Psychodynamic Therapists in San Francisco, CA

A good therapy session should feel emotional and immediate, yet grounded in the past so one can understand and feel old experiences in new ways. Sometimes there is laughter and sometimes there are tears. A good therapy session feels alive and satisfying.

I imagine you’ve been hard on yourself lately. Thoughts like, “you’re not good enough” or “you should be over this by now,” may play on repeat, unchecked. My approach is focused on self-compassion, the art of reworking internal narratives to respond to yourself in a gentler, more understanding manner. You may not feel ready or deserving to treat yourself more kindly, but I would be honored to hold that warm space for you until you are.

I have over 20 years of experience working with adults, children, adolescents, and couples in a variety of settings. My approach involves warmth, honesty, insight, compassion, and humor. My philosophy is grounded in the core Humanistic principles of genuineness, empathy, and respect. Through my work, I have helped people from diverse backgrounds achieve improved health and move toward greater satisfaction in their lives and in themselves. I encourage individuals to tap into their own inherent strengths to find new, and more constructive, ways of navigating life's problems.

I specialize in supporting adults, older teens, and couples facing difficult life transitions, relationship issues, intergenerational/ historical traumas, grief/loss, depression and anxiety. I provide support from a multicultural lens, taking into account physical, mental, spiritual, emotional wounds. My work is deeply rooted in empowering and supporting individuals on their journey of healing. I sit alongside them as they mend emotional/behavioral wounds and uncover inner strengths, insight and increase awareness about themselves.

Whether you are facing transitional or deeply rooted challenges, psychotherapy is a powerful way to regain balance, and bring back meaning and a sense of purpose in your life. You might find yourself at a time when you feel stuck, struggling with various difficulties. It is my goal to support you in uncovering patterns that no longer serve you and in fostering new experiences to support your own growth.

After over 30 years of clinical practice I realize that getting involved in therapy takes great strength, endurance, and commitment. I am always willing to offer clients a safe environment with my own strength and commitment to do the work that needs to be done. My work with children has helped me work more effectively with adults and my work with adults have helped me work more effectively with the children.Please note that during the virus crisis I am conducting sessions both in person(with some requirements) and on a Hippa approved video therapy network.

Hello! Whatever your reasons are for considering counseling, I hope that you are able to see the wisdom and the bravery in seeking assistance. Our mental and emotional health are important and have a large impact on our relationships, careers, and general well-being. They should be treated as a priority. Consider that people go to the gym to take care of their bodies, and that taking preventative measures are more effective and efficient than waiting until something breaks down. We take these attitudes towards our bodies, why not our minds?

Through compassion, humor, and gentle challenge, I work to create a supportive environment to help individuals and families overcome temporary setbacks, heal old wounds, and change dysfunctional patterns. My areas of expertise include anxiety, interpersonal trauma, issues related to parenting, early childhood mental health, and disruptions in early attachment.

Do you find yourself having a difficult time coping with anxiety, depression, and trauma? Do you have a hard time communicating and setting boundaries with others? Life is full of obstacles and hardships that may be difficult to overcome without the right tools, resources, and, guidance leading to the manifestation of these symptoms. I specialize in working with adults, couples, and adolescents using a Psychodynamic approach to explore unconscious thoughts and behaviors. In doing this, we are able to collaboratively recognize old ineffective patterns and process unresolved feelings and trauma.

I practice within a psychodynamic, relational framework, with a focus on issues of trauma, neglect, depression, anxiety and isolation. My clinical experience have been in hospital and hospice settings that surround anticipated grief and bereavement; community mental health outpatient settings and research institutes. Reaching out for help can be a daunting and vulnerable step, and understanding what it is you are entering into can help soften feelings of confusion and apprehension.

Often in life there are unexpected events or life transitions that challenge our abilities to cope or understand our sense of self or purpose. When what has been helpful to navigate life is no longer working, symptoms may show up in the form of sadness, depression, anxiety, stress, physical ailments, feelings of isolation, or an overwhelm of emotions that may be difficult to manage alone. I view therapy as a unique opportunity for honest observation and exploration in service of creating a deeper connection with your inherent nature as a way to discover how you can find support from yourself, as well as, feel supported by others.

In my 20 years in practice, I have supported many people looking for a deeper relationship with themselves and others; people with a wide range of concerns and clinical presentations. I have a particular interest in developmental and attachment trauma. The tools I utilize are also highly effective in relieving chronic stress, and in helping almost anyone cope who feels stuck emotionally, physically, or spiritually. Whatever your unique needs, I'll work closely with you to identify what's holding you back - and ways we can help you move forward. I also support clients in the integration of psychedelic experiences.

I am accepting clients for therapy, coaching, and testing. E-mail is the best way to reach me for a consultation. As a clinical psychologist, I offer therapy and coaching for personal/professional growth. I work with clients to enhance coping with stress, bolster resiliency, and overcome obstacles to living more fully. I also specialize in psychological/personality and intellectual/academic testing and assessment. I have worked with clients of all ages from numerous intersecting ethnic, racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds, as well as a wide range of sexual and gender orientations and various abilities/disabilities.

I've been in private practice for twenty years offering psychodynamic therapy and psychoanalysis. I received my B.A. at the Un. of Iowa where I studied poetry and creative writing, my Ph.D. in clinical psychology at U.C. Berkeley, trained in psychoanalysis at PANY-NYU. I am on the Faculty at San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis, currently accepting new patients only in my San Francisco CA office. I take Aetna insurance through Headway. I've worked with children and families on early attachment issues, adults with depression, anxiety, early trauma, creative blocks, gay and lesbian issues, psychosomatic problems.

Are you experiencing a life transition, job change, or relationship break up? Perhaps you are feeling lonely or disconnected from the world around you. Having a professional to talk to during such times can be a great relief. PSC is a community mental health clinic providing psychotherapy to the San Francisco Bay Area community since 1997. We train California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) Clinical Psychology (PsyD) doctoral students. Our aim is to provide competent, compassionate, and affordable therapy to clients facing a diverse range of issues.

I work with individuals and couples who are seeking to transform their inner and relational conflicts into opportunities for growth and life change. I have seen deep transformation take place in clients when they begin to learn compassion for themselves and begin to address the source of their symptoms so that true and lasting change can occur. Clients I work with most are those suffering from mood disorders, complex trauma, PTSD, midlife transitions, and relationship issues. I also offer support to family members of individuals with mood disorders, PTSD and ADD/ADHD. I also offer clinical supervision to associates.

My clinical approach is multi-disciplinary and rooted in psychodynamic theory, existential psychology, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I also have a background in integrative health and wellness, which can contribute to a more in-depth perspective on treatment. My style is collaborative, intuitive, direct, and non-judgemental, and I encourage clients to be true to themselves and transparent. Although treatment is based on an individual's needs and goals, principle themes in all treatment are to help one regain one’s confidence and strength and to reinforce one’s resiliency.

I enjoy supporting my clients' curiosity to uncover and explore what contributes to who they are and how they connect with the people in their lives. I work especially well with traumatic experiences, troubled upbringing, grief and anxiety. If you want to understand or change the way you relate to yourself, your story and the world and maybe are longing for a more authentic self expression and acceptance or sense of iner strength, we might be a good fit. I believe that sustainable change happens from the inside and you have the capacity to create this change.

I offer a heartfelt approach to therapy that is warm, engaged, and focused on getting to the root of the issues you want to address. Often we are scared to face our upsetting thoughts and feelings alone. I feel honored to be able to accompany people on this journey as an experienced guide. In this role I will help you to process unresolved feelings and experiences and also work with and ultimately heal parts of your self that may be keeping you stuck. My aim is to help you get to a place where you feel liberated from old feelings, beliefs and patterns and more authentically and vibrantly connected to yourself and those close to you.