I work with adult individuals and couples and adolescents. I utilize both traditional talk therapy and cognitive-behavioral interventions. I have experience with a variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, body image concerns, infertility and postpartum mood disorders. I also have extensive experience with chemical dependency concerns. I know how hard it can be to seek professional help. I work to create a safe environment in which you can discuss what is bothering you. We will work together to create a treatment plan that is helpful to you.

I work with adult individuals and couples and adolescents. I utilize both traditional talk therapy and cognitive-behavioral interventions. I have experience with a variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, body image concerns, infertility and postpartum mood disorders. I also have extensive experience with chemical dependency concerns. I know how hard it can be to seek professional help. I work to create a safe environment in which you can discuss what is bothering you. We will work together to create a treatment plan that is helpful to you.

When the early excitement of falling in love fades, differences which once felt trivial become the source of disagreement and frustration. In a safe and confidential setting, I welcome individuals and couples into my private practice to improve their communication skills, increase their positive self esteem, and restore the connection in their primary relationships. Imago Relationship Therapy is based on the best selling book, "Getting the Love You Want," by Harville Hendrix, PhD and Co-Founded Imago Relationships International together with his partner, Helan LaKelly Hunt, PhD. As a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, I give couples the tools they need to tranform their relationship difficuties into the shared path of healing for optimum growth and connection. The Imago Dialogue is a simple, respectful and effective way to talk to your partner about the things that really matter. Exploring, understanding and appreciating your differences can become the most joyous experiences of your life, and the path to lasting love. In Imago their is no blame, shame or harsh criticism. Instead, a stronger connection comes through attentive listening and being deeply heard in an emotionally safe environment. Then surprising answers to age old conflicts can emerge from the relationship itself. Conflict and frustrations are truly growth waiitng to happen. Imago gives couples the tools they need to restore the loving connections they seek.

There are many reasons that bring individuals into counseling. It could be due to stress at work or in their relationships. Sometimes it is grief, the loss of a loved one, or a traumatic experience. For others it is worries or low self-esteem. My areas of specialty include working with individuals who are experiencing anxiety, and working with couples. Everyone worries or feels anxious occasionally. However, when anxiety takes over your life and impacts your functioning it is time to seek help. Fear and anxiety are roadblocks in life's journey. It can show up as emotional as well as physical ailments. If you suffer from any of the following, you may be suffering from ANXIETY: Chronic Sleep Problems - difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Discomfort in social settings, making it difficult to maintain relationships and interferes with work and school, may be due to Social Anxiety. Feelings of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that can include heart pounding, sweating, dizziness, chest pain can be a Panic Attack. Obsessive thinking and repetitive ritual type behaviors, Perfectionism and Self-Doubt Fear associated with a specific situation like flying, heights, fear of snakes, dogs or other animals may be anxiety known as a Phobia. Physical Ailments - The gut is affected by emotional stress: chronic indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), muscle tension, chronic headaches are affected by anxiety. Depression - Research has shown a strong link between anxiety disorders and depression. Sexual Dysfunction can cause anxiety. Chronic Stress can contribute to feelings of anxiety. Blood Sugar Fluctuations - the body releases epinephrine to raise blood sugar which can cause anxiety like symptoms, i.e.: shaky, jittery, light headed. It is inspiring for me to share and witness the effectiveness of practical skills that allow you to manage anxiety and experience a sense of confidence and inner peace. COUPLES COUNSELING: Relationships can bring up wonderful feelings and on the other hand can stir up the most painful ones as well. Couples have expressed their appreciation in my approach. My style is interactive and I intervene with care. In a safe and supportive environment, I gently invite you to notice your triggers and response to your partner. With support and guidance, couples express their thoughts, feelings and needs without using blame or criticism. You can enjoy and achieve compassionate and respectful relationships. Equipped with non-threatening communication skills you are able to find resolution to the problems that brought you to counseling. Conflicts can be diffused easily and quickly and deeper understanding achieved. I support couples to: Improve their communication skills so that they feel heard and attended to by their partner Move away from attacking or defensive communication like: “I’m right, you’re wrong,” or “you don’t listen to me", and experience a relationship where they feel understood and held. To build on the positive aspects of their relationship and be a couple team If your partner is not willing to come into counseling, you may be pleasantly surprised how the dynamics of your relationship can change with just one person doing it differently.

Life offers us opportunities for growth, healing and self-discovery. I offer a compassionate and supportive environment utilizing a strength based approach. A vital part of my work is to support you in exploring your inner resources and innate wisdom while cultivating practices that will deepen a greater sense of well-being. May it be long term objectives or short term goals, my intention is to provide practical tools and guidance moving towards insight, self-acceptance, healthier relationships and deeper connections. I welcome individuals, couples and families of any gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and spiritual beliefs. I use an integrative and relational approach to tailor treatments that meet the unique needs of each individual. I specialize in transpersonal and somatic therapy in treating the whole-person. Some areas of focus include life transitions, PTSD, relationship issues, couples/marital counseling, anxiety, depression, loss/grief, anger management, substance abuse, spirituality, identity exploration, parenting issues, blended families, co-parenting and divorce. As a therapist I bring my education, training, professional experience, a diverse career background and my personal life experiences. I hold a deep commitment to my own healing and inner growth and believe in the healing potential of psychotherapy and counseling.

If you have ever experienced anxiety, depression, loneliness, obsessions, addiction, or a sense feeling stuck or lost, you are not alone. Over 25% of American adults experience some sort of emotional dis-ease in any given year. It is difficult to deal with these issues on one's own, and as human beings, we are wired for connection and contact. That means that we ALL need support; we cannot and should not remain alone in dealing with these challenges. My focus is on treating adult individuals, couples, and families, and together developing a safe, trusting relationship as the basis for healing and creating new patterns of healthy thinking, healthy feeling, and healthy behaving. I take a holistic approach, working somatically with the whole being- mind, body and breath. This means that in addition to talking, together we work with your breath so that it flows more regularly and freely; this facilitates release of stuck emotions in the body. We also work together with your body so that you become more aware of what you actually feel in your own body. This work allows for complete release, healing, and transformation and thus a greater sense of overall well-being. I work with people experiencing a wide range of issues, and in particular, people in transition. Transitions include situations such as relocation; career loss or change; life with emotional or physical illness or chronic pain; loss of a loved one; adjusting to sobriety; retirement, or any number of other life events that foster changes both within and without. Change in familial structure also often represents a difficult transition, and support can be highly beneficial with these changes. This could be the birth of a child; moving out on one's own; marriage; divorce; life after college; empty nesting, and other situational shifts. During these transitions, one often confronts anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, isolation, lack of ability to focus or concentrate, anger and other emotions that can be difficult to handle. As your therapist, I become your ally and together we work to explore and to excavate what is deep inside and is perhaps keeping you stuck. We identify tools and develop insights that allow you to move on more freely with your life and adapt to changes and transition with greater ease. We work collaboratively, finding what is most appropriate for you in any given session. If you are reading this page now, you have taken the first step in gaining increased emotional ease and equilibrium. I am committed to partnering with you through the next steps and supporting you towards your fully sustainable well-being. I look forward to hearing from you to begin the process together.

I work with parents seeking guidance in making the transition to parenthood or a larger family. Often new parents find themselves lacking support or feeling unsure of themselves, sometimes finding themselves turning to books alone to help them navigate their new role. Parents are often expected to express only happiness about having a new baby, or are expected to quickly move past the baby blues, the need for extra help, or any sign of uncertainty about their new role. Partner relationships are often challenged greatly by the changes brought with growing a family. It's a great blessing to be an advocate for people going through this amazing time in their life. Being a doula has given me a great and deep understanding and appreciation of the pregnancy and birth process, I'm well versed in complications, breast-feeding and other physical issues that mothers face. I draw on my counseling skills to direct other issues related to new parenthood- relationship shifts, identity crisis, self-care, and forming a new positive self-narrative, for instance.

I am a compassionate Solution Focused Therapist, who specializes in helping Children, Adolescents, Individuals, and Families navigate life's transitions. I practice a strength based approach and accentuate the positive, helping you to discern what is working in your life and to capitalize on your unique and existing strengths, while encouraging you to let go of what is not working or even hindering your forward progress. I will join with you to determine obtainable, results oriented goals. Together we will establish individualized plans for you and/or your family, so that a clear path towards achieving your goals becomes conceivable, understandable, and most importantly, obtainable. I embrace people of differing ethnicities, cultures, nationalities, and religious orientations. I also enjoy working with people who believe that they have different sexual orientations and alternative lifestyles. I have experience working in the disability community with people who are differently able and my office is fully accessible. I am upfront about my values and any biases which I may have and always invite dialogue or feedback around sensitive issues where my knowledge and experience may be limited. I also believe in the connection between body, mind, and spirit and am trained in both holistic and somatic approaches, as well as in many "classical" talk therapy methodologies. In addition to becoming a licensed Marriage, Family Therapist (MFC34259) I also trained in the Expressive Arts Therapies at Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute (UCSF) and am a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (R-DMT-948). After discussing your preferences, we will find a path that works for you. And last but not least, I hold a special place in my heart, for people who are living with chronic mental health challenges, such as Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Bi-Polar Disorder, Major Depressive disorder, and any of the Anxiety Disorders. I believe in the Recovery Model and I will join you as an advocate, therapist, and case manager, if you so choose.

Do you feel lost, alone and tired of carrying your heavy load by yourself? Do you look in the mirror and wonder what happened to me, who am I? I specialize in working with the grief of a life that feels hopeless and or loss of relationship, friendship, health, job or pet. I offer a place where you learn how to start taking those steps forward.. As you experience speaking and expressing your inner thoughts to another human being you will begin to find your own way back to your life. Together will work toward making life simpler and less stressful You will start to feel better and your energy will come back. You may think you should be able to figure out how to move forward in your life. It helps to talk with someone who is a professionally trained listener. I will be here for you. Call or email me so we can get started. . I also train interns in private practice and do consulting work with licensed counselors.

Stanford-trained Trauma Therapist, Laura Strom, offers cutting-edge brief treatment developed at Stanford which can help. Even the most severe cases of trauma/posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can dramatically improve. Laura also understands disabilities which complicate matters; she works with children ages 5 and up, teens, adults and seniors.

If you have concerns for yourself or a family member I would be happy to speak with you. I would be pleased to answer your questions or to set up an initial appointment. My primary area of specialization is related to the treatment of traumatic stress responses, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, specific phobias, depression, and dissociative disorders. I work with a wide range of survivors of traumatic experiences including crime victims, industrial injuries, motor vehicle crashes, natural and man-made disasters, critical incident and cumulative stress in police, fire and other emergency responders, adults who were abused or neglected as children. I also have extensive experience in alcohol and substance abuse recovery. I work with individuals with co-occuring posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol or substance abuse. My original training was in marriage and family therapy and I have continued to work with couples over the last three decades. I work with couples at all phases of life. I help couples learn to communicate and work through issues with blended families, infidelity, infertility, and adoption. I support loving relationships by helping couples learn to communicate more effectively, develop trust and intimacy, work through areas of conflict, and resolve their issues.

Are you scared about what has happened to your relationship? Has your partner, or you, fallen out of love. There is help for marriages that are struggling. The average couple waits 6 years before getting help. Don't wait too long. The spark of love could go out - either in your heart or your partner's. Don't continue to do what you have been doing -- if it is not working. Talking to a couples expert can give you new approaches that have helped many couples have happier, more connected, and more loving relationships.

I work with adults, couples, families, teens and children. In the midst of our daily lives, we can find ourselves in painful situations especially with the people who are closest with us such as our partners and spouses, or with whom we have frequent contact at work or school, etc. These difficult feelings often reflect our own inner wounds. To have our own peace of mind we must first find our own inner peace. I have found that this is more the work of our hearts than it is the work of our minds. It is our hearts that provide the gateway to our healing and to our peace of mind through compassionate understanding. So many people honestly don't know how to be compassionate with themselves. They may feel this readily for others yet when it comes to themselves find that they are painfully excluded from their own hearts. I look to create a safe place where you can come to connect with the compassion of your heart in order to have the healing we each seek in our lives.

I am a clinical psychologist with over 25 years experience in an adult outpatient psychotherapy practice and 15 years experience as a staff psychologist in the Chronic Pain Department at the Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Complex. My areas of specialization include psychodynamic psychotherapy, Brief therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, Hypnosis, crisis intervention and Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapy. Presenting issues I work with include chronic pain and other chronic medical conditions, anxiety/panic disorders, phobias, depressive disorders, sleep disorders, dissociative disorders, stress, post-traumatic stress and psychosomatic conditions.

Are you scared about what has happened to your relationship? Has your partner, or you, fallen out of love. There is help for marriages that are struggling. The average couple waits 6 years before getting help. Don't wait too long. The spark of love could go out - either in your heart or your partner's. Don't continue to do what you have been doing -- if it is not working. Talking to a couples expert can give you new approaches that have helped many couples have happier, more connected, and more loving relationships.

If you are looking for a better way to manage stress, mindfulness practice is a real solution. Mindfulness is exploding in popularity because it works. Mindfulness means being in the present moment. Being in the present moment is where change happens I enjoy working with individuals and couples who are looking for purpose and ways to find more meaning to their life. Customized Couples therapy includes a 12-week program to bring intimacy and joy back into the relationship. Most couples say they feel misunderstood and frustrated in many of their interactions with their partner. The essential tools in the couples programs is learning how to forgive, let go of past resentments, effective communication and conflict resolution skills and regain sexual intimacy

Feel better now! As a Founding Fellow in the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, I would like to assist you in feeling better fast using this research-based, evidence-based approach. I also am a member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy (ABCT), the American Psychological Association (APA) and the California Psychological Association (CPA). Given my interest in helping you in the best possible ways, I continually attend conferences and workshops, in addition to reading journal articles and books on the latest issues in the field. I specialize in issues including stress, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive issues, trauma, sadness, mood, depression, relationships, sleep issues, men's issues, and many more. In my 15 years of practice I have often used cognitive-behavioral therapy; however, I also integrate person-centered, humanistic, existential, and relational approaches.

Has the spark gone out of your marriage? The spark of love and romance does not have to fade away. If your marriage is filled with conflict and emotional distance...if your partner seems more like just a friend than a romantic partner...couples counseling may help in restoring love and desire to your relationship. You're pretty sure marriage is not supposed to be like this... If you're like most people, you are probably thinking that something is wrong with your relationship. It shouldn't be this painful…there should not be so many fights. You should feel more loved and cherished by your partner. Have you ever wondered if it's possible to repair your marriage? Would you like to build a more deeply loving relationship with your partner? You can learn how to get your needs met, improve your marriage, enjoy better communication, experience your home as a sanctuary, and work together in parenting your children. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I help individuals, couples and families achieve a more satisfying life. Couples sometimes settle for being miserable. I recommend that you don't just settle - come in to counseling and learn the secrets to more happiness and fulfillment. When a relationship has become strained or distant and you are not feeling close to your partner, you may feel hopeless that things will ever change. I believe both you and your spouse want to feel understood and that your needs will be met and respected. I think both of you want a happy and loving environment that you come home to at the end of the day. When there is too much alienation or conflict, it may be time to see a therapist for couples counseling. Counseling may help improve empathy and understanding. It will help both of you talk to each other, and will help you listen to what is being said. Counseling can help you and your partner move beyond a pattern of conflict and return to love. Issues that come up in couples therapy may include anger management, sexual problems, money issues, past hurts that never got resolved, affairs, anxiety and depression issues, alcohol and substance issues, and relationship with family and in-laws.

If you have ever experienced anxiety, depression, loneliness, obsessions, addiction, or a sense feeling stuck or lost, you are not alone. Over 25% of American adults experience some sort of emotional dis-ease in any given year. It is difficult to deal with these issues on one's own, and as human beings, we are wired for connection and contact. That means that we ALL need support; we cannot and should not remain alone in dealing with these challenges. My focus is on treating adult individuals, couples, and families, and together developing a safe, trusting relationship as the basis for healing and creating new patterns of healthy thinking, healthy feeling, and healthy behaving. I take a holistic approach, working somatically with the whole being- mind, body and breath. This means that in addition to talking, together we work with your breath so that it flows more regularly and freely; this facilitates release of stuck emotions in the body. We also work together with your body so that you become more aware of what you actually feel in your own body. This work allows for complete release, healing, and transformation and thus a greater sense of overall well-being. I work with people experiencing a wide range of issues, and in particular, people in transition. Transitions include situations such as relocation; career loss or change; life with emotional or physical illness or chronic pain; loss of a loved one; adjusting to sobriety; retirement, or any number of other life events that foster changes both within and without. Change in familial structure also often represents a difficult transition, and support can be highly beneficial with these changes. This could be the birth of a child; moving out on one's own; marriage; divorce; life after college; empty nesting, and other situational shifts. During these transitions, one often confronts anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, isolation, lack of ability to focus or concentrate, anger and other emotions that can be difficult to handle. As your therapist, I become your ally and together we work to explore and to excavate what is deep inside and is perhaps keeping you stuck. We identify tools and develop insights that allow you to move on more freely with your life and adapt to changes and transition with greater ease. We work collaboratively, finding what is most appropriate for you in any given session. If you are reading this page now, you have taken the first step in gaining increased emotional ease and equilibrium. I am committed to partnering with you through the next steps and supporting you towards your fully sustainable well-being. I look forward to hearing from you to begin the process together.

Are anxiety, depression, anger or loneliness getting in the way of living a more full and satisfying life? Psychotherapy can be very helpful in relieving the symptoms and underlying causes of depression, anxiety, defensiveness, and stress. The hardest step is the first one: making yourself a priority. By acknowledging your need for change you begin a process of understanding that results in more freedom in your life.

I help people overcome obstacles that prevent them from realizing their goals. Often when people suffer from depression, anxiety, anger, or guilt, they experience self-defeating attitudes and behaviors. Additionally, they may feel irritable or demoralized in relationships with friends, family, and work. When men and women feel blocked, leading a life rich in creativity can be difficult. My approach to therapy involves working collaboratively so that I can provide feedback, ideas, and observations. Clients are free (and encouraged) to develop their own insights and solutions based on our dialogues or based on their own thinking and feelings.

I have worked with thousands of people in both personal and business environments. While I have been a licensed therapist for 26 years, I feel more aligned with calling myself a coach. My focus is on helping people become clear about their visions and desires, strategize about how to move forward effectively, and then take consistent action. I lead both personal development and business communication courses nationally and internationally. My wife of 25 years (Judith Bell, M.S.) and I co-wrote Lovers for Life: Creating Lasting Passion, Trust, and True Partnership. She and I co-lead couple's workshops. I also lead Strength with Heart men's groups and workshops. Weekly groups have been running continually for the last 26+ years. I am quite willing to share my perspective in respectful ways to clients who appreciate the directness and clarity of my feedback. Working with individuals, couples, and groups, I act as ally and advisor in helping you bring forth your very best. It is truly a privilege. I have offices in both San Francisco and Marin. I also work with people around the country through Skype or phone.

I have worked with thousands of people in both personal and business environments. While I have been a licensed therapist for 26 years, I feel more aligned with calling myself a coach. My focus is on helping people become clear about their visions and desires, strategize about how to move forward effectively, and then take consistent action. I lead both personal development and business communication courses nationally and internationally. My wife of 25 years (Judith Bell, M.S.) and I co-wrote Lovers for Life: Creating Lasting Passion, Trust, and True Partnership. She and I co-lead couple's workshops. I also lead Strength with Heart men's groups and workshops. Weekly groups have been running continually for the last 26+ years. I am quite willing to share my perspective in respectful ways to clients who appreciate the directness and clarity of my feedback. Working with individuals, couples, and groups, I act as ally and advisor in helping you bring forth your very best. It is truly a privilege. I have offices in both San Francisco and Marin. I also work with people around the country through Skype or phone.

Dr. Steve Orma is a clinical psychologist in San Francisco and Marin County providing individual and couples therapy for anxiety, eating disorders, depression, stress-related issues, and other life challenges. Therapy by phone and/or video calling (e.g., Skype) is also available. Dr. Orma’s primary goal as a therapist is to help clients not only overcome problems, but to lead happy, fulfilling lives. He utilizes Cognitive Therapy, an active, skills-based approach that helps individuals learn how to identify and change negative or inaccurate thinking, as well as understand and effectively manage emotions and behavior. Dr. Orma also uses Solution-Focused Therapy to help individuals identify and highlight their strengths (ones they may not even be aware of), building self-confidence and helping to capitalize on past successes.

I provide therapy for individuals who wish to make changes in their lives and; relationships that are long-lasting and positive. I offer safe, compassionate and supportive counseling in an atmosphere that deepens understanding, promotes healing, and releases potential. Unresolved emotional issues can stifle creativity, confidence, ambition, and our ability for good relationships. Trauma and loss can cause sadness, depression and pain that inhibit and block. My style of therapy is empathic and respectful of personal values and lifestyles. I use; interactive talk therapy and other appropriate techniques, such as EMDR. The presenting problems are first alleviated. Profound change and personal growth are then able to take place through understanding and healing of the deeper underlying issues.; My specialties include:; • Depression / Anxiety • Grief / Loss / Bereavement • Effects of Childhood Abuse / Trauma / PTSD • Sex and Love Addiction / Sexuality /Internet Addiction • Social anxiety / Self-esteem / Shyness • Relationship Issues / Anger Management • Couples Counseling • Divorce / Co-parenting • Family Therapy / Child Therapy Feel free to call or e-mail me if you have any questions, or wish to make an initial appointment. If we can't work together for any reason, I will do my best to provide appropriate referrals. I am available days, evenings, and Saturdays and offer a sliding scale. I also offer telephone consultation.

Whether you visit my office or connect with me online, you will find an emotionally safe and judgment-free environment. Here, you will be met with compassion, respect, and unwavering support. In my practice, I integrate Internal Family Systems, Narrative Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy techniques. My deep fascination with human behavior fuels my natural curiosity about people. I am a skilled question asker, problem solver, and mediator, committed to understanding and helping you navigate your unique journey. ​ Let's work together so you can create your true path to happiness. We will devise a framework to help you achieve your emotional goals through self-understanding and self-improvement. And you will learn how to cultivate the healthy, long-lasting relationships that you desire.

Turn obstacles into stepping stones. Whatever isn't working, is keeping you stuck, is keeping you repeating old worn out patterns, learn how to use that to transform yourself, your life into your most cherished dreams. Work through relationship issues, lack of self esteem, procrastination issues, depression, anxiety, fears. Learn how to use all of that as a basis of your strength, your confidence, your growth, and your healing of old wounds. Become the change you want to see happen. How I work: Starting where you are, I work with you to guide you to find the source of discomfort/anger/depression/fear/stuckness, teach you tools to begin to till your own internal soil, and plant your own garden. I help you to understand your own process, recognize, and respect your own process. I teach you how to work with your own process to change and grow and allow who you are to flourish. I help you to heal old wounds and teach you how to harvest the bounty of gifts from those wounds. When the process seems stuck, I have a wide array of psychological tools to pick from to help you to move through whatever is blocking or making the process difficult. My patients leave not only having completed the work they came in to do, they leave having learned how to work with themselves,and having mastered many many tools for identifying their feelings. addressing their feelings, communicating with themselves and others, tools for healing themselves and loving themselves. They leave confident in themselves and in their ability to handle whatever comes their way. Couples leave having repaired their relationship with each other and with skills to keep their relationship alive, exciting, loving and nourishing. Kids leave with hope and faith in themselves and what they've mastered. Most patients leave having transformed themselves and their lives.

We all need a little help sometimes. Whether you need help with a current issue that is causing you distress or want to work on a life-long problem that you struggle with, I provide a safe, non-judgmental place to work on what’s bothering you. I believe that everyone has strengths. Whether my client is an individual, couple or family, I help them by identifying what is working in their life, what isn’t and how we can work together to make changes. I have worked with many families and individuals through Family Service Agency of San Francisco, WOMAN Inc. and Bay Area Community Resources in Marin. Through these agencies I had the opportunity to provide therapy for children ages 6-17 and their families as well as women who have experienced domestic violence.

My job is to help you let go of suffering, overcome what is holding you back, and create better communication and more intimacy in your relationships. Effective psychotherapy and marriage counseling does not simply analyze your problems, it helps you make permanent changes. I work in a supportive manner and tailor individual psychotherapy or couples counseling to your unique needs, background, and preferences. My 20 years' experience as a psychotherapist and marriage counselor in Marin has shown that when people begin to improve how they treat and view themselves, even in small ways, the benefits are enormous. Together, we can do that. Therapy is a powerful tool to improve relationships. This may include relationships with your partner, family, or other significant people. It also includes your relationship with yourself. I have openings for new clients and I invite you to contact me to discuss how I can help you. Areas of special expertise include helping clients: 1) Create more nurturing intimate relationships 2) Overcome self-defeating patterns 3) Heal from the legacy of a narcissistic family 4) Enhance creativity and well-being 5) Cope with difficult people 6) Negotiate transitions and setbacks in relationships, career, finances, health, or emotional life

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, specializing in healing relationships. I have offices in San Francisco and Kentfield California. I work with individuals, couples and families. I have expertise in addictions, marriage, divorce, affairs and adolescent behavior issues. I work actively to help you be more aware of your actions, feelings, dynamics and your self. Through deep self awareness comes fulfilling self acceptance.

Welcome. Are you looking for someone to help you: •Reduce emotional suffering from anxiety, depression, excessive anger, or childhood trauma? •Cope with illness, divorce, or loss? •Enhance performance in a career or school? •Improve or even save a relationship? •Get your life back from self-limiting thoughts and behaviors? Or perhaps you wish to explore the many layers of your “self” to better understand who you are, how you got here, and ways to grow in a more directed, intentional manner? If you are looking for someone to guide you in the therapy process who takes you seriously while being kind and compassionate, and who is skillful and experienced but down-to-earth and easy to talk to...then I may be the right therapist for you. I enjoy working with individual adults of all ages, adolescents, as well as couples. I am truly honored to be able to sit in the therapy room with my clients, help them feel heard in a way people rarely are, and join them in a therapeutic journey to guide and support them as they find new ways to cope with problems, reduce suffering, think and react to themselves, others, and life's circumstances, and meet their individual human potential. I work both brief and longer term, and solution/problem focused and with a depth/exploratory/transformational focus, all depending on the needs of the individual. Sliding scale (low fee) psychotherapy appointments may be available. Please inquire. Let's discuss your needs and if I might be the right therapist for you.

With empathy and compassion, I will collaborate with my clients to achieve more well being. Life is full of times where we may feel unsure and lack direction or purpose. Sometimes relationships and family get complicated. At times we can question life's purpose or wonder if we are doing things "right". Sometimes all the emotions we have may feel confusing and need some sorting out. I like to support my clients to better understand themselves and feel more confident. I have worked extensively with individuals, couples, families and children in both private practice and school settings. I especially enjoy helping individuals find more harmony amongst their partners, children and in themselves. Besides offering traditional individual, couples or children's therapy, I have created a unique program for families in which I see families partly in the office and partly in the home to get a real sense of you families needs.

Is your life stuck, at a standstill, feeling blocked? Are you finding it difficult to resolve or move forward in important areas of your living? Do you often try to make changes, yet end up feeling discouraged, frustrated, resigned? Perhaps you wish to alter certain habits or develop new ways, but something seems to stop you from accomplishing or maintaining the changes. At this point of impasse, we can feel most disheartened. Although it may feel like the end, it is actually an opportunity for a new beginning. There is a source within all of us that can guide us forward- our body intelligence is the vehicle for growth and healing. I specialize in helping people who are experiencing life-impasses, a dispirited condition in which life-energy stagnates and our desires for change feel blocked. At this edge, we often feel confused, despairing, at a loss about what to do or how to proceed. I discovered that at the point of "not-knowing," there is something in us that does know. The method I call Body Awareness Therapy (BAT) is a simple, powerful process of accessing and unfolding Body Wisdom. BAT awakens life-energy, restores spirit, and shows the right direction/ next steps. Sitting and talking, while helpful, cannot themselves transform deeply ingrained patterns. Thus, I offer various possibilities for processing stuck places and resolving impasses- inner body awareness; outer expressiveness/movement; playing out embodied patterns, etc. These provide opportunities for developing "know how," learning new skills, developing capacities and healing core wounds. This method is based on the truth that our body contains a kind of knowledge, information and energy capable of healing core wounds and carrying forward our living where it has become stuck. It is effortless, in that we allow the body energy and inner spirit to guide us to the right steps and needed interactions. BAT will enable you to: .1 deepen awareness of bodily feelings; .2 release long-held tensions, stress- freeing life-energy; .3 restore the body's spirit; .4 follow bodily messages/leads; .5 identify and transform bodily patterns/ heal psychic wounds, .6 develop new capacities- taking stands, initiating action, expressing oneself. Our body is always moving toward where it is wounded or blocked, as well as to where there is new life, fresh air and greater vitality. Symptoms develop when the body's living energy and spirit have been broken or blocked from actualizing and expanding itself. When our awareness reconnects with the body, it reawakens this life-force, beginning a journey of recovering lost parts of ourselves and restoring our innate inner spirit. BAT can help release blocked energy, heal broken spirit and rejuvenate our bodily living.

Is your life stuck, at a standstill, feeling blocked? Are you finding it difficult to resolve or move forward in important areas of your living? Do you often try to make changes, yet end up feeling discouraged, frustrated, resigned? Perhaps you wish to alter certain habits or develop new ways, but something seems to stop you from accomplishing or maintaining the changes. At this point of impasse, we can feel most disheartened. Although it may feel like the end, it is actually an opportunity for a new beginning. There is a source within all of us that can guide us forward- our body intelligence is the vehicle for growth and healing. I specialize in helping people who are experiencing life-impasses, a dispirited condition in which life-energy stagnates and our desires for change feel blocked. At this edge, we often feel confused, despairing, at a loss about what to do or how to proceed. I discovered that at the point of "not-knowing," there is something in us that does know. The method I call Body Awareness Therapy (BAT) is a simple, powerful process of accessing and unfolding Body Wisdom. BAT awakens life-energy, restores spirit, and shows the right direction/ next steps. Sitting and talking, while helpful, cannot themselves transform deeply ingrained patterns. Thus, I offer various possibilities for processing stuck places and resolving impasses- inner body awareness; outer expressiveness/movement; playing out embodied patterns, etc. These provide opportunities for developing "know how," learning new skills, developing capacities and healing core wounds. This method is based on the truth that our body contains a kind of knowledge, information and energy capable of healing core wounds and carrying forward our living where it has become stuck. It is effortless, in that we allow the body energy and inner spirit to guide us to the right steps and needed interactions. BAT will enable you to: .1 deepen awareness of bodily feelings; .2 release long-held tensions, stress- freeing life-energy; .3 restore the body's spirit; .4 follow bodily messages/leads; .5 identify and transform bodily patterns/ heal psychic wounds, .6 develop new capacities- taking stands, initiating action, expressing oneself. Our body is always moving toward where it is wounded or blocked, as well as to where there is new life, fresh air and greater vitality. Symptoms develop when the body's living energy and spirit have been broken or blocked from actualizing and expanding itself. When our awareness reconnects with the body, it reawakens this life-force, beginning a journey of recovering lost parts of ourselves and restoring our innate inner spirit. BAT can help release blocked energy, heal broken spirit and rejuvenate our bodily living.

Compassionate psychotherapy services for adults, adolescents and children with focus on trauma recovery, PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression and life transitions. Professional consulting services in EMDR Therapy are offered to licensed mental health professionals trained in EMDR Therapy. Psycho-educational and consulting services on issues such as domestic violence, parenting, cyber-safety and loved ones who suffer from PTSD are offered. Support groups - post wildfire and natural disaster small groups. Call for availability.

Are you feeling lost, confused, sad, unsure, angry or disconnected? Are you sick of the same patterns, same outcomes, but don’t know how to change? Perhaps something has happened in your life that is overwhelming and you need a place to figure it out. There are numerous reasons someone comes to therapy, but if you are exploring these questions you owe it to yourself to check therapy out. Seeking therapy does not mean there is something wrong with you. Seeking therapy means you have enough insight to know you need some help figuring out next steps, making change, and creating support. If you choose to commit to therapy with me you will find our journey to be a partnership in which ultimately you are helping yourself. That may not appeal to you at this point, but ultimately my job is to work myself out of a job. I believe individuals have the ability to uncover, rediscover, create, and foster enough internal strength to help themselves. This especially happens when they are given a safe space to explore themselves and engage with a skilled, open-hearted, non-judging, person to help them reflect, analyze, see patterns, create goals and make change. We will walk this journey together creating goals and achieving insight derived from the brilliance that shines within you.

"Every human being is a unique individual. Psychotherapeutic success depends ultimately not on theory, and not on a stereotyped technique, but on the individual therapist's ability to understand intuitively and accurately this particular patient." Harry Guntrip "The will to be oneself is heroism." Ortega y Gasset A deeper knowledge of yourself changes who you are. For almost 40 years Richard Bloom, with compassion and keen understanding, has helped individuals deal with depression, anxiety, grief, anger, and recovery from addictions and couples deal with conflict and change. He is aware of the profound injuries of childhood abuse and neglect and helps people to reclaim their wholeness, the unique selves that they were forced to mask or abandon in order to survive in the difficult emotional environments of their families.

If you are looking for a very compassionate and accepting yet active therapist, that is definitely my style. Clients often comment on how comfortable they feel with me, even in the first session. Are you wanting help in setting clear goals at the beginning of the therapy process? We can easily collaborate on that, and make it easier to track progress. As a result, you will be able to heighten the chances of resolving your issues more quickly. If you like, we can also look at deeper, underlying issues. You will be less apt to repeat old, unwanted behaviors as a result.

Although often difficult periods of change can give us opportunities to bring our lives more in alignment with what has true value and meaning for ourselves. I work with people during important transitions in their lives, for instance either starting or leaving a significant job or relationship. Communication, trust, intimacy and/ or sexual issues win your relationship? I am very comfortable working with traditional, open/ poly and queer relationships. I can assist you and your partner(s) to develop better communication and understanding around sensitive topics such as betrayal, intimacy and trust. I use an approach called EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) developed by Dr Sue Johnson. Clinical research shows that 90% of couples report significant improvement within 12-20 sessions of EFT. As former Director of the Eating Disorders program at Community Institute of San Rafael, Marin, I work with people who obsess that if they only had the perfect weight their lives would work out. So many of us through over dieting and body hatred have lost our connection to ourselves. The body instead of being home for our psyche/ spirit becomes the battleground. I work with clients to end their battle with food and their bodies. Look at my video describing the popular teleclass series for how to empower yourself during the holidays especially when dealing with stressors around food and family: "Empower Don't Devour!' Do you feel emotionally stuck in the past? You might be suffering from trauma. I help my clients move through past traumatic experiences using EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) This well researched method has fast and effective results in working with people suffering from trauma. I also help my clients release the cellular and muscular memory of the trauma (which is where trauma is often stored) using somatic psychotherapy. This is an approach that taps into body awareness and mindfulness, which does not involve touch. Finally I have found Depth Hypnosis to be a highly effective tool for helping my clients get out of stuck places and create the change they want.

Are you finding that your relationships aren’t working so well? It can be your relationship to yourself (just not feeling good about your self), your relationship to work (such as difficulties with co-workers or a boss), or your relationships with your family and/ or partner or friends. I believe that we are always striving to move towards personal growth and health. Our work is to remove these blocks with compassion and understanding so that you can achieve the changes that you want to make. My style is an interactive one with warmth, support, insight and humor.

Dr. Martin specializes in the treatment of Anxiety and Fears: Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Medical Procedure Fears, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Work Stress, Marital Stress, Specific Phobias. Treatment emphasizes Exposure-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Treatment is active, collaborative, supportive, and custom tailored to each individual. The patient works at his or her own pace while actively learning to think and behave in ways that increase confidence. Successful therapy leads to reduced anxiety, depression, avoidance and impairment. Dr. Martin has offices in both Marin and Sonoma Counties. Problems Treated: PANIC DISORDER: Panic Disorder essentially means fear of panic attacks. Many people (perhaps one out of five) experience panic attacks, yet most are not frightened about them. They are very uncomfortable, but are usually understood not to be dangerous. Most people float with them while the adrenalin burns off and within a half an hour or so, feel recovered and may feel a little “off” for an hour or so afterwards (like they just ran an Olympic sprint). A panic attack is a sudden and severe onset of anxiety which may include, for example, heart racing, difficulty breathing, feelings of dread and needing to escape, light-headedness or dizziness. AGORAPHOBIA: In most instances, Agoraphobia refers to the experience of great emotional distress in, or avoidance of situations where one fears having a panic attack. In other words, it often accompanies Panic Disorder. Situations include shopping malls, church services, parties, restaurants, airplanes, bridges, freeways, doctors offices and even medical and dental procedures such as MRIs where the patient feels trapped and afraid of having a panic attack or in some cases a more limited symptom (not quite panic). Again, the underlying fear here would be either physical harm; social humiliation; or losing mental control and somehow not being able to get help. OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD may take a variety of forms. Six of these seem to account for most of OCD. Many sufferers experience more than one form and symptoms may change over time. GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER. These patients have frequent episodes of worry, often many times a day. They worry excessively about such things as paying bills, traffic accidents, illness, etc. Their anxiety goes up and down as the individual is confronted situationally or mentally with a worried thought. SPECIFIC PHOBIAS. These include for instance, fear of heights, flying, driving, public speaking, closed spaces, or animals. These individuals usually know their fears are exaggerated but like all anxiety disorders they continue to wonder “what if.” Thus, they either avoid situations or endure them with much distress. DEPRESSION. Unlike an anxiety disorder, clinical depression often affects mood in many situations which are not stressful in and of themselves. Getting easily frustrated over small things is a common symptom of Clinical Depression. Depressed mood, tearfulness, loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities, lowered feelings of self worth and suicidal feelings are common symptoms. Getting increasingly frustrated or irritable, having constant ruminative worry, difficulty concentrating or remembering things, problems sleeping or with appetite can all feel like symptoms of anxiety. But they are also common symptoms of clinical depression. SITUATIONAL STRESS. Marital problems, grief over loss of a friend, work conflicts, or financial uncertainty are all examples of situational stress. These stressors may be temporary, but can also be quite distressing and impairing and can lead to more serious problems over time such as an anxiety disorder or clinical depression.

I have been in private practice for over twenty years and have helped many people overcome issues affecting their lives. I work with all populations except children. If you are having problems in your life, whether it's loneliness, the desire for a relationship, relationship issues including infidelity, boredom or sexual issues, anxiety, depression, job unhappiness, creative blocks, feelings of emptiness or failure, grief, trauma, low self-esteem, childhood issues or struggling with alcoholism, I can help you heal and become all that you want to be and were meant to be. I am interactive, supportive, and join with my clients, helping them find solutions to their problems. I also coach people regarding life issues and job issues. If you are living outside of California, I can't be your therapist but I can coach you for all problems, except severe depression or severe mental illness, via telephone, email, or video conferencing. I see or hear sessions via doxy.me or phone I am available for phone sessions and email sessions until very late in the evening. I generally don't do sessions after one am.

Great counseling starts with a strong commitment to making changes and a careful selection of a therapist who is right for you - one who is genuine, compassionate and insightful. As I listen, interact and guide, these are the values I hold most highly. I take an empathic, common-sense approach to helping you find more satisfaction in family, work and community life. Contact me about relationships, depression, grief, loss, sexuality, stress, anxiety and other personal issues. Trust, respect and mutual understanding are hallmarks of an effective therapy relationship. They allow us to work toward lasting change with safety and support. The goals: to challenge self-defeating patterns, to deepen self-understanding, and to participate in relationships with courage, integrity and an open heart.

Great counseling starts with a strong commitment to making changes and a careful selection of a therapist who is right for you - one who is genuine, compassionate and insightful. As I listen, interact and guide, these are the values I hold most highly. I take an empathic, common-sense approach to helping you find more satisfaction in family, work and community life. Contact me about relationships, depression, grief, loss, sexuality, stress, anxiety and other personal issues. Trust, respect and mutual understanding are hallmarks of an effective therapy relationship. They allow us to work toward lasting change with safety and support. The goals: to challenge self-defeating patterns, to deepen self-understanding, and to participate in relationships with courage, integrity and an open heart.

I have been in private practice for over twenty years and have helped many people overcome issues affecting their lives. I work with all populations except children. If you are having problems in your life, whether it's loneliness, the desire for a relationship, relationship issues including infidelity, boredom or sexual issues, anxiety, depression, job unhappiness, creative blocks, feelings of emptiness or failure, grief, trauma, low self-esteem, childhood issues or struggling with alcoholism, I can help you heal and become all that you want to be and were meant to be. I am interactive, supportive, and join with my clients, helping them find solutions to their problems. I also coach people regarding life issues and job issues. If you are living outside of California, I can't be your therapist but I can coach you for all problems, except severe depression or severe mental illness, via telephone, email, or video conferencing. I see or hear sessions via doxy.me or phone I am available for phone sessions and email sessions until very late in the evening. I generally don't do sessions after one am.

For over 25 years, I have specialized in addiction treatment, including alcohol, drugs, and eating disorders. When the substance is dealt with, self esteem increases and relationships can be repaired. I also work with couples who see no other option than to end or divorce. Through guiding each individual to understand what they are doing to continue to the breakdown of the relationship and to then repair the unhealthy dynamics, the relationship will have a chance to recover and flourish. I teach assertiveness and anger management, thereby increasing self confidence and good communication skills. Anxiety and depression are replaced by the ability to have a healthy and strong sense of self worth. I have developed a model for treating eating disorders that comes from what we know to be successful in treating other substance abuse problems. I also make HOUSE CALLS around the Bay Area providing counseling in the privacy of your own home. The counseling is practical and solution focused. I work with you to solve problems by providing a true understanding of the issues so that a plan can be made and a course of action developed. People like to know what the real problem is and how to make it better. I tell my clients that they will know fairly quickly into the therapy process that their lives will improve. The process will not be vague or open-ended. You will gain insight into what is really troubling and you will learn new skills and tools to feel better and become more clear and confident about what you need to do to resolve what is bothering you. As an EAGALA Certified Equine Mental Health Psychotherapist, I use my unique and friendly horses and other farm animals to assist with gaining self knowledge, psychological insight, and healing.