Individual Therapy in San Francisco & California

When you keep coming back to the same questions

You might be keeping up with work and daily life while privately finding things difficult. Perhaps you replay conversations, question your decisions, or feel distant from people you want to be close to. You may have a good sense of what’s troubling you, or just a feeling that something needs attention.

I offer individual psychotherapy for adults of all genders. Our conversations give us time to look at what has been happening, how you make sense of it, and what you would like to be different. We can begin with what you’re able to put into words, including what you’re unsure about.

What brings you to therapy?

The things that bring you here may overlap. Worry can make a relationship harder; a breakup can unsettle how you feel about yourself. You might recognize something of your experience below, or have something else you want to talk about.

Relationships and closeness

You want to feel close to someone, yet find yourself pulling away or wondering where you stand. You may keep having the same argument, find it hard to ask for what you need, or be trying to make sense of a breakup. We can look at particular moments between you and other people, including what you hoped for, what hurt, and how you responded. Earlier relationships may be part of that conversation too.

Anxiety and overthinking

You go over a conversation long after it has ended, or consider every possible outcome before making a decision. Perhaps you feel responsible for keeping everything together and find it hard to switch off. We can spend some time with what you’re worried about, what you feel you need to anticipate, and whether the ways you’re trying to manage uncertainty are helping.

Self-esteem and self-criticism

A mistake stays with you, while a kind word barely registers. Even when things go well, you may feel you should have done more. We can look at the standards you hold yourself to, whose approval matters, and what happens when you feel you’ve fallen short. Part of the work may be finding ways to consider a mistake or disappointment without turning it into a judgment about everything you are.

Feeling stuck, disconnected, or in transition

You may be getting through the days without feeling very involved in your own life. A change in work or relationships can bring this into focus, though sometimes there’s no obvious event to explain it. We can talk about what you miss, what still interests you, and what feels difficult to imagine. There may be different wishes to hear: a part of you that wants change and another that has good reasons to hesitate.

How I work

We might begin with something that happened this week, a decision you keep returning to, or a feeling you can’t quite explain. I listen, ask questions, and share observations. You can tell me when something fits and when I’ve missed the point.

My work draws on psychodynamic and Jungian perspectives. In practice, that means paying attention to how earlier experiences and less familiar aspects of yourself may enter into your present life, including questions about identity and meaning. I also draw on Internal Family Systems (IFS) to think about conflicting parts of your experience, such as wanting support and feeling uncomfortable needing it.

We can notice what happens in our conversations too. Perhaps it’s hard to disagree with me, or a question feels more personal than you expected. Those responses are things we can discuss. We can also think through practical steps, such as asking for something you need, setting a limit, or approaching a conversation you’ve been avoiding.

Understanding something doesn’t always make it easier to change. We’ll check in about whether our conversations are useful and what, if anything, is different outside the sessions. Your circumstances and responsibilities matter, and so does your sense of whether this way of working suits you.

My experience providing therapy for men has made me attentive to expectations about managing alone and keeping feelings to yourself. I bring that attention to my work with people of all genders, while staying curious about what those expectations mean in your particular life.

Practical details

I offer individual therapy sessions in San Francisco and online therapy by video using Zoom throughout California.

Sessions are typically 50 minutes and held weekly, or more often. You can read about fees and getting started or explore resources for individuals.