Sara Brashear Sara@oakcreekcenter.org
Traumatic experiences do not always leave memories. Sometimes they leave symptoms. You may startle very easily. You may get angry without an obvious cause or cry with minimal provocation. You may feel that you are not destined to live long or feel medically unexplained pain. You may wonder why you do the things you do. You may forget things or even have long periods of your life that you cannot remember. You may have memories and nightmares that you can't stop. People engage in a number of apparently self-destructive behaviors to manage the feelings left behind in trauma such as drinking and drug use, or gambling or sexual addictions. Some lie or steal, drive recklessly, cut or otherwise mutilate themselves or eat too much or too little.
All of these things have in common that they make no sense in your current life, but make complete sense when understood as a response to trauma. The process of healing trauma involves becoming safe in your current life, remembering the past and mourning the loss of what should have been, and finally reconnecting. This work is my focus. I work with individuals and couples, as well as teens. I also co-lead a group for people who have had traumatic experiences. I practice in our Pleasant Hill office. If you are interested in learning more, please contact me at (888) 637-7404 x25.
Sara Brashear
(925) 381-0489
Kathleen McClelland kathleen@oakcreekcenter.org
I view the role of therapist as facilitator in a developmental process in which individuals and families grow beyond old, dysfunctional relational patterns, recognize behaviors that are no longer working and discover new options and opportunities for living, loving and relating. This occurs in the context of an ongoing dynamic relationship that therapist and client build together which empowers the client and frees creative energies. I have worked with people coping with a wide range of problems and issues ranging from addiction and mental illness to bereavement, ageing and life transitions. I received an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Holy Names University and graduated from a post-degree 2-year training program at the Women’s Therapy Center in El Cerrito. My experience also includes 5 years as a crisis counselor with Crisis Support Services of Alameda County and 4 years as a therapy intern helping men and women recover from addiction at Options Recovery Services in Berkeley. I can be reached at 888-637-7404 Ext. 54.
Sheela Hirao Sheela@oakcreekcenter.org
At Oak Creek Counseling Center, I truly enjoy couples counseling and helping each partner to learn more about one another and think differently about their issues. I practice couples counseling and individual psychotherapy utilizing integrative counseling methodologies such as DBT, CBT, ACT, behavior change, feelings-based and thought-based approaches. I also offer deeper work looking at past influences as well. Current Availability: Monday Mornings, Evenings, and Saturdays
Location:
Oak Creek Counseling, Healing and Arts Building
999 Sutter St
San Francisco, CA 94109
Email:
Sheela@oakcreekcenter.org
Telephone Number:
1-888-637-7404 x 28
Website: http://sheelahirao.vpweb.com
Tricia J Kim
tricia@oakcreekcenter.org
Welcome to having self-discovery to life, love and learning! I am glad you have chosen to be here.
Do you ever feel misunderstood, alone, abandoned, anxious, overwhelmed, angry, or numb? Do you want to strengthen the various relationships in your life with people such as your friends, family members and/or significant other? You are not alone. Therapy is a powerful journey to self-growth, internal wisdom and empowerment. If you feel as though your voice isn’t being heard by the people around you, talking to a therapist can help.
When you come in for therapy, we will work together as a team to find ways to help you gain insight into the problems you face. We will also look for solutions to repair the relationships in your life, explore your inner passions and most importantly, determine the best path that will allow you to live up to your full potential. I am here to help. I work from a humanistic and existential theoretical orientation. My personal mission is that each client I work with is treated with respect, appreciation of the hard work you bring to the room and kindness. Therapy is a life changing experience. If you are looking for an individual, couples, family and/or children/teen therapist, please call today.
I work from the Pleasant Hill office and can be reached at 888-637-7404 Ext. 24
Anca Severin
anca@oakcreekcenter.org
I think about the counseling session as the place where one comes to get the advice and help needed to be able to take off again in life. It is a team work, guided by mutual trust between the therapist and the client, both sharing a honest and open feed back. The process is a two way street, with no “one-size fits all”, with no quick fixes and no absolute rules or infallible pre-packed solutions because we are all so unique, one of a kind. Counseling should be a place where one listens to their soul exhale. I want to mention about myself that I have a graduate medical degree from Europe. After more than fifteen years in the US I experienced first hand the importance of the cultural heritage as a way to relate to and decode the world around us.
I work from the San Francisco office and can be reached at 888-637-7404 Ext. 22
Brittany
Olsen
Brittany@oakcreekcenter.org
I offer psychotherapy and counseling for a broad array of personal issues including depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and the general problems that we all experience with major and minor life transitions. My approach tends to be "solution-focused", and I operate from a cognitive-behavioral (CBT) perspective, an orientation that allows us to explore faulty thinking styles that are producing negative emotions. I have had great success in helping my clients, mainly by fostering a supportive yet challenging therapeutic environment. My job is to help you achieve symptom relief in the shortest amount of time possible, while also helping you develop insight into the many dynamics of your personal life. I believe that everyone is capable of change, and I am here to help you achieve it. I work out of the San Francisco office and offer evening and early morning appointments.
Kurt Wagner Kurt@oakcreekcenter.org
I bring to my work a compassionate understanding of the complexities of integrating our humanness with our primal selves. My therapy is based on what is practical for your life and is a balance of support and challenge so that the therapy process has real value for you and that you get the results that you want. I specialize in individual and couples work, sexuality, male sexual expression, LGBTQQI issues, mindfulness, and enhancing emotional expression. The work is primarily on how you use your body to resource yourself and to include all of your self in living your life.
I have an MA from the Somatic Psychology Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Other certifications and trainings include Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist, Master NLP Practitioner, Massage Therapist, Intuitive Counselor, Core Energetics, and Reiki Master. I use all of these tools in our sessions together to support your ongoing unfolding. Kurt Wagner, M.A., Registered Marriage Family Therapist Intern #61754
Supervised by Stephen Polin, M.A., MFT, License #7861
I practice at our San Francisco Office at 999 Sutter Street. I'd be happy to meet with you and to explore how we can work together. Please feel free to call 888-377-2435 Ext. 55 for an appointment. www.kurtsf.com
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Elisabeth Lhoest Elisabeth@oakcreekcenter.org
From my perspective the therapeutic process is similar to the art of gardening. In the therapeutic process, the therapist is invited by the client into his own, personal space, that is, his garden. Then begins a journey of wander and exploration, in which the therapist’s role is to hold the space, create safety and stand by the gardener’s (the client’s) side. By weeding, trimming, watering, nurturing, the gardener attends and addresses each tree’s and each plant’s unique needs. With care, time and trust, she rediscovers her inner-healing power and her innate gift to create and develop a unique, healthy, harmonious and magical space.
I believe in people’s innate and inner capacities to overcome ordeals and to grow, and I trust the power of a genuine and caring relationship; this is what I base my work on.
I received my M.A. in Counseling Psychology from J.F.K. University. Most of my professional experience has been with clients who were dealing with a wide variety of issues including depression, social anxiety, O.C.D., trauma, abuse, grief and loss, and chronic medical conditions. I have also helped clients with life transitions (eg. divorce, moving, retirement), parenting, relationship, and cross cultural issues. I work with children, adults and couples. I offer therapy in English, French and Spanish and work both at the San Francisco and Berkeley offices.
You can contact me at 1-888-637-7404 # 57
Ezri Chioma ezri@oakcreekcenter.org
I believe relationships are thee most healing force on the face of the planet. They can contain us or set us free; they give us joy and pain as well. They challenge our beliefs and our sense of identity. It is in the context of relationships that people heal that which was inflictedwhile in the context of relationships! How do we let others back in? How do we open our hearts and let ourselves back out??
If we can allow the 'process' of our inner world to have a place in our lives, life seems to slow down, become more meaningful and more satisfying - we are able to connect more easily - we come out! Living with what is, inside and out, realizing there are choices within those experiences, becomes the key to enjoying life; the colors of life become just that, colors of being alive!
How we dance with and balance our inner and outer experiences with the distractions of our family and community and how we have, grow and build lasting, energizing and nourishing relationships is the focus of my attention.
I am available for individual, couples and family therapy, especially for mothers and daughters.
I also teach Anger Management, lead Smoking Cessation groups and facilitate Build a Life and Early Recovery Groups.
I am primarily Relationally and Somatically oriented while strongly influenced by Buddhist Philosophy. I use Bodynamics and Process Oriented Psychology in following the needs of clients. I specialize in Process Addictions, Women's Issues, Chronic Pain, Anxiety, Relational Anorexia, Social Anxiety, Personal Development and Individuation. My background is in Performing Arts, Therapeutic Recreation and Adventure Sports. MA, Somatic Counseling Psychology, JFKU 2007, Registered MFT Intern # 55269. I can be reached at Ext. 58.
Stef Coleman stef@oakcreekcenter.org
Eliot
Schain eliot@oakcreekcenter.org
Eliot Schain received his MA in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. He also received an MFA from Columbia University, a BA from UC Berkeley, and has been teaching adolescents in the public schools for seventeen years. He hopes to continue working with that age group (14-20) in order to help facilitate the transitions to adulthood, but he also enjoys working with couples and older adults. He is drawn to Object Relations theories, as a way to understand the scripts we keep replaying throughout our lives, but also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in order to promote quicker change. His offices are in Berkeley and Pleasant Hill.
Patricia A. Jackson Patricia@oakcreekcenter.org
Specialty-Adolescences, Couples and Individuals. I received by Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology with a Specialization in Child and Adolescent Therapy, September 2006. Prior to pursuing my masters, I taught for over 15 years. I taught third through eighth grades. The students I taught had disruptive behaviors and had experienced trauma. My teaching involved: close communication with their parents (many who were recovering from drug and alcohol abuse), and/or guardians, counselors and teachers. During my MFT training, I acquired experience counseling twin adolescent females, couples, individuals with identity issues (including gender, sexual, biracial and bicultural) and eating disorders. As an intern my experience has continue to be with couples, identity issues and also children between the age of 8 years and 14 years. My client hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays in Pleasant Hill between 5pm and 9pm. Saturdays and Sundays in Berkeley between 1pm and 5pm. I am also starting a group for friends, family members, and parents of transgender youth. Call (888)637-7404 ext. 27