Services

I provide individual therapy for adults and teens at my office in Berkeley. While I work primarily in person, I do have limited telehealth spots available for those with particular need for remote services.

Therapy for adults:

There are many reasons why you might be looking for a therapist at this time. You may be navigating a life transition, struggling with anxiety or depression, feeling stuck in limiting relational patterns, contending with critical inner voices, relying on unhealthy coping strategies, or seeking to heal from harmful family experiences and systems of oppression. You might have the sense that you need to make some changes in order to find more satisfaction in your life, but are unsure how to go about doing so. Reaching out for help can feel like a risk, but it can also be a life-affirming act of bravery... and a necessary first step.

In our work together, I will help co-create a space with enough safety to get to know the parts of you that have been wounded, as well as the protections that have developed to help you adapt to difficult environmental influences. We will explore the areas of inherent strength and resilience you rely on, and then increasingly bring in the particular forms of loving attention that are needed for a process of healing to begin (or continue). Some of the change that occurs in therapy happens quickly and provides much needed relief from distressing symptoms . More lasting growth, however, often happens somewhat slowly as we go deeper into an iterative process of discovery, healing, and self-authorization.

I find that I work best with people who are no longer willing to live their lives within the confines of limiting patterns from the past and who are genuinely curious about what more might be possible for them in this precious life. I welcome working with folks from various backgrounds, ages, social positions and identities.

My specialities include:

  • developmental trauma and complex PTSD— resulting from the effects of growing up in a family (and/or society) with abuse, neglect, or other damaging dynamics

  • mood issues related to anxiety and depression

  • co-dependency and patterns of “people pleasing”

  • caretakers and those in the helping professions

  • major life transitions — navigating the journey into parenthood, divorce, and/or retirement

  • perfectionism and punishing inner-critics

  • issues stemming from experiences of oppression and privilege

Reach out for a 20 minute consultation call.

Therapy for Teens or the Parents of Teens:

Is your teenager struggling with a transition like adjusting to high school or getting ready to start college? Are they grappling with questions about their identity? Perhaps they’re feeling overwhelmed by social (media), academic, and extra-curricular demands? Maybe they’re acting moody, withdrawn, sad and/or anxious, and are having trouble talking with you about what’s bothering them? If so, they might benefit from some extra support during this often challenging and dynamic developmental stage.

Is is also possible that you might like some extra support as you ride the waves that come along with parenting during this stage. The more internally resourced you feel as a person, the more steady you will be within yourself and, consequently, as a parent.

I devoted two years of my early training to working exclusively with teenagers in the counseling center of a large public high school. While I have always enjoyed working with teens and transitional age youth, my time at the high school really enhanced my passion for supporting young folks as they navigate their journeys through adolescence. I have found that providing a welcoming space for teens to make meaning of their experiences and developing selves can often significantly reduce the intensity of emotional distress. When there are more entrenched issues related to developmental trauma, environmental strain, neurodiversity, and/or mental health diagnoses, I tend to take an approach that involves collaborating with parents/caregivers, teachers, and psychiatrists in order to help provide a more comprehensive level of care.

If you are unsure whether you’re looking for a therapist for yourself or you teen, I am here to help sort out what kinds of support would best serve your family.

Reach out for a 20 minute consultation call.