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Portola Valley, CA

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Binkley Barbara Msw

5.0 (1 review)

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1 year ago

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Palo Alto Therapy - Palo Alto Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, Megan Taylor, LMFT

Palo Alto Therapy

4.8(4 reviews)
6.2 mi

We started taking our elementary school son to Palo Alto Therapy after he started exhibiting issues…read moreat school due some stress he was experiencing outside the classroom. We couldn't be happier with the care he has been receiving. He was initially really worried about going to therapy but now he looks forward to having a safe space (that doesn't involve his parents *smirk*) to unload his feelings. From a parental perspective, we've been pleased we the progress we've seen in how he is communicating his emotions so we can better help him work through how he is feeling. Thank you Palo Alto Therapy!

Very impressed with our family's progress with Palo Alto Therapy. Appointments were accessible and…read morethe professionalism exceptional. Worked with LCSW Josh Optawosky who quickly helped navigate to solutions. He was kind and compassionate. Another highlight is the billing department. You can read about many other practices who are "about the money" and talk money before help. PA Therapy was very timely with billing and when the insurance had a misstep, PA Therapy offered to wait a week to resubmit. The staff was very knowledgeable and helpful - a total win when your focus is on mental health:) Very Pleased!

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Palo Alto Therapy - Palo Alto Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, Lauren Timmerman, LCSW

Palo Alto Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, Lauren Timmerman, LCSW

Palo Alto Therapy - Palo Alto Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, Laura Tolle, LMFT

Palo Alto Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, Laura Tolle, LMFT

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Women's Therapy Institute

Women's Therapy Institute

4.0(15 reviews)
7.3 mi

I originally wrote a glowing review back when I was a mere 21-year-old new to the world of therapy…read moreand all it had to offer. Let's start with the good: Transferring between therapists was painless if you feel like another practitioner is better suited for your needs. They're also very responsive via email, and while everything is online now, they're still very proactive in making sure to let you know of any cancellations. It is very clear that Mabel cares about her employees and will prioritize their health should they run into any difficulties in their personal lives, while making sure clients continue to receive the care that they deserve. Communication and scheduling are top-notch which is crucial (and I'd argue the bare minimum) when receiving mental health services. Here's where I felt the standard of care I was receiving felt not up to par: I suffer from BDD, which a complex disorder that requires nuanced care and language that does not insult my intelligence and also offers me advice as to not make my mental pain any worse than it is. There have been several instances where I felt my therapist's personal biases (I have worked with two here) have affected their approach to difficulties I was facing, which is never a good thing. If you want a specific example: Unrelated to my BDD but still a distressing change, I've experienced a nearly 80 lb. weight gain during my transition from my late teens to my early 20's, with 55 of those pounds driven by a sudden increase of chronic stress, anxiety, and dysregulated cortisol levels. As you can imagine, it's something that I've had to grapple with and grieve as I navigate a body that feels even more unfamiliar than it previously did. However, I was constantly told that "bodies are meant to change as we transition to true adulthood" or some flavor of that, which was very invalidating and quite frankly, insulting to my intelligence. Projection when treating my BDD also occurred --- and I know that's a buzzword that's susceptible to misusage, but it should be known that this is a very, very complex disorder and not all patients should be treated as if they're poisoned by social media or the beauty industry. It is very important, if possible, that you find a licensed clinical psychologist who has extensive training in ERP and is very familiar with the diagnostic literature. Some of the language that the therapist used in the early stages of me working together with them before I complained of not feeling seen or heard still affects me negatively today, which is probably the opposite of the desired effect of therapy. (I'd imagine that most people would not appreciate being called "illogical"). It seems like the bulk of the reviews are about Mabel (the owner), and I never worked with her personally so I can't speak on that front. The therapists that I have worked with here are good people and they really seem passionate about what they do, but passion can only get you so far when it comes to helping potential clients. I currently am getting my needs met elsewhere, but I just wanted to share my thoughts to help those who might be looking for a new therapist, especially for those who suffer from BDD. I didn't have a solid reference point for what specialized BDD care looked like, but once you experience it, you can't really go back. That being said, there is a chance that you could benefit from working with one of the therapists here, but as a generalized piece of advice I recommend shopping around elsewhere if you are financially able, so that you can find the best provider for YOU.

I found Mabel by chance a couple of years ago when I was not in a great place. I had tried out…read moreseveral therapists, but formed an instant connection with Mabel. She is warm, personable, empathetic, and compassionate. I remember hoping on a consultation call with her to let her know about my situation, filling in a form online about my background (other therapists take at least 1-2 sessions to get this which I feel is a waste of time/ not very efficient), and by the time we had our first session, she already knew a ton about me! Mabel is practical and relatable, and I place a lot of trust in her expertise and guidance. We dont always have breakthroughs every session (nor should you have that expectation for every therapy session), but I always walk away with something to think about, and a renewed sense of calm. She has seen me grow over the years, and Im truly grateful for her help.

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Women's Therapy Institute
Women's Therapy Institute - Mabel Yiu, MFT. Specialty: Mental health, trauma, parenthood, couples therapy, and executive coaching.

Mabel Yiu, MFT. Specialty: Mental health, trauma, parenthood, couples therapy, and executive coaching.

Women's Therapy Institute

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The Couples Center - Gal Szekely & Liron Cohen, a married couple and founders of The Couples Center

The Couples Center

4.9(20 reviews)
6.2 mi
Locally owned & operated
Family-owned & operated

TLDR: Gal and Liron's new workshop provided a lot of tools and insights into elements of our…read moreidentities. When Chris and I took the first pre-marital course with the Couples Center our lives and relationships were changed for the better. We eagerly signed up for the new template-based course and it exceeded our expectations. I was excited to write a lengthy review of what we enjoyed about the workshop in hopes it could help others in their personal growth. Their phrase still resonates with me, "the best time to participate in therapy is when you don't have a lot of problems". We went into the first course intending to strengthen our current relationship. Little did we know we would uncover issues that we weren't aware of. Knowing these we were able to make changes that improved our relationship tenfold. Our goal in the 2nd workshop was to solve our problems by becoming aware of them. The couples center once again was a step ahead. We learned that as problem solvers, some of our parts won't be solved with a logical or analytical approach. We discovered the power of getting in touch with our emotions and not always be in our heads, which is a hard and abstract approach, but life-changing. We now understand why this was a level 2 of the first course as we went a lot deeper into what shapes us in both a positive and negative way. Just like the previous course Gal and Liron have built a comprehensive session with digestible tools we reference regularly. Each exercise was expertly laid out to make complicated ideas clear and was a stepping stone to a larger understanding. Even the most simple activity had the biggest impact on us. They also made some shifts to the structure so we had more time with one on one sessions with assistants, who did an excellent job of helping us process the material. Instead of just becoming aware of problems, we became aware of deep-seated parts of our whole and acknowledging that they are the makeup of our identity, beliefs, and reactions. Knowing this empowered us to be able to be mindful of decisions, rather than just living by spontaneous reactions. This awareness was especially important to do together as partners to increase our empathy and understanding of each other. Previously we discovered how autonomous we were and the impacts it had on our connection. This time around we acknowledged our problem solving and analytic nature, which might prove effective in our day-to-day responsibilities, but could often impair our emotional connections. It doesn't mean we need to stop solving problems, but to at least be mindful of that habit and check that it is appropriate for that situation. The Couples Center is a true gift and the work Gal and Liron are doing is fantastic. We love their passion for helping others and their psychology skills are terrific. We look forward to future workshops. Thank you.

My fiancé and I attended the "Love Made Simple" weekend workshop in Marin and couldn't recommend it…read moremore highly. We wanted to carve out some space for couples counseling before our wedding and realized it worked better for our schedule to do a retreat over the weekend vs. counseling sessions over several weeks. What we liked about it: - Mix of art and science - Gal and Liron bring a good balance of theory on psychology + intuitive reflection. They bring a lot of their personal experiences into the conversation, and I found that really engaging and applicable. - Get to know yourself - even though this was a couples workshop, a lot of the focus is on better understanding yourself and your underlying needs, communication and conflict patterns, need for connection vs autonomy, relationship with money, etc. - Framework for effective communication - they provide you a common language so you can resolve any argument within 5mins. - Diversity of attendees - there was a great mix of couples, some pre-marital, some who have been married for decades This was an incredible investment for us, and we only wish we took it earlier in our relationship. I've also applied a lot of my learnings to my other relationships at work, etc.

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The Couples Center - Our marriage counselors are experienced in working with diverse couples

Our marriage counselors are experienced in working with diverse couples

The Couples Center - We work with gay, lesbian, transgender couples

We work with gay, lesbian, transgender couples

The Couples Center - Couples workshops and seminars

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Valerie A Goss, MFT

Valerie A Goss, MFT

4.4(5 reviews)
5.1 mi

Valerie tried to charge me a cancellation fee that was higher than the rate she bills my insurance…read morefor. When I questioned her about this, she attempted to mislead me telling me that the insurance company was reporting the wrong number on my statements. A quick call to the insurance company proved this was false. When I presented her with that information and asked why she was charging a higher amount, she recommended we not work together any longer. Even after all of this, she also still billed my insurance for the cancelled appointment. I reported this to the insurance company (that I did not speak to her on that day) and they have tried to contact her via phone and email, but have been unsuccessful. If I had not looked into this, she would have been fraudulently making ~3X her normal pay just because I cancelled too late. I understand why therapists need to charge fees for a late cancellation, as it represents lost wages for them. However, I believe it's unethical to charge more money than she would have made if I had attended. I have been wrestling internally with posting this review as I want to believe she did not have bad intentions, but in the face of her misleading me and avoiding calls from the insurance company, I feel an obligation to let future clients of hers know what happened. I am giving 2 stars because during the 4 months we spoke, she was not an awful therapist. She came off a little more like a life coach at times, where she was directly telling me to/not to do things rather than asking me questions to help me come to my own conclusions. It's not really my preferred style of therapy, but some people might find it helpful.

Valerie is amazing and understanding she is better than all therapists I have seen over the years…read more She also was very accommodating to my schedule and there for me above and beyond. Great person all around then great to talk to. I would recommend her to anyone!

Whitney Wright Maricle, LMFT

Whitney Wright Maricle, LMFT

5.0(19 reviews)
38.5 mi

Whitney is all of the things I needed in a therapist but never experienced. I wasn't so sure after…read moreour first session if I'd be returning for a second as she offered something I wasn't ready to accept- someone who accepted me as me and created a loving, safe place for me to just be me. We joke about it all these years later, but coming back for those follow up sessions would be exactly what I needed and truthfully, what I was lacking in my life. Whitney embodies compassion, care, empathy, and love and provides the safety of allowing me to show up as I am on any given day ready to help me unpack whatever I bring her. I came to her at a point in my life when I had shattered as a person. She has been by my side through some incredibly challenging times and there isn't anyone else that I would want in my corner when life happens. Whitney is an incredible therapist. If you are looking for someone who will see you as you are, accept you as you are, and who will walk by your side as you navigate the triumphs and challenges life throws at you, she is the one you need. I think she's pretty amazing and am thankful for her every day.

A few years ago, I found myself at dark point in my life. After a whirlwind of an 8 years in which…read moreI lost some of the most important people in my life, in addition to the pandemic and the ramifications of it, I knew it was time to seek help. I tried one avenue, but it just didn't work. So I went on a search for a different therapist. And that search went on day after day, hour after hour. I spoke to some, but nothing ever felt like it was the right fit. Until one day, when I was feeling defeated, I stumbled upon Whitney. I took a look at her website and read her reviews and felt hopeful for the first time in days. From the moment I first spoke to Whitney, I knew she was the one to help me. Two years later, and I can say with absolute certainty that choosing Whitney to be my therapist was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Whitney is compassionate, thoughtful, and incredibly knowledgeable. She knows how to create a warm, comfortable and supportive environment where you feel safe to tell her all your thoughts and feelings. She's patient and kind, and never gives up on finding ways to help you. She has been such a positive light in my life, and has helped me overcome so much. While I'm still a work in progress, it's all thanks to Whitney that I have made it this far. And that is why I recommend and will always recommend Whitney. If you're looking for someone to help you get back onto the path to happiness, you've found her.

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Whitney Wright Maricle, LMFT - Whitney Wright Maricle, LMFT

Whitney Wright Maricle, LMFT

Whitney Wright Maricle, LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Online therapy | Specializing in anxiety, communication within a couple, and managing stress

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Online therapy | Specializing in anxiety, communication within a couple, and managing stress

Whitney Wright Maricle, LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Online therapy | Specializing in anxiety, communication within a couple, and managing stress

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Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Online therapy | Specializing in anxiety, communication within a couple, and managing stress

Binkley Barbara Msw - c_and_mh - Updated July 2026

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