I have many years of experience working with individuals from a variety of sociodemographic characteristics with a range of mental health diagnosis including but not limited to a spectrum of anxiety disorders, depression, insomnia, OCD, PTSD, as well as dual diagnoses (substance use disorder and complex mental health disorder). My theoretical orientation is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). In CBT, the focus of treatment is on the maladaptive thoughts or beliefs you have about yourself or situ...
I have worked with people from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. I have training in many theoretical approaches and tend to work from an eclectic orientation. I believe in client-centered care, and enjoy supporting individuals through therapy. My primary goal always is to hear you and to understand your life from your perspective. I believe that with the appropriate therapeutic support, we can all become more skilled at navigating through difficult times, as well make effective and...
In more recent years, my practice has expanded due to high demand for treating trauma, depression and anxiety related issues. I started my career working with at risk probation youth in residential placement. It was then I knew the future was in our children’s hands. I dove deeper into the world of community mental health with the goal of helping our youth and their families overcome life burdens that led to dysfunctional behaviors in the communities. I worked collaboratively with the Department...
My clinical experience specifically includes working with the families of individuals with a severe mental illness diagnosis, bereavement counseling (including situations of violent or traumatic loss), and infertility. I also work with individuals who are anticipating or experiencing stress related to high-conflict divorce. I work with clients who have generally crafted an intentional life, often one marked by good judgment, predictably optimistic outcomes, and plenty of agency. A life that w...
If you're looking for a therapist who brings authenticity, warmth, and a feminist sensibility to their work, I might be the person to help! I typically work with clients who find themselves at complex intersections of identity, especially around sexuality, gender and culture. I love working with students—previously at SJSU CAPS and currently at a private group practice. Many of my clients are AAPI children of immigrants, and/or queer and trans people of color, navigating questions about fami...
I am a Doctor of Social Work and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California with 9 years of professional work experience. My background involves working with anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflict, and difficulties with self-worth. My experience population spans with a variety of ages and cultures, including minority communities, the LGBTQ community, and alternative lifestyles. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. By using a mix of Cognitive Behavio...
I am a passionate clinician eager to walk alongside you. I have worked with children, teens and adults across many different life stages. I am particularly passionate about walking alongside clients as they navigate through significant life transitions and the stress that comes with growing in their identities. I am certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is a model that emphasizes the connections between our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. I am also passionate about the utilizatio...
In my private practice, my clients present with a wide array of clinical concerns, including life transitions, identity issues, and mental disorders. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who approaches therapy with a trauma informed and culturally sensitive lens. I have been a resident of Los Angeles for five years, and in 2018 I earned my Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California. Since graduating I have worked extensively in community mental health settings w...
Through a collaborative, strengths-based approach, clients identify places where they feel stuck and learn and practice skills that support their therapy goals. I'm passionate about being a therapist and believe that the therapeutic process is instrumental in helping clients address and navigate difficult life experiences. I believe in making therapy both accessible and enjoyable so that clients walk away with an understanding of the challenges they face and a readiness to embrace a more fulfill...
I have specialized training in perinatal mental health, including a Perinatal Mental Health-Certificate. That means I can treat people who are pregnant and experiencing mental health changes as well as those who have anxiety, depression, or bipolar episodes after giving birth. I view therapy as a collaboration between client and therapist. I like to co-create an individualized treatment plan to help you reach your goals, whatever they may be. Typically, I draw from a variety of approaches, in...
I am a bilingual licensed Marriage and Family therapist. I am dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges and build stronger, more resilient relationships. With a warm and non-judgmental approach, I create a safe space for clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I believe in empowering individuals to achieve independence, confidence, and success in their daily lives. Through my education and work experience, I personalize and create intervention...
I seek to partner with clients to provide reflective insights, education, and support. My approach is collaborative, compassionate and goal oriented. This allows space for learning and skill-building to work through your present challenges and take into your future. I aim for clients to leave with healthier practices and relationships, mindfulness, and enhanced mental health. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both hi...
I specialize in multicultural counseling focused on racial identity, life transitions, and trauma. I work with you through a variety of challenges including anxiety, PTSD, cultural assimilation, and depression. I’m a big fan of real talk, understanding how systemic forms of oppression affect the mental health of BIPOC communities, & practicing self-compassion. I utilize person-centered and strengths-based approaches to help you identify how your life experiences impact how you interact with t...
I work well with a wide variety of psychoemotional problems such as anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and relationship difficulties with family, friendships, the self, or your love life. I provide holistic psychotherapy to help you create a more balanced, joyful, and fulfilling life. As a therapist, my broader goal is in helping you experience higher states of fulfillment, joy, and peace of mind - rather than simply helping you decrease the symptoms you're having. It's about happiness and e...
As a therapist with chronic pain and chronic illness, I have incorporated my experiences with my clinical training so that I can provide you with tools, resources, and education. My therapeutic approach is interactive. We will work together so that the approaches and methods we explore will match what you are looking for. We will focus on your strengths and your current ways of coping and use that as a foundation to build upon and create an action plan. It is normal to experience those emo...
You and your life isn’t one note. You are multifaceted and the demands you face happen to be as well – particularly when you are a student. Currently, the sound-track of your life has moved away from the sounds of a harmonious symphony -or maybe from an upbeat pop song- to something more unnerving and stressful (like the alarm you use to wake up to in the morning or the background music in a horror film—building tension, bracing yourself from some known or unknown threat). It makes sense that li...
Jessica C. Lief, MSW, LCSW, MLS Speciality: Eating Disorders, Body Image, Borderline Personality Disorder, Self-Harm, Substance Use LCSW and Psychotherapist Jessica C. Lief, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, body image, Borderline Personality Disorder, self-harm, and substance use. Jessica completed psychoanalytic training through the William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis, and Psy...
I strive to provide a comfortable environment where you feel heard, safe, accepted, and supported in making your desired changes. With compassion and empathy, I will support you in discovering your inner strengths and empower you to overcome the obstacles you may be facing. I believe that each individual heals in their own way and that therapy is not a one-size-fits-all. Part of my approach is asking questions – a lot of questions – so that I can understand you better and also help you explore w...
As a first-generation Latina, I know the experience of first gen and I understand how big a role culture plays in our interactions, relationships, and even how we view ourselves. I also understand the anxiety of being first gen, POC and struggling to find your voice. I want to help you find that voice. I have extensive experience working with anxiety in adults and adolescents. I also have experience and training with working with individuals who work in ministry and live more faith-based lives. ...
For 20 years, I've worked with adults who have experienced anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, and low self-worth. I am passionate about working with teens and adults by creating a safe space to honor my client's experiences and expertise in themselves. I help clients improve their self-esteem and self-worth through validating and supporting my clients as experts of themselves and deepening their compassionate relationships with themselves through boundaries, modifying core beliefs, an...