For students who have not been in therapy, and sometimes those who have been, there are often many questions: When is therapy right for me? How long can therapy last? Is therapy only about talking about feelings? All of these are important questions, and there can be different answers based on what has brought you to consider therapy to help you with your problem or your feelings of distress. There isn't necessarily a "right time" for therapy. Some students have specific problems they w...
My undergraduate focus was in math and science. However, through the years I decided that relationships were more important and realized that most individuals don't have the tools to form good marriage, family, and friendship connections. Much of this is the result of poor parenting that leaves an individual fearful, without confidence, and having no idea how to navigate life's challenges. Children are precious and deserve to feel loved and secure. This is difficult if their parents weren't ...
Adjusting to life changes and managing stress can seem overwhelming at times. If you experience anxiety, depression, other mental health symptoms, or just life changes you're familiar with the desire to find stability and ways to cope. It could be a change in job, or managing stress from work, strain in a relationship with a partner or family members, recent grief and loss, feelings of worthlessness, feeling on edge, or looking for a tune up after life events. I believe therapy offers a space t...
When people come to treatment with problems, it is important to remember that they are trying to cope with them in the best way they can. With that in mind, I offer a reflective and engaging partnership with my clients, working toward the goal of helping them to be autonomous, authentic and compassionate in a world that can be extremely stressful. Although my work is solidly grounded in psychodynamic, cognitive/learning, and systems theories, my approach is client-centered, practical and s...
As a former attorney-turned-psychotherapist, I enjoy helping clients figure out where they're headed. This includes identifying what fulfills you, what resonates with you, what you want your life's purpose to be. I also specialize in helping clients improve relationships and feel happier / more relaxed. For so many of us, anxiety gets in the way. We become distracted by thoughts about classes, about our friendships, about the climate crisis, about the future, etc. For others, social anxiety ...
"What am I doing with my life?" "What do I want?" "Why do I feel the way I do?" "When will the time come that I feel how I want to feel?" "How do I get there?" These questions and many more like them can really come up as we enter into and move through our young adult years. And they can feel quite overwhelming, especially when we feel we are asking them alone. I partner with young adults to tackle these questions together. I am enthusiastic, I feel deeply, and I believe in the powe...
Life is difficult. Yet when we accept this reality, our lives change dramatically for the better. Our fear, sadness, and anger is often what is keeping us from facing the vital facts of our lives which need to be addressed. The more effective we are at soothing ourself, the more courageous we become. For it is often overwhelming pain that paralyzes us or leads us to mindlessly react in ways that sabotage our peace and happiness. I teach you how to calm yourself and effectively solve the proble...
I have been described by clients and colleagues as non-judgmental, warm (but direct), validating, and compassionate - I'd like to think that's true, but who am I to say? In any case, my hope is to help people develop self-acceptance versus self-loathing, practice self-compassion versus self-criticism, heal past wounds or trauma that continue to cause pain today, and create a purpose-driven life built around values they care about. In my personal and professional experience, the more we can accep...
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We are a vibrant psychology practice in Palo Alto and San Francisco, where we provide action-oriented, solution-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in a conversational, compassionate, and interactive format. If you are ready to take action, then we will be a good match! We have experience with: Anxiety, depression, stress, relationship, and family dynamics Families with a relative in treatment (e.g. wilderness therapy, residential, ...
I work best with those who are committed to their healing and wellbeing journey. My practice is holistic focused with a body-mind-spirit connection. I work from an Energy Psychology framework and include Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT/Tapping) to support healing in the energy body system. I have a passion for the integration of indigenous practices into modern psychology. I offer a free 20 min phone initial consultation. Please refer to my website for more information....
Everyone needs a little help in life every now and then. In my practice, I work collaboratively with teens, families, couples, and individuals to help identify and solve problems that get in the way of achieving life goals. I provide brief, solution-focused therapy as well as long-term therapy, depending on the issues and circumstances. I use evidence based treatments that have a track record for success. I am a direct and compassionate therapist, and use my sense of humor when hel...
My educational, professional, and personal experiences, combined with a profound desire to help people heal and grow, are the foundation of my work as a psychotherapist. I provide a space where you are free to explore and share yourself. I strive to create an environment that allows you to safely discuss, reflect, uncover, and change. My ability to help people feel safe, accepted and welcome has been the cornerstone of my success as a psychotherapist. You may come as you are to address the thing...
Feeling seen, heard, and understood is essential to healing. If you’re struggling with life’s challenges, I want you to know that you don’t have to navigate them alone. Whether you’re facing anxiety, big transitions, grief, or simply feeling stuck, I’m here to offer a space where you can feel safe, supported, and truly listened to. Over the years, I’ve walked alongside people as they’ve found clarity, built resilience, and made meaningful changes—whether that’s finding their dream hom...
The challenges and struggles we face in life can leave us feeling helpless and hopeless. Perhaps you’re overwhelmed with responsibilities. You might be taking care of other people and neglecting yourself. Or you might be struggling hard to make an important relationship work. You’ve tried more traditional kinds of self-help or therapy, and you’re ready for a different kind of therapy which integrates the mind, body and spirit....
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Life happens. Everything is running smoothly in our lives and then something occurs that throws us off balance: a relationship breakup, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, divorce, or a trauma. Instead of a single event, it can also be the buildup of stress or the accumulation of various life experiences. Sometimes we just want to learn more about ourselves. It can even be a wound from our past from which we have difficulty healing. All of us experience obstacles in our lives tha...
Whether borderline, narcissistic or simply toxic, wounded and self-centered parents create wounded children. And these children grow up without the basics of warmth and kindness, acceptance and encouragement. In order to survive, we adapt to the needs of our demanding parents. That might mean we learn to parent our parent. Or we develop antennae and quickly respond to their changing moods and needs, simultaneously ignoring our own. We hope if we do and say the right thing long enough, then o...
I have been working for several years with both UC Berkeley students and students at UCSF. At UCSF I have mostly worked with medical students and residents. My approach is psychodynamic. I am interested in understanding what lies behind the inhibitions or the blockages that make relationships or pursuing your studies so difficult and frustrating. I also help students to separate better from their families so that they can establish a better sense of self, independence, confidence and security ab...
My practice specialization is focused on women’s issues and perinatal mental health. In response to the recent changes in access to women's reproductive healthcare, many of us are feeling confused, scared, (and p*ssed off!). I provide a safe space for women to process whatever emotions they may be feeling as a result of their direct experiences or related to future concerns. I believe that the relationship between clinician & client is the foundation for a successful therapy experience. ...