I recently went in search of a therapist covered under my Blue Cross California Care insurance. I…read morestumbled upon Jody and decided to give her a try because she is walking distance from my house and she has a second office close to my work on Park St. in Alameda. For regular therapy sessions, convenience is key. Jody is straight forward and just what I was looking for. Give her a try if you are looking for someone to talk to - professionally that is.

Jody can be very sympathetic, which can be nice, but I don't think she helped me figure out my…read moresituation at all. I felt better after I stopped seeing her, and was able to get a lot further on my own - ultimately coming up with a plan of action that has been a lifesaver for me and my family. I'm not sure what happened. Maybe she was out of her league or her personal business was getting in the way of doing her job. Being in therapy can be very intense, and there were times when I felt like she was uncomfortable and didn't want me to keep saying what I was saying. Billing was a nightmare. She openly said, many times, that she hates paperwork and billing stuff and that she would only be doing it every 2-3 months. If you rely on submissions to get reimbursed, and she makes a mistake, you're screwed because of how long it will take to get it fixed.

The Monterey Center is a wonderful place to get your life together. They are all wonderful people…read moreand will help you every step of the way with your recovery. They will work with your schedule and help you to create the life you are longing to live. Valerie is very kind and the center reflects her positive attitude. The entire crew is top notch!!! I highly recommend going to the Monterey center to handle any problem you are having in life. A+:)

I could not express how grateful I am that I found the Monterey Center. I have been going to…read moretherapy on and off for the past 5 years and none of them have impacted me as much as the biofeedback therapy with Valerie and Ron. Everyday I see more and more positive effects in my life and how I view the world, it saved me to say the least. Whatever your story is, I highly recommend you give the Monterey Center a shot. They have so much more to offer then simply "talking about your feelings or past heartaches". If the reviews that you're reading here aren't enough to convince you, go ahead and give them a call and go in for a consultation or introductory session, I dare you.

I've seen Nancy Good of Infinite Development a number of times for both Reiki and Hypnotherapy. She…read moreis one of the wisest, warmest, most present healers and teachers I've ever met. She truly radiates positive energy which I think is the strongest testament to her work. Nancy has been doing this work for decades and she clearly loves what she does and it shows. Her practice of hypnotherapy is gentle and tuned-in; she starts with an intake and listens to what you are wanting to work on and the rest is just bliss. Hypnotherapy with Nancy is incredibly effective and can really revolutionize your mental patterns... and your life. To anyone wanting to make shifts in their lives, big or small, or to find more comfort, peace and joy, I highly recommend working with Nancy. Her office is also cozy and beautiful.

I have used Nancy for Reiki only, with maybe a dash of her Hypnotherapy thrown in for good measure…read more She is a wonderful practitioner, a genuinely nice person and very adept at what she does. I'd highly recommend her services if you're in the mood to get better inside yourself!

I can't say enough wonderful things about Sheira. She is one of the kindest people you will ever…read moremeet while also being very professional. She listens carefully and makes sure she understands while providing thoughtful feedback. For someone dealing with stress, body image issues, anxiety, etc having someone like Sheira on your team is an amazing asset.

This is a long overdue review. My rating is not a reflection of general counseling method, but…read morerather of ethics. In my case, there was a severe breach/violation of trust and mishandling of sensitive information. Simply put, she made a diagnosis which she was unqualified to make (and inevitably completely wrong about). She communicated this diagnosis to someone other than myself - where it became something used against me. In both cases, a boundary was crossed which should not have been.

I found Rose after stumbling upon her PsychologyToday page and website. Just reading her words on…read moreher sites touched my heart and soul. It hit my core. As a therapist in training, I was so curious about her and her journey that I gave her a call. That was a life-changing decision because now she's my mentor! She roots me on, sees my power and strength, and challenges me in the most loving way possible. She has guided me in understanding and empowering me to channel my most authentic self and as an Asian-American womxn in this white, patriarchal society. Her teachings stem not only from her inner wisdom but also from her personal experience and actions. She definitely practices what she preaches. She is living proof of inner strength, power, and love. Her heart and soul is so real, genuine, authentic, that I can feel my own heart and soul wanting to break through all its layers just so it can be with her. She truly brings the best out of me. She is an incredible role model to me, one that I wish all young Asian-American girls can experience. When I spend time with her, I leave feeling an energetic shift, like something inside of me is either rising to the surface, being healed, being seen, or being loved. Rose is a beautiful human being and a powerful healer. Words in this review cannot capture her impact on my life. You'll just have to experience her for yourself! ;)

I recently did EMDR therapy with Rosanna to help me recover from a work-related trauma. Rosanna is…read morevery empathetic and really helped me come through the process with a lot more self-empathy and compassion. Over a period of 2 months, I gradually went from being stuck in a burnout state to a new happier equilibrium in life, with refreshed perspectives on the past and future. In addition, she's very perceptive and her observations helped me gain more self-awareness, especially on how I generate and burn energy. I am very grateful to have worked with her through a difficult period of my life and would highly recommend her!

I've been a client of Elizabeth Dandenell's for years. I couldn't be more grateful to have chosen…read moreher as my therapist. Her therapy skills are superior and she is a straight-shooter. She is also compassionate, with great intuition. Before I met with Elizabeth, I'd worked hard with about a dozen very good therapists to help relieve my anxiety and depression. I also sought to improve my vocational and social struggles. That "pre-Elizabeth" therapy partially helped. The problem was I still had a vague sense something about me or my situation wasn't quite being seen and addressed yet. Then, Elizabeth helped change the course of my life. She raised the possibility that I might have two overlooked diagnoses. If accurate, she theorized, those diagnoses might help identify and explain much of the "invisible" set of challenges I've struggled with over decades. She was 100% accurate. I received both of those diagnoses after several months of testing by hospital clinicians. As a result, I've learned new ways to cope better overall. Specifically: some fast and easy ways to tamp down my overall anxiety - techniques I'd likely never have used without the diagnoses. My self-esteem has greatly improved and I'm more at peace with myself than I've been in a very long time. I've plugged in to community support. Elizabeth is a true gem of a therapist. It's encouraging to know she's available to me and others, in a world where life can sometimes feel so hard.

When I first met Vilma, my world was filled with darkness. I was consumed by self-loathing to the…read moreextreme. I didn't trust anyone in the world, not even my lover. I thought people were selfish narcissists who only cared about themselves when they were cold. But among them, the one I hated the most was myself. During a time when I was trapped in the abyss of self-loathing, unable to move from my bed, I felt the need for help, and I made my first call to Vilma. From that moment on, I have been seeking counseling from Vilma for over two years. She slowly nurtured my heart, as if extracting poison from long-standing wounds. For 15 years, I believed that my struggle stemmed solely from my inability to control myself. I attributed it to my excessive vanity, competitiveness, and narcissistic tendency to prioritize how others perceived me. I thought I couldn't love anyone else and that my preoccupation with myself was the cause of these symptoms. That was the first thing I told her. However, she has spent a long time counseling me and has helped change the way I think. She not only introduced me to various cognitive methods that allowed me to be more compassionate toward myself, but it was more than that. What she taught me was a warm heart. A warm heart that cares for and worries about others. As she listened to my heart, she exemplified how others can become warmer toward one another. Through her, I learned what it means to care for others, and I began to strive to become that way myself. Those experiences gradually helped me realize the message she was trying to tell me. 'I am not a bad person.' Through counseling with her, I was able to recall a trauma from 15 years ago. It was an experience that I could never forget, but one that I had buried deep within the depths of my heart, like the sea. It was a trauma that was so difficult to face that I had pretended it meant nothing at all. I couldn't even label it as a trauma because I couldn't confidently admit that I was a victim. If it weren't for her counseling, I would have carried it within me for a lifetime, as I couldn't even recognize it as a wound. I believed I didn't deserve to. When I confronted the experience that I couldn't share with anyone, she held the hand of my heart, ensuring that I wasn't afraid. She continued to support me until I no longer feared the trauma completely. Now, I no longer think of the world as solely cold. I no longer believe that people only care about themselves. Through her, I have felt and understood that people can be a source of help for one another, and just knowing that has made the world appear more hopeful and brighter to me. Thank you, Vilma. I wanted to express my gratitude properly to you, but my words fall short, and I couldn't express my thanks adequately.

Theresa was our family therapist and worked with our daughter for over 4 years. She met with our…read morefamily in various configurations over time. We all came to really appreciate her insights, help with different behaviors that came up, excellent parenting strategies, and attending to our daughter's needs as related to ADHD. Theresa was a significant support during various life changes (divorce, school drama, etc). She was calm, warm and very insightful. She has many years of experience working with families and children. Her office is extremely child friendly with lots of toys, art supplies, sand tray, and she even provides snacks. I highly recommend Theresa.

Dr. Fennelly was our family therapist and met with us regularly, both conjointly and individually…read more It was discovered that Dr. Fennelly lied about having an existing friendship with my son's mother (Dr. Blanchard) and was witnessed visiting her office multiple times. They had an inappropriate relationship outside of the therapy environment. Dr. Fennely's reports were wildly biased and full of lies, favoring her friend. She also lied about my then toddler son's behavior and made up issues with me. The damage that she caused was potentially devastating to my relationship with my young son and extremely costly. I should sue her for damages. Fortunately, three different judges ruled that I should receive 100% legal and physical custody of our child, who has been living with me for approximately three years now with zero visitation rights awarded to the mother. This illustrates the nonsense that I had to endure from this crooked and toxic therapist. Dr. Fennely, you should have your license revoked to protect vulnerable patients.

Louisa and Greg are phenomenal!…read more I want to give credit where credit is due. First off, Louisa's attention to detail is top tier!!! She contacted me and accommodated my scheduling of series of appointments to fit my work schedule. First sign that this office cares for their patients. She followed up everytime she stated she would do so. And her outstanding customer service skills caught on to the fact that i would rush to my appoiintments straight from work. She always offered me, water or coffee and when she asked if I wanted a cookie, my eyes opened up wide! I couldn't believe it! Not that cookies are hard to find BUT that she would even offer. She must have heard my stomach growl a few times but in this simple offering she learned that I love cookies! This woman is so incredible that on my last appointment she put a couple cookies aside for me. What a wonderful gesture. In rushing to get to my appointments straight after work for every appointment she offered me a closer location from my job. Which easily cut my commute by 10 minutes !!! These are some small details that I truly appreciate about Louisa. Her customer service skills, warm demeanor and attention to detail is amazing. She deserves a raise !!! Greg! You caught my attention as soon as you gave me facts on the first day on the importance of having a strong upper body and its correlation to longevity and ultimate quality of life. Your expertise and knowledge helped something snap in me to truly give it my all. Not to mention that I felt my strengthening improve in the 6 sessions I had with you. On days where I was in so much pain, he would massage the area to the point where those muscles felt more relaxed. I appreciate the time and efforts you put in helping me get stronger but also giving me pointers on what and what not to do when working out in the gym. For so long I avoided things that later didnt truly help my situation but giving me those pointers helped me navigate into the right direction with getting back into the gym. You also deserve a raise !!! Overall, if you need a PT office to go to where you will be treated like a true patient and not a number, go to this place !!!

Laura makes the whole experience worthwhile because she provides a diverse sequence of exercises…read morethat are not too easy, and not too hard. And because the group size is not too big we get personalized attention. It's an stress-free environment, very welcoming to all, plus I can see and feel the difference in my balance. Thanks Laura!