Trauma and PTSD Therapists in San Mateo, CA

Currently full - Are you struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, or a lack of well-being and can't stop thinking about past hurtful events? I provide compassionate mindfulness-based trauma-informed therapy to individuals struggling with family and relationship conflict, grief & loss, the impact of trauma, and stress reduction. I believe that you deserve to be in a therapeutic relationship that is safe, validating, and collaborative. We all deserve this :)

My practice provide a safe, comfortable environment, based on principles of acceptance, non-judgment, and compassion. I'm addressing a wide range of issues, such as depression, anxiety, self-image, eating disorders, complex trauma, grief and loss, and issues relating to adjusting to a new country. As an Expressive-Arts therapist, I offer my clients the option to use their creativity, their body, and music, as avenues to explore their feelings and express themselves.

I am adept at working with families, couples and individual be they teens or adults in the area of trauma: domestic violence, PTSD as examples and how that influences relationships. I do this in a sociopolitical context which means that I consider the biopsychosocial and sociopolitical issues that affect the person with whom I’m working.

My name is Gretchen Slover. I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I explain that therapy is like a buffet that I will set, and you can choose what you would like to try. I work alongside my clients to help them make the best decisions to move forward towards their goals. I have experience working with individuals, couples and families to navigate relationships and reach goals. I work with clients who struggle with an array of thought processes that have them cornered in situations they would like to change. I have extensive experience working with high conflict situations in relationships as well as life trauma.

I work with children and teens struggling with problems around school, mood and behavior while providing developmental guidance and effective parenting skills for parents. I work extensively with adults struggling with relationship and mood problems while providing secrets of effective communication.. Through providing a safe and relaxed environment, I guide them through a process of self-examination of their own patterns of thoughts, feelings, and relationship styles that kept them from getting what they want.

Some emotions and experiences feel too difficult or overwhelming to face alone. If you are looking for a safe, compassionate ally to walk alongside you to help create a path towards healing, I would love to partner with you in finding greater meaning from your story. As your therapist, I empower you to resolve challenges in relationships by developing tools to build confidence, process grief and trauma, and develop healthier communication. I will partner with you in identifying your inner wisdom and core strengths to help you make deeper connections with yourself and others.

If you feel like nothing makes you happy, no one understands you, and reaching your true potential is an impossible task, I’m here to help. I will give my absolute best so that we together can solve your dilemmas—however small or encompassing. I am an English and Farsi bilingual California-licensed therapist with eight years of extensive professional experience. I have a Doctorate (PsyD) in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Thank you for your interest in my practice. I have counseled children and adults from many environments including school settings, low income neighborhoods, and non-profit agencies. I use a relational and psycho-dynamic framework and cognitive behavioral techniques. Children, adolescents, and adults often struggle with the stress of family, school, relationships, and the work environment. I enjoy helping my clients develop strategies to cope with these pressures. My private practice serves children, adolescents and families, as well as child-parent dyads dealing with depression, anxiety, and recovery from trauma.

Congratulations on taking the first step towards a happier, fuller and more fulfilling life that you deserve. I have been working with individuals, couples and families since 2008. As a Marriage and Family Therapist I am committed to help you resolve your life, career, family and relationship challenges.

Looking for a new way to experience therapy via a transformative conversation? Sometimes talking can feel like an interrogation, here I offer us conversations to move through and process feelings of depression, anxiety, complex grief and trauma, relationship conflict, or day to day life stressors that can feel overwhelming at times. It is through these conversations that we can identify those areas that have left you feeling stuck or lacking motivation that have held you back from living a life that you see for yourself.

Do you struggle with intimacy, sexual desire or trauma ? Let me help you reconnect with your core desire in a simple way. Sexuality can be a wonderful topic to explore. I will create a safe environment where you are the leader of your own journey, and where you are invited to renegotiate sexual challenges, stress and trauma at your own pace. I have a holistic approach: exploring body, heart, mind & spirituality. Together, we can find the most effective way to regain your full potential in intimacy and relationships. I am a Certified sex therapist, this means I studied an extra 3 years to better support you.

Living in the Bay Area is both exhilarating and challenging. With the pressures and responsibilities of time, work, and family, you may encounter challenges to find the balance and much needed support for your emotional wellbeing. Are you experiencing work or relationship stress or have other worries or concerns? You do not have to navigate this alone. Friends and family are usually well meaning and can provide support, but there may be times when it is appropriate to consult a professional who can focus on YOUR needs and find solutions to the challenges you encounter.

I support individuals and families in coping with challenges related to anxiety, depression, relational issues, and trauma, with a specialization in managing chronic pain, adjusting to illness, and processing grief and loss. Whether you or your family is navigating a major life transition, struggling interpersonally, or grappling with a medical diagnosis, I'm here to help.

My approach to therapy focuses on creating a safe and authentic space for clients to explore their feelings, patterns, and options. I assist clients in articulating their therapy goals so that we can collaboratively build a positive and productive therapeutic relationship. With over 16 years of experience in private practice, I have worked with individuals facing a wide range of issues, including depression, anxiety, divorce, complex PTSD, grief, body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, self-harming behaviors, parenting issues, and various relationship struggles.

I'm here to help you unlock your best self by tackling anxiety, panic attacks, and negative thoughts with a warm and empathetic approach. Using a blend of trauma-informed care, EMDR, and a positive narrative framework, I create a holistic path to personal empowerment.

Life can feel overwhelming sometimes. We may find ourselves following an unexpected path, unsure how to discover our place in the world. It is difficult to navigate life’s challenges and I want you to know that you don’t have to do this all on your own. I will bring a compassionate, nonjudgmental and empathetic energy to our sessions, while understanding that we all may need some encouragement at times. Together, we can work on issues related to trauma, relationships with others and ourselves, life transitions and changes, depression, anxiety and many other aspects of life that may be impacting you.

Are you struggling in a relationship? Do you feel stuck, alone or misunderstood? Change is possible! I believe that inherent in each of us, there is internal strength, wisdom and the capacity for growth. Through a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship, I’m here to help you heal, learn and connect. My approach is warm, non-judgmental and collaborative. I work in a holistic way that combines empathy and exploration to help you feel heard and foster self-awareness with more direct approaches to help you recognize unhealthy patterns, alleviate symptoms, and make lasting changes.

Are you or a loved one in a time of transition or uncertainty? Are you experiencing stress, anxiety or depression? Are you unsure about therapy, but nothing else has worked? I am committed to providing a safe and nonjudgmental space for you to give voice to yourself, and for us to collaborate on workable solutions to implement in your school life, work life, and/or relationship with others. My goal for you in therapy is to become your own therapist by gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and by learning what works for you in times of distress through leaning on your innate wisdom.

I am passionate about empowering clients to find greater meaning, connectedness, and joy in their lives. I seek to provide a warm, non-judgmental, safe space to explore your inner world, heal pain, break free from dysfunctional patterns, and improve your relationships. Through a holistic and relational lens, I take a collaborative, compassionate, strength-based, trauma-informed therapeutic approach. I will strive to meet you where you are with respect and authenticity to spur healthy transformation and lasting healing within yourself and interpersonally.