Feminist Therapists in San Francisco, CA

Many of us struggle each day under the weight of old wounds, challenging relationship dynamics, and internalized narratives that keep us from thriving. Your suffering and symptoms might feel like too much to hold alone. We all have the ability to navigate and adapt to adverse life events and circumstances, and therapy can help us cultivate the sense of agency and clarity we need to create inner and outer change. I will provide compassionate presence and a safe environment where you can begin to explore the parts of yourself that are hurting, be seen in all your complexity, and work collaboratively toward healing.

In my experience, external circumstances directly reflect internal workings. Therefore, to change our outside life, the work must start within. My practice is about meeting ourselves in the present moment with the understanding that as we feel into our pain, expansion of experience is opened, allowing for greater expressions of love and joy. The therapy becomes a place to be with what we so often deny ourselves, the tenderness, shakiness, fear, suffering, connectedness, love, bliss, and so much more.

Whether you're struggling with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, relationship difficulties, or feel lost or hopeless, some type of past trauma may be spilling over into your present life. But you don't need to be held hostage by the past. Help is available! And the most important ingredient in your healing and growth is the relationship you create with your therapist. Why? Because the emotional wounds, behaviors and beliefs that keep us stuck occurred in our relationship with others, which means healing also needs to occur in relationship. This is precisely what the counseling and psychotherapy services I offer are all about.

Starting therapy and finding the right fit can be a daunting task. I view the therapeutic relationship as something that is co-created over time and as the primary tool for healing. I have experience working with ages 3-50+ providing specific insights and tools relevant for the progressive stages of life and the many difficulties that can come up along the way. Focusing on the here and now, we work to increase self awareness, compassion, insight and care while simultaneously holding the larger context within which we meet, including ways that race, gender, class and culture impact our experiences and identities.

You don't have to do it alone. People often come into therapy when they have hit a crisis in their lives. It can be hard to feel like your usual coping mechanisms are not working anymore, or the situation you are dealing with is more than you can handle. Having a warm, compassionate, supportive, and qualified ally to listen and help with these issues in a safe and confidential space can help you feel less isolated and overwhelmed.

Many relationships have faced challenges over the past few years. You might be feeling stuck, or struggling to resolve differences with your partner. As a certified AASECT sex therapist & long time couples counselor, I help identify& understand what lies beneath these stuck places, building true relational safety. Using easy to implement tools for healthy communication, I help couples negotiate desire discrepancy, find creative solutions for low-sexual marriages, and navigate the impact of extra-marital relationships: including infidelity repair, polyamory, & consensual non-monogamy. I am kink aware & LGBTQ+ friendly.

Life can feel overwhelming--but it doesn't have to. If you have experienced trauma, whether recurring or as an isolated incident, even the typical stresses of a normal day can provoke anxiety, fear, anger, or withdrawal. Luckily, therapy can provide you tools to deal with life's challenges, enabling you to minimize your stress levels and continue your personal growth. I will guide you to increased happiness and well-being by supporting you in exploring and enacting lasting, positive changes in your relationships with others, and most importantly, with yourself.

We cannot get through life without experiencing difficult times. None of us can. Whether it's dissatisfaction in a relationship, family conflict, career predicament, trauma, or personal distress, we all experience suffering at some point. And yet, how we respond can make all the difference in our future and the future of those we love. Therapy can often be one of the first steps on a path toward a life that is fulfilling and allows you to be your authentic self. The best place to start is right where you are; the time to start is now.

As a licensed therapist, I have dedicated my career to helping people thrive. But the uneven nature of the process always struck me as limiting the human potential. Each of my clients has an incredible power to heal other people, but they’re not being empowered to use it when they see me for 1-1 therapy. I now specialize in an innovative and transformative small-group approach called Effective Listening. This unique method is taught in groups of 6 people, and each person gets to learn to use their awesome healing power and to be an instrumental part of each other person’s transformational journey.

This human experience is at times daunting. Even welcomed life transitions can leave us feeling untethered. You may be struggling to feel comfortable in your own skin, find deeper connection in your relationships, or knowing your place in this world. I believe in the innate wisdom each individual possesses. I will accompany you into this lifelong process of returning to your sense of self. We come to know ourselves more fully through our relationships even as the discoveries may be startling or disorienting. Through these explorations you will find a deepened connection with what you ardently seek.

Sometimes anxiety, depression and trauma responses impact your relationships and work. My approach is to provide deep, abiding support to help you come back to center, allowing a more resilient self to emerge. Together we will build on your strengths to address life challenges with the aim that the consultation room is a safe space where actual life strategies are developed. You and I can address issues ranging from phase of life challenges, Work stress, relationship conflicts, trauma resolution, depression and anxiety management or the impacts of addictive processes in your life.

Have you ever been told you're "dramatic," "too sensitive," or "too much?" I love working with folks who think and feel deeply. If you grew up with invalidating or abusive caregivers, it might be challenging now to know how to regulate your emotions. But emotional depth and sensitivity is also a great gift. You may be seeking therapy because your emotions are "out of control," your relationships are causing you anxiety, or you want to do a deep dive into your past traumas.

I am a licensed clincial social worker and board-certified music therapist. I aim to provide therapy that is anti-racist, accessible, queer affirming, sex and body positive, kink aware, trauma informed, and accepting of all relationship styles. My current focus is providing individual teletherapy to LGBTQIA2S+ adults experiencing life transitions and wanting to heal from trauma, depression, and anxiety. I am also passionate about working with people who are exploring sexuality, gender expression, and gender identity. I am able to provide letters for gender-affirming medical services if that is a part of your journey.

Lisa Pepper-Satkin, MA, MFT is an Executive Therapeutic Coach helping high-achieving leaders actualize BIG visions. She is also a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator. Lisa uniquely integrates 25+ years’ experience as a Licensed Psychotherapist and Entrepreneur, fusing these disciplines in a unique approach she calls Executive Therapeutic Coaching. She assists the client in recognizing what personal blocks and entrenched behaviors are preventing them from achieving optimal results by creating a safe pathway to explore what is getting in their way. She combines these skills to guide highly committed people.

As a CBT (Cognitive Behavioral) therapist, Anahata uses logic and humor to inspire healing and change. She loves working with thoughts of all varieties and provides a comfortable and supportive environment to ease your therapeutic experience. Anahata explains concepts through metaphors that help new ideas become part of your everyday thinking processes. With over 10 years of experience working with people diagnosed with severe mental illness, she has excelled in learning how to best serve people in her private practice.

Eating disorders can feel hopeless, but they aren’t. Whether this is your first time seeking help or your umpteenth time, I believe everyone can recover.  Just as there are many reasons why an eating disorder manifests in your life, the way you recover will be just as unique. If there was a one-size-fits-all solution, that would perhaps be as deceptive as the problem itself. Whether it’s perfectionism, judgment, loneliness, self-improvement, health, fear, family issues…Together we will discover what invites these problems into your life and begin to find what recovery means for you.

Life, with its many surprises and challenges, has a way of distancing us from our true self at times. If there are any parts of you that feel stuck, confused, anxious, depressed, broken; If you are having doubtful, fearful, or critical thoughts that are weighing you down or interfering with your contentment in your relationships or family or work, therapy can help. In therapy, I guide you to connect to your inner wisdom, the “true you” that knows what is right for you, and we work to unburden you from unhelpful thoughts and behaviors so that you can find more energy and live a more free and fulfilled life.

Do you feel that your everyday challenges are beginning to overwhelm you? Have you set goals for yourself, but you have not been able to achieve them? The solution is in sight. With skill, professionalism, empathy, and compassion I can help you to achieve your goals and the life that you want. Because you are a unique individual, I will tailor my treatment methods to fit your unique situation and needs. I believe that we all have what it takes to meet and conquer life's many challenges and difficulties.

I work with clients who are dealing with a variety of life challenges including anxiety, depression, shame, gender dysphoria, trauma, and low self-esteem. I have worked extensively with clients from the LGBTQ community, and I am particularly interested in working with transgender and gender non-conforming adults and adolescents and their families as well as individuals and partners involved in polyamorous and non-monogamous relationships. Therapy is a space for healing, but I believe that it is equally important that we center joy, growth, and resilience in this work as well.