Female cognitive-behavioral therapist?

I am looking for a cognitive behavior therapist in the East Bay. Preferably a female practitioner, however, if you have had a stellar experience with a male practitioner I would appreciate the info. Thanks so much East Bay Mom

When I was considering going, Vallejo seemed really far. I never would have done the hour-long drive from Berkeley if I hadn't been travelling with a friend. And I definitely would have preferred to learn CBT from a female therapist in a one-on-one setting. But the guy who teaches the course, ''Dr. Fear'', has a real knack for making the CBT tools accessible, and his totally wacky lightheartedness is exactly what many people need when facing issues that require us to seek out CBT. Also, you can be as public or as private as you want during the class when talking about what you're using CBT for.

I would STRONGLY suggest that anyone who thinks they may want CBT go to the first class Sept 11. I use CBT tools all the time, and they've made a real difference in my life, so congrats that you're reaching out to look for a resource, for whatever you're struggling with! Glad I attended

CBT Therapist for help with panic attacks

I'm looking for recommendations for a cognitive behavioral therapist in Oakland or Berkeley who takes Pacificare insurance. About 7 years ago, I had a panic attack. I'm starting to feel some panic symptoms (muscle tension, racing heart, shortness of breath) again since I've returned to work after maternity leave. It is already hard enough trying to work as a new mother, but now I am dealing with the fear of having another panic attack. I would like to see a good therapist who can give me tools to handle stress/anxiety and panic feelings. Thanks for your help.

PS Stacy is very knowledgeable about health issues and she suggested I see my doctor and check for endocrine problems -- and it turns out I have a thyroid problem! Make sure to check this out! But, many of the standard tests (eg TSH test) are not l00% reliable so you sometimes have to push the doctor to run more specialized tests. Kate C.

Seeking Cognitive Behavioral Therapist for panic and agoraphobia

I'm seeking a talented Cognitive Behavioral Therapist with experience treating panic disorder and agoraphobia. Preferably in SF or Berkeley. I have MHN (Health Net) insurance. Thanks for your help! Berkeley Filmmaker

Now my 7 years old son is also having anxiety and I am taking him to see Dr. Katherine Martinez she is just great and thinks are working very well for my son. The tel number is 510 652-4455. They do not accept any insurance as far as I know but will give you a receipt to seek reimbursement with your insurance company or to a smaller rate scale I think.

Need Cognitive Behavioral therapist for teen

I am looking for a therapist who works with adolescents and uses cognitive behavioral methods for dealing with obsessive/compulsive behaviors. Who has a pracrtice in Berkeley. Can anyone recommend someone-preferably a woman-who works specifically with teenagers and who takes insurance or who has a sliding scale? (The Wright Institute doesn't deal with children.) thanks! anon

Cognitive Behavioral Therapist for anxiety and depression

I'm having problems with anxiety and depression, and my psychiatrist recommended that I see a cognitive behavioral therapist. Can anyone recommend a female cognitive behavioral therapist in the East Bay? Many of my concerns are surrounding parenting issues, so someone who could relate to that would be a plus (if that even matters -- I don't know much about CBT). Also, if anyone could relate their experiences with cognitive behavioral therapy, that would be great, since at the moment it sounds like a scary, intense, high-commitment ordeal to me. anon

You fear that it is a ''scary, intense, high-commitment ordeal to me'' -- not scary or high-committment for me -- usually over in a matter of weeks or months, unlike classic talk therapy, and there's no blaming other people or digging into childhood trauma. Maybe intense, in a good way. Change the way you think in a logical supportive fashion -- it works
A Worrier Myself

Effective therapist to help me change bad habits

Hi, I've been looking for a therapist near Berkeley who isn't too new agey, but who does hypnosis and/or cognitive behavior therapy. I don't want to waste a lot of time going over my background and discussing my problems, family, etc. (I already know about my family and problems.) I just want to change some bad habits and bad ways of looking at situations, myself, gain some insight, etc. I have health insurance, but I'm trying to find recommendations and then seeing if the doctors are covered by my insurance. Any advice would be welcomed. Thanks!

CBT Therapist for anxiety disorders

Hello, I am looking for a good cbt tharapist in the berkeley area who has experience dealing with anxiety disorders any info would be greatly appreciated. thanks

Re: Mom's anxiety - Conventional psychiatry hasn't helped I am sorry your mother is struggling with anxiety. Is it more generalized anxiety or is she having acute panic attacks? It would probably be helpful for her to see a new psychiatrist in conjunction with a therapist who specializes in cognitive- behavioral therapy (CBT). I know there is a Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Oakland & a psychologist there, Dr. Michael Tompkins, is very good. If acute panic attacks are the problem there is a man named Dr. Liebgold (aka Dr. Fear) [see Howard Liebgold for this review.] Anxiety can be incredibly debilitating & interfere with daily functioning. I would recommend your mom not give up on trying new medications. I am a psychologist in Berkeley. I do not specialize in CBT but do work with anxiety disorders. It is important to find someone who can teach your mother techniques to manage the cognitive distortions which are increasing the anxiety (catastrophic thinking, for example). Feel free to call if you have any questions. My office phone # is (510) 412-0670. Ruth Bard Rampel

Cognitive Behavior Therapy vs. Talk Therapy for Depression

i'm writing again on behalf of a dear friend with severe anxiety/depression that is also connected with some other physical and biochemical issues. he is considering cognitive behavioral therapy and is wondering both about the effectiveness of the modality in general and also if someone can recommend an excellent therapist who works in this capacity. one issue we are wondering about is how different this is from ''regular talk therapy.'' thanks in advance and thank you also to everyone who helped the last time. (p.s. i already searched the website) anon

I have suffered from severe depression over many years, and have done a lot of talk therapy. I got a lot of insight and support from it, and it helped me to grow and to survive. It did not solve the underlying biological problem, which medication finally did. I don't regret at all doing the therapy- I learned a lot- but wasn't able to reap the full benefit of it until medication pulled me out of the paralyzing depths.

While I was beginning medication and trying out different ones to get it just right for me, I took the Beh Cog class at Kaiser. I got a couple of useful tools and reminders from it, but found it overall to be quite superficial. Solving real depression is not mind over matter, which I found the gist of the class to be. When you are deeply depressed, you are simply mentally and physically unable ''snap out of it'', and being given self-help tasks to do can make you feel even more like a hopeless failure.

I observed that people in the class who were mildly depressed, not long term or deeply depressed, benefitted the most. One fellow in the class, who was obviously deeply troubled and in intense pain, appeared more and more distressed over the course of the class. I have no way of knowing if he was also getting psychiatric help, or if the instructor recommended it to him, but he clearly needed it. In terms of how people rated the class at the end, my observation- not just in this particular situation- is that many people say that they haved been helped by a class or therapy so that they don't feel like a failure, and sometimes to be polite.

My class instructor had been doing this work for a long time, so it was not a case of her being inexperienced. But I would have felt that the class was more ''real'' if the instructor had made it through and out of serious depression herself. If this woman had, she didn't say so. It is very very hard for people who have not experienced this crippling disease to understand what it feels like from the inside. Friends and family can expect someone to pull themselves out of it, which only further isolates the depressed person. I have many friends who call me now and ask if they can give my name and number to someone they know who is severely depressed and I always say yes. I can share my experience, give them feedback and suggestions, and give them hope that this too will pass with the right help.

Best wishes, anon

Therapist who practices cognitive-behavioral therapy?

Can anyone recommend a therapist practicing cognitive- behavioral therapy? Thank you. cliff