Compassionate Psychotherapy in Orinda, CA

Start by noticing how you feel when reading a therapist’s website - do their words resonate with your experience? In a consultation or first session, ask yourself: Do I feel seen, safe, and respected here? Finding the right therapist isn’t just about credentials, it’s about connection. Trust your gut and give yourself permission to explore until it feels like a good fit.

Both! We offer in-person therapy in Orinda, CA, and online therapy throughout California. Whether you’re local to the East Bay or elsewhere in the state, sessions are available via a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform.

Yes. Research shows that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy for many concerns, including anxiety, depression, and trauma. It also offers flexibility and comfort, letting you meet from a familiar space without the commute. We use a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform to ensure your privacy and safety.

If you're feeling anxious, overwhelmed, emotionally disconnected, or stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, therapy can help. Many clients come to therapy during life transitions, after a loss, or when perfectionism, self-doubt, or past experiences begin to feel too heavy to carry alone. Working with a trauma-informed therapist in the East Bay or online across California can offer the support, clarity, and direction you’ve been needing.

Yes. We’re in-network with select insurance providers including Cigna, Optum, UnitedHealthcare. We also offer statements for out-of-network reimbursement. Please visit the Fees & Insurance page to learn more.

As trauma-informed East Bay therapists, we specialize in therapy for anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief, self-worth struggles, complex trauma, perfectionism, low self-esteem, relationship challenges and more. We also provide support for teens, adults, and helping professionals seeking meaningful change.

Trauma-informed therapy is an approach that understands how past trauma, whether big or subtle, can shape the way you think, feel, and relate to others. It emphasizes emotional safety, trust, and collaboration, and recognizes that healing happens best when you feel supported and in control of the process. A trauma-informed therapist works at your pace, helps you feel grounded, and gently explores what’s beneath the surface without re-traumatizing or rushing you.

Relational therapy is a form of talk therapy that places the therapeutic relationship at the heart of the healing process. It’s based on the idea that our early relationships shape how we understand ourselves and connect with others—and that many emotional struggles stem from disruptions or wounds in these connections.

In relational therapy, the therapist is not a distant expert, but an engaged, attuned presence. The relationship you build with your therapist becomes a powerful tool for healing - one that offers space to safely explore vulnerability, trust, boundaries, and emotional connection in real time.

Rather than focusing only on symptoms or coping strategies, relational therapy helps you make sense of the deeper patterns that influence how you think, feel, and relate to the world. As you explore these dynamics together, you begin to experience new ways of being in relationship, with others, and most importantly, with yourself.

This approach is especially supportive for those navigating issues like low self-worth, trauma, perfectionism, relationship struggles, or a sense of disconnection. Through consistent, compassionate connection, relational therapy offers the opportunity to rewrite internal narratives, restore emotional safety, and support lasting change.

Integrative therapy is a flexible, personalized approach that draws from multiple evidence-based methods, like psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, attachment-based, and mindfulness practices. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all model, it tailors the work to your unique personality, needs, and goals.

This approach allows your therapist to adapt over time, meeting you where you are emotionally, exploring deeper patterns when you’re ready, and incorporating practical tools to support real-life change. It’s especially helpful for clients navigating complex challenges like trauma, self-worth struggles, or life transitions, because it honors both depth and adaptability.

Relational integrative therapy combines the depth and healing power of a strong therapeutic relationship with a flexible, personalized approach to care. It draws from a range of evidence-based modalities, such as psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral techniques, attachment theory, and mindfulness, to meet your unique emotional needs and goals.

At its core, relational integrative therapy is grounded in the belief that healing happens in the context of safe, attuned relationships. The therapy process is deeply collaborative: we’ll explore your patterns, relationships, and inner experiences together, using the therapist-client relationship as a foundation for insight and growth.

This approach is especially helpful for people navigating complex trauma, anxiety, depression, self-worth challenges, or life transitions, because it honors both your story and your strengths. As your needs evolve, the work adapts with you, supporting meaningful, lasting change in a way that feels authentic and sustainable.

Your first session is a chance to explore what’s bringing you in and what you’re hoping for from therapy. You don’t need to share everything right away, we’ll move at a pace that feels right for you. Whether we meet in Orinda or online across California, the focus is on creating a safe, supportive space and seeing if this feels like a good fit.

After the first session, therapy becomes a space to go deeper. Together, we’ll begin exploring the experiences, patterns, and beliefs that shape how you feel and relate to yourself and others. As trust builds, we’ll develop a secure, collaborative therapeutic relationship, a key part of healing, especially in relational and trauma-informed work.

Over time, you may begin to feel more grounded, more connected to yourself, and better able to navigate challenges with clarity and confidence. Some sessions might bring relief, others reflection, but each one is part of a process that unfolds at your pace, in a way that honors your story and your growth.

Typically, we meet with clients weekly on the same day and time each week. On occasion, clients who have been in therapy for awhile may reduce to session frequency to every other week.

A Good Faith Estimate (GFE) is a written summary of the expected costs for your therapy services, provided in accordance with the No Surprises Act. If you're uninsured or not using insurance, you're entitled to receive this estimate before starting care. The GFE outlines the type of services, anticipated frequency, and total projected cost over a period of time. Its purpose is to help you make informed decisions, plan for your care, and avoid unexpected billing. If your actual costs exceed the estimate by a significant amount, you have the right to dispute the charges.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises