I am an experienced clinical psychologist who has worked with individual adults of all ages, with couples and with families. I have been a director of training and have educated doctoral level interns. I have supervised mental health professionals, worked as director of the Counseling Center at Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley, as Chief Clinician at Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley, and as a Supervising Psychologist at Walter Reed Medical Center. I have had a private practice throughout my career.
I am especially interested in providing couples counseling and working with individuals who have have suffered trauma, whether in childhood or adulthood, whether as civilians or while in the military. I am open to treating people of all cultures, religions , races and sexual orientations.
I use whichever approach works best for my clients, helping them achieve their goals.
Additional areas of focus: LGBT, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Abandonment, Aging and geriatric issues, Blended family issues, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Dependent personality, Dissociation, Divorce and separation, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fatherhood issues, Fertility issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Phobias, Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and discrimination, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Sexual assault and abuse, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
CA Psychologist 18281
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Dr. Syma Ralston. 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.
Dr. Ralston is great. She asks lots of questions and suggests what I can do to get better. I really appreciate her.
Written on Feb 28, 2024 after therapy with syma for 1 month on issues concerning depression, and stress, anxiety
Dr. Ralston is present, warm, thoughtful, professional and kind - basically all the attributes you want in a therapist. Thank you for your care Dr. Ralston.
Written on Oct 10, 2022 after therapy with syma for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and coaching
Amazing psychologist - would recommend working with her
Written on Mar 04, 2022 after therapy with syma for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, coping with life changes, anger management, and grief