© 2014 StillPoint Counseling: Psychotherapy & Couples Therapy
Shawn Goozh PsyD
I am a California licensed clinical psychologist. I hold a doctorate in clinical psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. My training is diverse, creative, and ongoing. I am skilled in modern, western evidenced based approaches to achieving psychological and behavioral change. I stay up-to-date on current research—particularly in the area of attachment and neurobiology. I am also trained in a number of integrative somatic and mindfulness based modalities—including the Hakomi Method and Peter Levine’s work in Somatic Experiencing.
I balance the modern approaches of western psychology by also drawing from the wisdom traditions of both the west and east. I hold a second Masters degree in Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies from Naropa University. These studies have significantly shaped my person and the way I practice. I bring a gentle and steady presence to those with whom I sit. I am able to offer and teach a manner of kind attention towards relating to situations of struggle and distress and places of tenderness within ourselves. I hold a profound commitment to the full development, expression, and freedom of each person with whom I work.
Working with couples is a privilege for me and close to my heart. I believe that being in relationship offers a complete spiritual path and practice. Through true relationship, one has the opportunity to discover oneself, to heal, grow, transform and transcend oneself. One also has the opportunity to offer these experiences to another. In true relationship, one begins a journey of desire; learns to love; and creates the ground for new life to take birth. In working with couples, I hold a space of respect and appreciation for all issues encountered—believing they are opportunities to foster greater intimacy and a stronger relationship. All couples seeing me, work with embodiment and sensuality, vulnerability and trust, and expression and receptivity.
California License # PSY24755
Allison Shapiro PhD
I believe in the beauty and fulfillment of connection. This has led me to my work as a professional psychologist. This work begins first with our connection to ourselves and then to others. The therapeutic relationship illuminates where we are and are not connected, and provides opportunity for deeper contact, exploration, insight, and growth. To each session, I bring warmth, collaboration, playfulness, and authenticity. It is these qualities that assist my clients to open and share what is most vulnerable for them.
I earned my Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology at Palo Alto University, where my studies emphasized health psychology, traumatic stress studies and meditation. I am trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy, relational, humanistic and mindfulness-based interventions as well as biofeedback. I have experience working with adults, couples, adolescents, families, and groups. In addition to private practice, I have worked in a range of clinical settings, including community mental health, hospitals, crisis management, and integrated healthcare. My research interests and areas of publication include work on burnout, vicarious trauma, mindfulness, as well as biofeedback and anxiety. My focus continues to be on wellness and mindful interventions for working with psychological distress. When working with clients, I find that slowing down opens the possibility for healing and insight. In my personal life, I hold a Vipassana (insight) meditation practice, am an active participant in acrobatic yoga, and enjoy the guitar and traveling.
I am grateful to be able to do this work, it is both an honor and privilege for me. I am touched and moved by the precious work that each individual or couple achieve who come through my doors. Moving from pain and distance to passion and intimacy (with a partner or with life) is a magical experience to witness. I look forward to embarking on such a journey with you.
California License # PSB94020302
Michelle Wang PsyD
I hold a doctorate in clinical psychology from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA and specialize in depression, anxiety and trauma in individuals and couples. I also have a special interest in ethnic/racial minority experiences.
Working with couples is unlike anything I have ever experienced as a therapist. Then again, romantic attachments are unique, one of a kind experiences that defy logic and certainly cannot always be made sense of. I can attest to that not only in the therapeutic space but also in my own personal life. Love’s unpredictable nature is what makes it so scary and at the same time magical, passionate and deeply gratifying.
I view the couple that sits on my couch as two people willing to be vulnerable and figure out why they are drifting further apart—not because it’s fun work, but because there is something about their relationship that is worth saving. If relationships are gardens, then unhealthy dynamics are the stubborn, tenacious weeds, sucking both partners dry for nothing. Pulling out the weeds, turning the soil, and setting the groundwork for this garden is an important first step towards growing, cultivating and maintaining a flourishing, vibrant garden.
I believe romantic relationships are driven by our hunger and need for safe emotional connections. These connections are sometimes difficult to achieve and by the same token, when we do find a safe emotional connection it can be beautiful, rewarding and deeply nourishing! Imagine walking out to your 'relationship garden' and seeing the fruit trees and tomato vines thrive and be in abundance. When we feel safe and nourished with the proper care, we are able to grow and flourish.
California License # PSB94020570
Paul Xavier PhD
I am a California licensed clinical psychologist. I hold a doctorate in Clinical and Transpersonal Psychology from Sofia University in Palo Alto. I have extensive training and several years of practice in experiential, humanistic, existential, and psychodynamic psychotherapies and various methods of inner work (East & West). Taken together these approaches offer the possibility of freeing us from unexpected labyrinths (relationship struggles, traumas, debilitating psychological issues of all kinds, existential crises, not belonging in this world, etc.) and reconnecting us with a state of well-being. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be in a profession that supports others in this way.
Perhaps distinctive of my approach in working with others is to access something deeper inside, a place of truth, hope, dignity, and make friends with these to empower the work. The remembrance of our inner spark is at once the healing agent and the goal of healing. I see relationship as an interplay of autonomy and connectedness as well as a crucible for transformation. What at first appeared as unnecessary struggle and conflict, if dealt with skillfully, may later be revealed as a context for tremendous growth, profound self-insight, and new way of accessing love in ourselves and others.
Whether as an individual or couple, the work we do takes place in an atmosphere of kindness, genuineness, and understanding. We draw upon the most cutting edge research and skill in the field today as well as our own innate wisdom to make the journey. And, the journey is one we take together.
California License # PSY25663
Daniela Koenig MFT
Daniela is passionate about supporting couple’s to create the relationship they want. At the core of her work with couples is the understanding and respect that it can take courage to go to couples therapy. We all want to love and be loved, we want to know that our partner will be there for us, support us, and understand us. Many couples think that they “should know how to be in a good relationship” and “that it should come naturally”, when they then find themselves fighting a lot, blaming their partner and being unhappy they often think their relationship is doomed or they want out. This experience of growing apart is painful and brings up feelings of loneliness and shame for many.
Often partners might feel like it’s the other person’s fault and if “they” could just change, the relationship would be great. It’s actually neither partner’s fault, it’s a dynamic that both create together and can “push each others buttons”. Daniela helps couples understand the cycle they create together, providing them with resources to shift into more effective listening to what their partner is saying and ways to communicate clearly. By recognizing early signs of the cycle the couple can then with the help of mindfulness shift into a new way of sharing, communicating, re-connecting and being close.
Working with individuals Daniela understands that the reason for seeking psychotherapy are as numerous as the people who seek it. Clients often come to therapy feeling anxious, frustrated, depressed, or hungry for change. Many feel stuck in their life, job, or relationship(s). Others are struggling with life transitions or finding it difficult to live with uncertainty. In her experience, therapy can be a gift you give yourself—a safe place to look at difficult issues.
Daniela is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and holds a masters degree in counseling psychology from John F. Kennedy University. She is also an adjunct faculty at the California Institute of Integral Studies, where she supports psychology students on their journey to becoming therapists. Of bi-racial background and having grown up in Europe, she is particularly sensitivity to cross-cultural issues. Her work and passion for couples counseling is deeply rooted in mindfulness and informed by Hakomi and Emotionally Focused Therapy.
California License # 83677
Natalie Spautz MFT
I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I hold a Master’s Degree in Integral Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, CA. I also hold a Bachelor’s Degree from UC Santa Barbara in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Psychology and Education. The range of my clinical experience is broad and I have several specializations that include working with children and families, couples and adult individuals. I specialize in long-term depth psychotherapy and greatly value the special connection I have with every one of my patients. I have particular insight with twins, students, preschoolers and single parent families. I tend to work well with those in various stages of recovery from alcoholism, those struggling with anxiety and depression, survivors of child abuse, and people who are stuck in painful relationship patterns.
I hold the belief that we all have our own unique wounding and until we do our own healing, we cannot be fully available to ourselves and to those around us. My offering to you comes from a lifetime of seeking wisdom and healing from a multitude of relationships with mentors, supervisors, teachers, colleagues and healers. I am informed by deep group process, intensive relational training, attachment theory and insight meditation teachings and practice. I now hold a culmination of psychological teachings from relational, integral, and somatic lineages that have come before me. I can say confidently in my own integrity and wisdom, I practice psychotherapy because I know that it works.
We cannot go through life alone. We were built to co-exist and to thrive in connection to each other. When we’ve gone through difficult times, there hasn’t always been someone there to help make sense of the pain or at the very least be there with us in it. As a result, the way we relate to our pain and the world around us, gets constricted or distorted. In the right supportive conditions of non-judgment, connection and holding, we can finally open, and move through the pain toward healing. We have the capacity to heal even those wounds from experiences when we were very small. It is my goal and my honor to offer these conditions so that you can move beyond the pain into a state that is healthier, more satisfying and that meets your true potential.
California License # 86678
Paul Howard MFT
Imagine for a moment that therapy is a journey of discovery through the landscape of your life and that I am a blind man walking by your side. As we move through this landscape, you describe the rise and fall of the terrain, the beings met along the way, the struggles of the climb and the joys of the summit. Being blind, what I “see” depends upon the curiosity you bring to your own experience and your willingness to share it with me. Together, in mindfulness, we bear witness as the forces that have formed your personal landscape become more clear. Through this process of exploration and discovery we come to see the challenges and opportunities presented by your unique landscape with fresh eyes.
The “Parable of the Blind Man” above seeks to embody what I consider to be the most important aspect of successful therapy: a trusting partnership between client and therapist. In our work together, you can count on me to respectfully join you in an exploration of all that makes you who you are, including your family of origin, your culture and your relationships. Based on my study of evolution and neuroscience I am a strong believer in the power of our emotions to inform us and to help us live more vital and satisfying lives. I combine this understanding with humanistic and body-centered psychotherapies to assist my clients in discovering the ways in which they respond to their experience and find meaning in their lives. I have found that through the sustained commitment of client and therapist alike, new options become clear and change begins to unfold.
I am a California licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and hold a masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University. I have continued my education with advanced training in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT), the Hakomi Method of Body-Centered Psychotherapy and Trauma. I work with all aspects of the human experience and specialize in the following areas: couples therapy for both romantic and business partners; work/life balance for tech professionals (based on a long first career as a designer and product development engineer, I have a firsthand understanding of the world tech workers live in and the challenges they face); trust recovery for women who have been harmed by men.
California License # 83681
Raia Kogan MFT
I have been working as a psychotherapist with adult individuals and couples since 2008 and every day feel deeply honored for the opportunity to witness parts of another person that they might rarely show the world. I believe that deep healing is possible in the container of a loving and compassionate relationship that therapy provides.
I became a therapist after many years of practicing and teaching yoga and meditation. As my personal practice deepened, I became increasingly curious about how to translate these teachings into my life and relationships more fully. I began to study psychology because I wanted to learn how to cultivate greater intimacy, authenticity, and connection in relationships and to help others do the same.
Through a body-oriented and mindful approach in therapy, I help clients cultivate increased love and compassion for themselves and to actualize that through self-care practices and choices while engaging in the deeper process of psychological growth. I teach mindfulness and compassion practices to help clients find more grounding and ease in body and mind. These practices can increase intimacy and compassion for ourselves which is a foundation for authentic and loving relationships with others. The practices I teach are informed by both traditional buddhist practice and modern neuroscience research. I enjoy blending the art and science of psychotherapy, studying evidence-based approaches, and also honoring the deep mystery of the human heart.
I specialize in helping clients find greater embodiment in their experience of intimacy and sexuality and am experienced and trained in working with gender and sexual diversity. I also work with clients who are working to integrate spiritual insights in their relationships and couples who are exploring relationship as a path of spiritual growth. Couples therapy can be a supportive container for intimate partners who would like to engage in relationship in a conscious and healthy way. Intimate relationships serve as a path of profound growth and awakening as well as a powerful mirror for our shadows. There are few experiences in life more ecstatic than falling in love or more painful than heartbreak. Couples who choose long-term relationship will often experience many cycles of both falling in love and the pain of disconnection. I believe that it is our deep intimacy with ourselves that allows us to make the leap to open to another and simultaneously, a loving partnership can offer the support and catalyst for deep inner work of an individual. I support couples in connecting with the voice of their own hearts and sharing with each other from that place. I help couples learn to give each other loving support while maintaining their individuality, to discover and express their unique balance of autonomy and intimacy.
California License # 87945
Tamara Reimer MFTI
I offer Somatic Psychotherapy for individuals and couples who are ready to embark upon a path of discovery and connection with self, others, and the surrounding world. Through expanding our awareness and deepening our understanding of how we are in relationship we can begin to cultivate compassion for ourselves and our loved ones while also creating and growing new possibilities for how we engage with our lives.
I have a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Somatics from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Additionally, I train and practice in the work of Formative Psychology, Authentic Movement, and Emotionally Focused Therapy. I have a deep love for learning which keeps my work constantly evolving and am continually growing myself in a wide variety of classes, workshops, and trainings.
We experience and express our stories, emotions and tensions through our bodies. When we lose contact with our bodies we lose connection with ourselves. I can help you to develop greater intimacy with yourself and others through recognizing the ways that your body is constantly reacting to life's challenges. In exploring how you react under pressure, you can strengthen your awareness and develop new and different ways of responding which can open up exciting possibilities in your life.
When we encounter conflict and stress in our primary relationship, it can be useful to have a third person present to offer support in addressing the underlying challenges that are arising. Through couples counseling, I can help you and your partner see and experience how you are communicating and relating. It is in engaging how we respond to conflict in our relationship that we can open to and discover new ways of relating to our partners and ourselves. I will support you in moving away from blame and shame and into a better understanding of the dynamics that are driving your difficulties, helping you to discover greater intimacy and satisfaction in your relationship, while growing on a personal level as well.
Through our work together, my clients report an increased sense of self confidence, compassion for oneself and others, the ability to clearly communicate, and the capacity to meet life’s challenges as they arise. It would be an honor to support you in developing a stronger sense of self and an increased agency and engagement with your life and your relationships.
California License # 70394
Joellen Christiansen MFTI
My therapy style is one of warmth, authentic presence, and an open mind. I am trained in therapy methods that have been proven to be effective, but I know that each client or couple is unique, and I tailor my work to suit your needs. I bring a pragmatic professionalism to my work with clients from my previous career in business. Knowing that your time is valuable, and that therapy can be a significant investment, I strive to provide my clients with compassionate yet effective therapy in every session.
I have a Masters in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. After completing my M.A., I continued training in the Hakomi Method, completing the Professional Training, the Experiential Couples Training, and the specialized Trauma Training. The Hakomi Method has stood the test of time, decades ahead of other therapies incorporating mindfulness and somatic, or ‘body’, awareness, and updating with the newest work in attachment theory and neuroscience.
I have trained with Sue Johnson in Emotionally Focused Therapy, Dan Wile in Collaborative Couples Therapy, and completed the Sex Educator Training with SFSI: San Francisco Sex Information. I have also trained with Dr. Dan Siegel and Jack Kornfield on mindfulness and neuroscience, and have a certificate in Organizational Psychology from J.F.K.U. which included classes in coaching, mediation, career counseling, and group facilitation. Since 2005, I have been graced with the honor of providing individual and group bereavement counseling for Hospice of Petaluma.
I came to the path of being a psychotherapist after my first career in international business, much of the time in Europe. Having a career in management consulting was a great training ground for learning diplomacy: how to communicate, compromise, and negotiate with people with different world-views and mother tongues, even if we were all working together in English.
My past work experience gives me additional insight on how to support professionals and executives in high pressure positions. I relish the challenge of helping dual-career couples find deeper intimacy and more satisfaction in their relationships by increasing the quality of time spent together. I help professionals struggling to maintain balance in the face of unrelenting demands at work find more depth and richness in the smallest of moments.
California License # 62637
Couples therapy, marriage counseling, & pscyhotherapy
in San Francisco, Berkeley, & Oakland, California