Concierge Swimming Lessons

3.1 km

Dr. Gutkin has opened the doors to understanding myself and learning the skills I need to overcome…read moreanxiety. I have now known him for two years and my life is immensely better as a result. I continue to learn and to grow under his kind, patient and insightful counseling.

From the owner: I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of experience in the mental health field…read more I have been working with adults, children, teenagers, and families since 2001. In my private practice, I do therapy with children, adolescents, adults and couples. Services are provided in English or Russian.

Office on the top floor with spectacular view

Therapy office

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Caree Brown, Lcsw

Certified professionals

I went to see Caree Brown as part of a divorce I am going through. I called three different local…read moretherapists and Caree reached out super fast. Caree was able to help me evaluate my past relationship and see things in a different perspective which really helped me get to the other side. I can't praise her enough.

I could not overstate the impact Caree has had on me and my family. While counseling support/advice…read moreis highly personal, I can attest that Caree's philosophy and approach is straightforward, simple in nature and therefore easy to apply. Listening to excellent advice is great, but actually implementing change is transformative. Caree provides easy to understand tools, that apply to real life and can be used anytime and anywhere. Her approach is underwritten by a sincere desire to listen, and allow the individual to fully express themselves before opining on what is to be done. No psychological-speak, Caree makes you comfortable because she is relatable and kind in her approach. Her office is warm and inviting - a place you're always happy to go back to. I highly recommend Caree to anyone and everyone.

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Christopher Arrillaga, PsyD

0.3 km

Dr. Arrillaga is a true professional with a heart of gold and as kind as you can get. I've been…read moreworking with Dr. Arrillaga on a professional basis for over a year now, he has been such a helpful resource for me and my clients. He cares greatly about people and carries himself with an approachable/ genuine demeanor. I highly recommend Dr. Arrillaga to anyone looking for a great listener, strong ethical character and years of experience helping many individuals and families.

Christopher is a gifted professional with an abundance of patience, kindness, and smarts. As a…read morepsychologist myself, with a strong training background (UC Davis, UC Berkeley, Oakland VA, Stanford University) and a rich work history, providing mental health services since 1992, I am well positioned to recognize the competencies of other psychologists. Over the past three years, I have gotten to know Christopher on both a professional and personal level. He is a trusted colleague and a dear friend. Without hesitation, I would gladly send the people who are dearest to me to Christopher for his expert judgment and services. I could not recommend him more highly.

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Leslie Hemedes, Psy.D

(6 reviews)

4.5 km

What was the problem you were having before you reached out to me?…read moreBefore meeting Leslie, I had never done therapy before. It has always been something I wanted to do and something I was interested in but never found the time or courage to follow through with. Growing up, therapy wasn't always something that was positively stigmatized, so it was easy to find excuses to not go. There were things I needed help working through, however, and I knew I wouldn't be able to continue to take it on myself. I found me asking myself the same questions in different ways and always coming to the same conclusions. I'm not saying that I was tormented by these questions/answers but I knew that I needed a fresh, new and professional angle. I wasn't going to be able to dig as deep without having the proper tools to dig. Leslie came in as a kind and understanding voice--asking me questions I have never been asked and exploring my feelings in a way I've never thought to explore them. I'm an introspective person by nature but I would never stop to think of how certain situations made me feel and how it looked to explore those feelings. Each session was quite an interesting and eye-opening exercise. Leslie was always respectful enough to give me time to think about my responses and never seemed to pry or dig too deeply if I wasn't comfortable but she masterfully worded questions in a way that disarmed me and allowed me to share openly and freely. She created a very comfortable environment for being open. I knew that therapy was working for me when I started to openly share my feelings in normal conversation with friends and family. I found myself thinking more deeply about how I was affected by something or taking a particular situation and viewing all of the angles and how I felt about potential outcomes. When speaking with friends, I found myself being more understanding and sensitive--asking them questions about how they felt. It was all kind of "weird" but I knew it was very helpful. Unfortunately, I do not see Leslie anymore but ever since our final session, I feel mentally reborn. The lens I now look through my own feelings with is less judgmental and more understanding. It's okay to feel. It's ok to emote. The mental clarity I have now is far better than it was before she and I sat down for the first time. I am grateful for her service and would highly recommend Leslie to anyone seeking understanding, mental health and a kind ear.

Wow, I am fortunate to have Dr. Hemedes in my life as both a colleague and a friend. I admire her…read moredrive, intellect, patience, and sense of humor. You can just tell that all of those qualities naturally exist for her. Dr. Hemedes keeps it real in the most gentle and tactful way that makes you feel seen and appreciated. She is the advocate you want in your corner. She is that friend where you pick right back up where you left off if time has passed between connecting. She is dynamic in her clinical approaches, which makes her ability to work with diverse populations admirable. Trust me, one consultation with her and you will see what I mean by all of this!

Walnut Creek, CA

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Walnut Creek, CA

Nadine Watters, PsyD

(6 reviews)

0.1 km

Our family has been seeing Nadine for the past 2 years. We love her! she's helped us so much,…read morespecially our teen daughter. I appreciate everything she's done for her and the piece of mind she brings to her.

I've been working w/ Nadine for over a year and she's been amazing not just for me but for my…read morehusband and parents as well! The whole family loves her!

Karyn Goldberg-Boltz, Ph.D.

5.1 km

Dr. Goldberg-Boltz is a caring and really talented therapist. She has the ability to find new and…read moredifferent ways of exploring issues with you that really drives the process forward, leading to greater awareness and greater insights. Working with her has been an unbelievably positive experience and I feel so grateful to have found her and to work with her.

If you are reading this, you might be where I was about a year ago -- looking to find just the…read moreright person to help you with whatever it may be that is an issue in your life. For me, I felt I was in need of a hard mental reboot and I also really wanted to find someone to talk with regarding my lifelong MTF crossdressing issues. When I happened to choose Dr. Goldberg-Boltz, little did I know at the time, I was hitting the jackpot! I have found her to be very supportive, non-judgmental, caring, compassionate, very very smart and extremely tuned into me and my issues. I have had therapy with others in the past and the treatment I received from them paled in comparison to what I get from Dr. GB. If you are wresting with any issues, especially cross dressing or gender issues, I cannot recommend Dr. Goldberg-Boltz enough.

Cohen Susan B Mft

3.1 km

Susan is the person that helped me the most when I lost my wife and was raising our 4 year old son…read moreby myself and I do have to admit that I only went to see her from the recommendation of my doctor. I really did not think that it would help, but I have to say that this lady helped me in more ways than I can ever thank her and if you need someone that you can trust and be non judgmental and truly assist you with anything that you are dealing with, I would recommend Susan hands down. I moved to Arizona and I keep changing counselors as I keep comparing everyone to her. SHE IS ONE AWESOME PERSON AND everyone should be so fortunate to have someone like Susan with them

Ellen Walters, MFT

3.4

3.0 km

My wife and I met with Ellen for marriage counseling. She's extremely 3rd-wave feminist,…read moredestructive to relationships, in my opinion. Believes in a total old-fashioned blue-pill philosophy. Had the audacity to recommend drugs on the second visit- even though she does not have the qualifications/credentials to prescribe. Intelligent, but entirely misguided. Talked about the number of partners my wife had previously as though it was a good thing / something to be proud of, even though the statistics clearly show that the more partners = equal the greater the likelihood of divorce. Part of Divorce Corp. as far as I am concerned. Thanks Ellen! Our kids now come from a broken home. Stay away if interested in marriage counseling. ------ ________ In case you are tempted to use a "Marriage Councilor", please note that "Marriage Counseling" is basically "Divorce Counseling". Marriage counseling has been show to be totally ineffectual - Google the studies. Marriage counseling is huge racket - I've been there, and I'm not "angry". Lol

I feel very fortunate that Ellen was my therapist during the most difficult times for my family…read more Ellen always showed sincere interest in my well-being. She listens actively and attentively. You never have to repeat what you said before as she has a "magic" way of remembering the details. It felt like magic because she almost never looked down to write down the details. She was always present, caring and attentive. She often reminded me of things I said a month or more before and connected the past with present. I recommended Ellen to many of my friends. All were very glad they made a decision to use her services. One of my friends came to Ellen after a "no-so-good" experience with another MFT. "Now, I finally know what a good therapist should be like", she said. It is very challenging to resolve life's difficult situations on your own. Doing it with the support of a highly intelligent, honest and caring therapist is much easier for the entire family. I am very thankful that with Ellen's help I was able to find a path from the "troubled muddy waters" to a "peaceful lake" of my own. Because of her, I now have a much better understanding of myself, my children, my family and my friends and that creates more peace and harmony with those who are important to me.

Johnson Alf C, PhD

3.0 km

One of Alf's main strengths is that, at root, he truly cares deeply and compassionately about…read morepeople and how they operate. This allows him to function in a professional and caring manner that is literally never less than absolutely engaged and thoughtful. His focus and dedication has helped me and my team improve several operational practices. Alf is a rare human being. If you have the opportunity to work with him, you should.

Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail

4.2

(22 reviews)

3.8 km

I love visiting the east bay city of Lafayette. There are so many beautiful outdoor trails and the…read moretown itself is adorable. I was looking to get a morning walk in and a family member brought me to this trail which she typically runs. We parked at the community center off of St Mary's road. Just one of many locations that you can catch the trail. Plenty of parking was available. The 7.65 mile trail runs on both sides of St Mary's road through Lafayette and Moraga We decided to cross over to the other side of the street from the community center and walk towards Moraga. The paved trail can be used for biking and horses as well. The trail towards Moraga has quite a bit of inclines and makes for a good workout. I went 2 miles in and turned around at Rheem Blvd for a 4 mile round-trip walk. Beautiful scenery and lots of people walking their dogs.

I Have biked and hiked and geocached on this trail numerous times. It's t's one of my favorite…read moreplaces to visit, but I don't think there's any bathroom facilities along the way. If you're looking for a beautiful bike ride, this is a great option.

Benches sprinkled throughout

Famous bird houses.

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Larkey Park Swim Center

3.8

(27 reviews)

5.1 km

The Larkey Swim Center is a community pool in Walnut Creek that's great for kids and adult beginner…read moreswimmers. We came here a few times on a Saturday near the end of summer. It's adjacent to Larkey Park, so if the shared parking lots get full, you'll find plenty of free street parking. The pool itself is divided into several section - beginners (3.5 to 4.5 feet max depth), diving, and for lap swimming. They have lifeguards everywhere and they do a fine job of maintaining order. The water temperature was perfect. Our 5yo son seems to have a natural inkling for water but he enjoyed the pool far more than the splash pad, which is also popular with young kids. I tried carrying him up on the water slide but he refused. Note: for taller folks, they have a pretty intense water spray on top of the slide that can blind you. Imagine max shower pressure right on your face, LOL! Other amenities are large locker and changing rooms with clean showers, small picnic areas for sun tanning or relaxing, and plenty of benches and tables to store your bags or snacks. They also have a vending machine for cold drinks. Definitely plan on returning when the pool opens up again (9/27/25 was the last day for the summer). A definite bargain at just over $20 for a family of three.

Great splash park but very little shaded seating makes it difficult for older grandmas to watch the…read moregrandkids without wilting during the many hot days of summer!

Several life guards on duty, all around the pool

Entrance to 3.5-ft deep section of pool - great for toddlers and adult beginners

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Splash Pad with some serious water pressure

Benicia Public Pier & Beach

4.3

(39 reviews)

17.3 km

Life's a beach, enjoy the waves! Okay, I just made that up...but, it sounds cool, right? I know! :)…read moreIf you think that was cool, then you must check out Benicia Public Pier & Beach! Beautiful views (including Carquinez Bridge in the distance, mountains, Amtrak was chugging along in the far distance also!), ocean air, and a breeze. It was pretty cold and foggy when I first arrived. Then, the sun peaked out more and got some vitamin D. I took a nice stroll on the sidewalk that winds around the pier and by a restaurant and some homes. The ocean view stayed front and center the entire time. There wasn't many people there at the time I went. It felt like I owned the area to myself for a little bit :) There's street parking (free). There were benches all along the sidewalk and the pier, if you just want to sit and watch the ocean waves. I definitely will be returning for some more Vitamin sea time! :)

Very Clean Pier with lots of stripe bass. OG fisherman's are very friendly and helpful. Would…read moredefinitely recommend this spot for first timers..

Main Street program building

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Roughing It Day Camp

4.5

(18 reviews)

0.6 km

My 13 year old had a transformative 4 weeks at Roughing It day camp. She bonded with her group of…read moregirls, and responded to the great counselors and staff. Near the end of camp, she fell off a horse (only hurt her pride), and the counselors were so helpful and concerned for her to literally "get back on the horse" as soon as possible. That little tumble ended up being the pivotal positive experience in her entire summer! Although she attended camp reluctantly, she is now enthusiastic about returning this summer as a camper in leadership training (CILT).

The registration process is all online but good Lord they require a lot of information. If your…read morechild has ADD they require a Dr's note, if you don't want to medicate at the camp - I find the paper work excessive. It's super expensive ($600+) so I registered for the sample day (one day instead of the whole week) for $60. We are trying out the camp to see if it's worth the $$$. Cons - They don't provide lunch (for that much $$?) - The hours are 9-3 (technically that's not a full day when your a working mom) Pro - Check in was quick. They show up and check everyone in between 8:45 - 9am. - It's outdoors and they let the kids choose the activity - It appears friendly and loving Would I pay crazy dollars to go here? No, but I have always wondered what it was like. It's very similar to the Camp Potowatami at East Avenue, with a lake.

Camp Community and Camp Spirit

Friendships Flourish at Roughing It

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Helping Children Grow in Wonderful Ways Since 1972

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Teddy T.

11 years ago

Theo is an amazing swimming instructor. My children have had years of lessons at other swim schools and never made the kind of progress they do with Theo. He absolutely connected and developed a relationship with my children that has them looking forward to their time with "Teacher Theo"! I also had a few lessons myself to refine my stroke technique and get in better shape. read more

Concierge Swimming Lessons - swimminglessons - Updated July 2026

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Sunny Sands Swim School

This review is long overdue. Both my sons age (6) and (3) have taken private swim lessons with Mr…read moreKeith for 2 summers now. In hindsight, maybe it worked to my advantage to not leave a raving review sooner. Mr Keiths schedule books quickly in warm months and my 5 star wouldn't help me so much in securing my kids desired swim slots. No.. but really, Keith is nothing short of AMAZING. He is punctual, reliable, honest, flexible as can be for the most sought after swim lessons in the East Bay Area. He has a natural way of interacting with kids, he gets on their level. Maybe cause he is just like a big kid himself. but Keith really knows how to teach hard concepts and break it down for young minds so they truly understand, learn and grow when applying skills. Keith's own enthusiastic and playful nature combined with instructing in a approachable way attracts the attention of little ones. Despite his childlike teaching style, he consistently sets firm expectations and provides gentle feedback when needed that foster motivation and encourage kids to do their best, truly maximizing every minute of a short swim lesson. I have seen tremendous growth in both my kids with Mr Keith. I will never be going back to a local swim school. That was just a waste of money and pool playtime with friends. If you read this review you dont need to look any further for private swim lessons. I have already researched the best of the best in this area and Mr Keith is it.

Keith has been teaching both of my boys to swim for many years. He taught my oldest about swim…read moresafety and how to perform freestyle like a champ. My youngest started taking private lessons with Keith last year and has seen tremendous success with swim safety and confidence in the water. There aren't enough words to express our gratitude to Keith for what he's done for our kids. Knowing they are OK in the water is a huge stress relief as a parent. We feel like we really lucked out with his private lessons!! Can't recommend him enough!

Aqua Babies ISR

This is hand down the best swim lesson for young children in Contra Costa County. It's located in…read moreOakley and is top tier for emergency swim lessons. They specialize in swim lessons for first time swimmers. As a parent, I feel so much better knowing my little daughter will be able to float and swim to the edge of the pool if she ever fell in. This is the best introduction to swimming that you could get for a toddler/young child. It is terrifying to think of my kid drowning. Some of my family members have pools at their house and I'm always scared that my kid was going to fall in when I wasn't looking. Now I feel confident if that did happen my daughter would not only float and not drown but also get to the edge and climb out. I am so grateful for this swim school. All the other swim schools in the area are focused on older children learning the different swim strokes like freestyle, breast stroke, etc. which is great for kids that want to be on a competition swim team but this one is the best for introducing kids to swim as a life saving skill. Not that this instructor can't teach the later stages of swim instruction, her own kids are like fish in the water. They are amazing swimmers!

Swim2Dan

3.7

(28 reviews)

We had a great experience with Dan for our 3.5 year old. We went from never having had a swim…read morelesson and in 10 days was jumping off pool ledges with excitement and reaching the sides of the swimming pool all on her own! The classes are not for the faint of heart. These are accelerated no nonsense classes and the intent is to teach them to survive. For the first few days, expect a lot of tears and emotions from the kiddos. The last few days, they will be proud of their accomplishment and enjoy being in the water. I was lucky and our kiddo did not cry one day. She loved it so much, she still asks to go back. I am beyond impressed and have a sense of relief knowing she can swim with safety. Thank you so much, Dan!

Dan was great!!! We took our twins to his 10 day swim class…read moreand within 3 lessons they were little fish! He was stern and direct, but that's exactly what 2.5 year olds need so they understand how important water safety is. My husband and I took turns taking the kids, and we both agree that it was an overall great experience! Thankful to have found him and we feel so much better about having a backyard pool with little ones! Thanks again Dan!!

May Nissen Swim Center

4.4

What's not to love? Adults cost $1 to enter. There are two pools, one of them is perfect for…read morelittles. Locker rooms? Check. Life guards on duty? Check. Tons of families enjoying the summer sun? Check. Big fan here. Looking forward to their next summer season.

Great public pools and very inexpensive for drop in. Clean basic locker rooms and pools are nice…read morefor adults too!

British Swim School at 24 Hour Fitness Brentwood Super-Sport Gym

4.3

(7 reviews)

I have found this experience to be very unique and tailored to the individual's needs. The staff…read moreare very patient and encouraging. My child enjoys her lessons and looks forward to swimming alongside her peers. Sensory friendly and great for children on the spectrum!

Agnes from the British swim school has been amazing and very communicative when it came to…read morescheduling classes and make up classes for our Daughter Ariella! She absolutely loved the classes and tells us everyday she wants to go to the gyms swim class. Unfortunately we weren't able to continue the classes due to finances but once we're in a good spot we will resign up Ariella and her little sister. Elianna

The Genius Kids Club - Livermore

4.4

(8 reviews)

The quality of care the children receive by the staff has declined tremendously in the past 4…read moreyears. The 2 current teachers show clear favoritism towards certain kids, while other are spoken to harshly, ignored, and/or to called out in front of the whole class. These 2 teachers also spend much of their work gossiping and neglecting the kids. My daughter actually heard them say they "didn't like that kid , referring to her. They also don't inform parents if their child gets physically hurt or is crying on their shift. Deplorable-if you don't love and accept children the way they are, and try to make them thrive instead of putting them down, then do us all a favor and don't become a teacher. I will never leave any of my kids there again.

Natasha came to the rescue for our family when we needed to make an immediate childcare change for…read moreour oldest child. While us joining Genius came from a less than ideal situation, it has ultimately proven to be one of the best moves we've made for our son and his education. Every day he comes home engaged, energized, happily talking about his day and everything he learned. He absolutely loves Genius and his teachers there and we love that they help him with his homework and work with us to help him in some of the areas that are a little harder for him at school. The staff is professional, considerate, personable and responsive. So when our spot finally opened at ESS (after a year on the waiting list) we opted to keep him part-time in Genius. My only ask of them would be to consider a before school care at this location. I've spoken with other parents that have wanted to send their children here but that's a barrier for them.

Inspire Behavioral Learning

3.7

(3 reviews)

I signed up my high-energy 7 year old for the Call of the Wild summer camp for four weeks at the…read moreJoaquin Miller location and it was perfect, especially during the pandemic. The academic context in an outdoor setting in a variety of locations was ideal for us. We were honestly happy that Call of the Wild had availability, but the all-outdoor setting plus play-based reading/writing aspect was a welcome bonus we didn't ask for. It took time for my kid to build his endurance, but by the end of his 4th week of camp, he started reading on his own more frequently and his reading skills have really improved. He recently confidently read to me whereas he used to be self-conscious reading out loud. Also, we went hiking one weekend and he guided us to the "tree fort" area. We were really impressed he remembered the route and he definitely seemed to have fond memories playing in the trees.

My son attended Call of the Wild Camp and also gets tutoring with Inspire Behavioral Learning. Both…read morehave been excellent! The focus on learning by doing is an effective way to engage my son, who is high energy and needs to really interact and connect with his teachers/mentors to learn. He rates Kelly as one of his favorite teachers and shows much more interest in reading, especially about animals and nature. He loves hikes and exploring outdoors, so he looks forward to practicing reading with science and animal themed books. His teacher noticed an improvement in his reading and now writing at school. We plan to continue the tutoring now for enrichment and not just strictly academics.

Parent Perplexities

(2 reviews)

Shaina has helped coach me through several hurdles I've encountered with my son (5) since he was an…read moreinfant and now my daughter (1). She is so full of knowledge and very reassuring. Highly recommend her and Parent Perplexities!

Shaina of parent perplexities has been the single most reason my son (almost 2) hasn't gotten…read morebitten at school in over 2 weeks. If it wasn't for her coaching and mentoring I don't know what we would have done. Her extensive experience from being a classroom teacher through center directors has given her the ability to emphasize with the parents but also set realistic expectations of a good and healthy parent-daycare center relationship. Thank you Shaina!!

Proficio Therapy Services

(4 reviews)

My son started with Speech via Zoom in August 2024. I initially I did not want zoom I preferred in…read moreperson, but the Brentwood location wasn't open yet. After meeting with SLP Sierra Bone and hearing how she interacted with my son (who has ADHD) I informed the office that I wanted to stay via Zoom with Sierra. My son is 9 and never greeted me before, there was never a hi, how are you? Sierra had been working on it with him and my son randomly asked me how I was doing one day. This was HUGE! Since then she's really opened my son up to have conversations and he is improving so much! My son has went a different Speech Company in the past and we had a horrible experience, the staff was constantly changing, opinions of the SLPs were very different and the billing department was constantly making mistakes. We are SO GRATEFUL for Sierra.

Our 2yr old has a speech delay that prevented him from communicating or expressing himself…read moreverbally. There was a lot of guessing & figuring out what he was saying through process of elimination. Understandably, he would get upset and frustrated. We reached out for help and everyone at Proficio supported us through each step. We are so delighted to have been paired with Sierra. She knows how to engage with our son to get the most out of him, while keeping it light and fun, so he doesn't lose interest. She communicates effectively with us (the parents) on what she recognizes as an obstacle during that session and how to overcome it. I also get follow up emails and at-home activities for between our sessions. My son has made tremendous progress and is now able to speak in full sentences. We know there is more to do, but what a relief to have Sierra help us to where we are today. He always looks forward to seeing Sierra for play time. Also, the location is amazing, very welcoming and peaceful. The 1st floor of this location has some games that will occupy the little ones as you wait for your appointment. Plenty of parking, restroom and sitting areas as well.

California Allstars

3.4