Grief counselors and therapists in Oakland, CA

I have a deep commitment to seeing people flourish in relationship to themselves, and to others. For many of us, we have some sense of what makes relationships great and what makes them terrible. Knowing and experiencing what makes great relationships stronger, and what turns terrible relationships around, is where I can work alongside you. As someone who has been stepped in Attachment science, I love allowing for people to make more coherent sense of their internal world, to build or restore bonds with others.

I see a person’s choice to engage in the process of therapy as the beginning of a new journey. The journey may be motivated by an exercise in self- discovery, acquiring new skills, or working though past life events. Should you decide to peruse therapy I want to walk beside you on this journey. I have 10 years of experience in the field of psychotherapy working with families and individuals in the age demographics from youth to seniors.

I have had over ten years of training in a variety of somatic therapy approaches. I received my BA in Anthropology at the University of Georgia, and a MA in Counseling Psychotherapy from California Institute of Integral Studies. I've published and presented internationally on themes of embodiment, culture, ancestral memory, and gender. My research on embodiment and culture was published in in the volume Moveable Gardens: Itineraries and Sanctuaries of Remembrance in 2021.

Anxiety and perfectionism have turned your mind into a battleground. Your inner critic nitpicks every interaction, leaving you exhausted by thoughts of “Damnit, why can’t I just be better!” Painful memories get louder, no matter how hard you try to ignore them. Daily invalidations of your Latina, queer, or immigrant identity sting, and you feel isolated as you keep your suffering to yourself. You’ve tried everything: doom scrolling, drinking, and self-help books, but nothing has worked. You're left feeling hopeless and weighed down.

I'm an interactive bi-cultural somatic expressive arts therapist who brings a lot of joy to the work she does, creating safety to address challenges people face. I offer a unique blend of person-centered, humanistic, transpersonal-oriented somatic-based Expressive Arts therapy and energy practices in German and English. I welcome a variety of clients across cultures, ages, lifestyles, and sexual/gender orientations.

I’m a licensed therapist in San Francisco with over 15 years in private practice. I specialize in Eating disorders, body image and trauma and work primarily with adults who are exhausted by the cycle of restriction, compulsive eating, shame and self criticism and are ready for something to genuinely shift. My training includes, IFS, Somatic therapy, EMDR, CBT and Expressive Arts therapy, which means we will not only engage in supportive talk therapy, but also have real tools to work with. My clients often express that not only do they heal and find peace with food, disordered eating and body image, but they also become more able to feel and tolerate emotions and regulate moods, while building trust in their bodies and discover true hungers, desires and enhance creativity and vitality. This can lead to more ease and comfort in your own skin, with the potential of more meaningful work and healthy relationships.

I have experience working with a wide range of clients and disorders, ranging from children to older adults across various cultures and occupations. I focus mainly on helping clients through trauma, ADHD difficulties, and sexual issues.

Welcome, I'm Jenn. I am glad you are here. Slowing down and considering your own support can be difficult for many of the folks I work with, and you’ve taken the first step.

My clients tend to be smart, quirky, thoughtful, community-minded professionals. They are also often perfectionists who expect a lot from themselves. Anxiety, depression, dissatisfaction in work and relationships, and burnout can arise when you relate to yourself critically or chronically minimize your own needs.

A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I offer depth-oriented psychotherapy for adults. I welcome your present challenges, lifetime of experiences, and unique inner world and offer a space where even the most confusing and distressing concerns can be met with warmth and intelligence. I work to model and support you in relating to yourself with kindness and with clear-eyes. From there, you may better connect with your own wisdom and find you can make more confident and kind choices in your relationships and career.

I hold an M.A. in counseling psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies where I trained in holistic approaches to healing emotional pain.