Therapists in Oakland, CA

I bring many years of clinical experience, my personal life experiences, and professional training to my work with clients. I have been a practicing psychotherapist for over 18 years, working with clients from 17-70+ years of age, including individuals, families, couples (including same sex couples), and those from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The common denominator in my work with every client is the depth of my commitment to their healing and personal growth. Together we will define your objectives and goals. The kinds of problems that each individual brings into therapy are often complicated and not usually neatly categorized. Human beings are complex and though many areas of functioning may be impacted, the source of these often result from a core emotional or psychological injury, or a traumatic event. Sometimes dysfunctional family of origin dynamics have adversely impacted our ability to have healthy, high functioning relationships and we need to learn new skills. For some, therapy can help to improve performance with personal goals. Whatever it is that you are seeking help with, it is well understood that the first step toward changing anything is in identifying the problem. Whatever your objectives my be (even when these are not clearly identified or understood), I am confident that I can help you gain clarity and work towards achieving whatever your goals may be. Therapy has been described as the "talking" cure and sometimes the very act of talking or sharing of experience and feelings with an experienced professional can help...help in the moment to not feel so alone or crazy, and in the long run, to have the clarity, confidence and self-esteem to create a life by design. Studies have shown that there are two important factors in determining the success of therapy: 1) the client's perception of the therapists skills and knowledge and 2) the relationship, or therapeutic alliance, between therapist and client. I offer you my respect, compassion and acceptance. I have studied a variety therapy disciplines and blend traditions from the East (mindfulness, insight-oriented therapy) and West (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-CBT), somatic body-mind centered, and psychodynamic approaches to effectively address individual needs and differences. I have successfully worked with: relationships, marital problems, self-esteem, communication skills, healthy boundaries, self-esteem and self-confidence, mood disorders, co-dependency, unresolved traumas, anxiety, changing counter-productive patterns, life transitions including loss of loved ones, divorce, blended families.

PLEASE NOTE: If this is an emergency, call 9-1-1. I generally check messages here a few times per day and will respond as quickly as I can. I am currently accepting new clients who RESIDE IN CALIFORNIA. I am available for sessions BY PHONE, VIDEO or LIVE CHAT. Hello and Welcome! Let me introduce myself. I am Virginia A. Ballantyne, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #98267). I identify as a bi-racial woman and my pronouns are She/Her. My specialties include working with people who have experienced intimate partner violence, trauma/PTSD, anxiety and depression, or grew up in an environment where they were negatively impacted by a family member's substance use or mental illness. I have received training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, as well as Solution Focused Therapy. I practice from a strengths-based, client-centered approach that focuses on empowering each person to access their inner wisdom and move toward mental wellness. My counseling style is non-judgmental and my theoretical orientation is best described as humanistic/eclectic and unique to each person’s situation and background. I provide a sex positive environment where issues around sexual intimacy, sexual identity, and sexual desires can be discussed without judgement. I consider myself to be an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist and an ally for LGBTQ+ individuals and sexual/gender minorities. I have many years of experience working with a variety of disadvantaged populations through work in both non-profit and county services. I value social justice, authenticity, and each person’s right to self-determination. I will provide you with support, help you consider different perspectives, and we will work together as a team to help you develop new skills to help you manage stressors and live your best life! Are you ready to get started? Let’s connect. I look forward to working with you.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with life and just needed someone to talk to. Someone to listen and help you make sense of everything? I specialize in hurting individuals, couples, adolescents and families with an emphasis on relationships, depression, anxiety, family dysfunctional strongholds and trauma. Using an Integrative Psychotherapist approach. Which means that I utilize a variety of orientations and therapies to address the client's individual needs. I provide therapy from a Biblical perspective. I foster an environment where the client can be comfortable without feeling judged or concerned about confidentiality . I am an experienced, competent, professional Marriage and Family therapist. Known for a warm, relaxed, comfortable approach. Working with clients from a strength-based affirming perspective. Addressing issues for personal and emotional growth. My focus is authentic Biblical Counseling. Identifying dysfunctional family history strongholds to help the family obtain a visual perspective on life long generational patterns of abuse and negative consequences.

I am licensed in the state of California as a clinical psychologist. I have over 13 years of experience providing therapy to clients in various settings from private practice, to outpatient, to inpatient settings. I have experience helping clients with stress and anxiety, depression, relationship issues, family conflicts, and addictions. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialogue and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage, and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in California with 8 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, eating disorders, motivation, self esteem, & depression. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I am licensed in California with 15 years of professional work experience. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

Hello! My name is Jackie Shannon and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counsellor III. Well before I pursued a formal education in Marriage and Family Therapy, I felt a strong pull to support individuals in addressing some of life’s most difficult challenges. In 2004, I supported the start-up of a grassroots organisation and proceeded to work in community mental health settings. For nearly 20 years I have worked with adults and teens experiencing mood, anxiety and addictive disorders. Since my initial introduction to the field of addiction and mental health I have worked to refine my skill set. Over the past 5 years I have spent a significant amount of time working in leadership to guide and train those developing clinical skills. I have recently returned to pursue that which I am most passionate about, providing therapy to individuals, couples and families seeking support and change. I make use of humanistic and existential approaches through a variety of experiential modalities. By creating a safe space for individuals to experience the discomfort of life’s challenges, I support individuals in developing relationship through trust, empathy, direct and candid inquiry, and down to earth humor. I encourage intuitive exploration through integrating talk therapy with present moment awareness. Through therapeutic collaboration, individuals gain greater access to insight, motivation and empowerment thus improving the way that they see and experience the world. I am a passionate and experienced therapist and have been told I bring sensitivity, humor, keen attentiveness, and enthusiasm to my work. I specialize in working with transitional age youth, adults, families and couples. I welcome the opportunity to serve people from all races, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, abilities, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and am inclusive of all people without judgement.

I am licensed in California with 28 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & intimacy related issues. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I am licensed in California (LMFT) with 15 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, & anger management. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in California with 15 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship issues, coping with grief, & coping with loss. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.