How do you even begin to leave a review for someone who has helped to change your life?…read more I have been procrastinating leaving this review, because I don't know how do to justice to her impeccable skill and generous demeanor, other than to say that Maria is simply a terrific therapist. Of course, everyone has a style that suits their needs best, but Maria is amazingly adaptable and solution-oriented. She is a no BS kind of person, but with a gentle delivery. I wish I could sponsor everyone in the world to have access to this quality of therapy, because it is truly one of the best investments I have ever made in my life. In working with Maria, I feel like have finally developed the skills to be in the drivers seat of my life, rather than being stuck reacting to old dynamics/patterns/trauma, and struggling to cope with various mental health challenges, etc. With Maria, therapy is a practical and enjoyable pursuit, and I often find myself laughing with her during the hardest or moments, or when I had been on the verge of tears 2 seconds prior. She keeps me from taking myself (and life) too seriously, while also helping me to heal some of the deepest and hardest things I have pushed under the metaphorical rug. It feels like you are speaking to an old friend, and I never feel judged at all for anything that I say. She often makes time for me when I need an extra session, and I really appreciate the feeling of someone having my back in this project of getting a handle on my mental health, rather than that I am going at it alone faced with random or impersonal doctors who just want to prescribe me something. Maria worked with me earlier this year at a time when I was really contemplating seeing a psychiatrist for a prescription, but wanted to try consistent therapy first. She was supportive of whatever my decision was, and I am happy (!) to report that I feel like a completely different (more "stable" haha) person a year later, just from our weekly sessions. While I have done many therapy sessions over the years, before this year I have never done therapy consistently for long enough for it to make a lasting change in my habits and thoughts, and the difference I feel is amazing. Whereas this time last year I was really struggling to cope with my depression and panic attacks on a daily basis, I have both raised my baseline and my ability to cope with the ups and downs of depression and anxiety to a point where I no longer experience panic attacks frequently at all, and have healed lots of old pain that was weighing me down (and am no longer considering medication at all!). The virtual sessions with Maria are really easy and convenient (and I love the occasional virtual visit from her two adorable dogs during the session). Also, I have recommended Maria to many friends and family, and she has helped them a great deal as well. My mom, my sister and my cousin have all benefited so much from their time with Maria, and as a consequence Maria is very well versed in our family dynamic, which is super helpful in allowing her to offer a more wholistic family-therapy style approach. It is also worth noting that Maria is very focused on establishing your goals and meeting them, and not just stringing you along for sessions forever (though I was never in any rush to taper-down our sessions!). At her urging, we regularly adjusted our weekly sessions into bi-monthly sessions and then monthly sessions, and finally, switched to an as-needed basis as I progressed in my treatment. I feel lucky to have Maria on my team, so to speak, as I navigate the craziness of life and mental health! :Thank you for all your help and wisdom :)

Our family has been seeing Maria as a family and couples therapist for almost a year during a…read moreseries of stressful, difficult family transitions. She is a rock star therapist and a straightforward problem solver. Maria has a unique ability to get right into the issues (emotional, financial, etc.) and offer solutions that make practical sense. She makes it all seem easy. She's intuitive, warm, honest, creative and. . . often times, funny. We are blessed to have found her.

Marguerite has been a therapist for a very long time. I have known her for years now and she is…read morevery intelligent, intuitive, caring, and passionate about helping everyone around her. She has tremendous experience in a very diverse array of specialties. I highly recommend her.

Looking for a wonderful therapist ? One who is caring, compassionate, patient ? One you can cry…read morewith, and LAUGH with, and always knows what to say....Margurite Dean ! I have seen many therapists over the years, but no one like her. She is professional, yet sometimes I have to remind myself that we are not two friends chatting over coffee. Love for her patients is #1, when you leave her office, you're left with a feeling that you really mattered. All I can say is thank you MARGURITE DEAN ! You don't just share advice, you share love

When you settle for what's available, you get what you get…read more I am a medically retired veteran with PTSD who has suffered from depression several times and has lived with anxiety for as long as I can recall. Yes...I can recognize and clearly articulate many of my emotional and mental barriers and that I need help. Tricare had a backlog that would have only allow me 1-1 therapy sessions every few months. My primary provider and I both recognized and agreed that under those conditions my needs would not be met and I desperately needed help coping outside of my four walls. Ms Bachmann had accepted me (and my insurance ) as a patient and pseudo 'acted' as my therapist for at least 5 or 6 individual sessions. During the course of my treatment she identified it necessary to recommend I be place on medication. That was a very challenging decision for personal reasons but I too recognize the need for help regulating my mental health and managing my emotions. Since I retired in 2018, for several reasons beyond my control, my financial situation had become insufficient to provide for me and my family. I decided to begin the process to apply for assistance. After receiving a notification that all the necessary documents for determination had not yet been returned, specifically those needed from Ms Bachmann, so I contacted her. This is how that communication went. Your communication skills need a lot of work lady. I can accept that maybe this needed to be completed by someone else....for whatever reason. But why be rude, unprofessional and unhelpful? Then hit me with a and your next appointment text....it's definitely the audacity for me.

It's nice to have someone who specializes with First Responders and military. Retired or active…read moreduty.

From the owner: I provide counseling and therapy services for individuals, couples, and families in California. I…read morespecialize in trauma, adolescents, and family dynamics. I have a focus in first responders and military as well as their families. My office is located in Pacific Grove, but I also provide online services to people all throughout California.

I want to add my voice to the chorus of current and former clients expressing their appreciation…read moreand affection for Olivia Stadler. Six years ago, I sought her help specifically for psychedelic integration after a surprisingly potent trip left me cautiously concerned about the lingering effects that the experience had on my mind and body. What I had anticipated would be a few sessions has turned into more than five years, as Olivia guided me through a tumultuous but ultimately transformative awakening. My approach to living, attitude toward others, and overall life energy has changed radically for the better. Olivia is an empathetic, compassionate and focused listener who has a powerful calling for this work. She has helped me to make sense of my life thus far, find and nurture my authentic self, and harness the exhilarating life energy we all have within ourselves. Until I worked with her, I had believed and acted as if outside forces and other people's actions were what directed the course of my life. Now I know in my body and mind that, by examining myself deeply, it is within my own power to manifest the life I want. This statement that is often attributed to Carl Jung resonates with respect to my therapeutic relationship with Olivia: "A true therapist isn't the one who gives advice, but the one who can carry the weight of another's unconscious without trying to fix it." Because Olivia has the skills and strength to carry my unconscious, I have been able to "fix" myself. Olivia Stadler has a great gift, and I recommend her to anyone with the courage to acknowledge and confront difficult truths on their way to wholeness.

Olivia is such a fantastic therapist. She was my second one and has always been so understanding in…read moreso many ways. She really helped me understand myself and gave me so many tools that I still use today to manage stress and anxiety. Really helped me with the passing of my mom, too. So sad I wasn't able to continue with her, but perhaps another time I will! (Her dog is super cute, too! I miss her the most, don't tell Olivia lol) By the way, location in Pacific Grove is fantastic.

Santosha has an excellent understanding of her profession. She helped me with anxieties and being…read moremore positive in my thinking. She is very pleasant and easy to work with.

Excellent personalized care. The tape to listen to at night is so helpful. Thank you!read more

(Since I don't do many reviews, Yelp will put this way at the bottom. Don't let that deminish this…read morereview please.) After three years of waiting, I was finally approved for Social Security Disability. My lawyer tells me that she thinks one of the two deciding documents was Dr. Sanders' report. I don't have a blood test or X-ray to prove my diagnosis is true. Dr. Sanders' report helped give my case validity. Thank you so much.

Dr. sanders did a good job of facilitating my first counseling session. He was direct with pricing,…read moreand offered a detailed explanation of what to expect from counseling. Sanders was able to identify the needs I had, and addressed those concerns over two additional visits. I have not needed another session for well over a month; I highly recommend Dr. Sanders. Thank You.

My stay at the Beacon House was cut short duassumptione to the unprofessional conduct of the…read moretreatment facility's clinical psychologist Dr. Leon Larimer. On the day of learning that my children were moving to an undisclosed location and that my wife was divorcing me, I of course was devastated beyond words. Being after hours the nurse on duty contacted Dr Larimer in the hopes he would be able to meet with me in my time of crisis and offer some words of support and compassion to aid me in such a dark time. The Dr chose to speak with me over the phone only to tell me to "Stand Down" as if I were in the military still and needed to take my orders from a commanding officer. What I was expecting and hoping for was to have a face to face one on one meeting with him to talk about my devastating loss that I had just been notified of. His statement following his demand to stand down was even more shocking when he threatened to have me placed in the psychiatric ward at CHOMP under a 51/50. Being a rape and kidnapping survivor I didn't respond well to the threat of being restrained and placed in a padded cell. Having clear knowledge of my childhood trauma he continued his line of commitment to the ward until I informed him that I would be leaving my voluntary admission to avoid such further trauma as had already been experienced with the events and news of my day. Dr Leon Larimer is a danger to those that are coming to a facility in the hopes of getting help with their substance abuse and are under the assumption of being in a safe place. He needs to be removed from his position as he only uses intimidation to scare those under his care into submission in addition to over prescribing psychotropic drugs to have those under his care be subdued into manageable victims of his mind games. I was prescribed three different drugs upon admittance and was never even evaluated before they were administered. The most interesting piece of information is that he has a Doctorate in Psychology and is a licensed psychotherapist only. He is not a Psychiatrist MD. This means he is using the contracted MD's license to prescribe medication that he is not licensed to prescribe. That's what I call plain outright wreckless endangerment of those unfortunate soles that are under his care.