Find a Therapist in Martinez, California.

For reasons that are not entirely clear, most people are helped by sitting down with someone who respects them and understands them, and devotes time to listening to them. I practice depth psychotherapy, but I often use very practical approached like cognitive-behavioral therapy, to help my clients get past life obstacles and moving forward in their lives.

My approach is grounded in an existential-humanistic psychology tradition that is inspired by relational and psychodynamic therapeutic philosophies. What this essentially means is that I see my role as your therapist as one that tries to see you in a holistic way through dialogue so that you may better see yourself (your patterns, meaning behind your experience, etc.), and create the person that you want to become through a healthier mindset and future choices.

My psychotherapy is a relational, bodily and experiential process that aims to bring more life and renewed energy to places that have been broken, wounded or suppressed. Together, we form a close , collaborative bond in which we co-create pathways toward healing and growth. I use the whole body as a tool for awareness and resourcing- and help you learn how to access the inner wisdom of your body. In addition to sitting, talking and listening, I offer other possibilities for processing in sessions- standing, moving, awareness of gestures, posture and inviting forms of expression and dramatization so that we can directly experience ourselves in new ways.

As a psychotherapist, my goal is to support my clients in their process of personal discovery. My intention is to create a safe environment in which to support and facilitate my clients’ personal growth. I encourage my clients to learn and practice the kinds of behaviors that provide them with feelings of clarity and personal satisfaction. I help clients identify concerns, problems or situations in their lives that interfere with their ability to feel happy and function successfully. In the course of exploring the nature and cause of their unhappiness or frustration they are better able to effect changes in their attitudes and behaviors, thereby making their lives more fulfilling.

Often in our lives we can benefit from having a safe compassionate listener outside of our family or friends circle. A neutral party that can be both direct and empathetic can help you examine troubling emotions and life issues that are contributing to a less than satisfying life. You will feel heard and understood as we explore and move through obstacles that may be interfering with your stability. I will help you access your personal strengths and resources to develop strategies to change what is not working and learn new ways to be healthier / happier in your world. Life will never be perfect however our ability to manage life can make a world of difference in our well being.

I use many techniques and tools to help people grow, heal and evolve. I start with inner mindfulness as the basis for all my work. I have extensive training in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP). Also in Somatic Experiencing (SE) as well as some training in Hakomi. All three of these are styles of healing work that are experiential in nature. Recent studies show that what helps people heal more effectively is to have new, better experiences than you had in the past. So I help you have those experiences. This changes your brain patterns which changes how things affect you and how you respond. You end up feeling more at ease and confident as you move forward.

The process of therapy is and should be tailored to each individual's life experience. Research shows that clients in therapy, who seek assistance to deal with a whole range of issues, challenges, thoughts, and emotions, can experience a positive benefit. In our collaborative work, we will complete a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment, where we look at many life factors that may be contributing to those challenges for which therapy is being considered. After an assessment, we will have a clearer idea of core values, possible goals and many ideas on designing a flexible plan that is easy to understand and use to bring about the transformation desired.

Many of my clients would like to move more deeply into self discovery after working successfully with practical issues that have brought them into therapy. My approach to inner work is influenced most by C. G. Jung and a contemporary of Jung's, Fritz Kunkel, who established the We Psychology. Two of my most important mentors worked directly with Jung and previously with Kunkel. I facilitate a stronger connection to each person's own "Creative Center" and a clear perspective on the influence of egocentricity in our lives through dream work, journal writing, artistic and vocational expression and reflection on meaningful events and relationships.

I practice psychotherapy from a engaged, kind and collaborative stance. I have trained in several contemporary and well-researched psychotherapy modalities that are designed to maximize both a sense of safety and trust in the therapy relationship, as well as demonstrative, positive change in a client's life. Many clients who have found previous psychotherapy less than effective for them find that they are able to meet their therapeutic goals in their work with me.

My approach to psychotherapy is a family systems/attachment approach. Knowing when it is safe to approach or avoid someone is learned in your upbringing. Those beliefs and strategies in relating to others may have worked in childhood, but now as an adult, these strategies are no longer working. Each person's way of loving is different. You will learn your love style while I provide you with a caring, nurturing, but challenging presence. I will help you understand your style, teach you new skills, and challenge you to apply those new strategies in relationship with others. I do provide a free consultation, when clients ask me.

I help clients find strengths and ways to manage difficult or challenging situations. I also help clients with histories of trauma and abuse come to terms with difficult memories, turning ghosts into ancestors. Ghosts scare us. Ancestors we remember, but they don't have the power to terrify us. Life provides many challenges that anyone can struggle with, whether it is a traumatic experience or a life long struggle to overcome anxieties, worries and depression. We all live in relationships and can learn so much about our strengths, challenges and possibilities. I would be happy to help you with understanding your relationships from a positive and strength based perspective.

Psychotherapy is a process of entering into a trusting, confidential relationship with a professionally trained therapist to explore your inner and outer conflicts, anxieties, relationship problems and traumas of all kinds, big and small. We all carry around inner voices and experiences from our childhood and youth, as well as from experiences in adulthood, which we are unaware of but have a big impact on our experience of self, other and Life itself. Psychotherapy is a safe place to sort it out and develop more sense of self-confidence, choice and strength. You should feel free to try different therapists and kind of therapy to see what feels right to you and trust your intuition.

Healthy relationships make healthy people. Unfortunately, about 50% of our society, while their parents may have loved them dearly, didn't get enough attachment and connection. When this happens, the normal / natural response is depression, anger, excess perfectionism, feeling uncomfortable in your skin, etc. While I may use several modalities, I am always being present and attuning to you in a way that gives you permission to be who you are. My experience is this creates a re-wiring of the "attachment / connecting" neuropathways in your brain. My clients, usually between 6 months and 2 years experience significant emotional shifts that allow them to feel comfortable in their own skin.