Therapists serving clients in Vallejo, CA

Hello, I am an LMFT who works to create a safe and validating space for clients to express the struggles they are enduring. I am interested in working in a strengths-based way guiding clients to find the answers they need to heal and move forward. I work to be personable and also offer DBT and CBT skills in hopes of creating strong basis for coping as we explore the issue at hand as well as patterns that know longer serve the client. With these resources, I work with those who are experiencing stress at work or in their relationships, are recovering from childhood or more recent trauma and I love to support those who feel like the odd one out. I am happy to work with clients from alternative communities or highly creative persons making their way through this world to the the beat of their own drum. Offering respectful acceptance and focus on the work at hand and allowing for the spirit that makes us each a little different and the world a little more colorful. Allow me to share my warmth, experience and hope, with a combination of deep listening and the solid evidence-based interventions to help you navigate the joys and suffering that each individual's journey offers.

Shannon Lee is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. Shannon has over 30 years of experience working with children and families in various settings. Shannon has worked with high profile families, including royalty, traveling to different countries, broadening her understanding and appreciation for the cultural variety and cultural differences that exist in the world.   She has over 23 years of experience working as a therapist with a highly diverse population of individuals, couples, children, adolescents, and families. Shannon has a positive, supportive manner with a direct solution-focused approach. Shannon is down to earth and uses laughter, humor, art, music, and creativity to reach children, adolescents, and adults.    Her focus is on the present. She is working with each client to purge past painful experiences, coaching each client to acquire and apply skills to help them improve functioning and decrease maladaptive symptoms. She believes that each client is unique and tailors each session to that client and their needs. She collaborates with the individual concerning goals and works toward assisting them in meeting their goals to live life fully with a positive outlook.    She will work to empower each client, using an enthusiastic nonjudgmental approach. Open discussion of the direction of the session will help the client meet their needs and goals. At the same time, gentle confrontation of issues supports change as appropriate to increase coping skills and awareness.    Shannon has extensive experience working with children and adolescents. She has worked with children and teens from privileged backgrounds to those underprivileged, lacking resources, and family support. Shannon has run several residential group homes (Level 12) for nearly ten years, with a diverse population of children and teens placed in residential care due to severe behavioral and emotional problems. She has worked with abused, neglected, and delinquent children as well as children and teens struggling with teen issues and parent conflict. She has worked closely with the Department of Probation and other community organizations. She was collaborating to promote juveniles to acquire skills to assist them in making healthy choices and move forward confidently in their lives, to reunite with their families, and be successful in the home, community, and school settings.    Her work with parents is to encourage them to gain positive parenting skills. She works closely with each parent, modeling and coaching the use of effective communication skills to increase positive interactions with children. Encouragement to parents includes using a positive and practical approach with children. Support to parents to validate and understand their children, as well as increasing consistency, follow-through, and positive parenting techniques, provides an encouraging environment. Encouragement to parents includes taking responsibility for parenting, receiving, and accepting support to implement new strategies, resulting in improved relationships.    The therapeutic environment provided is warm, caring, and confidential, focusing on the client-therapist relationship and effective treatment. Depending on presenting information and goals, Shannon will use several treatment modalities to assist each client with improving functioning and using the well researched, effective methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy, including DBT and several other treatment modalities, tailored to suit the client. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy-D.B.T. is an evidence-based approach for effectively treating impulsive behavior, oppositional defiant behavior, and self-injuring behavior. Originally designed by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was specifically used for individuals with self-harm behaviors such as self-cutting, suicide thoughts, urges to suicide, and suicide attempts. More recent use of DBT addresses other problems, including anxiety, eating disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol and drug problems. DBT is an “empirically supported treatment,” researched in clinical trials and shown to be effective in reducing self-harm behaviors and emotional dyscontrol. Trained in DBT, Shannon uses this modality, or components of this modality when working with many of her clients. Other approaches for treatment include eclectic, humanistic, positive psychology, parent coaching, family/marital therapy, and existential. The approach for treatment depends on each client and their presenting problems and goals.    When Shannon is not working, she is surfing, creating, making art, or music. Shannon also appreciates education and learning and is regularly pursuing educational goals. Currently, she continues to pursue her doctorate with a plan to continue to help children, teens, parents, and families. Providing effective treatment and staying informed with current developments and research in psychology is necessary and rewarding for Shannon.

As your therapist, my goal – and my passion – is understanding what is most important to you, and what you need to be your best and happiest self. My approach involves building on your strengths as an individual, and using your personal values as a guide to create a fulfilling and authentic life. I specialize in working with issues related to trauma, depression, and anxiety, including suicidal ideation, self-harm, and substance use or abuse. My focus is on identifying how problematic coping patterns have both harmed and benefited you, in order to find and build more healthy and fulfilling ways to recover and meet your needs. I am experienced in working with teens, parents, and families - including those that are going through transitions such as divorce or becoming step-families/blended families. My work can be with individual teens, parents, or the whole family together. I have a flexible and creative approach that can accommodate any goal and level of motivation for change.

Welcome! I know this experience can be hard but know that we are here for you. I am also new to this platform and would like to tell you a little about myself. My name is Monica Broderick, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I have lived all over the world and have been working in the field for over 15 years in various capacities. I have worked in therapeutic settings, providing individual and group therapy to adults and teens. I was in the military and a military spouse for many years. I have worked in hospitals, with homelessness and for children so I believe that I have a vast array of experience to share. I am direct, yet supportive and encouraging. I come from a strengths based perspective and believe we all can build upon them, maybe I am the one to help you tap in to yours.

INTRODUCTION Hello my name is Eric Howell, and I want to welcome you to Better Help. I am a Marriage and Family Therapist, and have been licensed in California for more than 15 years. I am originally from the North East. I am third generation in this country, of a mixed European decent. I moved to California when I was 25. I have worked in a variety of settings, including: Non Profit, Government, and Private Practice. Whether you are a first timer to therapy, or you have been a client before, I want to acknowledge and congratulate that you took the first step in reaching out to get some help today. This is a big first step. _________________________________________________________________ SPECIALTIES • Depression • Anxiety • Life Changes • Grief and Loss • Self Esteem • Relationship Issues • Family Stressors/conflicts • Anger Management • Mood Swings • Sexual Orientation • Communication • Having a family member with a Chronic and Persistent Mental Illness ALSO EXPERIENCE IN: Substance Abuse, addiction, trauma and abuse, multi-cultural experiences, children to older adult, aging, bipolar disorder, co-dependency, career difficulties, intimacy issues, blockage to creativity. CLINICAL APPROACHES: Cognitive Behavioral, Gestalt, Humanistic, Attachment Based Theory, Psychodynamic, Narrative Therapy, Post-Modern Theory, and Solution Focused. WHO AM I -PERSONAL BACKGROUND Because choosing who you pick for a therapist is essential, I have decided to share some personal information about myself along with how I approach therapy. Although it is lengthy, I believe it will be helpful for you in choosing if I will be the right therapist for you. So with that said, I came to becoming a therapist after having such a positive experience with therapy myself. So, I come to you not only as an experienced therapist, but with a deep understanding of what it is like to be a client. I was approaching 30, when I was feeling as if my life was no longer working for me, and I was deeply unhappy. I made a commitment to attending weekly individual therapy sessions to get help. The safe space my therapist created was critical in helping me explore and understand the factors that were contributing to my unhappiness. It allowed me to look inward and reflect on painful experiences that have happened and shaped me. Revisiting these experiences in a safe supportive environment helped me better understand how they impacted me, and incorporate them into my being. As this process progressed, my therapist provided me with psychoeducation, giving me new coping skills, improving my communication, and seeing things with a new and different perspective allowing further change to happen. I started feeling as if I could direct my own life, and not have life directing me. I was brought up Catholic, but do not see myself as a religious person, but have a deeply spiritual understanding of the world. This can easily be brought to our sessions if it will be of use to your experience. I also have the unique experience of growing up with close family members who have been diagnosed with serious mental health disorders, such as Schizophrenia. With this comes unique challenges for all members of a family system. Understanding how this has impacted you, navigating and managing your relationship with these family members can be complicated and stressful, as well extremely rewarding. I have a depth of knowledge and experience with multiple areas within Mental Health, including Chronic and Persistent Mental Disorders, if this is something that has impacted your life either with a family member or close friends we can spend time understanding its impact. I am a gay male and have had training and experience at the Gay and Lesbian Center in Los Angeles. This impacts how I see the world and my perspective. Although, I see myself as an all-inclusive therapist this is a self-disclosure to assist with you choosing the right therapist for you. _______________________________________________________________ ELEMENTS OF MY PERSONAL STYLE OF INDIVIDUAL THERAPY Balance and creating Meaning are critical in being a whole fulfilled being. How we blend and focus our time is important in shaping your mood and overall mental health. Exploring how you currently spend your time with the mixture of family, intimacy, career/work, social, community, serving others, spiritual, being in nature, and engaging in creative endeavors will be part of our work together. One of the key ingredients to a successful experience in therapy is your experience with your therapist. It will be my focus and goal to offer you a warm friendly environment free of judgement. This will allow the space for you to understand your unique life experience and how it has shaped you. I do believe unraveling how culture, gender, gender preference, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and family dynamics impact you and your world. I believe it is an important part of understanding who you are. It is particularly important in our sessions for you to feel listened to. This is one of my strengths that I will be bringing to our sessions. My ability to put my full attention and focus on listening to what you have to say, and formulating what it all means. Often growing up, or in our daily lives, the people around us may not have the time or attention to allow us to feel fully understood. My goal is to have you feel fully listened to and understood. I believe in a collaborative approach, where we work together to understand your problem, and develop goals for therapy. It is important from the beginning, that the goals we develop together are realistic and achievable. I welcome feedback, when you feel as if the sessions are no longer effective for you, or if I am not in tuned to your experience. There will be times I will remain silent to provide you the space to search within yourself for the answers. There are other times I will be providing you feedback from a place of concern and healing to help you learn about yourself and encourage change. Another important part of our sessions is providing you with psychoeducation. Whether it is introducing you to new coping skills, teaching you effective communication skills, helping you make sense of what your experience is, putting experiences into a context, being able to put words to your thoughts and emotions. This often helps you feel as if you are getting something more concrete from our sessions. This is an area where providing handouts to read or to complete can be helpful. If this is something you appreciate, we can certainly incorporate more of it in our sessions. Also, if you respond well to reading and increasing your education in a particular area that we may be discussing. Please let me know, I will see if we can add some recommendations to our sessions for us to discuss. Lastly, I typically blend an eclectic mix of therapeutic interventions to assist and support you. This helps me tailor interventions to your unique needs. The on-line experience is different than in person, so I believe it is important to acknowledge this. There are some real strengths, such as convenience, and affordability. I am hoping to hearing feedback to improve your virtual therapy experience. Some clinical theories inherently are more conducive in a virtual setting, so this will be taken into in account due to the medium in which we will be working together. I believe in exploring the past, when appropriate, to understand your present, but not staying stuck in the past. I want to help your today. Join now, don't put it off any longer.

My name is Michelle Vasquez, and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California. I have worked in the social services field for 26 years and have been a LMFT for over 5 years. My passion for helping people became evident in high school as a peer counselor. I went on to complete a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of California Riverside and a Master’s in Psychology from Chapman University. I enjoy helping clients become more self-aware, discover their inner strength, and develop skills to overcome life challenges. I have worked in a variety of settings with youths, families, and adults. My approach to therapy is to meet clients where they are at, provide a safe environment, and develop a supportive and compassionate therapeutic relationship that will promote change and growth. A treatment plan is created based on the client’s needs and what they would like to address in therapy. I use several modalities such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Attachment Theory, Psychodynamic, Mindfulness and EMDR. Some of the concerns I have worked with are anxiety/stress, depression, suicidal ideation, trauma, low self-esteem, family conflict, grief, domestic violence, work stressors, and relationship issues. My availability with BetterHealth is Monday through Thursday evenings. I generally check messages from BetterHelp during those hours and respond within 24 hours except for Friday through Sunday. I understand it may feel uncomfortable to reach out and share your story. I commend you for having the courage to begin the therapeutic process and I hope you will allow me to walk this journey with you towards a more whole and fulfilling life.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California with over 5 years of experience. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including self-esteem, self-worth, depression, anxiety, family issues, relationship issues, career challenges, and grief & loss. My therapy style is curious and warm. I think that all deserve to be heard and acknowledged. I believe in treating all with respect, dignity, and compassion. My approach combines mindfulness practices, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic and person-centered therapy. I know that seeking therapy takes courage. I always invite folks to give it a try. All deserve a chance to make positive changes in their lives and I congratulate all who take the steps toward a more fulfilling life. I am here to support you and I look forward to our work together.

I am licensed in California with 12 years of professional work experience in treatment services serving adolescents, young adults, families, and groups. I am a Nationally Certified, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral (TF-CBT) therapist. I received my Master's from the Boston University School of Medicine with attention to mental health counseling and behavioral medicine. I have extensive experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & anger management. My passion is to enhance voice, choice, connection, and power in the clients that I work with. I believe in a compassionate, human-centered approach that explores how life experiences shape your views of self, relationships, and the world and whether those views help guide you towards your goals or potentially keep you stuck in suffering. Trust, support, and collaboration are crucial elements to healing and growth and the ability for clients to feel vulnerable enough to share their experiences. It takes courage to explore options for help and I look forward to supporting you in the process.

I am a licensed psychologist in California with 13 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with a vast array of issues: general and specific stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse (both historical and current or recent), motivation, self-esteem, confidence, and depression. I’m well versed in standard cognitive and behavioral therapy strategies but pride myself in my humanistic and existential focus and approach to life, life’s problems, and growth. I of course believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. I applaud you taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life, as it takes genuine courage. I am honored to be a part of your process and I’m here to support you in that process.

When my clients come to see me, they are looking to find a way out of the negative thoughts that plague them and cause them to derail their lives. Everyone deserves peace in their lives and to believe in themselves without being brought down. When they enter my office, they are totally accepted as who they are. The purpose of counseling will be to help them improve themselves and their lives in areas they are seeing deficits. I will understand and accept you as you are. I do not believe my clients will be nor ever should be like anyone else. I don't believe in 'normal' and want you to see yourself as I see you, an individual that has value and purpose. I will be here to help you accept yourself and see your worth. I want to help you be rid of the negative thoughts that plague you and the self-esteem crushing events that keep you down. I am not happy until you are. Come find me and let's chat.