Clients come to me when they’re tired of feeling stuck—repeating the same patterns in relationships, feeling unseen or unfulfilled, or carrying a persistent sense of shame or self-doubt. You might look fine on the outside but feel like you’re constantly managing or hiding parts of yourself inside. Therapy with me is about helping you feel more connected to yourself, to the people in your life, and to parts of you that may have been pushed aside for a long time. I work mostly with gay and queer men and people who’ve lived through trauma, especially in childhood.
I am a gay male therapist in Oakland who also specializes in relationship counseling, therapy for work burnout, LGBTQ+ therapy, and trauma therapy. I can help with a variety of mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Learn more about me here.
I use a therapy called Internal Family Systems (IFS), which helps us welcome, get to know the different parts of you, understand what they’ve been trying to protect, and what weight they’ve been carrying. I believe healing happens when we’re met with deep attunement, not judgment or advice. If you’re feeling drawn to this kind of work, reach out. I’d be honored to connect.
I am a white, able-bodied, upper middle class, neurotypical, gay cis male. I recognize that when our identities differ—if you’re BIPOC, transgender or nonbinary, neurodivergent, or hold other marginalized identities—it might bring up questions about whether I can truly understand or be a safe person to turn to. If that’s true for you, I welcome the opportunity to talk about it—whether in our initial contact or during therapy. If you choose to share those concerns, I’ll meet them with openness, humility, care, and a commitment to staying present to my impact.
Build independence and confidence in yourself
Understanding and coping with prejudice and exclusion
Building more fulfilling relationships with family members
Heal wounds from past traumatic experiences
Find what’s important to you in all areas of living
Connect more fully to your art and experience flow states
Finding methods besides substances to cope with psychological pain
Adjusting to changes with calm, confidence, and curiosity
Find self compassion and self care as a healthcare worker