Alcohol Use Therapists in San Leandro, CA

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you go; they merely determine where you start.” - Dr. Lauren Fogel Mersy. If you are feeling ready to start, welcome to my practice. I am committed to creating a therapeutic environment where you are met with compassion and competency in order to feel safe to share about the issues, difficulties, and fears impacting your life. I am also honored to welcome you back to therapy if previous experiences with therapy and/or therapist(s) have felt harmful or unsafe.

I believe you're the expert. You know where you’ve been and what you ultimately need, and you may just need a little support finding your way. My job is to help you find those undiscovered parts of yourself, and support you to move toward a more fulfilling and joyful life.

I am a licensed psychotherapist working with individuals, families, couples, adolescents, children, and groups using EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and humanistic modalities.I embrace cultural diversity and am experienced with treating a broad spectrum of clinical issues such as trauma/PTSD, anxiety, depression,addictions,grief and loss, marital, relationship,life issues, and stress management among others.I work with all ages, starting from age 3 on up.

My name is Larisa Escalante, and I am licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 140018). My approach to therapy is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a highly effective and evidence-based therapeutic modality. In addition to my expertise in CBT, I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Brainspotting therapies. These trauma-focused therapies are instrumental in helping individuals process and heal from distressing or traumatic experiences, fostering resilience and emotional growth.

Each person is unique, therefore so are their concerns. I approach therapy based on the individuality of each adult, teen, and child, and their personal needs. Assisting you in working though thought patterns and feelings that are causing you distress is my goal. Being the parent of a tween/teen, you might find yourself looking for answers to questions that allude you. Often there are issues you would like to have a better understanding of, or a way to process them. I will assist you in finding the tools needed for you or your child to live a less stressful and more fulfilling life.

Living well - mind, body & spirit - is the goal many strive for daily. However, sometimes life throws you a curve ball and you find it hard to keep all the balls of life going. Working as a professional Social Worker for many years in hospitals and various other settings has afforded me the opportunity to have extensive experiences with clients that have had multiple needs. My specialties include: general life adjustments, crisis intervention, grief and loss, substance abuse, trauma, mild to chronic medical conditions and illnesses, interpersonal violence (Domestic Violence, Abuse and Sexual Assault), community violence, re-entry and adoption/foster care issues.

I am committed to collaboratively working with you in a safe environment to provide support in your endeavor toward a solution to your unique and special needs. I provide therapy to families and couples, as well as individual teens and adults. I assist clients in dealing with stress of illness, cultural and life transitions, personal growth and development, and relationships.

The line between what we want, need, and can deal with can be a juggling act. Striking a balance is not always easy. Think of your life as an overflowing suitcase. Consider what it would be like to have help opening that suitcase, and take out or adjust a few things in it to lessen the load. That's working with me. I aim to help you find and learn to value your truest self and work on how to release, shift, or find new ways to carry your experiences and move within - or break free from - the systems you're a part of (systems like: family, school, work, community, and society).

Therapy is Sacred Ground. People's hurts, dreams and hearts are sacred too. I honor the the courage it takes to face difficulties from the past and begin to live and dream again. I have years of experience helping people manage transitions and experience victory over past traumatic experiences. I advocate for and help guide clients to rediscover their personal resilience and internal resources to overcome difficult circumstances and issues (trauma, depression and anxiety). I am a calm, compassionate listener who enjoys celebrating your growth and helping you to embrace new meaning in your life with joy and courage.

I'm not the stereotypical therapist who will listen to you and then reply with "Uhmm hmm. And how does that make you feel?" I prefer to be real, interactive and engage in a conversation with you. My hope is that collaboratively we can generate creative solutions to the issues that brought you in to my office. I enjoy working with individuals, couples and families. I believe that people are more than the sum of their problems and I approach my relationship with you from this perspective.

Are you experiencing depression, anger, anxiety issues? I am a Spanish speaking Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 10 years experience of working with adults, adolescents, and families who have experienced trauma, abuse, and crime victimization. I am experienced in crisis intervention, conflict resolution, individual, and family therapy. I support families with gang membership issues and individuals out of the prison system; including abused, neglected and trauma or community violence impacted families. I have worked with anxiety, depression, individuals with suicide attempts, addiction and DUI issues. Mondays and Saturdays

Parenting can be a deeply conflictual experience. Sometimes we agree with Bette Davis who said "If you have never been hated by your child, you have never been a parent." Other times we identify with Anne Lamott's notion that "There really are places in the heart you don't even know exist until you love a child." The seemingly unpredictable alternation of positive and negative feelings that come with raising a family can be painful and bewildering, and our self-esteem as parents suffers most when it becomes difficult to access the good in our closest relationships.

My primary values as a provider are courage, wisdom, and compassion which I seek to hold out for all of my clients to experience and take hold for themselves in their lives. I want you to experience that you are not alone in what you are going through and that deep, lasting healing and change are possible.

My goal is to empower individuals who call the Bay Area home to live their best lives by utilizing my education, skills, and experience to enhance evidenced based practices. My experience as a child welfare social worker has gifted me with the ability to support individuals who are struggling with the most challenging issues which could include attachment issues, behavioral challenges, family discord, couples issues related to parenting, substance abuse, anxiety, depression and anger management. Additionally, I have a passion for working with the underserved African American and L.G.B.T.Q. community.

Dealing with depression, anxiety or stress can be overwhelming — it isn’t easy to do. Every one experiences “ups and downs” in life but some “downs” can be more problematic than others. Let me help you. I offer compassionate and honest help for: repetitive relationship problems, difficult with emotional intimacy or closeness, problems at work or school, periods of marked depression or anxiety, over-consumption of alcohol or drugs, compulsive or addictive use of a computer, phone, tv, shopping, food, exercise, work or obsessive thinking and vulnerability to self injurious or self-sabotaging behaviors.

I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor; I prioritize guiding clients down the path to wholeness through the practices of healing and integrating all parts. I include processing shadow work, healing parental and childhood attachment wounds, ego dissolution, and reprogramming belief systems to become the highest version of self. I currently work with clients suffering from mild to severe depression, bipolar disorders, adjustment disorder, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and addictive behaviors.

What's happening in your life today? How can I help? Some need to address painful life barriers they are faced with due to depression, anxiety or trauma. Others want to figure out why their interpersonal relationships are conflicted and stressful or that they still haven't met the person they want to be with. Sometimes people come because their past has limited their future, and they need to get it all out on the table and figure out how not to be constrained in achieving their personal goals. How about you?

I specialize in relationship issues with over 30 years of clinical experience. I provide compassionate care when you are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, or feeling stuck. I work on shifting problematic thoughts and behaviors.

Maria Curameng Teresi is a licensed marriage, family and child therapist, and has worked in mental health and behavioral health since 2004. She works with people who have been abused and experienced different types of trauma. She helps her clients reduce the effects of trauma including anxiety, depression, stress, starting and completing tasks, and struggles with relationships, with career goals, with life changes and with managing mood changes. She supports her clients to reach their life goals and live their lives in healthy, productive and effective ways that is unique to her individual clients.