Find a therapist in Oakland, CA — covered by insurance

I have completed a MA in Counseling Psychology. I have worked with diverse populations covering many issues. My approach is client focused through active listening skills and empathic support.

Hello! Thank you for considering me as a potential therapist. I have worked in social services related occupations for over thirty years. I am humbled daily and appreciate working with people wherever stage they are in their life.

My name is Claire Pinkston MS/MSC. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADCII). I’ve been in the counseling field for almost 20 years. I believe that we all face challenges engaging fully in life, owning our choices, connecting with other people, and making our lives meaningful. How we think about ourselves, others, and the future has a tremendous impact on how we feel and what we do. My goal is to help you understand the factors influencing your thinking, feelings, and choices, and make changes that will improve your life. I especially like working with people who are motivated to dig in and do the work, because change requires change.

I believe therapy works best when it feels human, collaborative, and grounded in trust. I strive to create a space where clients feel safe being honest, imperfect, and fully themselves without fear of judgment. I value clear communication, emotional attunement, and meeting clients where they are rather than rushing the process. My goal is to support you in building insight, confidence, and tools that feel realistic and sustainable for your life.

I work primarily with people navigating trauma, PSTD, psychosis, nightmares, personality disorders, and complex patterns that can make life feel difficult to understand or change. Many of my clients have experienced overwhelming or destabilizing experiences and may feel caught in cycles that no longer serve them. Others are struggling with recurring nightmares, intrusive memories, fears, relationship patterns, or changes in perception that leave them feeling disconnected from themselves or the world around them.

My name is Thomas, and I have been working in the field of recovery and addiction for more than 20 years. I hold a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and am also a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with individuals and families facing challenges related to addiction, mental health, relationships, and life transitions.

My primary focus is helping clients regain balance and create meaningful, lasting change in their lives. Whether you are struggling with anxiety or depression, navigating family conflict, working toward recovery from addiction, or simply feeling stuck, I believe therapy can provide a safe and supportive space to better understand yourself and develop effective solutions.

I take a collaborative approach to therapy and believe that meaningful change often involves not only the individual, but also the family and support systems around them. Together, we can identify strengths, address challenges, improve communication, and develop practical tools to help you move forward with greater confidence and purpose.

I support adults and teens who are navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, or overwhelming life experiences. My training includes EMDR, TF-CBT, CBT, and mindfulness-based approaches, and I focus on helping clients reduce distress, build resilience, and feel more grounded and empowered. As a bilingual English/Farsi therapist and immigrant, I value cultural sensitivity, identity awareness, and creating a non-judgmental space where clients can explore their experiences safely and authentically.

Melissa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CA LCSW #130126) who is passionate about helping individuals find better alignment with their values to create a life worth living. Melissa has experience working with trauma (she is trained in EMDR), substance use, anxiety, depression and life transitions. Melissa has worked in the outpatient, intensive outpatient and residential settings since becoming a social worker in 2020. Melissa employs an individualized, eclectic approach including interventions from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to meet the needs of each client. Melissa is passionate about social justice and uses a systems approach that views individual clients in the context of interconnected systems like family, community and society.

I have been a Marriage and Family Therapist for 12 years and have had extensive training to help people heal from life stressors past and present. I provide a warm empathetic style, that will allow you to dig into areas that might currently create functional impairments.

I am a highly skilled and compassionate therapist specializing in relationship conflict, anxiety, identity conflicts, and managing intercultural differences as a person of color. With over 15 years of experience in the field, I have helped numerous individuals and families overcome challenges, heal emotional wounds, and build healthy relationships. I specialize in working with members of the AAPI community; individuals in STEM fields; and individuals wishing to find better overall balance.