Hello there! Welcome to the pages of better help, and welcome to my counselor profile. My name is Anke Kalaiah, I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and it is my pleasure to be able to introduce myself to you.
This year has been extremely tough for so many of us. Anxiety and depression seem to be on an all-time high. Every week or even every day seems to bring on some other uncertainty and challenge - from Pandemics to economic struggles, societal unrest, natural catastrophes like fires and storms, and questions about how to juggle all of our different responsibilities: working from home, caring for others and teaching our children. It seems to become more and more difficult to be able to find security and plan ahead, while at the same time self-care is becoming more important than ever before. All of these issues can feel very overwhelming, and it can feel like we have so many things on our plate that we do not even know where to start. Many people are experiencing sleeplessness, mood changes, stress related issues, relational stress and maybe even somatic symptoms like chronic headaches or pains brought on by the current circumstances.
In this challenging situation having a counselor available to reach out and to connect with from the comfort and safety of your own home, 7 days per week can be extremely helpful. I congratulate you for having been brave enough to take the first step in reaching out for help, and I'm looking forward to getting in contact with you to learn more about your individual situation and to assess together and collaboratively with you how I might be able to be of assistance.
I have a Bachelor degree in German and Socialpsychology from Ruhr University in Bochum (Germany,) and as an immigrant myself I am very familiar with issues related to immigration, expats, multicultural families and difficulties related to cultural assimilation. I completed my Masters degree in Counseling Psychology at Santa Clara University in CA in 2011, and I received my license as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in 2014. I have in total over 12 years of clinical experience with clients in a variety of clinical settings, and I have worked with a wide array of clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and all age groups. My focus within the last years has been Trauma and Abuse, Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse, as well as Family and Marital Conflict, Divorce, Coparenting Problems, Blended Families and Parenting Problems.
My approach to therapy is eclectic. I draw on a variety of therapeutic approaches and modalities to be able to provide my clients with tools and skills that they can use to be able to better master the challenges that they are facing. I work from a client centered perspective, which means that I believe that clients are the best experts on their own lives and should be able to determine the direction and depth of therapy. I utilize a strengths-based and solutions-focused lens to guide my clients in identifying strengths and developing treatment plans that accomplish their goals. Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I assist clients in exploring relationships among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to aid in discovering dysfunctional thought patterns leading to self-destructive behaviors and beliefs. Using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), I support clients through developing skills: mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotion regulation with the goal of moving clients towards a life involving the capacity for experiencing joy and freedom.
Please reach out to me any time. I am looking forward to working with you.
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, LGBT, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Aging and geriatric issues, Attachment issues, BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture, Blended family issues, Caregiver issues and stress, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Family of origin issues, Family problems, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Immigration issues, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Self-love, Sex addiction, Sexual assault and abuse, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
CA LMFT 88556
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Anke Kalaiah. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
My therapist Anke has helped me so much! She listens and hears everything and guides me towards better coping mechanisms and positive thinking. I couldn’t be more grateful for her and this service!
Written on Jul 13, 2024 after therapy with Anke for 10 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, self esteem, and anger management
Anke is professional and helpful in every way. I’m very thankful for her!
Written on Jun 20, 2024 after therapy with Anke for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes
Anke is a great listener and provides logical and professional insight. She's amazing.
Written on May 29, 2024 after therapy with Anke for 1 month on issues concerning relationship issues, and intimacy-related issues
Anke has been incredibly helpful as a therapist to me. She pushes my thinking and truly helps me reframe situations. I could not recommend her enough.
Written on Feb 06, 2024 after therapy with Anke for 1 year and 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, and adhd
I have absolutely enjoyed my sessions with Anke she is kind, caring and compassionate and supportive of my needs. She listens and provides clear, consistent feedback. I am so thankful to have her in my life.
Written on Jan 03, 2024 after therapy with Anke for 8 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and compassion fatigue
I have worked with Anke before and am glad to be able to check in with her every now and then.
Written on May 23, 2023 after therapy with Anke for 8 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, grief, and coping with life changes