Stuart Lee                                                                               Stuart@oakcreekcenter.org                                                                                

Psychotherapy can be a source of emotional and therapeutic support as well as a positive and enlightening experience. I offer to provide a sensitive, thoughtful, genuine supportive presence with openness and positive regard, a place where you can be truly listened to, understood, and acknowledged with acceptance and without judgment. Within this safe, empathic space, you may discover, articulate, and honor your feelings as well as heal, increase self-awareness, tap into your innate abilities and resilience, and highlight the choices and opportunities available to you in realizing your potential for personal growth.

At a pace that is comfortable for you, we can work together on challenges you may have with interpersonal relationships, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, anger, grief and loss, including those losses associated with life stage stressors (e.g., mid-life concerns, career change, retirement, aging). Or you may want to address difficulties with cross-cultural issues such as seeking personal freedom and authenticity in your life while balancing that with cultural expectations. Perhaps you want to move past obstacles and beyond the replaying of familiar, old patterns from years of conditioning that are no longer useful to you and seek lasting positive changes at work, play, and in your daily life.

While acknowledging that all individuals are unique, my approach to clinical work can be described as integrative, with emphasis on relational, attachment theory, family systems, strengths-based, and non-pathologizing humanistic approaches. I earned a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from The Wright Institute. I am a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern, #64601 with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and currently supervised by Stephen Polin, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, #7861.

I practice out of the Berkeley and San Francisco offices and can be reached by email or phone (888) 637-7404 ext. 23 to schedule an appointment. I look forward to working collaboratively with you on your brave journey towards lasting positive change and increased personal fulfillment in your life.

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Meri Levy                                                                               meri@oakcreekcenter.org

                                                                                        
I believe that coming to therapy is an amazing step in the direction of growth, change and self-care. Often, a life transition, a bout of depression or extreme stress can allow people to grow in ways they never imagined. My experience as an MFT trainee included individuals and couples struggling with depression, anxiety, and relationship difficulties, as well as adolescents aged 11 to 14. I also lead a therapy group for depressed adults.
I came to the field of Marriage and Family Therapy with a background in parent coaching and leading new parent support groups. I especially enjoy working with clients going through life transitions and parents with postpartum issues, or who are facing the stress of raising challenging children. My approach is to work with each client or family as a unique entity, and to help them understand the challenges they face and explore ways they can improve their mood, relationships, and quality of life.I hold a B.A. from Tufts University, and an M.A. from JFK University in Counseling Psychology. My client hours are Mondays between 5pm and 9pm, and Tuesdays between 1pm and 5pm, in the Pleasant Hill office. Call (888)637-7404 ext. 30 to reach me directly and schedule an appointment.
www.merilevy.com.

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Jennifer Norstrom                                                                                Jennifer@oakcreekcenter.org

As an intuitive and empathic counselor, I focus on helping you to meet your goals and support you in your healing process.  I hold a warm, non-judgmental atmosphere for expression, exploration, and transformation.  My dynamic approach to therapy allows you to express yourself through art, movement/body sensation, dreams, and creative visualization along with your words if you choose.  My focus is on the therapeutic relationship, and creating a place of growth and comfort.  I will also help you to outline your personal goals and uncover your hidden obstacles.  I have successfully worked with issues involving anxiety, depression, addiction, conflicted relationships, trauma, and grief; and I specialize in working with couples, intimacy, and attachment repair. I am a certified Cellular Memory Release facilitator, and have trained in Non-violent communication.  For more information about my work, please visit www.jennifernorstrom.com, or www.cellularmemory.org
I look forward to working with you.

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Rory Jelinski                                                                                Rory@oakcreekcenter.org

                                                                                        
My therapeutic work emphasizes a relational model, combining acceptance, trust, authenticity, and creativity. I've worked with individuals and families struggling with a range of difficult experiences, including anxiety, depression, suicidality, substance use, learning disorders, LGBT understanding, and crisis management. I also focus on helping people process relationships, sexuality, and a developing identity.

I received my B.A. degree at Beloit College in psychology in 2006, and received my M.A. degree from the California Institute of Integral Studies in counseling psychology, with a focus on expressive arts therapy, in 2009. I've worked at Holden High School for three years, and Albany High School for one year. During this work experience, I've led expressive arts groups and encouraged blending music and art within individual therapy.

If you are interested in receiving services or would like to know more, please contact me at 1-888-637-7404, Ext. 53. You can also email me at rory@oakcreekcenter.org. I practice in the Berkeley office.

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Nona Brady                                                                                Nona@oakcreekcenter.org

                                                                                        
My name is Nona Brady.  I am a registered Marriage and Family Therapist intern with the Board of Behavioral Sciences in California.  I have a second Master’s Degree in Fine Arts, from Pratt University, in Brooklyn, New York.  I endeavor to combine my experience to provide effective Psychotherapy- through Oak Creek Counseling Center I am supervised by Steve Polin, LMFT 7861.  I have experience working with children and families from diverse populations, and have developed my skills as a Play therapist using an Attachment Focused/Collaborative Parenting approach (supervised by Annie Bailey, LMFT 36953 through Community Services Bureau- Headstart).  I am interested in developing my expertise in the area of Complex Trauma, both with adults and children.  I have years of experience working with Co-occurring disorders and completed my CAADAC courses in 2004.  I have led Expressive Arts groups for adolescents and adults, and enjoy using creative expression to help client’s gain new perspective.  I employ mindfulness in an integrative practice, using aspects of Narrative, Family Systems, Cognitive-Behavioral and Psychodynamic (Object Relations) therapies.

If you are interested in receiving services, or need a consultation, please feel free to contact my Oak Creek address:  nona@oakcreekcenter.org, or call: 1(888)637-7404 ext. 22 and we can arrange a time for an interview.  Sliding scale referrals accepted, consultation fees vary.

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Ellen Marino                                                                                  Ellen@oakcreekcenter.org

Be the star of your own life, the author of your own story; by having the courage to face your fears and the imagination to explore your dreams, you are able to embrace your true reality.  My approach is insight oriented with the belief that you are the expert in your life.  I enter each therapy session with sincerity and compassion and will work with you to develop a plan for reaching your goals.  I will help you experience a more objective perspective in your life story.  By focusing on your strengths, I enjoy shoring up the foundation to make way for new developments and positive growth.  My style is informed by: family systems, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused and narrative approaches. 

I have worked quite successfully with individual adults as well as couples, families and adolescents in the areas of anxiety and depression, relationships, self-esteem, communication, life/career transitions, adjustment, substance abuse, motivation, and grief and loss.  I am always interested in exploring challenging issues. I have a bachelor’s degree in English from Boston College, an M.B.A. from Duke University, and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from University of San Francisco.  I am a certified instructor in Myers-Brigg Type Indicator and have completed Integrative Medicine Education with specialization in Guided Imagery and Expressive Arts at the Institute for Health & Healing in San Francisco.

Please feel free to call me at (888) 637-7404, ext. 29 for an appointment.  I practice at our San Francisco and Berkeley offices. 

Susan LaCroix                                                                                  Susan@oakcreekcenter.org

While my psychotherapy work is influenced by a variety of approaches, my overarching focus is on the importance of a genuine relationship between my client and myself. I believe that authenticity fosters empathy, understanding, and trust – all essential for effective therapy, no matter what issues are being addressed. I also bring to each session a calm presence, a nonjudgmental attitude, curiosity, a sense of humor, and openness to discovering what styles and methods work for each particular client.

I received my M.A. in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University, and I have experience with a wide range of issues and conditions, including anxiety, grief, trauma, depression, sexual and gender identity, parenting and step-parenting, and relationship conflicts. I enjoyed two years of working exclusively with teens, and have developed a special interest in supporting people of all ages in life transitions – such as entering adulthood, changing careers, or ending long-term relationships. I have a particular passion for providing support to individuals and couples through pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, and the changing roles and identities that come with creating a family.

I practice in our Berkeley office and can be reached at 888-637-7404 Ext. 52.

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.