I can't say enough wonderful things about Sheira. She is one of the kindest people you will ever…read moremeet while also being very professional. She listens carefully and makes sure she understands while providing thoughtful feedback. For someone dealing with stress, body image issues, anxiety, etc having someone like Sheira on your team is an amazing asset.

This is a long overdue review. My rating is not a reflection of general counseling method, but…read morerather of ethics. In my case, there was a severe breach/violation of trust and mishandling of sensitive information. Simply put, she made a diagnosis which she was unqualified to make (and inevitably completely wrong about). She communicated this diagnosis to someone other than myself - where it became something used against me. In both cases, a boundary was crossed which should not have been.

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.

I found Rose after stumbling upon her PsychologyToday page and website. Just reading her words on…read moreher sites touched my heart and soul. It hit my core. As a therapist in training, I was so curious about her and her journey that I gave her a call. That was a life-changing decision because now she's my mentor! She roots me on, sees my power and strength, and challenges me in the most loving way possible. She has guided me in understanding and empowering me to channel my most authentic self and as an Asian-American womxn in this white, patriarchal society. Her teachings stem not only from her inner wisdom but also from her personal experience and actions. She definitely practices what she preaches. She is living proof of inner strength, power, and love. Her heart and soul is so real, genuine, authentic, that I can feel my own heart and soul wanting to break through all its layers just so it can be with her. She truly brings the best out of me. She is an incredible role model to me, one that I wish all young Asian-American girls can experience. When I spend time with her, I leave feeling an energetic shift, like something inside of me is either rising to the surface, being healed, being seen, or being loved. Rose is a beautiful human being and a powerful healer. Words in this review cannot capture her impact on my life. You'll just have to experience her for yourself! ;)

I recently did EMDR therapy with Rosanna to help me recover from a work-related trauma. Rosanna is…read morevery empathetic and really helped me come through the process with a lot more self-empathy and compassion. Over a period of 2 months, I gradually went from being stuck in a burnout state to a new happier equilibrium in life, with refreshed perspectives on the past and future. In addition, she's very perceptive and her observations helped me gain more self-awareness, especially on how I generate and burn energy. I am very grateful to have worked with her through a difficult period of my life and would highly recommend her!

Audrina is fantastic. I have been going to her for years. She is very intuitive and supportive.read more

Audrina is a very skilled and compassionate therapist. She provides a welcoming and judgement free…read morespace for both teens and individual adults. She brings all of her experience, care, and wisdom to each session. I always feel safe and heard when I am spending time with her. If you are looking for a therapist for your teen or for yourself, I highly recommend contacting Audrina. She is my go to referral therapist for teens and adults in Alameda.

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.

I've seen Nancy Good of Infinite Development a number of times for both Reiki and Hypnotherapy. She…read moreis one of the wisest, warmest, most present healers and teachers I've ever met. She truly radiates positive energy which I think is the strongest testament to her work. Nancy has been doing this work for decades and she clearly loves what she does and it shows. Her practice of hypnotherapy is gentle and tuned-in; she starts with an intake and listens to what you are wanting to work on and the rest is just bliss. Hypnotherapy with Nancy is incredibly effective and can really revolutionize your mental patterns... and your life. To anyone wanting to make shifts in their lives, big or small, or to find more comfort, peace and joy, I highly recommend working with Nancy. Her office is also cozy and beautiful.

I have used Nancy for Reiki only, with maybe a dash of her Hypnotherapy thrown in for good measure…read more She is a wonderful practitioner, a genuinely nice person and very adept at what she does. I'd highly recommend her services if you're in the mood to get better inside yourself!

I would definitely recommend Mica to anyone who is looking to work with a counselor. I found that…read moreMica was able to create a safe environment in which I could explore and process difficult experiences. Mica is a wonderful listener who is able to provide very valuable insight. I found the time that I spent with Mica so helpful. I can honestly say that I am a better communicator thanks to our conversations, and I know that this has helped me both at in the professional and the personal realms.

updated 5/1/24 As an…read moreadjunct to the workshop integration piece the last 3+ years, and co-facilitator of 5 weeklong retreats, i would like to say... Dr. Rachel offers tools for coping with the roots of codependency and how to recover, heal and move forward from the threads that remain. She is present, supportive, intuitive and clear with a deep understanding of real life issues. Meals are prepared on site with individual dietary desires for each participant taken into consideration. We all agreed it was possible Rachel missed her calling as a chef! Magnificent lodging house, plenty of rooms, great group & dining areas, trails nearby, a truly beautiful setting. Dr. Rachel facilitates the week at a workable, helpful pace. Never feels rushed or "urgent" in time. If you feel ready to move forward in your life, these retreats are definitely worth the investment.

Dr Rachel is the best! Her retreat was the first step to facing my trauma. Working through my…read moreinsecurities was really scary but it has been so healing.