Culturally affirming and trauma-informed IFS & Brainspotting Therapy for adults in Walnut Creek, Oakland, & online throughout California.

People seek out support for many different reasons.

• You might yearn to acquire fresh tools for navigating daily stressors or to nurture and heal from past pain and trauma.

• Perhaps you have arrived at a significant juncture that signals a need for change.

• You may be grappling with persistent patterns that exert a powerful hold on your existence, leaving you feeling depleted and overwhelmed.

• Perhaps your inner critic seems to dominate, despite your most valiant efforts.

• Or maybe your wounds remain tender, and your innermost being longs for attentive care.

Interested to read more on how? Please read on —>

Let's pause and reflect for a moment: how often do you catch yourself saying, "A part of me feels this way, but another part of me feels the opposite"? It's true - we are all composed of various "parts" of ourselves that have been shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and emotions.

Here's the thing: the parts of ourselves that we reject and push aside have a way of resurfacing, often in the form of undesirable behaviors that lead to unfavorable consequences. These parts react instinctively to situations and can get us into trouble, leaving us feeling stuck and unfulfilled.

Fortunately, there is a way to develop a positive relationship with all aspects of our personality. By taking the time to explore and understand these parts, we can heal any pain or vulnerability that triggers our reactivity. In doing so, we can finally break free from old patterns and achieve a sense of inner peace and fulfillment.

Rather than leaving these neglected, forgotten, and possibly resentful parts of ourselves to lash out unconsciously, we can reclaim and integrate them into our daily lives through therapy.

These parts of ourselves have a protective nature and have been integral to our survival throughout our lives.

They don't want to be rejected or blamed, and they don't require fixing. Above all, they crave understanding, acceptance, and a sense of belonging.

By acknowledging and embracing these parts of ourselves, we can cultivate the ability to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively to our life experiences, both past and present. In doing so, we can heal past wounds and develop a greater sense of self-awareness and inner peace.

Our souls already hold the key to our healing journey. By unfolding our stories and speaking our truths, we can access the wisdom and strength that are inherent within us.

Self-compassion is the antidote to shame and false beliefs that trap us in harmful patterns. Together, we can work towards befriending and embracing all aspects of yourself, recognizing the vitality and worth in each part. By (re)discovering and (re)claiming who you are, we can bring healing to the places in you that feel stuck or wounded.

As we learn to approach our experiences with curiosity and compassion, our inner world transforms, and we gain access to our deepest inner resources. With guidance, we can create a space of self-love and understanding that allows us to grow and flourish.

• Get to know your parts: the more you understand and appreciate all aspects of who you are, the more you feel integrated and whole. After all, healing is an inside job. You can become your own healer and continue on this path beyond therapy.

• Heal your parts: parts heal when they feel witnessed and accepted by you. Wounded protector parts frequently carry the weight of our past suffering on their shoulders. These parts need to be recognized and loved.

• Become the designer of your own life: when your parts are in charge, your life seems hijacked, as if someone else is in the driver’s seat. By repurposing them, our parts can continue to show up as our protectors in a non-harmful and conscious way.

Therapy works when you and I develop a good working relationship. In the therapy world, we refer to this as the therapeutic relationship.

As our work unfolds, our therapeutic bond will deepen, and it tends to reflect what is happening for you "out there" in your life. This is why I work relationally, i.e., show up as a human being, not as a blank slate.

With support, you can rewrite your narrative in your quest to become more of who you are, make meaning out of your experiences, and rediscover opportunities for symptom relief, expansion, and healing.

I emphasize the humanistic aspects of psychotherapy. This means that I meet you where you are, with no judgment or assumptions and an appreciation for the complexity of your whole being.

I recognize the differences between us and see you as the sole expert on who you are, where you come from, and how you walk through life.

I consider the relationship we forge as a central part of our process. Therapy is a collaborative process, and understanding your inner world is a shared goal we will share.

Our work together focuses on you: your lived experiences, habitual responses, and emotional experiences. I will be present every step of the way to guide and witness your process and share my thoughts with you in a synergetic, curious, heartfelt, and exploratory way.

I believe in a non-stigmatizing, trauma-informed form of therapy, and I hold cultural and societal contexts front and center in our work together.

I am genuinely curious about what moves you and keeps you stuck.

I don’t see you as broken or someone to “fix.”

I also believe that the vast majority of “personality disorders,” and other things that our society is quick to pathologize and label, are frequently the result of past traumatic experiences, i.e., traumatic adaptations that evolved to get you through life.

We do not exist in a vacuum since we are all part of a sociopolitical and economic world structure.

The famous phrase by feminist and writer Carol Hanisch, "the personal is political," indicates that our struggles may be generated and intensified by oppressive sociopolitical and economic systems.

If appreciated and welcomed, our goal would be to bring those dynamics within the therapeutic process since they inform who we are and may potentially highlight the path for a more inclusive healing process.