"Those who have suffered understand suffering and thereby extend their hand." —Patti Smith
Hi! I'm Stephanie, a Berkeley-based psychotherapist. I received my master's in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute and completed my clinical training at Pacific Center for Human Growth, the oldest LGBTQIA+ center in the Bay Area. Sharing skills and knowledge with psychotherapy clients is one of my greatest joys!
I am direct, warm, and engaging. I will challenge and encourage you. I work psychodynamically (insight-based talk therapy) using a social justice lens, integrating EMDR, mindfulness, and cognitive and behavioral-based modalities when useful, and I add a healthy dose of humor when appropriate. Learn more about how I work here.
“When I open the door for another client to come in, they pass through and I have the thought that this gesture is the symbol of what our time will be together. They are not coming to see me. They are coming so that the door to their feeling can open. My job is to stand as evidence of life on the other side.”
A large portion of my practice is dedicated to partners work. I'm passionate about getting couples out of frustrating loops of conflict and to be better able to see and feel seen and increase trust and intimacy. I work integratively, calling on multiple techniques and philosophies, to give space for what's most important and to be the most effective therapist for you.
After many years working in nonprofits and activism, I came to my role as a psychotherapist after experiencing the transformative impact of psychotherapy and mindfulness practices on my own sensitive nervous system. I feel honored to be able to facilitate that process for others and find my work deeply fulfilling and meaningful. I enjoy reading, learning, dancing, imagining different futures, traveling, and spending time with friends.
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White racial identity exploration and antiracism work
Boundary setting
Depression, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm
Personality disorders
Self-esteem and identity
Suicidal ideation and self-harm
Existential and spiritual questions
Non-traditional families
Attachment types
Self-regulation and co-regulation
Relationship challenges and conflict
Intergenerational trauma
Communication skills
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy Professional Training: An Advanced Online Skills Training for Adapting Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Everyday Clinical Needs with Dr. Lane Peterson
EMDR Training with Dr. Phillip Manfield
Emotionally Focused Therapy: Attachment-Based Interventions for Couples in Crisis with Dr. Sue Johnson
Climate Psychology in Therapeutic Practices with Dr. Barbara Easterlin
Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy, a 4-Day Immersive Training with Dr. Sam Jinich and Ali Barbosa, LMFT
Helping Couples and Families Heal Trauma Using Internal Family Systems with Dr. Richard Schwartz
Multi-generational Trauma: Healing the Past to Heal the Present in Couples Therapy with Terry Real, LICSW
The Human and Archetypal Child and the Psychotherapy of Early Trauma with Dr. Donald Kalsched -
Inclusive + Affirming Psychotherapy?
Yes! I enthusiastically welcome activists, LGBTQIA+, poly + kinky folks, artists + dreamers, highly sensitive + emotionally intense types, people who experience marginalization, and general misfits. ♡
It is also important to me to bring humility and accountability to my role as a therapist in sharing my intersections of privilege and marginalization. I am of European ancestry, descended from settlers living on colonized land. I'm a queer, able-bodied, city-living, millennial raised in a working class family. I'm dedicated to equity in my relationships and fighting for it systematically.
