Seeking a Therapist
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Looking for friendly therapist
–Sep 18, 2024I’m looking for recommendations for a therapist. I don’t have anything serious going on in my life but all of my friends and my husband do so I’m left with no where to vent because all I do is support other people. Which is fine, they definitely need and deserve support, but it has now been years of this and I do have stuff to talk about. But after a friend calls me in tears about having to send her daughter to in patient treatment because she tried to kill herself I can hardly start talking about my mother being annoying or my boss being unreasonable or my health issues.
Recommendations for someone good to talk to? I don’t want super clinical, more like talking to a friend, and I need to be able to do it over zoom (or similar) because of work and responsibilities at home.Sep 18, 2024Reply now »EMDR Therapist recommendation
–Apr 4, 2024Hello. I am dealing with a lot of anxiety/depression issues right now. I have a "talk" therapist, a psychiatrist, and taking a DBT skills class. I know, that's a lot! But I'm committed to making my way through this and trying all the tools out there. I am now thinking perhaps EMDR might help. Do you know of an experienced female EMDR therapist you can recommend? Thank you!
Apr 4, 2024ISO East Bay therapist with "east coast vibe"
–Apr 17, 2023This may seem overly specific (and also like a sweeping generalization) but I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations for a therapist who is originally from, or has lived on, the east coast. I'm originally from New England and am interested in speaking to someone who really "gets" the cultural differences between the east coast and the bay area.
Other qualities I'm looking for include: a warm & direct style, feminist perspective, strengths-based approach. Seasoned. Berkeley/Oakland/Albany. Evening/weekend hours available.
Thanks in advance!
Apr 17, 2023Seeking recommendations for EMDR therapy in Berkeley
–Mar 15, 2023Hello Parents ---
I am seeking recommendations for EMDR therapy in Berkeley.
Have you worked with an EMDR therapist that you really like and would recommend?
Many thanks!
If you are not familiar with EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and are interested in what it is:"EMDR therapy is a widely researched, evidence-based, and neuroscience-informed integrative therapy can reduce distressing emotional symptoms from a multitude of challenging life experiences including isolated and protracted traumatic experiences, phobias, and more."
Mar 15, 2023
I think there are apps that will connect you with therapist pretty easily, like Talkspace or Betterhelp. Sounds like you just need a friend to be sympathetic and while I've never used these services they seems very accessible and, I'd guess, similar to what you are looking for. Good luck! It is really hard being a caregiver.
Speaking as a psychologist, it is recommended to "interview" a few therapists to see if there is a match. Most will offer free 15 min consultations. The largest directory to find folks is Psychology Today, but there are other niche specific directories as well, including if you have insurance. I hope you find your right match.
Definitely recommend Madhu Marchesini, LCSW. She’s wonderful and warm and sounds like just what you’re looking for in a therapist. She has an office near Alta Bates but also sees clients on Zoom. (510) 260-7400
https://piedmontpsychotherapy.com/clinician-information/madhu-marchesin…
Lauren Finkelstein is great! Just who you’re looking for and she does virtual sessions or in-person.
I think is great to find a good therapist to help you navigate life. Apparently the best source to find it is by Psychology Today website. I worked with Natalia El Sheik and was a great experience.
Nataliapsychotherapy.com
I think it's really smart what you're doing to set up some support for yourself. I highly recommend Willa Walter. She's a therapist in South Berkeley and also meets with people on Zoom. She is super easy to talk with. She asks just the right kind of questions with warmth and interest to get me talking. Her practice includes adolescents and adults, many of whom are struggling with significant mental health challenges. But when I mentioned your post and asked if she'd be interested and had openings, she said she does have openings right now and she'd love to offer you the kind of support you're seeking. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/willa-walter-berkeley-ca/…
I cannot more highly recommend Krista Niles. She offers telehealth/remote options. Best of luck!
https://www.therapy-oakland.com
I have really enjoy Joan Gold from East Bay Holistic Therapy. She’s been my therapist for 4 years now, and I always feel like I’m talking to a kind, older aunt who truly has my best interests at heart. I’ve literally had a therapist tell me I’m “enmeshed,” and I had to ask what that meant, but never with Joan! She truly makes our sessions feel productive, yet I never feel like she’s clinical. The best part about her is that she has recommended SO many other resources to me outside of therapy (like 12-step groups, a bodyworker, and even a decluttering expert) that I now feel extremely resourced whenever I’m stressed about something Joan and I have talked about.
Having said that, another way to have a more casual therapy experience is to find a “life coach.” I’ve worked with coaches before about health and decluttering, and my husband uses one focused on work/life balance. Once you find the right fit, it’s cheaper and does feel like a balance between therapy and a friend. I hope you find what you’re looking for!