Find a Therapist in Castro Valley, CA

Lucrecia Bunn-Rubio is a compassionate Marriage & Family Therapist, dedicated to guiding individuals toward healing and joy. Those grappling with persistent sadness, feelings of hopelessness, or the overwhelming weight of daily tasks will find solace in her approach. For those experiencing anxiety in social situations, at work, or in school, their struggles are seen and validated here. Therapy with Lucrecia provides a nurturing space to explore thoughts and emotions, marking the beginning of a transformative healing journey. Her focus spans adolescents, adults, couples, and families, as she works collaboratively to illuminate the path toward renewed well-being. Together, clients can embark on a journey to brighter days.

Natalia El-Sheikh, MA, is a compassionate therapist dedicated to helping individuals navigate the complexities of their emotions. Many clients find themselves feeling overwhelmed by their feelings, struggling to find balance amidst harsh self-judgments and a sense of worthlessness. This emotional turmoil can strain personal relationships, and Natalia understands the pain this causes. With her guidance, clients can explore the origins of these patterns and how they affect their current lives and connections. Through individual therapy for children, teens, and adults, Natalia helps clients uncover their past experiences and challenge unhelpful beliefs so they can move forward with renewed confidence and self-compassion. Those who work with her often find a new lightness in their lives, realizing there is so much more potential to be fulfilled. Additionally, she offers specialized support for children and teenagers facing anxiety or social challenges. Utilizing advanced techniques such as Neurofeedback, which is proven to aid in emotional regulation, sleep improvement, and energy enhancement, Natalia complements her therapeutic practice with innovative approaches. Her ultimate goal is to empower individuals to live authentically and embrace the fullness of life.

Rachel Elizabeth Haynes is a compassionate Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, dedicated to guiding her clients through transformative psychotherapy experiences. She believes that positive and productive treatment begins with establishing a safe and trusting empathic alliance between client and therapist. Rachel's approach is solution-focused, allowing her to concentrate on her clients' strengths as they collaboratively work toward understanding and resolving present concerns and struggles. While she values the exploration of the origins of issues, Rachel is also committed to promoting future health and happiness. Her integrative approach incorporates various modalities tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Rachel excels in addressing relationship difficulties, codependency, divorce, substance abuse, grief, and trauma, particularly as it pertains to family dynamics, including issues faced by Adult Children of Alcoholics. The cornerstone of her practice is built upon trust, which she believes is essential for healing and growth. With a blend of humor and directness, Rachel creates a non-judgmental space where clients can explore their feelings openly, fostering compassion and empathy throughout the therapeutic journey.

Brandy Gadson is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist who believes in the transformative power of storytelling. She invites clients to explore profound questions about their identities, origins, and core values. With her guidance, individuals can untangle their narratives, unearth their strengths, set meaningful goals, and navigate barriers in their lives. Brandy works collaboratively with those seeking positive change, particularly when confronted with stress, fear, indecision, or ingrained habits. She offers practical strategies for managing challenging thoughts, emotions, transitions, chronic illness, and complex relationships. Specializing in life transitions—including gender, age, and profession—Brandy also addresses adoption and foster care challenges, LGBTQ+ concerns, and the unique experiences of individuals of color. Her approach is multifaceted, utilizing mindfulness-based strategies, trauma-focused interventions, and emotionally focused techniques, all tailored to each client's unique needs and circumstances. Brandy strives to cultivate a nurturing and safe space for exploration and growth, enabling her clients to challenge and rewrite their old narratives. Through her empathetic and culturally sensitive care, she is committed to supporting individuals during their journey towards a fulfilling life.

Richard Garber is a compassionate and skilled marriage and family therapist (LMFT) dedicated to helping individuals and couples navigate the complexities of anxiety, anger, stress, and trauma. He understands that feeling on edge, irritable, or isolated can take a toll on relationships and overall well-being. With years of experience, he has supported clients in managing the profound effects of life's challenges, including significant losses and traumatic incidents. Richard’s approach is rooted in various treatment methods, including his expertise as an EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist and Approved Consultant, ensuring that clients receive personalized and effective care. Throughout his career, he has enriched his practice by counseling war zone veterans at the VA for over 11 years, specifically addressing issues related to sexual trauma and grief support for military families. Richard's commitment to fostering healing and resilience makes him a trusted partner in the journey toward emotional well-being.

Michelle Gayle, LMFT, is a licensed psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience in the field of psychotherapy. Her private practice serves a diverse clientele, including adults, young adults, youth, families, and children. Michelle's approach is strength-based and empathetic, believing deeply in the transformative power of the therapeutic relationship. She walks alongside her clients, guiding them toward discovering their best selves and creating the lives they desire. For those interested, she offers a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to discuss how she can assist in navigating issues such as coping skills, emotional disturbances, and relationship challenges.

Laphonsa Gibbs is a dedicated Clinical Social Worker and therapist who specializes in supporting teens, adults, and elders in navigating life's challenges. With a profound understanding of the cultural nuances that affect mental health within African American and other communities of color, Laphonsa recognizes the unique reluctance to express personal feelings of distress. He is committed to addressing behavioral issues, family conflict, and relationship dynamics that often stem from greater societal stressors, such as racism and economic disparities. His approach to therapy integrates compassion-focused, culturally sensitive, and strength-based techniques, which are essential for fostering a safe space where clients can explore their emotions. Through insightful life coaching and career counseling, Laphonsa empowers individuals to create a healthy balance between work, family, and personal fulfillment. By helping clients learn to express their feelings and communicate their needs effectively, he guides them in achieving mental and emotional wellness. With a focus on healing past trauma and increasing self-compassion, Laphonsa aims to inspire his clients to connect more deeply with themselves, their values, and their loved ones, ultimately shaping a brighter and more fulfilling future.

Veronica Macapagal, a dedicated Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), believes that the focus of therapy should always be the individual. Many people grappling with anxiety, depression, grief, and loss can easily forget their own importance as other aspects of life overshadow their needs. In her practice, Veronica strives to remind her clients that they matter most. Through a collaborative approach, she empowers her clients to achieve emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness, enabling them to heal and find balance in their lives. Clients often express gratitude for her ability to help them feel unstuck during challenging times, reigniting their hope and motivation. Veronica excels in working with diverse backgrounds, including cultural, biracial, and multiracial situations, and has successfully guided individuals, couples, families, and children in reaching their personal goals while addressing top issues such as relationship challenges.

Shawan Worsley is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) and LPCC based in the SF Bay Area, providing online video therapy to individuals with unique cultural identities. Shawan's therapeutic goal is to create a safe and supportive space that empowers clients to ignite their inner strengths and achieve their life goals. With expertise in individual and family therapy, they address a broad spectrum of issues, including mood disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, grief, family conflict, and relationship difficulties. Specializing in work with women navigating motherhood and individuals of color confronting racial identity issues, Shawan's practice is grounded in cultural responsiveness and is dynamically informed by clients' multifaceted identities. Their approach is warm, engaged, and creatively tailored to meet the personally identified needs of clients. Shawan is honored to be part of each client's journey toward hope, healing, and transformative living.

Dr. Ronald Mah, a dedicated marriage and family therapist, understands the complexities of individuals and relationships. He is available for videoconferencing sessions tailored to his California clients, ensuring privacy and security during these times. He offers straightforward and honest therapeutic engagement, avoiding any games typically associated with therapy. Dr. Mah believes that therapy begins with a mutual commitment of honesty and trust, making the journey of self-discovery a collaborative effort. He works with clients as real individuals, focusing on their unique needs and aspirations rather than fitting them into predefined theoretical molds. His goal is to create a personalized therapeutic experience that leverages useful theoretical concepts while respecting the distinct realities of each individual. By embracing each person's identity as a foundational aspect of therapy, he fosters an environment where happiness, recovery, and personal growth can flourish. Clients are encouraged to gain deeper self-awareness regarding their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, and to navigate the sometimes challenging paths of life with supportive guidance. Together, they will work towards achieving a more fulfilling existence in various roles—be it as an individual, partner, parent, or community member.

Sonia Malek, a dedicated Marriage & Family Therapist with over 11 years of experience, is committed to helping her clients navigate life's challenges, heal from past traumas, and develop effective tools for a fulfilling life. She specializes in working with teens, adults, and elders facing issues such as anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties. Known for her culturally sensitive and evidence-based approaches, Sonia adeptly integrates various therapeutic modalities, including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, EMDR, and Emotionally Focused Therapy, to meet the unique needs of individuals and couples. She also has a keen focus on supporting neurodivergent individuals, including those on the autism spectrum, and provides guidance to parents navigating the complexities of raising children with disabilities. Sonia fosters an engaging and collaborative therapeutic environment, recognizing that trust and connection with the therapist are essential for a meaningful therapy experience. Her warm and empathetic approach invites clients to explore their goals and consider what might work best for them in their journey toward healing and growth.

Alicia Melgoza is a dedicated Clinical Social Worker and Therapist with a specialization in serving teenagers and adults. A graduate of the University of Denver in 2011, Alicia utilizes a range of therapeutic modalities, including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Compassion-Focused Therapy, to address issues such as self-worth, family dynamics, and anxiety. With a compassionate approach, she engages with families that include both teenage and adult children, applying family therapy techniques that involve adolescents and their parents. For individuals, Alicia focuses on various challenges such as past trauma, stress, and relationship difficulties, while promoting overall wellbeing and life satisfaction. In her work with couples, she primarily employs Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy alongside other evidence-based practices. Currently, Alicia offers teletherapy sessions exclusively for residents of California, fostering a convenient and accessible space for clients seeking support.

Avani Mody, an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW), understands the challenges of feeling stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed. She is deeply committed to supporting immigrants, children of immigrants, individuals in their 20s, and couples. With significant experience in addressing anxiety, acculturation, immigration issues, and educational and career aspirations, Avani aims to provide a safe and nurturing environment where clients feel seen, heard, and valued. She believes that therapy is a transformative journey that enables individuals to initiate positive change and redesign their lives. Avani, also trained in herbal medicine, incorporates a holistic approach to care, ensuring that her clients receive comprehensive support. It is her passion to collaborate with clients in achieving their goals and fostering emotional healing.