Teens, Adults, and Couples Therapy in Oakland, California
Virtual & in-person therapy for the parts of you that learned to cope, please, or perform
Those parts of you may have helped you survive once.
Our work creates space to understand what they’ve been protecting, so you can live from your own center.
Therapy for Teens & Families
For teens who are overwhelmed, shut down, or unsure of who they are beneath everyone else’s expectations. Therapy helps them understand what’s happening internally so they can begin building a life that feels more their own.
Individual Psychotherapy
For individuals ready to stop managing symptoms and start understanding what's underneath them. The overthinking, people-pleasing, or pulling away often point to something. Let's make sense of what it is, and what it’s trying to protect.
Couples Counseling
For couples stuck in conflict, distance, or a careful dance around what actually needs to be said. Together, we’ll look beyond communication strategies alone and work towards a relationship where both of you feel safe enough to be honest, vulnerable, and fully yourselves.
What we can work through in your sessions:
The rules and expectations you’ve been living by, even when they don’t feel like you.
The ways you protect yourself when closeness feels too risky.
The anger, grief, fear, or vulnerability that’s been hard for you to access.
The emotions that linger, even when you understand them intellectually.
The relationship dynamics that leave you disconnected from yourself or others.
The roles you learned to take on to feel safe, loved, or accepted.
By stripping back the layers of trauma, expectations, and old protections, you can return to who you came into the world as. There, you can trust yourself and accept who you are.
Every person is different, so the approach should be too
Every person is different, so the approach should be too
Here are some of the approaches that can be brought into your session:
Jungian-Oriented Psychotherapy
Buddhist Psychology
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Imago Relationship Theory
Gottman Method
Motivational Interviewing
Mindfulness & Somatic Practices
FAQs
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My session fees are:
Individual therapy: $225 / 50-minute session
Family therapy: $250 / 60-minute session or $325 / 90-minute session
Couples therapy: $250 / 60-minute session
Session length and frequency depend on the kind of support you’re looking for and what feels best for the work we’re doing together. We typically start with weekly appointments, but some people find more frequent sessions useful.
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I’m an out-of-network provider, which means I’m not directly paneled with insurance and don’t bill insurance companies directly.
If your insurance plan includes out-of-network benefits, I’m happy to provide a superbill you can submit for possible reimbursement.
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Your session time is held specifically for you, and consistent meetings are an important part of the work.
I ask for at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Sessions canceled with less than 48 hours’ notice, as well as missed appointments, are charged the full session fee.
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I offer a dynamic and integrative approach to therapy that adapts to each client’s unique needs and goals.
Some sessions may focus on understanding old narratives, unconscious patterns, or relationship dynamics. Others may be more experiential, body-based, or grounded in what’s emerging in the present moment.
For substance use or compulsive behaviors, I work from a trauma-informed, harm-reduction perspective using motivational interviewing to support meaningful change without shame.
I’m also trained in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and offer psychedelic integration for clients processing spiritual, emotional, or non-ordinary experiences.
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Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, especially if you’re used to figuring everything out on your own. But you don’t need to know exactly what to say before beginning.
Many people start therapy by naming an emotion that’s easiest to identify, like anxiety, stress, anger, or depression. Part of our work is slowing down enough to understand what those experiences are connected to, without pressure to explain everything perfectly right away.
Typically, we’ll begin with weekly sessions. Consistency helps us build trust, understand the patterns showing up in your life, and create enough continuity for changes to strengthen over time.
As we progress and approach the end of our work, we may gradually reduce the frequency to biweekly sessions. Ultimately, the best frequency is one that feels supportive, sustainable, and aligned with your goals at each stage of therapy.
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It depends on your teen and what the work calls for.
For teens who need more support at home, I meet with parents every four to six weeks to share helpful observations, offer guidance, and support healthier communication between you. You won't be left out of the process.
For teens who are ready to take more ownership of their lives, I encourage them to hold responsibility for the scheduling and logistics of our work. That autonomy is part of the therapy.
In either case, your teen's sessions are their space. I won't share what's discussed without their permission, unless there's a safety concern. That boundary helps teens trust the process, which ultimately supports more meaningful work for everyone involved.
Testimonials
“Sara blends her authentic and grounded presence, relational focus, quick wit, and deep insights to encourage clients’ internal strengths and to confront ways they may be holding themselves back from growth."
“What makes Sara so special is her steadiness and calm. Talking to her feels like having someone right there beside you, helping you move forward."
"Sara is a highly skilled and empathetic therapist. She is warm and inviting, exhibiting profound insight that has helped me make sense of my experience and providing practical guidance."
