Find a Therapist in Charter Oak, California.

I am a Counseling Psychologist, therapist who uses Psychotherapy as a healing process, directed in assisting persons who deal with difficulties of daily life functioning. The initial consultation can focus on identifying the immediate problem and a solution. The following sessions are directed to longer term goals and a resolution. The treatment model in your therapeutic process is best tailored to suit your personal, emotional needs.

As a therapist I am trained in and specialize in feminist therapy, trauma therapy and therapy with adolescents and their families. I am also a specialist in therapy with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender/gender variant individuals/families. I use feminist therapy, a form of therapy whose focus is on empowering you as an individual. I am specially trained in the treatment of GLBT issues and have over 20 years experience. I am a trauma expert and am trained ina variety of treatment approaches. I am able to offer you very specialized help with traumatic experiences that will resolve anxiety, depression and relaionship problems caused by traumatic origins. Holistc approach, whole body!

I provide a safe environment for you to share your story, address the challenges you are facing, and explore your hurts, hopes, and dreams. My approach to working with you includes a combination of psychodynamic, existential, and attachment-based concepts. I believe your history is important and we take time to address and understand how it has impacted you. We will look at how the person you are today is working for you and address areas that keep you from reaching your current goals. I also want to know how your past affects your ability to be in relationship with others. I will walk alongside you through this journey of healing and personal growth.

Psychotherapy is not anything to be scared of, or intimidated about. Seeking out a therapist or being in therapy isn't an admission of weakness or some kind of character flaw. Therapy is a collaborative process and a partnership with someone who is trained in and experienced with facilitating personal growth. And in this process, you are in the driver's seat. Our minds and emotions and relationships involve complicated machinery just like our bodies do and in the same way a medical doctor helps you stay physically healthy, Psychotherapy is designed to help you be and stay mentally and socially strong, and continually in a position to take on life's many challenges as your best self.

Psychotherapy is the use of psychological methods to help a person change behavior and overcome problems in a positive manner. Its aim is to help people understand the thoughts behind feeling anxious or depressed and addressing these thinking patterns. Psychotherapy will help you change behaviors and habits that are limiting you, to experiencing your fullest potential.

Therapy can provide teens and college students with a safe and trusting environment that facilitates healing, transformation, and growth. The therapeutic relationship is built over time to create a safe refuge from the storms of life. Dr. Parke has a highly relational approach that also integrates what the research has shown to be most effective in addressing people's suffering. Therapy is an opportunity for you to examine your life story and create new meaning for a brighter tomorrow, regardless of the circumstances of your past. No matter what your story has been, there is hope and change is possible.

In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, we look at the underlying concept, which is that your thoughts and feelings play a fundamental role in your behavior. For example, if you spend a lot of time thinking about plane crashes, runway accidents, and other air disasters, you may find yourself avoiding air travel. The goal of cognitive behavior therapy is to teach you that while you cannot control every aspect of the world around you, you can take control of how you interpret and deal with things in your environment.

How long does therapy take? This is a question I am often asked and yet is so difficult to answer. So much depends on what you expect and want from their therapist. Some people want a to address a specific problem they are facing and others want and ongoing therapeutic relationship. Personally, I much prefer working with patients who are looking towards the longer term commitment. I love getting to know my patients and becoming the holder of their stories as I try to facilitate growth and change.

Abby provides comprehensive psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and families seeking deeper understanding, healing, and growth. Her integrative, trauma-informed approach blends psychodynamic, relational, and evidence-based modalities tailored to each client’s unique needs. Whether addressing anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, or life transitions, Abby creates a safe, collaborative space where clients can explore their experiences, strengthen emotional resilience, and develop lasting change. Her work is grounded in empathy, clinical expertise, and a deep respect for each person’s journey.

I believe that everyone can benefit from psychotherapy. We live in a busy world and because of this, we often put our own needs aside to focus on others. However, we all have difficult periods in our lives, along with issues that cause frustration and therapy is used to heal those upsetting feelings and learn constructive ways to deal with them. This is accomplished by making changes to the parts of your life that aren’t working for you or are contributing to your issues. Some of the main benefits of therapy are the feelings of validation and understanding that you receive, the new perspectives that you gain on various issues, and the learned techniques to cope with life’s frustrations.

I am broadly trained in Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic therapy. As needed, I will utilize and borrow from various other approaches including ACT, CBT, and art therapy amongst others. I believe to create lasting change, it is necessary to discover the roots of the underlying problem. We will then create and utilize the tools required to bring about change.

My view of psychotherapy is a very personal one. My relationship with my clients is of utmost importance, because our work needs to feel safe, respectful, caring and effective. My clients and I decide together on goals for our work. The safety can allow my clients to explore parts of themselves and their histories that have shaped their views of self and views of others, including the meaning of life and their deepest fears and needs. Our work will respect who you are, what you have experienced, your fondest desires, and the blocks you have learned to set up for your protection and that perhaps no longer serve you. You may find that you no longer have to feel alone and untended.

The types of counseling are various. Some are short, some are insightful, some focus only on thoughts, some strive to get the heart of emotions, some work with minor problems, some work with more severe psychological struggles. Psychotherapy can cover all of these types of counseling, but the main focus is on helping a person with a troubled mind. The trouble in your mind may be minor or complex, but in either situation you can find relief as you connect with a psychotherapist to gain therapy for your mind. Like an onion being peeled, you may find more and more relief as you experience therapy that gets to know you and provides the compassion you need.