COVID-19

Donation-Based AAPI Adult Group-Therapy

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Join William Ma and Christhmus Presence for pay-as-you-may virtual group therapy. Sessions start 8/24. Late enrollment closes 9/7.

Sessions are 90 minutes and will be held once a week over the course of 10 weeks. Group capacity is 8-10 people and open to those 21 and up.

About Will (he/him/his):

Will (William Ma) is Bay Area born and raised, with a combination of Chinese (by way of Taiwan) and white ancestors. Significant therapeutic influences include Relational therapy, somatics, feminist psychology, as well as existential and transpersonal therapy. He is certified in Internal Family Systems and Brainspotting therapeutic modalities, and can answer questions such as “what even is that”, sometimes at great length. He is nourished by reading, doing ancestral work, spending time under the water and walking in the forest.

He has been licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist since 2016. (LMFT #96148)

About Christhmus (pronoun at your pleasure):

Christhmus Presence (Chris Chu) will be facilitating all groups above, and is a 3.5-generation Muwekma Ohlone (San Francisco) land-settler, and Chinese-American Queer by Ancestors’ way of Guangdong, China. Pillars that guide them are liberation psychology, narrative psychology, somatic psychology, trauma-informed therapy, spirituality, and expressive arts. Tools held in support of self-resourcing, clarity, and ancestral connectivity include meditation, Tapping, and Brainspotting. They enjoy plants, creative expression, the power of community, and being in water.

Registered Associate MFT #125037 through The Center for Mindful Psychotherapy, supervised by Shawana Booker LCSW #29165

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Teen Empowerment Group

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For teens who are survivors of violence, sexual abuse, neglect, bullying, school or community violence, parental substance abuse, who have witnessed violence in their home, or have experienced any other child maltreatment.

This group focuses on self-esteem building, healthy relationships, gaining a sense of community and skills for growth, and helping teens access their own strength and courage to claim a healthy and positive future.

Parents, the reality of teen trauma is painful and overwhelming. Figuring out how to begin the healing process can be confusing. You want to protect your teen and ensure their safety and happiness. When you see your child suffering, it hurts.

We understand, and we are here to help.

Any of this sound familiar in regards to your teen:

– Anxiety or worry

– Falling grades

– Persistent sadness, lack of energy, changes in sleep or appetite, withdrawing from normal activities, or feeling “down”

– Changes in self-care, such as paying less attention to hygiene, appearance, or fashion than they usually do

Our Teen Empowerment Group is hands down the best way to help your teen:

–  Understanding of the symptoms of trauma to support self-regulation

– Develop greater understanding of themselves and their needs in a safe and supportive community so that they can set self-directed boundaries 

– Experience mindfulness-based practices to induce and deepen relaxation 

– Increase self-compassion in order to reduce self-criticism and self-blame

We are here to help your teen engage in the body and mind through arts based expression in order to heal and re-connect with joy and purpose.

NEXT Step? Email our office to schedule a brief phone chat with leaders Melissa or Megan. We would be delighted to answer any questions you have about the group. We look forward to hearing from you!

Expressive arts is an evidence based practice that provides practical tools for healing and emotional growth. Some art modalities we will use include; drawing, painting, collage, mixed media and digital art or photography. No experience or skill with art making is necessary to benefit from art therapy.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Mindfulness for Stress and Anxiety at Home: Finding Calm in Uncertain Times

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During this challenging time, you might be feeling stressed and overwhelmed with life – all while being stuck at home.

-You might be having trouble sleeping at night because of anxious thoughts

-You might be feeling overwhelmed with job stress and disconnected from your coworkers because you are working from home.

-You might feel the anxiety in your stomach or stress in your neck and shoulders

-You feel alone in all of it and wonder if you are the only one struggling

-You are frustrated that you can’t do the normal activities of going to the gym, going out to see friends, or going to exercise classes

What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is more than just being present and aware of your thoughts and feelings. It’s paying a special kind of attention – one that is balanced, non-judgmental, and compassionate so that you can approach life with more freedom and ease.

Mindfulness can help:

-Reduce stress so you can have more clarity of mind

-Let go of obsessive thoughts so you can sleep peacefully at night

-Quiet the inner critic and develop self-compassion

-Learn to slow down so you can decrease job burn-out

-Know your emotions better which can improve relationships

-Calm anxiety so you can feel more joy and ease

The Free Online Introductory Class is Thursday January 14th, 5:30pm-6:30pm.

The 6-week group that follows this free event will also be online on Zoom on Thursdays at 5:30pm – 7pm. 6-Week Commitment. Pay what you can afford: $25 – $50 per group.

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Emotional Support Group for Teens

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Therapist-facilitated support group for teens with symptoms of anxiety & depression from various stressors (ex: school, online learning, peers, social media, grades, online school, COVID-19, family). These groups are appropriate for ages 14 to 17, who are not currently in crisis, but seek support with stressors from varying sources, including impact of COVID and modified schooling. A supportive space will be provided for teens to connect with others and learn how their thoughts, feelings and behaviors can impact mood, energy, sleep, confidence, focus, health, relationships, etc.

This group will help teens to identify symptoms of anxiety and depression. Learn about:

-Self-defeating patterns

-Fearful or negative thinking

-Coping  mechanisms to deal with anxiety-provoking situations

-Building self-confidence

-Peer to peer emotional support system.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Pandemic Support Group for Individuals – Affordable Expert Therapy

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Feeling anxious about COVID?
Struggling with work-at-home boundaries?
Feeling trapped at home?

Join our support group to commiserate, learn coping strategies, meet other like-minded folks, and be less alone.

Groups will be conducted by videoconference and you can join from any location in California.  Group size will be limited to 8 people so that everyone has a chance to participate and get to know one another. The group leader is Dr. Robert Solley who has over 25 years of experience in the mental health field, is an associate of the renowned Couples Institute, and practices in San Francisco.

We ask for pre-paid commitments in four-week segments in order to maintain group consistency. So, once you join, if you’ve gotten enough out of the group in a month you may stop. But you may also continue as long as you like in four-week increments. This allows for some flexibility for people to come and go but preserves a core group and sense of continuity.

Groups are 1 hour each and start Saturday July 11th at 9am.

To save your spot register using the form here: Pandemic Support Group for Individuals – Affordable Expert Therapy

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6 UNIQUE Black-Indigenous-People-Of-Color (BIPOC) Telehealth Groups [times in description]

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 6 UNIQUE Black, Indigenous, and/or People-Of-Color (BIPOC) Online Therapy Groups in California Opening This Week

Calling In:
  • Clients who may be served
  • Those who can share this message to support their communities
  • Those down to 1:1 or connect me to community folx to share this with
For Further Info / To RSVP or check on available space: https://tinyurl.com/FreeBIPOCGroupTherapies
Group Descriptions: 1 session/week, 90-minutes, 10 sessions, video chat, pay-what-you-may, available now
🏿 Black Adult Group – Tuesday 8:30-10 PM, 21+, 8-10 people, centering being Black and grown, covid, and community
🏾 Black Teen Group – ages 14-19, Tuesday 2-3:30PM, centering being a Black teen, covid, and community
🏽 Asian Pacific American (APA) Group – Tuesday 6:00-7:30 PM, ages 21+, 8-10 members, co-facilitated*, centering restorative justice, covid, and the APA experience
🏼 BIPOC 7th and 8th Grade Group – Thursday 2:00-3:30, 8-10 members, centering covid, restorative justice, and being a POC teen
🏿 BIPOC Adult Group – 8-10 members, 21+, centering covid, restorative justice, and being BIPOC

🏾 BIPOC Law Enforcement Group – 8-10 members, co-facilitated**, centering being BIPOC while working pandemic & protests

About Christhmus (pronoun them at your pleasure):

Christhmus Presence will be facilitating all groups above. They are a 3.5-generation Muwekma Ohlone (San Francisco) land-settler and Chinese-American Queer. Pillars that guide them are liberation psychology, narrative psychology, somatic psychology, spirituality, and expressive arts. Tools held in support of self-resourcing, clarity, and ancestral connectivity include meditation, Tapping, and Brainspotting. They enjoy plants, creative expression, the power of community, and being in water. MFTI/PCCI supervised by Josie Valderrama, License# Psy27913.

*About Lai (pronouns she/her/hers):

Lai Chien is a 0-generation Hong Kong born cisgender Chinese-Vietnamese American by way of North Carolina, Georgia, and finally landing in the east bay of Oakland/Alameda.

She is a harm-reduction focused, strength-based, and change-oriented therapist utilizing narrative psychology, motivational interviewing and DBT concepts such as radical acceptance to empower growth and promote well-being. She can be found tending to her aquariums, cooking and/or eating, days at the beach and planning the next camping trip.  

AMFT #98435 supervised by Sandra Stultz, LMFT #43047 of Sankofa Holistic Counseling Services www.sankofatherapy.com

**About Annie (she/her pronouns):

Annie Chen is a marriage family therapist who has been helping people have better relationships with one another and themselves for over ten years. She is the author of a book on attachment theory and uses tools that are informed by neuroscience, trauma, and somatic psychology. She worked as a therapist for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Youth and Family Services Bureau from 2011-2014 and is interested in supporting those at the forefront of reforming law enforcement culture for the benefit of all. CA License# 80025

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Christhmus Presence

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Christhmus is a 3.5-generation Muwekma Ohlone (San Francisco) land-settler and Chinese-American Queer. Foundational pillars are liberation psychology, narrative psychology, somatic psychology, spirituality, and expressive arts. Tools held are meditation, Tapping, and Brainspotting. They enjoy plants, creative expression, the power of community, and being in water.

Filed Under: Uncategorized