virtual psychodynamic Therapy for adults in california

Therapy with compassion and depth

YOU’RE USED TO HOLDING IT ALL TOGETHER - GETTING THINGS DONE AND APPEARING FINE

But inside, something’s stirring:
restlessness, anxiety or a sense that something’s missing.

Something isn’t working. Life looks fine on the outside, but doesn’t feel that way inside.

You’re doing what’s expected. You may be capable and successful. You might even be the one others turn to for support. But inside, there’s a hum of disconnection, heaviness or pressure you can’t quite name yet. There may be an anxiety that won’t quiet down or relationships feel harder than they should. You are tired of having to manage it all and you may have hit a point where something deeper is asking to be understood.

The work I do isn’t about helping you find a quick fix.

It’s about slowing down enough to really listen to the parts that have been silenced, the patterns you’ve carried for years, and the stories that have shaped you. To weave your past experiences to your understanding of who you are now.

I specialize in working with:

  • Those who feel a persistent sense of anxiety, sadness or disconnection even when “nothing big” seems to explain it

  • High achieving, successful individuals who feel stuck, disconnected or overwhelmed

  • Those who feel disconnected from their emotions and unsure what they need

  • People in transition - navigating life changes, grief, or a shift in identify, purpose and relationships

  • People who are curious, introspective and open to exploring their inner world

  • Individuals navigating multi-layered identities including people of color, people with mixed heritage, first and second generation Americans, people with immigrant parents

Hi, I’m areeza, a licensed psychotherapist in the san francisco bay area.

I believe therapy should be a safe, supportive space where you feel truly heard and understood.

My therapeutic approach is grounded in relational psychodynamic psychotherapy, which means we’ll not only address your current difficulties but also explore how your past experiences, relationships, and socio-cultural context influence your present challenges. Through a compassionate and warm approach, I’ll guide you in a process of introspection and self-reflection, helping you gain new perspectives and insights.

Together, we will work collaboratively to uncover what’s beneath the surface so you can understand how repetitive patterns affect your life to foster deeper self-awareness and personal growth.

I specialize in helping people uncover the “why” to their feelings and break repetitive patterns.

  • Major transitions - ending a relationship, shifting careers or becoming a parent can stir up a lot more than just change. They can shake up your sense of identity, bring up grief, or raise questions about this next stage in your life.

    I can help you move through these in between stages with compassion. Together, we will explore the emotional roots that get activated in times of change - whether it’s a fear of being alone, a pressure to “have it all together,” or uncertainty about who you are becoming. Rather than pushing through, I will help you slow down and support you with making meaning of these changes

  • You’re stuck in the same patterns - giving too much, feeling unseen or struggling to express what you really need. Perhaps family dynamics feel heavy or friendships unsatisfying.

    In therapy, we’ll explore how relationships - from your family of origin to current relationships with others - have shaped your relationship to emotions, responsibility and self-worth. We will work together to understand how unspoken rules, roles and survival strategies you might unconsciously still be carrying are affecting you.

  • Somewhere along the way, you lost yourself. Or perhaps, you never consciously knew who you were.

    You might be seeking support with defining your purpose. Perhaps you need help finding meaning in your life. Or maybe are grappling with major life decisions, and you need help finding clarity.

    You want to understand yourself - your needs, values, desires and boundaries. If this is you, you have come to the right place.

How it works

Ready to begin?

  1. Click this link to schedule a free consultation. I typically respond within two business days.

  2. We will set up an initial 20 minute phone call where you can share what’s going on for you. You will have an opportunity to can ask any questions you may have and get a sense of my style.

  3. If we both feel aligned, we will schedule our first session. Here is what you can expect in our first few sessions.

therapy can be a place where you come home to yourself