Addiction therapists & psychiatrists in Oakland, CA

I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a PhD and 34 years of experience, offering telehealth therapy to clients in California. I'm most in my element with people who are learning their needs, what's getting in their way and feel ready to meet their challenges. My clients come from all walks of life. I help those who are too hard on themselves to become their own best friend.

I have been drawn to this work for as long as I can remember. I earned my Masters in Social Work at Loma Linda University and spent years inside child protective services and the custody system, where I saw how much pain families carry and how little space they are given to heal it. I became a licensed clinical social worker in 2012 and opened my own practice in 2021. Along the way I trained in EMDR, DBT, Internal Family Systems and somatic work, and I taught social work at the graduate level. That mix shapes how I sit with people today. I am not interested in managing symptoms and calling it progress. I want the people I

work with to feel genuinely different in their own bodies and in their own relationships.

I'm a licensed psychotherapist with 34 years of experience. I do my best to meet you "where you are" and to offer compassionate presence as you progress through your personal process of self-discovery, self-identification, and evolution.

I'm honored to be part of your journey of transformation. I approach sessions in collaboration, as you learn to free yourself from judgment, criticism, and pain; to change negative perceptions that do not serve; and to experience more ease and peace in life.

Welcome and thank you for taking the time to learn more about me. As a licensed therapist practicing in both California and New York, I believe deeply in the inherent resilience and transformative potential within every individual. I earned my Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. Throughout my clinical practice, I have supported clients across all life stages in navigating complex emotional challenges, including trauma, anxiety, and depression, while empowering them to cultivate healthy, fulfilling interpersonal relationships.

Clients often describe me as warm, approachable, and easy to talk to. I aim to create a supportive and engaging space where you feel safe to be emotionally open, while also bringing a sense of ease.

At the core of my style is curiosity. I’m drawn to the “why” - why we feel, think, and respond to life the way we do. I take a holistic and at times existential approach, exploring not just immediate challenges, but the deeper patterns, life transitions, and questions of meaning that shape your experience.

I draw from a wide range of personal and professional experiences, including working directly with and overseeing a large and diverse group of clients. This allows me to adapt different techniques and perspectives to support growth, insight, and lasting change. Throughout the process, I remain thoughtful, engaged, and focused on what will be most helpful for you.

I am dedicated to helping individuals make meaningful, lasting changes by developing coping skills that fit their unique life experiences. With over 20 years of experience in addiction treatment and mental health services, I bring a grounded, compassionate, and client‐centered approach to therapy. I believe that you know yourself better than anyone else, and my role is to support you in uncovering your strengths, healing from past experiences, and building a life that feels more balanced and fulfilling.

My specialties include substance use disorders, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, and co‐occurring mental health challenges. I am committed to helping clients improve their relationships, reduce stress, and strengthen their sense of self‐worth. I focus on the whole person—mind, body, and environment—because growth in one area naturally supports growth in all others.

I’m here to make this journey feel gentle, welcoming, and human. I keep things clear and simple so you can focus on what matters, not the overwhelm. My style is warm, encouraging, and a little poetic—because softness helps us breathe. Let’s take this step together, one calm moment at a time.

My clients tell me I am extremely non judgemental, empathic and very safe to talk to. I also work directly WITH you to set your desired goals and what you want from your therapy. One of my joys is to help my clients learn how to be their individual authentic selves complete with confidence, clarity and calm.

Taking the courageous step to care for your mental health is the foundation for overcoming life’s challenges. As a skilled and dedicated therapist, I will guide you in unlocking your inner strengths and building the tools you need to create a fulfilling and balanced life. I gained experience by working in outpatient and residential facilities throughout the Los Angeles community, providing individual and group support to those managing co-occurring disorders and family system challenges. I am especially passionate about working with individuals who are managing anxiety and depression, feelings of low self- worth, relationship difficulties, and impulsive behaviors. I received a BS from Boston University, and a MS in Counseling from California State University, Northridge, graduating with honors.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California. I graduated from Alliant International University and have 12 years of experience in treatment settings ranging from residential care to routine outpatient care, treating self-harm, addiction, PTSD, anxiety, depression, relation and family conflict, life adjustments and more.

Jamila Banks is a California-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with over 16 years of experience working in the mental health field. She graduated from the University of Southern California(USC), with a BA in Political Science and Psychology and received her master's in psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy, from the University of LaVerne, in 2011. Jamila initially began working in the mental health field in an Addiction & Treatment crisis center in 2010, working with adults battling various addictions and mental health disorders. From there, she has worked in a variety of settings, including group homes, mental health hospitals, and inpatient/outpatient centers, providing therapy in both individual and group services. Concurrently in 2010, as a case manager for a California regional center, she worked closely with both children and adults diagnosed with intellectual disabilities such as Autism and mental health disorders such as Anxiety. She has experience working with a multidisciplinary team of parents, teachers, social workers, and other practitioners in developing a collaborative plan of care. Jamila is a wife, and mother of 4, and lives her life in service through multiple vehicles of community advocacy, impact, and philanthropy. Outside of her community work, Jamila enjoys traveling, learning, making memories, exercising (gym, yoga, hiking) reading, meditating, crystal healing work, trying out new foods, and spending quality time with friends and family.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Berkeley, CA, and I’ve worked in mental health care since 2012. My background includes community-based work, trauma-informed care, and leadership in training and clinical development. I earned my MSW from NYU and specialize in treating anxiety, self-esteem challenges, and life transitions. I enjoy working with adults navigating changes - career shifts, identity questions, or simply trying to feel more at home in themselves. Clients often say they feel safe, understood, and more at ease after we talk. I believe therapy works best with a good sense of humor - even in hard sessions, there’s room for relief and laughter.