Boutique, Depth-Oriented, East Bay Therapy
In-Person in Orinda, CA / Online Across California
When going through the motions isn't working anymore. Start feeling connected to yourself again.
Individual therapy for reflective adults and college students ready to stop
overthinking,
overgiving, and overriding
what they feel, need, or want.
Life Doesn't Feel
the Way You Expected.
…and you’re not sure why.
You wake up, go through the motions, and somewhere in the back of your mind, a soft voice whispers, "Is this it?"
Nothing is obviously wrong. You make it to work on time, answer the texts, and keep things running. Yet your life doesn't feel as fulfilling, or as much like your own, as you expected.
You're the friend everyone calls first, the parent who has it handled, the student running on achievement, the perfectionist chasing the next goal, or the one who says "I'm fine" when you're really not. A transition, a relationship, a career change, an empty nest, or nothing you can put your finger on may be part of it. But something still feels off, and you couldn't say exactly what.
Maybe you say yes when you mean no, and by the end of the day, there's not much left of you.
Maybe when something goes right, you call it luck, and when something goes wrong, you call it you.
Maybe you can be in the room with people you love and still feel like you're somewhere else entirely.
Over time, this can leave you feeling disconnected from yourself. No one else may see it. But somewhere inside, there's a gnawing feeling that something is missing, that you're moving through a life that doesn't feel authentic to you.
You might also recognize that…
Good enough is never an option; only perfect is.
You can sense a problem forming before anyone else does, and you're already three steps into solving it.
You can't remember the last time something felt like it mattered, even on the good days.
You show people the parts of you that are easy to like, and keep the rest carefully hidden.
If this sounds like your experience, welcome. You are in the right place.
You don't need to know exactly what's missing or how to change it.
Therapy can be a place to slow down, understand yourself more deeply, and find a different way forward.
MEET ANITA
Hi, I’m Anita.
If reaching out doesn’t come easily to you, I don't take it lightly that you're here. I've seen how much courage that first step can take.
My own path to this work wasn't a straight line, and it was my own therapy that first showed me what's possible when someone truly listens, not just to what you say, but to what's underneath it. That's the kind of listening I try to offer every person who sits across from me.
Growing up between cultures also shaped how I think about identity and belonging, and how differently two people can experience the same thing.
I call my style compassionate curiosity: attuned attention, real questions, and enough space for what needs to surface on its own.
I keep my practice intentionally small so I can stay closely attuned to each client, remember the details that matter, and offer consistent, personalized care.
Specialties & Areas of Interest
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Anxiety & Depression Therapy
For when your mind won't stop running through worst-case scenarios, or when nothing feels worth the effort anymore.
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Life Transitions Therapy
For when a chapter of your life ends and you haven't found your footing in the next one yet.
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Self-Esteem & Identity Therapy
For when your worth and sense of who you are depend more on others' reactions than on what you actually think of yourself.
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Relationships & Boundaries Therapy
For the times you say yes when you mean no, and for wondering whether your relationship is worth the cost.
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Therapy for Young Adults & College Students
For when school ends but the pressure to get adulting right doesn't.
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Therapy for Midlife Transitions
For the stretch of midlife when you start questioning whether the life you chose still fits who you are.
APPROACH
A Way Through,
Not Around
Maybe you learned to stay a step ahead, smooth things over, or keep difficult feelings to yourself. Those habits helped you get through, but over time, they can make it harder to know what you actually feel, need, or want.
Together, we get curious about where those patterns came from, and slow down enough to feel what's underneath, not just explain it. Because change doesn’t happen only when you understand yourself differently. It happens when you begin to experience yourself differently, too.
What’s Possible
Over time, you may begin to notice:
✓ Your mind can slow down without having to solve every possible outcome first.
✓ You can hear the inner critic without automatically believing it.
✓ You recognize what you want before resentment or exhaustion takes over.
✓ You can set a boundary and remain connected to yourself through the guilt.
✓ Uncertainty feels more manageable, and your decisions begin to feel more like your own.
Life doesn't suddenly become perfect. But it can feel less like something you're managing and more like something you're actually living.
PROCESS
A Simple Way to Begin Therapy
01.
Complete the
Consultation Request Form
Tell me a little about what brings you here and what you are looking for. You do not need to know exactly what to say. I’ll respond within two business days to arrange a free 20-minute consultation.
02.
Connect for a Free Consultation
We’ll talk about what's been going on, what you hope will feel different, and any questions you have. I’ll explain how I work, and we’ll both have a chance to see whether it feels like a good fit. There is no obligation to continue.
03.
Start Weekly Therapy
If we decide to move forward, we’ll schedule your first 50-minute session and begin meeting weekly. That consistency gives us time to build trust, notice the patterns that keep coming back, and find new ways of responding that start to feel natural.
LOCATION
Therapy in Orinda, CA, and Online Across California
My office is located at 23 Altarinda Road in Orinda, CA, a central, quiet location accessible from across the East Bay. In-person therapy is available for clients in Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Berkeley, Oakland, and surrounding communities.
Online therapy is available to adults and college students throughout California, offering the same relational, depth-oriented work with greater flexibility.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
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You don’t need to be in crisis. If something has been present long enough that it’s started to feel like the background of your life, an anxiety that won’t quiet, a pattern you can’t move, a sense of going through the motions, that’s enough. If something here resonates, that’s worth paying attention to.
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Many people have had therapy experiences that felt surface-level, too structured, or like good conversation that didn’t change anything underneath. My approach is relational and depth-oriented, I work with what’s underneath the patterns, not just the patterns themselves. If you’ve done the talking and the understanding and something still hasn’t moved, that gap between knowing and feeling is exactly where this work begins.
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Sessions are 50 minutes, weekly. I follow what’s alive for you in each session rather than a rigid structure or agenda. The work is exploratory and relational — real conversation, not a program. Some sessions go somewhere unexpected. Most feel different from what people expect therapy to feel like.
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Sessions are $180 for a 50-minute session.
I am also in-network with the following insurance providers:
Aetna
Cigna
Optum
UnitedHealthcare
If you're covered by one of these plans, your sessions may be partially or fully reimbursed depending on your benefits.
If I’m not in-network with your insurance provider, you may still be eligible for partial reimbursement through out-of-network benefits.
Many PPO plans cover a portion of therapy fees, often reimbursing 50–80% after your deductible is met.
I’m happy to provide a monthly detailed statement (superbill) that you can submit to your insurance provider for potential reimbursement.
For additional fee information and what to expect, visit the Fees & Insurance page.
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Yes to both. In-person sessions are available at my office at 23 Altarinda Road in Orinda, CA, serving clients across the East Bay. Online therapy is available to anyone in California — the same relational, depth-oriented approach from wherever you are. Online sessions offer the same relational, depth-oriented approach with greater flexibility.
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Reach out to schedule a free 20-minute consultation. It’s a real conversation, not a sales call. It gives us both a chance to get a sense of how I work, what you’re looking for, and whether this feels like the right fit. No commitment is required. I typically respond within two business days.
GET IN TOUCH
Start Feeling Connected to Yourself Again
…You don’t need to know exactly what’s missing before you begin.
Complete the Consultation Request Form to get started. From there, we'll set up a time to talk.
