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.

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.

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.

Reflecting on the past five years, I can't help but feel a profound gratitude for Marie Sarte. She…read morewas my steadfast guide through the tumultuous journey of my PhD at UC Berkeley, where I faced not just academic hurdles coupled with imposter syndrome that nearly saw me pushed out of my program, but also the personal tribulations like a three-year breakup. It was a time when I was my own worst critic, preferring to hide from my problems rather than confront them head-on. Admittedly, during the early days of therapy, I was skeptical about the light at the end of the tunnel. Marie, however, with her unassuming wisdom, chipped away at the mountain of my bad habits--irregular sleep patterns, binge-watching sprees, a sedentary lifestyle, and less-than-ideal food choices. She never rushed the process, instead gently steering me towards incremental yet impactful changes. Before I knew it, those tiny shifts snowballed into life-altering transformations. I went from being on the brink of dismissal to flourishing academically, with published papers to my name and the honor of being the commencement speaker for my graduating class. My research even laid the foundation for a startup. Marie's influence sculpted a vastly improved life for me. Letting go of our sessions was a mix of sweet sorrow; she assured me with confidence that "our work is done." Though it left a void, I knew in my heart that I was ready. The resilience and self-belief she fostered in me have equipped me to face future challenges with poise. Marie, you've been more than a therapist; you've been a life-changer. Thank you so much for going into this profession and helping people. Do I need to say more? Set up an appointment ASAP.

Marie Sarte was my therapist for approximately 6 months in 2017. It was very helpful. I went to Ms…read more Sarte while on MediCal. I think she knows the system well because I had no hassle with any of the paperwork requirements or anything like that. I went to the sessions, she listened and helped me think through my troubles. It was good for me. I recommend her. I would have gone to Ms. Sarte longer, but I changed insurance to Kaiser and she's not in their system. Since switching to Kaiser, I have had difficulty finding a good therapist. I would go back to Ms. Sarte if I could.

Erika gave me my first EMDR therapy session for a work-related trauma involving a dog attack. As a…read morelifelong dog lover, the attack totally changed how I responded to dogs. But after receiving EMDR from Erika, I was able to gradually restore my love for dogs. I now feel safe enough to once again become a dog owner and take my two dogs to dog parks. Thank you, Erika!

Okay, what can I possibly say about Erika that won't take up the entire page…read more You know how you hate to admit that you need to figure out your shit and then you come to the point where you have no choice but to make that dreaded phone call. "Hi. I'm having a crisis, nothing's going right, I drink too much, I look like shit, my relationship is falling apart and I feel like a total failure at life." So you call Erika and while professional, you feel for the first time in your life that no one is judging you for being a bit messed up and rattled in the brain. She is very positive and she's damned determined to get you back on track. Her goal ultimately is not to keep you as a client, but have you walk away achieving your goals and with a healthy mind and attitude. When you walked in a bit freaked out, you leave feeling like a supastar! Frustrations? What frustrations? Erika is certified in EMDR, which helps people who have suffered trauma. Not trauma like a head wound, but trauma like someone put a gun to your head and robbed you blind or like me, having a pretty serious accident and never really recovered from experience until I had the chance to work with Erika. Erika's warmth and compassion are very comforting. I highly recommend her as a therapist for addictions, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, couple's therapy or even as a life coach to guide you to success. I have to say, she's done it all for me and it's been a success. Thank you Erika!

Marenka is a very skilled professional. I grew a lot in the last year working with her. I feel more…read morehealed , and in my power with better boundaries now. I recommend her for sure

I had a good first year with Marenka before things went harmfully haywire. One year into our…read moretherapeutic relationship, I experienced an agonizing breakup that intensified my emotional reactivity. During this and another crisis, Marenka responded to me in ways that were unprofessional and immensely damaging to my wellbeing. In response to my hyper-verbal grieving, Marenka attempted to slow me down by "coming in hot" and "getting experimental" (her words). She dismissed my repeated requests to revisit insights I'd begun processing in a previous session, telling me she didn't believe I really wanted to discuss it due to my ADHD-fueled processing style (jumping from one concern to the next). Though I assured her I was serious about it (this being the third time I'd brought it up), she continued to refuse. When I responded angrily to this dismissal, she asked me if I had spoken to my ex in the same way. This sent me out of her office. We eventually recovered from this rupture, and Marenka encouraged me to continue providing feedback about my experience of our sessions and therapeutic relationship. A few months later, I was in a work-related quagmire that stirred up some nasty toxic stress for me. I was experiencing a sharp uptick in CPTSD symptoms and needed acute support. I asked for Marenka's help figuring out how to navigate triggering communications with my coworkers, and I shared that I'd begun experiencing suicidal ideations again. Marenka never asked questions about my ideations and said, while shrugging, that she wondered who could help me with the work comms. Marenka's harmful response to my ADHD overstimulation and difficulties regulating my attention and emotions became even more aggressive during this time. While I rapidly cycled through chaotic verbal processing about my work stress, Marenka became irritated and yelled at me: "what is so hard about slowing down?!" I felt as though my ADHD got in her way, which is a shitty way to feel when I go to therapy to, in part, figure out how to manage my ADHD symptoms. During another session around this time, I tried to share an insight with Marenka that I thought was important. She cut me off mid-illustration to let me know, exasperatedly, that I didn't need to rehash "the whole thing." Marenka became defensive and dismissive when I shared my concerns about these issues. Rather than respond to my feedback, she announced that we should terminate therapy altogether. When I asked her to respond to my feedback, she said she would only do so if I proved to her that I cared for her well-being. In addition to centering herself in her work as a therapist, Marenka seems unaware of the power imbalance between therapists and their patients/clients. She also does not take seriously the social contexts that condition mental illness and wellness. Throughout our sessions, she consistently disavowed the socio-political container in which relationships occur, insisting, time and time again, that my male partner's shirking of domestic labor was not a gendered issue. Finally, despite my requests (from jump) to work though racialized trauma that contributes to my chronic pain and emotional dysregulation, Marenka alleged, at the end of our time together, that she was unaware of this dimension of my experience and of my desire to center it in therapy. I would NOT recommend Marenka to BIPOC or ND folks.

EMDR is life changing and Danielle is incredibly skilled at guiding you through the process. If…read moreyou're considering it, do it. If you've come as far as looking up practitioners, you are ready. And if you're looking for someone experienced, knowledgeable, professional and supportive, Danielle is the one. I have been in more traditional therapy for years and I still also highly recommend that route, but there is something incredibly remarkable about EMDR and the way you are able to access, relive, reprocess and move beyond past traumas that have impacted the way you think, act, move and literally every other aspect of your current life. I discovered/uncovered some trauma that I didn't realize I had and Danielle helped guide me through the entire process. EMDR can be extremely profound and thus also difficult and painful. To have someone that i felt was experienced enough and able to recognize how I was moving through each phase made me feel supported, reassured and very capable of diving into my past so that I can better dive into my future. I honestly feel like every single person could benefit from EMDR and cannot say enough positive things about it or Danielle.

While she's not an MD, all healthcare professionals should take "do not harm" very…read moreseriously-Danielle does not. She was at the end of our work together and quite cold. I felt like I was talking to someone with a loaded gun rather than a therapist. I couldn't reason with her and felt like I was being pelted with rocks and garbage. I made mistakes (I cancelled appointments and was late at times) but on our last phone call, she was downright mean and not a very good listener. She hung up on me! I was 100% wrong in her eyes. I made some mistakes-yes but she did not give me proper warning or an opportunity to correct them. She duped me over email! While I understand there are many good reviews and I went to her for almost a year. She will drop you if you cancel too many times and instead of simply having a conversation with you about it, she'll just do it. Not a great way to treat someone who is in "therapy"

Nova has been one of the best therapists I have ever worked with. She is compassionate and…read morenon-judgmental, and provides a really safe environment in which to share and grow. She helped me through some of the most difficult life transitions I could imagine, and I am so grateful for her support especially during those times. I really can't recommend her enough!

I absolutely love Nova! She is, without a doubt, the best therapist I have ever worked with. Her…read morewarmth and compassion make it so easy to open up, and I always leave our sessions feeling lighter, calmer, and more hopeful. When I started working with Nova I was new to therapy (and nervous about it) and she made me feel so safe and supported. She has supported me through some really difficult life transitions and helped me navigate the emotional challenges of living with a chronic illness. Nova is incredibly wise, insightful, and truly cares. She also provides extremely valuable resources. I have learned so much from her. I feel so lucky to have Nova in my life and working with her has been such a gift -- she's helped me grow in ways I never imagined. She is not only your therapist, she is your biggest advocate and best friend. I can't recommend her highly enough, I would rate her a 10 out of 5 stars if I could!!