Grief counselors and therapists in Oakland, CA

Trauma can leave you feeling on edge, disconnected, or stuck in patterns that insight alone hasn’t changed. I help adults and older teens navigate traumatic experiences, anxiety, grief, and relationship difficulties. With over 20 years in the field, I bring a warm, direct, collaborative approach to helping you feel more grounded and connected. I offer gender-affirming therapy and LGBTQ+, kink, and polyamory-supportive care that respects your identity, relationships, and goals. I also welcome people living with chronic mental illness.

Hello, my name is Ryan. I treat adults using psychodynamic psychotherapy. This is ideal for clients who are willing to be introspective about their problems and are okay with being confronted in a direct way. This type of therapy can be hard but provides the basis for deep and meaningful work.

My goal is to create a space where you feel seen, understood, and supported. I believe mental wellness is an essential part of overall health, and that healing begins by moving from survival to thriving through nervous system regulation, processing past experiences, and strengthening the mind-body connection. Meaningful change and healing happens within a strong therapeutic relationship built on trust, authenticity, and collaboration. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, addiction, performance anxiety, work-related stress... or simply feeling overwhelmed by life's demands, we'll work together to build insight, process difficult experiences when appropriate, develop practical coping skills, and create meaningful, lasting change.

Feeling worried all the time? Feeling down or depressed? Dealing with negative thinking that wont go away? Having difficulties in your relationships? Struggling to maintain a balance between responsibilities and everyday challenges?

Let me help you! I will guide you to effectively manage anxiety, depression or elevated stress that may arise when dealing with past or present relationship issues, family conflict, divorce, separation, parenting difficulties, trauma, illness, loss, transitions or other life stressors.

I'm here for you! Don't tackle this alone; open yourself to professional help.

I feel this work is a vocation driven by humility, love, patience, and integrity. I enjoy developing relationships and assisting people on their way to living life to their fullest potential. I believe the world can change one person at a time through mindful, values-based living. In my free time I enjoy spending time outdoors, with my family and my three little furry friends.