we are or what our background in life, much of our behavior is influenced by our unconscious mind, and I have learned that facing these unconscious motives in a relational therapy setting can lead to psychological healing, especially when combined with the physical body and somatic experiences. I enjoy engaging with clients in exploration, analysis, and reflective interpretation, and through this, developing a path of healing and growth.

Recognizing patterns and applying actionable techniques for change is the cornerstone of our work together. I customize an emotional insight approach, cognitive-behavior structure, and mind-body tools for each client. We can safely explore how trauma and family patterns may have seeded beliefs and feelings that no longer serve the life you are striving to live. My neurobehavioral training informs how I partner with you to shift thinking, feeling, and reactivity, positively impacting self-esteem and relationships. Between sessions, tools are offered for ongoing continuity.

Are you having trouble getting over a past shock or trauma? Are you frequently in overwhelm/collapse? Are you constantly bracing against danger, ready to fight or run away? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I can help. I specialize in working with people who have experienced being overwhelmed by events and experiences that have shaken their very foundations. I take time to assess your personal stress/trauma history and provide guidance and support to assist you in your recovery. I also help couples create sustained improvement in their relationship, creating more effective communication and fulfilling relationships.

There are many factors that can lead a person to therapy. Perhaps you’re experiencing a persistent feeling of fear, loneliness, or anxiety, but can’t quite put your finger on where it’s coming from. You may have experienced a recent change or loss of a loved one, relationship, or job that is profoundly impacting you. Or, it could be that the voice of your inner critic is so loud that they/she/he is all you hear.

Are you struggling? Are you feeling you have to withdraw from the world or you've lost some of the spark for living? Maybe you consider yourself unconventional in some way. You may feel like it's hard both to be yourself and to get the support you need, as if the message others are giving is "You can be your authentic self or you can have their compassion and understanding, but you can have both." Maybe this has lead to feeling isolated or like others can't truly understand what you're going through. Therapy can help.

Remember when it felt like your partner got you better than anyone? It felt so good to be SEEN. Now, small disagreements turn into big arguments. Sometimes you don’t even know what you’re fighting about, but you keep ending up in the same painful patterns. Don’t let your defenses stand between you and your partner. If you would like support getting back on the same page, email me to book a free call.

It's hard to be a person. Nobody goes through life without pain and struggle. We carry our experiences, whether difficult or traumatic, in ways that shape how we relate to ourselves, to our thoughts and feelings, our hopes and fears, and to the other people in our lives. We are often unaware of how these internal structures shape our lives in the present moment. Psychotherapy offers an environment, a method, and a therapeutic relationship with which to understand and transform how we experience ourselves and the world around us.

Starting therapy for the first time or returning after a long break can feel intimidating. You might have even had bad experiences before. I'm here to help. We will go at your pace because your experience is important to me. I believe that lasting change and healing can only happen when our whole selves are seen and welcomed. I provide a safe healing space and bring a strong, grounded presence so that you can begin to cultivate more love and compassion for yourself, connect with your inner wisdom and become more whole and authentic in your relationship with others.

I offer a holistic approach, drawing on depth psychology, somatics, spirituality, psychedelic medicine, relational theory and social justice activism in my work with patients. I am interested in working closely with adults, adolescents and couples, supporting them in their development and helping them reach their goals.

I offer Individual, Couples and Family Psychotherapy, in English and Spanish. I honor the principles of compassion, openness, acceptance, non judgment, equality for all. I use inquiry and mindfulness of emotions, thoughts and body to welcome and receive what wants to be seen; consider the multigenerational, biological, psychosocial and internal aspects of the human being as a way to better understand ourselves. I use Mindfulness, Attachment Focused therapy, (EFT) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Somatics, EMDR, transpersonal modalities. I offer EFT intensives for couples and families, and workshops for couples

To put it simply, I help people with relationship troubles, be they with significant others, children, siblings, parents, employees, employers or with one's self. I was trained first as a Marriage & Family Therapist and later as a Psychoanalyst. Both inform my approach to the work, focusing on the complex landscape of relationships within oneself and with others. Both recognize and inform the special role of the therapeutic relationship in the work of healing. My extensive studies have been personalized and humanized by over 30 years of clinical experience with the people I work with.