Boutique, Depth-Oriented, East Bay Therapy
In-Person in Orinda, CA / Online Across California
When going through the motions isn’t working anymore. Individual therapy for perfectionists and people-pleasers ready to stop overanalyzing, overgiving, overworking and overriding their needs, and finally start living.
Life doesn’t feel the way you expected.
…and you’re not sure why.
You wake up, check things off, and somewhere in the back of your mind, a soft voice whispers, “Is this it?”
Nothing is obviously wrong. But it’s hard to say whether you chose this life or just kept going.
You’re the friend everyone calls first, the parent who has it handled, the student who can’t let a B go, the high achiever who never quite feels done.
Maybe your chest tightens at the thought of disappointing someone, so you agree before asking yourself what you want. By the end of the day, little of you is left.
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.
If you’ve spent years putting everyone else first, you may have become the last person you check on. Eventually, this kind of self-abandonment leaves you disconnected from yourself. No one else may see it, but you know something is missing.
You’re done with…
Lying awake, running through every way things could go wrong
Feeling guilty for days after you finally say no
Running even small decisions past other people first
Going blank when someone asks what you want
Replaying a small mistake long after everyone else has forgotten it
Showing people only the parts of you that are easy to like
You’re ready for…
Letting your mind rest without solving every possible outcome first
Disappointing someone and still feeling okay with yourself
Making decisions that feel like your own, even when you’re unsure
Recognizing what you feel and want before resentment or exhaustion takes over
Hearing your inner critic without automatically believing it
Being known for all of you, not just the easy parts
If you’re a perfectionist, people-pleaser, social chameleon, or your own worst critic, you can reconnect with yourself.
Therapy can be a place to slow down, understand yourself more deeply, and find a different way forward. Life doesn’t suddenly become perfect. But it can feel less like something you’re managing and more like something you’re actually living.
MEET ANITA
Hi, I’m Anita.
If reaching out doesn’t come easily to you, that makes sense. Many of the people I work with are more comfortable giving help than asking for it. That first step can take real courage, and I don’t take it lightly.
The patterns that bring people to therapy usually run deeper than reassurance or quick fixes can reach. My own experience in therapy showed me what’s possible when someone listens beyond the words to what’s underneath, and that’s the kind of listening I bring to every session.
Growing up between cultures taught me how differently two people can experience the same thing, and it shapes how I think about identity and belonging. I lead with compassionate curiosity: close attention, honest questions, and space for what needs to surface on its own.
I keep my practice intentionally small so I can know each client well and remember the details that matter.
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 you’re in college or just out, and the pressure to get adulting right won’t let up.
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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
How Change Happens
Somewhere along the way, often in early relationships, you may have 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.
My work is relational and depth-oriented. Together, we get curious about where those patterns began and how they show up in your life today, including between us. Understanding yourself is part of it, but change also comes from feeling and experiencing yourself differently, with someone who stays with you while you do.
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’re hoping 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 see whether it feels like a good fit, with 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 location accessible from across the East Bay. I offer in-person therapy 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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Many of the people I work with are doing well by most outside measures. They come to therapy not because something has fallen apart, but because something feels off, or they’re tired of second-guessing themselves. Therapy isn’t only for a crisis. If you’re asking the question, that’s often reason enough to explore it.
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That’s common, and it’s a perfectly good place to start. You can bring whatever is on your mind that day, even if it seems small or unrelated. I’ll help guide the conversation, and the things that feel hardest to put into words often lead somewhere important. There’s no right way to show up.
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I hear this often. Some therapy focuses mainly on coping strategies or talking through the week, which can help but may not reach what’s underneath. In our work, we look at where your patterns began and how they show up now, including in our relationship, so you can experience something different, not just understand it. If you’d like, we can talk about what didn’t work before during your free consultation.
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It depends on what brings you in and what you want from therapy. Many people notice changes within the first few months, while deeper, lasting change usually takes longer. There’s no set number of sessions. We’ll check in along the way about how it’s going, and you’re always part of deciding what comes next.
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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.
GET IN TOUCH
Start Feeling Connected to Yourself Again
…You don’t need to know exactly what’s missing before you begin.
To get started,
fill out the Consultation Request Form,
and I’ll reach out to set up a time for your free consultation.
