Art Therapy in Oakland, CA

Are you sensing a budding awareness in yourself of difficult patterns in your life that you wish to transform and grow through? It would be an honor to support you on your healing journey. I’m a therapist with a trauma-informed, client-centered lens and I utilize various creative modalities to help my clients experience greater insight, self-love, and balance in their lives. Some of the tools I use are art therapy, narrative therapy, meditation, dance movement therapy, as well somatic and sensory interventions. I also have training in SE, ACT, DBT, and CBT and these modalities influence my eclectic therapeutic technique.

I'm authentic and direct, and I value science equally with the domain of intuition and art. My style is anchored in cognitive science, attachment theory, mindfulness, social justice, parts work, somatic psychology, and archetypes. I'm queer and LGBTQIA+ aligned, and I consider myself an especially huge nerd with evolutionary psychology.

Therapy is a space you carve out with me to reconnect - with yourself, your goals, your life’s meaning, your passion, your creativity, your spiritual path. We all struggle with difficult things at times; they pull us away from who we want to be, or the path we intend to walk in life. I believe relationships are the most important healers we have in our lives – starting with your relationship with yourself! Extending to all your other important and beloved relationships - with family, friends, community, planet, and spirit. No matter where you are, your journey to self-empowerment and joy begins Right Here. I will be there with you.

Hello! My name is Hannah, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with adults ages 18+, primarily female identified, navigate pivotal life transitions. Whether you're a young adult fostering independence, a parent stepping into the realm of empty nesting, or someone embracing a new career, I'm here to offer you guidance and support. My hope is to walk alongside you during these times of change, uncertainty, and growth, providing a safe space for exploration, healing, and empowerment. Together, we'll navigate the complexities of transition, uncovering hidden opportunities for personal evolution and resilience.

My framework as a psychotherapist is inspired by black feminist sci-fi writer, Octavia E. Butler who saw the possibility of many more worlds than just our own. I believe that transformative internal healing is critical to envisioning and building these worlds without the presence of imperialism, white supremacy, capitalism and cishet-patriarchy. The tools I use to support the exploration of individual, interpersonal and intergenerational trauma are shaped by abolition that rejects punitive and scarcity mindsets and disability justice which strives to value every body.

We often find ourselves and bodies, on the path towards health after overwhelming experiences (birth, chronic illness), trauma, grief or loss. Re-igniting our inner-fire and natural emotional balance can understandably be a challenge. Trauma-informed somatic psychotherapy can help! I take my role as a therapist, one who supports the client on their journey, as a facilitator of a sacred collaboration. I conduct therapy with an intention to process and move trauma (anxiety, depression and grief accompanying it) in order to restore balance between the mind, body, and spirit and reignite the internal fire.

I specialize in working with folx who identify with the following communities: ethical non-monogamy (ENM), polyamory, kink, BDSM, and LGBTQA+ and who are struggling with anxiety, depression and a history of trauma. I think of psychotherapy as a necessary form of social activism toward a larger goal of equity for people of all races, genders, sexual/relational orientations, levels of ability, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Let's work together to bring you back to yourself, your relationships and your community!

My work ranges from people who have experienced serious trauma, and suffer from depression and anxiety to those who just want to feel better in their lives and their relationships. I love working with couples. I know from my own experience of being married since 1990 that relationships need nurturing and intention. I love helping couples find intimacy that may have been lost. I really see my work as helping individuals and couples live their best life!

Children and teens are more aware of their own internal states and the world around them than ever before, while the family unit takes on more stress. This combination can create anxiety, depression, acting out behaviors, confusion, and educational struggles for many. Through a strength-based perspective I focus on communication, relationships, boundaries, and self-care. I work with youth (and families) to explore their patterns of interactions with others and encourage self-awareness and growth in these areas. Developing a relationship with a child or teen takes time and care, both of which I have done for nearly twenty years.

The challenges of growing up in today's rapidly changing society are enormous. Children and adolescents need to be equipped with skills for survival and growth that were never before imagined. Some of the more common issues I help my young clients with include anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide ideation, perfectionism, self confidence, challenging peer relationships, social anxiety and difficult family dynamics. I also work with parents offering them guidance and support.

My approach to counseling begins with careful listening to understand your unique situation and personal goals. I will listen without judging you or rushing to a quick fix that might not be applicable for your specific situation. Many of my clients enter counseling feeling alone or overwhelmed by feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, or stress. They may feel stuck in painful relationships that aren't working, or stuck with intense feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, dread, or inner pain. My treatment approach is gentle, educational, and experiential.

I believe every person and family is unique and there are many ways to raise a healthy child. I want to honor the strengths within you and your family and offer the tools and support to help your child and family thrive. Through a trauma-informed lens, I work extensively with youth, parents, and families on life transitions, healthy communication, and processing/ healing from grief or abuse.

Has something in your life become too much to bear? If you’re feeling lonely, alienated, confused about your relationships, hurt, angry, or feeling unheard; if you’re finding the stress of parenting overwhelming, or feeling defeated by cycles of conflict, I'd like to help you. I work with individuals, couples and families wounded by their family systems, who have experienced trauma or abuse, have struggled with a narcissistic parent or partner, or have been negatively impacted by relationships with their in-laws. I passionately believe that with the right help, you can move from suffering and uncertainty to clarity and empowerment.

My clients are most often dealing with communication concerns, issues of intimacy and complications related to life changes. When traumatic events impact their daily lives, they may seek assistance. Occasionally couples and families experiencing stress in their relationships may need an objective listener and guide to help them figure out how to reestablish balance. With the many demands of life and work, we work together to find pleasure in their families and for parents to reinstate parental authority within the family structure.

Lauren Chester (she/they) is a registered and board-certified art therapist (ATR-BC) who is passionate about cultivating environments where people can practice sharing their whole selves. Lauren believes in the process of art as a conduit for communication and expression and is passionate about the use of art to encourage meaningful conversations. Lauren’s practice of Art Therapy has been heavily influenced by the Disability Justice and Healing Justice movements and is non-hierarchical, co-creative, and gender-affirming.

Is your child struggling with anxiety, depression or a big life change or a recent trauma? Are you an adult navigating grief or a transitional phase in your life and overwhelmed with stress, worry, or fear? As an Art Therapist, using a trauma-informed approach, we will work collaboratively and creatively to meet your goals. I will help you access coping skills, establishing routines, and hold space for emotional expression. I specialize in working with individuals from marginalized communities, ages 4 through adulthood, with anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions.

Are you finding yourself struggling to adapt to a change or transition in your life? You may be finding yourself overthinking, anxious, overwhelmed and/or feeling stuck. You may be having trouble sleeping, feeling sad, hopeless, insecure or tired of that negative voice in your head that seems to hold you back. You want to feel more confident, calm, clear and positive about the future. You want things to be different, get on a new path, but you aren't sure how to get there.

Are you looking for a new creative way to deal with difficulties in life and get in touch with your best self? Do you feel like you’ve tried everything with your child, but they struggle to benefit from traditional talk therapy? As art therapists, we incorporate talk therapy with art making to help our clients unlock their creative potential, look at problems with fresh eyes, and develop new creative coping skills for managing with difficult emotions. If you or your child is feeling blocked by past trauma, stuck in destructive patterns, or overwhelmed by depression or anxiety, then I encourage you to reach out. You are not alone.

What I believe: Relationships are unique and come in countless shapes and sizes over time. Right now, relationships are already happening and changing in your life every day. Love is available in ourselves when we choose it, and choosing love in ourselves brings more love into our relationships. Yes, all relationships shift and change, and at the same time, love can regenerate again and again in the most mysterious moments and forms if we stay open and curious.