Services offered by Strawberry Creek Counseling

• Individual or Couples counseling

• Individual Therapy

Therapy and counseling are each a distinctive collaborative process between psychologist and client. In both, the psychologist offers a consistent, safe, nonjudgemental space to process difficulties, worries, problems or stressors, but therapy and counseling offer different pathways. 

Counseling is typically a time-limited, goal-oriented process during which an individual utilizes a safe time and space to discuss a specific issue with a psychologist. When starting counseling the issue is defined and goals are set. The emphasis of the sessions stays focused on the problem. Examples of issues that would benefit from counseling are: career transition, learning new coping skills for anxiety or improving social relationships. During counseling, historical issues are addressed in relation to the central theme. Within that context, it may become clear that a more extended, deeper approach is needed. This may prompt a change in approach. 

Therapy is more flexible in relation to time, focus and process. It is an opportunity to examine a present day problem in the context of past historical or family events. The problem may be general--such as unhappiness with one's life--or it may be a defined problem, such as trauma or anxiety. The goal in therapy is both insight and behavioral change. The overall mission of the therapist is to help someone free their present-day life from the burdens of their past. The length of therapy varies according to the needs and wants of the individual. 

Deciding between these options, and discussing the benefits of different approaches or the client, is part of an initial discussion of treatment options. The treatment plan is a product of collaborative decisions made by psychologist and client together. 

• Hypnosis

Hypnosis uses trance to change a problem. The trance is an altered state of consciousness, during which an individual experiences heightened relaxation and focus. Learning to use Hypnosis involves learning to enter this state and work within it. 

Hypnosis can reduce medical symptoms such as pain, inflammation and headaches. It can decrease reliance on medications like narcotics for pain, or inhalers for asthma. Before surgery, hypnosis can decrease anxiety, decrease the amount of anesthesia needed during surgery and accelerate post-surgical healing. 

Hypnosis is an excellent short-term treatment for problems like performance anxiety, fear of flying, panic attacks or phobias. It is also used to enhance performance in sports or other activities. 

Hypnosis can be used on its own or be an element of ongoing therapy. If integration of hypnosis and therapy could be beneficial to a client, there is a discussion and a collaborative decision made by the psychologist and client. 

• Virtual therapy available

• Walking/hiking appointments available

We welcome UC Berkeley students and accept SHIP insurance!