My husband and I have been seeing Mike for marriage counseling for several years. Prior to seeing…read moreMike, we had worked with three other counselors. Mike is by far the best! What I like most is his PROACTIVE approach. In the past, our couples counselors would ask us what was wrong, and we'd end up re-hashing old fights. It wasn't productive. Mike likes to teach you how to communicate and disagree in a healthier way so that you argue less and enjoy each other more. If we have an issue we want help with, we can dive into that, but if we don't, Mike always has a plan for us. He's taught us dozens of strategies that we can employ--in good times and in bad!--so that our marriage is happier and smoother. We've referred all of our friends to Mike--he's amazing!

My husband and I came to couples counseling after years of hitting the same walls in our…read morecommunication. We're both driven, passionate people, which sometimes means that we clash instead of collaborating, especially when it comes to giving and receiving feedback. Working with Michael on marriage counseling has been a transformative experience for our relationship. He created a space where we could feel heard without judgment, challenged without feeling attacked, and supported as we worked through difficult conversations. But what truly sets Michael apart is his ability to offer frameworks that are not only tailored to each specific issue we faced, but also unlike anything we've encountered in books or past therapy sessions. These marriage therapy frameworks helped us not only understand each other better, but also uncover our own hidden needs, and how to meet them, both individually and as a couple. When tensions rise, we now have practical, meaningful tools to navigate those moments with clarity and compassion. We're continuing to work with Michael regularly, not just to resolve conflict, but to proactively nurture and strengthen our relationship. We're incredibly grateful for his insight, guidance, and truly original approach.

A friend recommended that I meet with Monica about 10 years ago when I was trying to resolve some…read moreissues in a long-term relationship; she helped me to come to an understanding that I needed to withdraw from the relationship since my partner had been unwilling to commit. She also helped me develop strategies to change some thought patterns/behaviors that were not serving me well. Some years later, I returned to seeing her when my marriage had become very challenging. With her help, I began to understand that it was not only a challenging relationship but that my husband was abusive and this was a pattern. She also helped me to navigate dealing with someone who is an addict both to substances but other activities. I have reflected many times how she helped me to find a way to leave a dangerous and extremely emotionally damaging situation without ever trying to just take control. She understood that the process can be overwhelming and met me where I was able to act. I did leave and relied on her very heavily for support initially and throughout the next few years as I worked to heal myself and support my children. Her efforts contributed directly to my ability to keep myself and my children safe in my marriage and ensuing high conflict divorce. There was a bit of an emotional "detox" period I had to go through after leaving, and she went above and beyond to give her support to me during that time. Monica is caring, professional, direct, compassionate, and skilled at her work. She understands and cares for children and adults equally well, which was so helpful to me as a mother. She helped give me some practical techniques for dealing with stress (that I still use), and for handling an abusive, psychopathic narcissist that I am unable to completely cut out of my life due to our children together. She was my safe place to release some hard feelings and thoughts during an extremely difficult time. When my husband was constantly at work trying to distort my reality, she served as a vital reality check. I always recommend that anyone going through something similar to get in with a good therapist as a first step--just to bring some reality and understanding to their situation--after I saw how much Monica helped me. I moved away to another state, but have kept in touch. I appreciate that she still sends me notes now and then, with recommendations for articles she feels might be helpful. If I were closer I would still be going to see her once in a while--fortunately I feel so much healthier and stronger now, thanks in large part to her help.

I saw Monica a couple years ago so my review is long overdue. I wanted us to work really bad…read morebecause of the reviews but unfortunately my experience was not like everyone else. I am now with a therapist who fits me best and can see the difference. For one, my therapist now would never tell me that I'm a narcissist for having social anxiety. The last straw I had with Monica is when she gave me another issue to have anxiety on. She asked me what I was studying in school, I said sociology then she said, and I quote, "Ha. Good luck getting a job with a liberal arts degree." I don't know what she was trying to do when she said that but I did not appreciate it at the time. My regret is not saying this earlier to communicate that with her. On the good side, she has great book recommendations and I do appreciate her tell it like it is attitude but some things that were said to me was not okay. She didn't work for me but hope she works for you!

A friend of mine referred me to Michael Gelbart for therapy at least 14 years ago, and he helped me…read morethrough a very hard patch in my life. More recently, 3 years ago, when I was experiencing a family crisis, I went back to Michael, and he gave me so much support and courage while at the same time being uplifting. He has helped me find inner strength and courage, while also validating and supporting the parts of me that I sometimes miss. I am filled with appreciation and gratitude for his support, and I recommend him highly.

Considerate, listens and is nice. He has a vast understanding of people. He also has a vast…read moreknowledge of other Psychological phylogenetic genia.

NOTE: If you plan on scheduling an assessment, anticipate it to be at least several months out. I…read morescheduled mine in January 2025, starting all the way back in August 2024. Not a gripe, just a heads up! About a year ago, my therapist and I suspected I may have ADHD-- which kicked off the tedious search for a reputable while reasonably-priced clinic for a formal assessment. After calling my insurance, requesting referrals from Sutter, and doing my own research, I finally came across Savera via Rula Health. I worked with Carolyn and Dr. Naylor. After speaking briefly on the phone, we scheduled dates for a virtual intake and on-site assessment. The earliest availability for both was 6~ months later. The virtual intake over Zoom was thorough. Carolyn and Dr. Naylor were patient and friendly. I felt that they treated sensitive topics with great tact. A few days later, I drove to their Oakland clinic for my assessment. The facility is tidy and clean, just a bit dated. The building is near Lake Merritt, surrounded by street parking (metered). The directory inside the building is clear; I was able to find their clinic with no issue. The assessment itself was quite comprehensive and data-oriented. After my assessment, we scheduled a virtual call on my results. They walked me through their analysis and recommendations on next steps. My therapist was happy to work with them to figure out a treatment plan. I also received a 30-page PDF detailing everything discussed-- extremely insightful! I highly recommend Savera for the combined quality of care and insurance coverage.

I was looking for a leadership coach (paid by my company). I was one of the senior managers of my…read morecompany. I rolled the dice and found Amrita on yelp. I've been through leadership coaching before but not 1 on 1. Amrita (she said I could call her by her first name) really dug deep into why I react/act towards certain situations. Of course I think it helps if you can be completely honest with yourself. The one thing I didn't want to do is change who I was. Amrita made me realize that that is why I was there. To change...not my authenticity but to change how I approached things. I shed a few tears, which was a surprise for me. Sometimes I left drained because the sessions made me go to places that were uncomfortable (truth). Amrita listened. I mean she was really paying attention to what I was saying. She never appeared bored. It took me a while to open up to her, not optimistic that she could provide anything new. But she did. Unfortunately, I left the company and was only able to spend 3 months with Amrita. But in those 3 months, she taught me a lot and I use what I learned all the time. I would highly recommend Amrita.

I saw Dr. Fallin for personal counseling. I had been to other counsellors in years gone by, but…read morenone helped me achieve my goals more than Dr. Fallin. I like how he helped lead me to discover some behaviors and attitudes that were sabotaging my relationships with loved ones. I know that I will always use the things I learned and discovered in therapy to make my relationships better. It's never too late to learn/change/better your life. On the personal/business side, I found Dr Fallin to be professional, highly ethical and straight forward. I'm continually grateful for his insight and the changes I made in my life because of it.

Dr. Fallin tested and evaluated my son for ADHD. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated his…read moreapproach and method of treatment for my child. He was able to allow me to recognize my parenting method was not working for my child and offered workable solutions. Currently, my son is being treated with medication and is thriving in school and our home is now a peaceful. I cannot thank Dr. Fallin enough for his insight and encouragement to get my son on the path of success. I highly recommend him.

I heard such great things about XY Counseling but when I reached out I was quoted $250 per session…read moreand it was NOT in-person. Who charges that much for a "digital" session? That is insane pricing. Therapy is supposed to be face to face so you can see people's body language and mannerisms and get to know one another. This isn't a new age "interview" with a potential company. Do better!!!

This review is way overdue. I highly recommend Alex for couples counseling. He literally saved our…read morerelationship. Before we met Alex, we were 5 years into our relationship and starting to struggle with very difficult situations that were pulling us apart. These were made worse with our opposing introvert/extrovert needs. Neither of us had strong role models in our family for successful relationships, and we were at a turning point. We were very serious about who we chose to help us. All of the therapists we interviewed before Alex had somewhat of a cookie-cutting approach to couples therapy. We felt that we could've gotten some of their info from reading a book. However from the first time we spoke with Alex, it was easy for us to agree that he was the right therapist for us. Alex treated us as individual people and an individual couple. His approach is empathetic, thoughtful, and calm. He pays attention to every detail and is tactful in all of his communication. You will see this starting from his intake form. In our sessions, he gave equal time to both of us. We did many session exercises to become aware of our individual needs. Many of the revelations surprised us and without his help, I'm not sure we would have ever discovered on our own. And he was exceptionally skilled in guiding us through difficult discussions. We were able to share scary thoughts, sometimes laughter, and sometimes tears (mostly I cried) as we became closer and more connected to each other, in each session and afterwards. My partner and I also made notes after each session, because we're both nerdy...but more importantly because we knew the information we had learned was gold. After a few months of weekly sessions, Alex told us we had made enough progress that it wasn't necessary to see him weekly anymore. But to instead, use the information we learned and schedule sessions only as needed. Today (almost 2 years later), we haven't had another session and we continue to use the tools and techniques he taught us. We are so much happier from this entire experience. We can communicate better, disagree without fighting, fight without yelling, share our love for each other in ways that the other needs and understands, and receive it in return. If you're on the fence about couples counseling, don't be. With the right therapist like Alex, and a willingness to learn, you can re-understand how to love, connect, and communicate. He is a true professional. Thank you Alex.

Jacqueline R. Klippenes is the best counselor I have ever had. She has walked me through some of…read morethe hardest times of my life with grace, tact and firm words when necessary. I cannot recommend her more highly!

Jeff is the best. Trustworthy. Thoughtful. Caring. A very good listener. Well studied. And I've met…read morewith 6 other counselors over the years. One of his certificates hangs a little crooked in his office though.

I've been a client of Elizabeth Dandenell's for years. I couldn't be more grateful to have chosen…read moreher as my therapist. Her therapy skills are superior and she is a straight-shooter. She is also compassionate, with great intuition. Before I met with Elizabeth, I'd worked hard with about a dozen very good therapists to help relieve my anxiety and depression. I also sought to improve my vocational and social struggles. That "pre-Elizabeth" therapy partially helped. The problem was I still had a vague sense something about me or my situation wasn't quite being seen and addressed yet. Then, Elizabeth helped change the course of my life. She raised the possibility that I might have two overlooked diagnoses. If accurate, she theorized, those diagnoses might help identify and explain much of the "invisible" set of challenges I've struggled with over decades. She was 100% accurate. I received both of those diagnoses after several months of testing by hospital clinicians. As a result, I've learned new ways to cope better overall. Specifically: some fast and easy ways to tamp down my overall anxiety - techniques I'd likely never have used without the diagnoses. My self-esteem has greatly improved and I'm more at peace with myself than I've been in a very long time. I've plugged in to community support. Elizabeth is a true gem of a therapist. It's encouraging to know she's available to me and others, in a world where life can sometimes feel so hard.

When I first met Vilma, my world was filled with darkness. I was consumed by self-loathing to the…read moreextreme. I didn't trust anyone in the world, not even my lover. I thought people were selfish narcissists who only cared about themselves when they were cold. But among them, the one I hated the most was myself. During a time when I was trapped in the abyss of self-loathing, unable to move from my bed, I felt the need for help, and I made my first call to Vilma. From that moment on, I have been seeking counseling from Vilma for over two years. She slowly nurtured my heart, as if extracting poison from long-standing wounds. For 15 years, I believed that my struggle stemmed solely from my inability to control myself. I attributed it to my excessive vanity, competitiveness, and narcissistic tendency to prioritize how others perceived me. I thought I couldn't love anyone else and that my preoccupation with myself was the cause of these symptoms. That was the first thing I told her. However, she has spent a long time counseling me and has helped change the way I think. She not only introduced me to various cognitive methods that allowed me to be more compassionate toward myself, but it was more than that. What she taught me was a warm heart. A warm heart that cares for and worries about others. As she listened to my heart, she exemplified how others can become warmer toward one another. Through her, I learned what it means to care for others, and I began to strive to become that way myself. Those experiences gradually helped me realize the message she was trying to tell me. 'I am not a bad person.' Through counseling with her, I was able to recall a trauma from 15 years ago. It was an experience that I could never forget, but one that I had buried deep within the depths of my heart, like the sea. It was a trauma that was so difficult to face that I had pretended it meant nothing at all. I couldn't even label it as a trauma because I couldn't confidently admit that I was a victim. If it weren't for her counseling, I would have carried it within me for a lifetime, as I couldn't even recognize it as a wound. I believed I didn't deserve to. When I confronted the experience that I couldn't share with anyone, she held the hand of my heart, ensuring that I wasn't afraid. She continued to support me until I no longer feared the trauma completely. Now, I no longer think of the world as solely cold. I no longer believe that people only care about themselves. Through her, I have felt and understood that people can be a source of help for one another, and just knowing that has made the world appear more hopeful and brighter to me. Thank you, Vilma. I wanted to express my gratitude properly to you, but my words fall short, and I couldn't express my thanks adequately.