Emotionally Focused Therapists in Sebastopol, CA

I believe we all carry within us everything we need to heal. There are also times in our lives when we need extra support to access inner resources, healing and growth. As your therapist, we will explore together ways that old habits, patterns and history limit the life you want to be living. Whether you are stressed, anxious or overwhelmed, facing big life transitions, worried about your teen, or longing for more meaning and connection in your relationships, you are not alone in your struggle. It is a courageous act to get support and I honor your unique life journey.

My approach to counseling is compassion centered, trauma-informed and non-pathologizing. Working together to create a sense of safety and trust is my highest priority. Thus, when we sit together I don’t consider it my job to ‘fix you’ but rather, to be with you. It is in being with you and bringing awareness and kindness to you exactly as you are, that we can begin to create safety in our relationship together and grieve and heal past and present challenges. I aim to help you rediscover an authentic way of being in the world that strengthens your relationship with yourself and others and moves you toward what you most want in life.

You are tired of feeling stuck in the pain of the past or feeling frozen by anxiety or worry. You're confused about your reactions to others and your environment. You may be questioning your identity, struggling with a transition in life and not knowing where to go next. You may be feeling burnt out and don't know why you can't just push passed it like you used to. You want to feel centered, confident in yourself and know how to support your own individual needs as you navigate your life and your relationships going forward. And you deserve support!

I believe we are remarkably resilient; have an innate ability to understand ourselves and to repair; are multifaceted and unique; and are made to live in connection. The foundation of my therapeutic approach is based entirely upon being in connection with and curious about clients. A strong and respectful relationship and connection between a therapist and a client is the prerequisite for a positive outcome or positive outcomes for a client.

We all have times when we need help finding our authentic voice. We crave connection and a sense of belonging and balance in our lives. Choosing to begin therapy requires a big commitment to yourself. It means that the discomfort you have been feeling has finally reached a point that requires change. I see therapy as a process of self-discovery: a careful, supportive exploration of how you act, think and feel. I'm a firm believer that telling the truth, first to ourselves and then to others is the starting point for a balanced life.

I am a licensed psychotherapist and former hospice grief counselor. I am founder of The Way Through - Grief and Loss Services, in Sebastopol, CA. I offer a multi-dimensional approach to clients facing grief and loss life situations. If you or someone you know is having difficulty with a divorce, separation, death or dying of loved one, or loss of life situation we can help you find The Way Through. Services include crisis intervention, biopsychosocial assessment, grief counseling, EMDR treatment, PTSD treatment, support groups and couples counseling. We also work with loss through drug and alcohol addiction and recovery, providing support and community resources.

Welcome, I'm so glad you're here. I work with women, nonbinary, and trans folks who are longing to have a greater experience of freedom and pleasure in their bodies and relationships, as well as youth and teens living with anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. With over a decade of experience working closely with youth and adults in clinical and educational settings, I'm here to support you and your family with your mental health. My offerings are trauma-informed, justice-centered, LGBTQIA+ affirming & sex positive, and are available for anyone seeking mental health support.

I welcome the opportunity to help professionals work through difficulties in personal, familial and professional challenges, including dealing with major crises and transitions. My education (Yale, UC Berkeley) and decades of experience have prepared me to help diverse individuals cope with a wide array of problems. I'm now working exclusively via video sessions. I have extensive expertise working with healthcare workers, including psychotherapists. My work with you might be short-term, or it may evolve into ongoing work if that is warranted.

Is the suffering that you keep circling back around to your soul calling out to you to dig deeper and really heal yourself? Many of us wonder why we suffer so much in our relationships, why we are afraid of love, why we stay in less fulfilling places in life rather than taking the steps to live a more meaningful, larger life. The calling for humanity is coming from our souls. If you can at least be open to this possibility, I invite you into the therapy process of tapping into your soul's wisdom and letting it guide you.

Do you feel alone, lost, empty, or dissatisfied? Are you struggling with meaningless work or overwhelmed about the state of our world? Do you want to feel happy and peaceful so you can appreciate and enjoy your life? Maybe you long to have time in the wild and beautiful natural places. Perhaps you desire supportive and healthy relationships with people who share your values. Or maybe your deepest wish is to know your purpose, to be involved in inspiring and meaningful work where you can know and share your gifts.

Do you find yourself often getting caught up in your thoughts or emotions, easily overwhelmed and unable to feel secure and at peace? Do you struggle to feel more connected to your inner self, fully present in your life, and able to engage mindfully in relationships? You may not see it now, but you already have all of the wisdom and potential inside of you that you will ever need, it is merely a matter of unlocking it.

With support, insight and skills, you can handle life’s challenges I am experienced in working With many of the issues that individual, parents, families, adolescents and children face. Because everyone is different, I assume I will be getting to know you and your situation. And, because of my own growth in therapy, I look forward to giving my openness to the therapeutic process.

Empowering Change coaching & counseling services meets you where you are and takes you where you want to go. We focus on the core issues that bring you here today. Some of these core issues are under the surface (shadow) and show up as anger, depression, self-doubt, dis-trust & anxiety. Often these emotional patterns are caused by old wounds that are calling for your attention. Understanding why these responses were formed takes them out of the shadows, freeing you from the power they have over you.

Are you struggling with worry, sadness, the effects of trauma, and/or managing life transitions and losses? Are you a couple in crisis or needing support to navigate your relationship? If so, I maybe able to help. I am a licensed therapist with over 25 years experience working with adults and couples. With advanced training, compassion, and kindness, I work with clients to help them identify the areas they are struggling and then provide structure, support, and intervention to make changes and find relief from discomfort, frustration, and suffering. I work with clients from a warm and empathic, non-judgmental approach.

My practice is guided by a belief in the healing power of being with. I bring compassionate witness and a warm, collaborative, relational approach that is informed by psychodynamic, somatic, feminist, narrative, attachment, and trauma theories. A deep commitment to social justice, and attunement to the impacts of social and systemic oppression, grounds my work.

I invite you to come in for a free twenty minute consultation because finding the right therapist is important. A feeling of safety and trust is paramount in setting the stage for healing. In your search for that therapist, no matter what the issues, healing requires vulnerability, and trust is the foundation for this. I provide a safe, supportive and nurturing environment to promote personal growth and the emotional relief that my clients are seeking. In working with individuals I utilize a multitude of evidence-based practices informed by over twenty years of experience as a psychotherapist.

Are you overwhelmed and stressed with life's challenges? Are you seeking relief from the constant worries or sadness that keep you from feeling satisfied in your life? I offer a warm and compassionate space for you to share the challenges you are facing. It can be a great relief to know you are not alone, grappling with life's complexities. Together we can explore the patterns of thinking, feeling, and behavior which may be keeping you from stepping into more fullness in your life and relationships.

Sometimes it's time to make a change and deepen our understanding of ourselves and others. Therapy can be quite helpful in this process through providing a safe, non-judgmental relationship from which to grow. I've been in private practice for over 20 years and I work with adults, couples, adolescents, and children from 5 years old and up. I would like you to know that you are not alone in this journey of growth and healing. I would like to come along side you as you improve and deepen your relationship with yourself and with others.

Queerdos, kinksters, gender f-ers, and radical relationship folks, I want to listen to you. I help gender nonconforming, queer, polyamorous and/or kinky folks heal from past traumas, create healthy and unique relationships, and learn how to have the best sex ever. My therapeutic style is radically non-judgmental, decolonizing/anti-racist/anti-oppressive, and emotionally affirming.