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Individual Therapy

Life can feel overwhelming when anxiety, trauma, or relationship challenges weigh heavily on your mind. At times, you may feel disconnected from yourself or caught in cycles of stress, doubt, or pain that are difficult to break alone. Individual therapy offers a safe, supportive, and collaborative space to explore your experiences, gain clarity, and develop tools that help you move toward healing and personal growth.

Therapist guiding client in Oakland individual therapy session.
Personalized therapy in Oakland supporting healing and growth.

At Oakland DBT and mindfulness Center, our therapists provide empathetic, evidence-based care tailored to meet the individual requirements of each individual we work with. Whether you are navigating a painful past, managing overwhelming emotions, or striving to create a more meaningful future, individual therapy can be a transformative process that empowers you to reclaim your voice and live with greater purpose.

What Is Individual Therapy?

Individual therapy is a one-on-one process between you and a trained clinician, where you can safely explore your thoughts, sentiments, and behaviors in a confidential setting. Unlike group settings, this deeply personal format allows you to focus on what matters most in your life—whether that is understanding the impact of trauma, improving self-esteem, or strengthening relationships.

Sessions typically involve compassionate listening, skill development, and reflective dialogue, but they are always tailored to you. Instead of applying a “one-size-fits-all” method, we design treatment plans collaboratively, ensuring that your therapy experience reflects your goals, strengths, and lived reality.

Who We Work With

Our individual therapy services are available to adolescents, adults, and older adults. We see clients aged 13 and up in our Oakland office and also provide secure telehealth sessions for residents of California, Colorado, and Florida.

Clients often seek support for:

  • Anxiety and stress that interfere with work, school, or relationships.
  • Depression and feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, or fatigue.
  • Trauma recovery, including both personal and intergenerational trauma.
  • Relationship struggles, communication challenges, and family conflict.
  • Self-esteem and identity issues, including struggles with self-worth or belonging.
  • Life transitions such as divorce, relocation, career change, or loss.


No matter what brings you to therapy, you don’t have to face it alone. A skilled therapist can act as a thought partner, guide, and ally in helping you transform difficult emotions into pathways toward growth.

Our Therapeutic Approach

At Oakland DBT Center, we believe in an integrative approach to therapy. This means your treatment plan may combine elements from multiple evidence-based modalities, depending on what best fits your needs.

Our therapists are trained in:

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – Practical tools for managing emotions, reducing distress, and improving relationships.
  • Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) – Innovative support for treatment-resistant depression, trauma, and anxiety.
  • Narrative Therapy – Helping you reframe limiting stories and reclaim your personal narrative.
  • Humanistic and Psychodynamic Therapy – Exploring deep-rooted patterns with empathy and insight.
  • Somatic Experiencing – Addressing how trauma and stress live in the body to support nervous system regulation.
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – Proven techniques for resolving traumatic memories.
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – Building resilience by clarifying values and encouraging meaningful action.


By integrating these approaches, we offer flexible and personalized care. This ensures you benefit not only from traditional methods but also from newer, research-backed techniques that expand the possibilities for healing.

Why Choose Individual Therapy?

People often come to therapy with the hope of feeling “better.” But what “better” looks like is different for everyone. For some, it means less anxiety in daily life. For others, it’s feeling more connected to loved ones, or finally being free from the weight of trauma.

Here are some of the benefits clients often experience:

  • Greater emotional regulation and resilience.
  • Healthier relationships and communication skills.
  • Reserve from symptoms of anxiety, depression, or trauma.
  • A more profound sense of self-awareness and self-compassion.
  • The ability to make intentional choices rather than reactive ones.
  • Renewed energy and clarity for pursuing meaningful goals.


Our goal is to walk alongside you as you discover your own version of healing and wholeness.

In-Person and Virtual Therapy Options

We understand that accessibility matters. That’s why our services are available both in person at our welcoming Oakland office and online through secure telehealth sessions. Virtual care enables clients in California, Colorado, and Florida to access expert support without the challenges of commuting or distance.

For clients balancing busy schedules, family commitments, or health limitations, virtual sessions provide the same compassionate and high-quality care as in-person therapy. You can learn more about how we support clients online through our virtual therapy services.

How Sessions Are Structured

While therapy is always personalized, most clients can expect:

  1. An initial consultation to identify needs, history, and goals.
  2. Collaborative treatment planning to outline the path forward.
  3. Ongoing sessions (usually weekly or biweekly), focused on both reflection and practical strategies.
  4. Review and progress tracking, ensuring therapy evolves with your growth.


Sessions are typically 50 minutes long. Frequency and duration vary depending on your goals and circumstances. Some clients work with us for short-term focused therapy, while others find long-term support more beneficial.

Our Team of Clinicians

What makes therapy impactful is not just the methods used—it’s the relationship between therapist and client. Our team comprises highly trained clinicians with diverse backgrounds, enabling us to match clients with a therapist whose style and expertise best align with their needs.

In addition to individual therapy, our clinicians also provide specialized training and consultation for professionals, ensuring our work is grounded in the most current practices and shared with the wider therapeutic community.

Investing in Your Well-Being

Individual therapy in Oakland supporting healing and personal growth.
Healing and growth through Oakland individual therapy sessions.

Therapy is one of the most meaningful investments you can make in your life. Clear information about session costs and commitments is available on our pricing page. This transparency allows you to plan and make decisions with confidence.

While the financial commitment is real, the value of therapy often extends far beyond the sessions themselves. Many clients report lasting improvements in their relationships, careers, and overall well-being, making it a worthwhile endeavor.

Taking the Next Step

If you are considering individual therapy, it may mean you are ready for change—even if you don’t yet know what that change looks like. Beginning therapy can feel like a leap into the unknown, but it is also a decisive step toward living with greater clarity, resilience, and purpose.

Whether you choose in-person sessions in Oakland or virtual sessions from the comfort of your home, our team is here to walk alongside you. Together, we’ll create a therapeutic journey that feels safe, collaborative, and transformative.

Final Thoughts

Individual therapy is not about “fixing” you—it’s about helping you reconnect with your own strengths, discover new possibilities, and cultivate tools that support a more meaningful life. At Oakland DBT and mindfulness Center, we are committed to providing not just therapy, but a partnership in healing.

If you’re ready to begin your journey, we invite you to connect with us today. The growth path starts with a single step.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens during the first individual therapy session?

Your first meeting is designed to help you feel comfortable and supported. The therapist will learn about your history, current concerns, and what you want from therapy. It’s also an option for you to ask questions and decide if the therapist is a good fit for your needs.

How long does individual therapy typically continue?

Therapy does not follow a one-size-fits-all timeline. Some people work with a therapist for just a few months to address specific challenges, while others find long-term sessions more helpful for ongoing growth. The process is flexible and shaped around your goals.

Will my sessions remain confidential?

Yes, your privacy is a priority in therapy. Everything you share is kept confidential, with only limited exceptions when safety concerns arise. This secure environment fosters openness, enabling you to navigate diplomatic issues without fear of judgment.

Can therapy help with conditions like anxiety, depression, or trauma?

Therapy offers evidence-based strategies to reduce anxiety, ease depression, and process unresolved trauma. Approaches such as DBT, EMDR, and somatic practices target both mind and body for lasting results. Many clients report significant improvements in emotional balance and overall well-being.

How do I know if individual therapy is the right choice for me?

Therapy can be valuable whether you’re dealing with immediate struggles or want to grow and gain clarity. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or uncertain about your next steps, therapy provides support and direction. A consultation can help you decide if it aligns with your needs.

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Rajesh Jagannathan

Rajesh Jagannathan

Rajesh Jagannathan was born in India and earned a B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT, Madras. After spending a few youthful years in the Masters/Ph.D. program at the Ohio State University moved to the Bay Area for work. Since then he has stayed in the Bay Area and worked in tech for the better part of 20+ years. He has been with the center since its inception playing a key advisory role on tech related matters.

He enjoys living in the bay area with his family, exploring the outdoors in California and the world at large. While interests change over time some constants through the years have been travel, cooking, painting and board games. Lately all his spare time has been consumed by pickleball.

David Pepper

David Pepper, MD (Retired)

Dr. Pepper was born in San Francisco and attended UC Berkeley and then Medical and Graduate School in Iowa. Returning to California, he practiced and taught full spectrum Family Medicine with UCSF for 30+ years, working in Fresno, San Francisco and Contra Costa Counties. 1,000 births and 1,000 deaths one could say – with thousands of Families in between… in the ER, Hospital and Outpatient Clinics – always with a focus on Family and Community.
 
He has a long interest in Psychedelics and completed the CPTR program through CIIS in 2023. He is passionate about helping people think about how to craft their second half of life with meaning, including planning for a natural End of Life process that is not over medicalized.  He believes that a well planned End of Life allows people to live well.  More about his work can be found here.  
 
He brings his expertise in clinical assessment, and the tools that support this to working with the Team at Oakland DBT and Mindfulness Center to develop best practices for working with clients seeking expanded state treatment.  He collaborates with his wife who also works with clients in Expanded States.  He enjoys his 4 children, gardening, hiking, and community.
Rochelle

Rochelle Frank, PsyD

Rochelle Frank, PhD is a clinical psychologist in Oakland, CA with over 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. Dr. Frank earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at Syracuse University and completed her clinical training at Yale Psychiatric Institute. She specializes in evidence-based transdiagnostic treatment of  complex and co-occurring mood, anxiety, and trauma disorders in adults and adolescents, and related  problems in high-conflict couples and families. 

In addition to her private practice Dr.  Frank is an assistant clinical professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and also  holds faculty and supervisory appointments at The Wright Institute and the University of California San  Francisco School of Medicine.  She is co-author of The transdiagnostic road map to case formulation and  treatment planning: Practical guidance for clinical decision making (Frank & Davidson, 2014; New Harbinger),  a contributing author to S. G. Hofmann & S. C. Hayes (Eds.), Beyond the DSM (2020, New Harbinger), and  currently serves on the board of directors for the Institute for Better Health.

Dr. Frank has been involved with Oakland DBT and Mindfulness Center since 2012.  She has served as a clinical consultant and focuses on helping the Team bring a transdiagnostic process-based perspective to case formulation and treatment planning, as well as integrating methods from other third-wave cognitive behavioral therapies into the DBT model.  

In addition to enjoying time with her family, Dr.  Frank is an avid golfer, home chef, and a frequent beta-tester of her clinical skills while skiing and mountain biking.

Michael Stanger

Michael Stanger, MD

I am a board-certified psychiatrist practicing in California and Colorado across a range of settings – inpatient, outpatient, emergency and partial hospital, with current affiliations at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Boulder Community Health.

I have a particular interest in the therapeutic utility of ketamine to support psychotherapy. I began working with ketamine in 2016, initially in my California private practice where I administered oral and intramuscular doses. I have since continued to support therapist access and to develop understanding around the most effective use of these modality. In related work, I have mentored with the CIIS Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research and taught sessions with the Polaris Insight Center on ketamine.

My background includes childhood immigration from South Africa to New York, working in the technology industry for several years and then traveling in an unscripted manner to arrive at the awareness that medicine, and ultimately psychiatry would be the path to be helpful to others in an applied way.

Chrysanthe

Chrysanthe Christodoulou

Operations Manager

Chrysanthe is our Operations Manager and one of our in-house Mindfulness Experts. She connects with new clients as they come into the Center, oversees day to day operations and runs special projects.  She is instrumental in supporting the Team by bringing joy, flow and ease.

Chrysanthe studied Meditation, Yoga, and Mindfulness with some of the most respected teachers of our time. She also holds a BS in Economics.  This combination of skills ensures our Center runs efficiently behind the scenes and lends wisdom to our budding Mindfulness Program.

Her local teaching career has spanned the Bay Area and beyond: overseas in Spain, Chile, Greece, and Amsterdam; and locally in San Francisco, Marin, Berkeley, Oakland, and Walnut Creek. Chrysanthe honors the magic in both movement and stillness, stirring energy and witnessing what emerges as everything settles into place. 

When Chrysanthe isn’t handling the business end of the Center or running mindfulness programming, you can find her exploring trails with her wolf pup, finding connection in community, and enjoying the sun and the sea.

Priya Jogia

Priya Jogia

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

​​Priya Jogia is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Since 2013, she has worked in various clinical settings including: community mental health, hospital, and outpatient programs. Priya’s also spent time in Vietnam studying international social work and the relationship between culture, ethnicity, and mental health.

Priya is an active practitioner of mindfulness-based behavioral therapies including DBT and ACT, and has extensive training in CBT. As a DBT therapist, she’s seen the positive impact of using DBT skills in her own life, and is strongly committed to helping clients live meaningful lives that are aligned with their values.

Priya has an interest in perinatal mental health and working with BIPOC populations, and she strives to integrate a social and racial justice lens into her work. While being a therapist has brought a lot of meaning to Priya’s life, she tries not to take herself too seriously, and gets much joy from being a mum, being in nature, and cuddling with her dog.

Jay Indik

Jay Indik

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Jay brings his compassion, creativity, and equanimity to support each person who seeks therapy.. He believes that what makes each person happy is connected to their deepest sense of what is important. Jay listens for how each client can idiosyncratically transform their suffering into a happier life. As a result of working with Jay folks’ learn to address unwanted behavior, regulate their emotions, recover from individual or cultural trauma, repair relationships, and organize their behavior consistent with their values Jay has intensive training and has practiced the following modalities for decades: DBT, Narrative Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, Sensory Modulation, Psychodynamic Treatment and Expressive Arts Therapies. Jay specializes in working with couples, parents, parent child dyads and young adults, as well as with individuals from mid-life through retirement. Jay’s experience as a theater director, parent, teacher, and executive combined with his knowledge of research validated treatments allows him to best relate and serve each individual.

Jay has two adult children (one daughter, one non-binary), a “Real Dads Love Trans kids” t-shirt, and one amazing grandchild he watches one day a week.

Ari Tavano

Ariana Tavano

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Ari Tavano is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). She has worked in an array of clinical settings for over ten years, and utilizes the diversity of her experience to foster a therapeutic frame rooted in curiosity and empathic regard. She specializes in working with those looking to cultivate self-growth, increase interpersonal efficacy, and develop an affirming relationship with their internal worlds.

Ari extends a humanistic approach to her work by nourishing the whole self – according to one’s intersectionality and inherent wisdom. She is trained in DBT and other treatment modalities, including CBT, Existentialism, and Trauma Theory. She harmonizes the concepts of behaviorism and intuitiveness of relational healing, with opportunities to explore psychedelics and expanded-state work.

Ari invites you to build capacity for both processing and playfulness. She prioritizes humor and is often found in the ocean, on the dance floor, and imagining her next adventure. Ari has also worked as a licensed public school teacher in Hawai’i and documentary photographer in South Africa. She is committed to equity, inclusion, and the pursuit of social justice.

Alyson Barry

Alyson Barry, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Alyson Barry is a licensed clinical psychologist (PhD). Since 2005, she’s gained experience in diverse areas of practice, including inpatient hospitals, intensive outpatient programs, community mental health, and private practice. Alyson came to DBT in 2013 through her own yoga and meditation practice, which led her to seek additional training in mindfulness-based therapies. Drawn to work with people who’ve experienced developmental trauma, she begins by addressing what’s happening in the present, helping her clients develop practical skills that fundamentally improve how they interact with themselves and the world around them. As a result of this work, this can over time, set the stage for healing the older wounds. She believes in a collaborative and consent-based treatment approach, working to ensure that clients understand and are in agreement with any diagnosis or therapeutic technique. She hopes that this transparency can help to create an environment of respect for her clients’ choice, autonomy, and knowledge of themselves. She is also a big believer in bringing humor and irreverence into therapy. In her free time, Alyson enjoys snorkeling, hanging out with her cat, and spending time with friends. Alyson is available to work via telehealth with clients in California, Colorado, and Florida.
Heather Macbeth

Heather Macbeth

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT)

Heather co-founded the Oakland DBT & Mindfulness Center in 2012. She is a licensed MFT. She offers a relational, somatic, experiential and humanistic approach to her work and is committed to relieving psychological suffering. Her style is both compassionate and gentle as well as directive and aims to be supportive of each person’s unique needs. Her work focuses on emotion regulation, changing persistent cycles of self-blame, listening more closely to intuitive knowing and increasing self compassion. She is committed and dedicated to helping her clients have a life where they can find themselves thrive vs. just survive. Working as a therapist, clinical supervisor, skills group and workshop facilitator has brought her a lot of joy. In addition to a private practice setting she has worked in community mental health organizations with disenfranchised youth and families and in public schools as a Behavioral Specialist. Heather works with adults and teens. She is intensively trained in DBT and other treatment modalities such as; Gestalt, Psychodynamic, MBSR, ands Expressive Arts. She is certified in EAP (Equine-assisted psychotherapy) and offers equine-facilitated learning workshops in the Bay Area. Additionally, she has received her training in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy through the Polaris Insight Center in San Francisco and is inspired by the potential healing benefits of expanded states of consciousness work.

In her free time, and in ideal worlds, she is exploring jungles, hot springs, beaches, hanging out with animals (large and small), enjoying good food, travel and most importantly time with loved ones.

Christine Benvenuto

Christine Benvenuto

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT)

Christine is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the co-founder and Executive Director of the Oakland DBT and Mindfulness Center. She brings over 25 years of experience in mental health to her work, with a background in working with people in all walks of life in residential, outpatient and home based settings. A systems thinker, valuing sustaining relationships, she works with individuals, couples and groups, with a strong belief that small shifts can create dynamic changes.

She blends a lifetime of interest and practice in somatics, meditation, embodiment, psychedelics and the arts with a passion for social justice, nature and thriving ecosystems. Her mentors are psychologically savvy, center co-existence, value differences and maintain a sense of humor.

Her professional training spans from depth oriented, expanded state and attachment based to behavioral styles of treatment. She co-creates a therapeutic container that feels collaborative, warm, dynamic, thoughtful and deeply resonant.

She works with individuals, couples and groups, offering ongoing weekly therapy, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Consultation.

Along side of her professional life, Christine is grateful for her extended web of relationships as daughter, sister, wife, friend, step-mom and community connector.