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Who Benefits?

Seeking therapy is one of the most meaningful steps a person can take toward emotional health and personal growth. Whether you are navigating major life transitions, facing the weight of loss, struggling with relationships, or searching for a deeper understanding of yourself, therapy offers guidance and support that can make all the difference. At Oakland DBT & Mindfulness Center, we welcome individuals from every walk of life, providing a safe, empathetic, and non-judgmental environment where you can begin the process of healing and transformation.

Weekly therapy sessions offering consistent support.
Regular therapy builds momentum for lasting change.

Our approach goes beyond simply talking about challenges — we focus on uncovering the roots of patterns, understanding why they formed, and delivering you the tools and strategies to create lasting change. Through a supportive therapeutic relationship, many of our clients experience greater balance, resilience, and a renewed sense of well-being.

Why People Seek Therapy

Every individual’s journey is unique, but there are common challenges that bring people to therapy. Recognizing these challenges is often the first step toward healing.

Life Transitions

Moments of transition can bring both excitement and uncertainty. Starting a new career, ending a relationship, moving to a different city, or entering a new phase of life can feel overwhelming. Therapy provides the space to process these changes, explore your emotions, and move forward with clarity and strength.

Loss and Grief

The loss of a loved one can leave a profound and lasting impact. Grief often reshapes our perception of ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us. In therapy, you are given the space to honor your grief, find ways to cope, and gently move toward healing while still cherishing the memory of those you’ve lost.

Relationships and Connection

Healthy relationships are at the core of human well-being. Yet many people struggle with forming, sustaining, or repairing meaningful connections. Therapy can assist you in understanding practices in your relationships, improve communication, and create the conditions for healthier, more fulfilling bonds.

Identity, Self-Discovery, and Healing

Therapy is not only about addressing pain — it is also about discovering who you are and embracing your authentic self.

Exploring Gender and Sexual Identity

For those who are navigating gender or sexual identity, therapy provides an affirming space to explore expression, build self-confidence, and find acceptance within and beyond oneself. We understand the bravery it takes to step into your truth, and our therapists are here to walk beside you with empathy and respect.

Overcoming Trauma

Trauma has a way of shaping the nervous system, influencing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in profound ways. Therapy can help unravel the impact of trauma, providing strategies for safety, grounding, and resilience. By working through past wounds, many people find they can reclaim their sense of agency and experience life more fully.

Depression, Anxiety, and Self-Esteem

Mental health challenges such as sadness, anxiety, or low self-esteem can limit your capacity to thrive. Therapy offers an opportunity to identify the underlying causes, challenge unhelpful thought patterns, and develop healthier ways of relating to yourself and the world.

Building Healthier Coping Strategies

Many people come to therapy because they feel stuck in unhelpful habits — whether that’s avoidance, perfectionism, or other coping mechanisms that once served a purpose but now hold them back. Therapy can help you let go of these patterns and replace them with healthier, life-enhancing strategies.

This shift often opens the door to more joy, greater presence in daily life, and a renewed sense of energy. Instead of simply managing stress or pain, you can begin building a foundation for authentic happiness and self-awareness.

The Role of Weekly Therapy Sessions

Consistency is one of the most potent elements of the therapeutic process. Many clients find that weekly sessions provide the rhythm and continuity needed to make meaningful progress. These sessions offer a dedicated time for reflection, exploring challenges, and practicing new skills under the guidance of a therapist committed to your growth.

For some, once-a-week support is enough to address immediate needs. For others, especially those managing intense emotions or high-stress environments, additional support may be necessary. This is where specialized treatments such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can be beneficial.

When DBT May Be Right for You

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a powerful evidence-based treatment designed for individuals who struggle with regulating emotions, experience intense interpersonal difficulties, or use coping skills that may cause harm or reduce quality of life.

DBT is especially effective for people who:

  • Experience frequent mood swings or “emotional storms.”
  • Have difficulty tolerating distress without resorting to harmful behaviors.
  • Struggle with patterns of unstable relationships.
  • Are you exploring or living with a Borderline Personality Disorder diagnosis?


Through a structured program that combines individual therapy, coaching, and group skills training, DBT helps individuals build skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. If you would like to learn more about this structured approach, consider exploring our DBT skills classes to see how they can support your journey.

Exploring Expanded States of Consciousness: Ketamine-Assisted Therapy

For some individuals, traditional therapy may not be enough to address deeply rooted depression, trauma, or chronic patterns of disconnection. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is an innovative therapy that uses expanded states of consciousness to unlock new pathways for healing.

When combined with professional therapeutic support, ketamine can create openings for profound insights, emotional breakthroughs, and lasting change. This approach is beneficial for people who have not found relief through conventional therapy alone. It is always administered in a safe, supportive, and professional environment, ensuring that each individual’s needs and safety are prioritized.

Personalized Care for Every Individual

Therapist and client meeting in weekly session.
Weekly sessions provide steady emotional support.

No two people come to therapy for the same reasons, which is why we emphasize personalized care tailored to your special requirements and goals. Our therapists are experienced, empathetic, and committed to creating a safe, supportive, and collaborative environment.

Whether your goal is to heal from past trauma, improve your relationships, strengthen coping skills, or simply gain a better understanding of yourself, we are here to provide the tools and guidance you need.

If you’re curious about what therapy looks like in practice, you can learn more about the different ways we support clients through our range of services.

Investing in Your Mental Health

Choosing therapy is an investment in your future well-being. It is a commitment not only to healing but also to creating a more balanced and fulfilling life. We acknowledge that access to quality mental health support should be transparent and accessible, which is why we provide clear information about our offerings and fees.

Suppose you are considering starting therapy and want to understand what to expect financially. In that case, we encourage you to review our pricing and payment options so that you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

Taking the Next Step

Reaching out for therapy is not a symbol of weakness — it is an act of strength and self-care. At Oakland DBT & Mindfulness Center, we are honored to walk alongside individuals who are ready to make meaningful changes in their lives.

Whether you are seeking support during a difficult time, looking to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, or hoping to break free from painful patterns, therapy can be a transformative process. With compassionate guidance, evidence-based approaches, and a safe environment, we help our clients move toward greater balance, resilience, and joy.

Your healing journey starts with a single step — and we are here to walk it with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if therapy is right for me?

If you find yourself struggling with emotions, relationships, or life transitions, therapy can provide clarity and support. Even if you’re unsure, starting therapy offers a safe space to explore your needs and discover whether it feels helpful for you.

What happens during a therapy session?

Sessions typically involve open, guided conversations where you explore challenges, patterns, and goals. Your therapist will provide tools, perspectives, and strategies that support your healing and growth in a collaborative, judgment-free space.

Is therapy only for people in crisis?

Not at all. While therapy helps during crises, many people seek it for personal development, stress management, or building stronger relationships. Therapy is just as valuable for growth and self-discovery as it is for overcoming difficulties.

How long does it take to see results from therapy?

The pace of progress depends on your goals, consistency, and the challenges you’re addressing. Some people notice shifts within a few sessions, while deeper, lasting change often comes with regular commitment over time.

What makes Oakland DBT & Mindfulness Center different?

We combine compassionate care with evidence-based methods like DBT and innovative approaches such as ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Our focus is on creating personalized, supportive treatment that helps you build resilience and lasting well-being.

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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.