866-227-7715 ext 702
Bay Area Therapy Group
A Marriage and Family Counseling Corp.
John Bieda
Gender: Male
Languages: English
Training: MA Psychology John F. Kennedy University
Specialty: Chronic Mental Illness and Trauma
Pronouns: He, Him, His
LMFT 42387
I have been involved in therapy it seems all my life. I have seen what I feel are awfully bad therapists and some very good ones. Ultimately it led me to my own style that focuses on being present with my clients and being genuine. Therapy often seems so passive, and I am excited to be able to work with individuals in a way that brings about systemic changes in their life through changing the way they perceive their memories and traumas in life. Utilizing a combination of CBT, DBT and EMDR therapies, clients can change their own internal systems, so they have different self-talk. Clients can then also look at past experiences and traumas without as much pain.
The experiences I have had in my life have allowed me understand others effectively. Being open to being taught is of prime importance to me as I can never truly understand another’s experiences. Joining with clients to create treatment plan to learn skills and make progress is the method I have been taught to use to meet the goals my clients create for themselves.
While working as a therapist I have seen how few clinicians take insurance. I have seen how therapists hate billing and have created a company that I believe will help therapists be able to provide the work they love to do while also allow also allowing them to earn the income they deserve and have benefits to take care of themselves, and any dependents they add.
If anyone has questions, I am always available to answer calls or texts, except when I am with clients, or on Thursday nights, which is personal time with family and sacred.
Welcome.
Email: jbiedajr@bayareatherapygroup.com
Phone: 866-227-7715 ext. 702
Anisha Mauze
Gender NB
Languages: English
Training: MA Psychology John F. Kennedy University
Specialty: Chronic Mental Illness and Trauma
Pronouns:They She
Asociate Marriage and Family Therapist 100594 supervised by John C Bieda Jr. LMFT 42387
Email:
Anisha.Mauze@bayareatherapygroup.com
Phone: 866-227-7715
Maybe your life seemed fine until recently, and maybe you’ve been struggling longer than you can remember. Either way, I’m here to help. I work with all ages, genders, sexualities, racial backgrounds, cultures, and subcultures. From work stress to identity crises, communication problems to childhood trauma, all issues need space to breathe, and a big part of that is finding a therapist you can be real with.
I specialize in working with alternative lifestyles; if the system isn’t working for you, I will. Like good art, therapy with me aims to comfort those in challenging positions, and challenge the comfortable. I have understanding in many areas, but you are the expert of your life. I’m not claiming to be superhuman, just someone who's made it my job to care.
Andrie Sismondo
Hey there! I’m Andrie. Nice to meet you! I am a therapist but I am not here to fix you. You aren’t broken. You may be struggling, which is why you’re reading this. I am willing to listen if you are willing to talk. I can offer tools and techniques if you find yourself stuck. The ability to grow is something we never lose as long as we are alive and I am always honored to see people take steps towards their own better lives. (There is no best when it comes to being human. Sorry. I don’t make the rules.) I am comfortable with religious and cultural beliefs that are not my own. Your values are always welcome. I am LGBTQ friendly and kink-aware. Everything is a little better with glitter.
Gender: Female
Languages: English
Training: MSW, University of Southern California
BA in Religious Studies, Pomona College
Specialities: adolescents, active duty and veteran mental health, adolescents, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, & severe and persistent mental illnesses.
Pronouns: She/her/them/dude (It’s a California thing.)
ACSW 107553
Email:
Andrie.Sismondo@bayareatherapygroup.com
Phone: 866-227-7715
Ellen Strong
Gender: Female
Languages: English
Training:
Specialty: trauma
Pronouns: She, Her
LMFT #30133
Despite the following paragraph , there is hope.
We are living in unprecedented times. There is a sense of uncertainty and unease, which has affected each of us in different ways. Many people are feeling anxious, depressed, or a combination of both. Some are feeling lonely and isolated. You might be feeling unusually irritable or easily annoyed. Maybe you’re using food, alcohol or other substances, in order to “cope”, distract, and/or numb out. For those of you with a history of trauma, and/or mental illness, your usual coping skills just don’t seem to be working.
I’ve been a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist for over 25 years. I've devoted my life to helping people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, unresolved grief; work and relationship issues; and chronic mental illness. I’ve worked with children, adolescents and adults in community mental health; inpatient psychiatric hospitals, recovery day treatment programs.
For the past five years, I've been working with young vets who are struggling with debilitating symptoms of PTSD, as a result of having served multiple deployments to Iraq, and Afghanistan. These vets have lived through unimaginable horrors and are simply trying to get through each day. What I’ve learned in the past 5 years about trauma and grief: Sometimes, less is more. Keep it simple. Listen, make space. Go slow. Be kind. Be gentle. Be present.
I work with clients based on my sense of what will be most helpful for them. I generally use some form of CBT. I use Mindfulness Based techniques. Sometimes, I’ll use the concept of Radical Acceptance, when a client is in a particularly difficult place. I encourage clients to practice self-forgiveness and self-empathy, when they are able to. At times, I use Expressive Therapies; in particular, I’ve used writing exercises with clients who are working through grief.
Email:Ellen.Strong@bayareatherapygroup.comPhone: 866-227-7715
Vera Lanaro
Gender: Female
Languages: English
Training: MSW University of Southern Main
Specialty: Grief Counseling
Pronouns: She, Her
LCSW 92059
I received my masters’ degree in social work in 2005 from the University of Maine and my LCSW in 2007.
Originally from New York, I lived in Maine for many years before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2018. I received my undergraduate degree in philosophy and decided to go into social work so I could put the questions and ideas I was studying into practical use helping other people. I wanted to know what it means to live a good life, and I wanted to help other people explore these questions in their own lives. While studying philosophy, I became interested in Eastern thought and began a meditation practice that has remained a central part of my life since then.
I’ve worked in community mental health providing services for adults including case management,
individual therapy, and group counseling. I also worked for several years at an inpatient psychiatric
hospital where I learned the importance of reducing stigma and mobilizing community support for
people struggling with acute mental illness.
I believe everyone can learn from their life experiences and improve the quality of their lives. I work
with clients using cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness techniques to help them learn how to recognize and change unhealthy or painful patterns in their lives. The work is not always easy or
comfortable, but it is rewarding, and it has the power to bring lasting, positive change to our lives.
I enjoy playing pickle ball, hiking, knitting, and movies. I also like to cook and try out new recipes. During the pandemic I started doing origami; I’m currently working on folding 1,000 origami cranes.
Email:
vera.lanaro@bayareatherapygroup.com
Phone: 866-227-7715
Sheila Smith
Gender: Female
Languages: English
Training:
Specialty: youth, elders
Pronouns: She, Her
LCSW 19980
I have always been a good listener and observer. I love hearing the fascinating details of people’s lives. At one time in my life, I used the talent of drawing out peoples’ stories as an award-winning newspaper reporter. Then, in grad school for my MSW at Fresno State, I discovered that being a good listener is at the heart of being an effective counselor.
When I meet clients I want to learn all about them and the many things that may be influencing their lives at this moment. I see my role as helping them figure out what they need to make their lives happier and more fulfilling. Together we can overcome obstacles that are in the way, and make it happen. I may know useful resources, books, techniques, or even movies that could be of benefit, but clients themselves best know their own lives. My 36 years of experience have been mostly in locked settings - hospitals, jails, prisons and psychiatric emergency rooms working with people in crisis. I have seen it all and, really, nothing shocks me.
I truly enjoy the challenges of variety and can work with just about anyone, young or old, male or female. I’m also an artist, a house flipper, and a wife, mother and grandmother, and I’ve traveled extensively in Europe, the Middle East, Indonesia and Egypt. For the last five years I’ve taken groups of women on trips to different parts of Europe. I treasure experiencing the richness of many cultures and worldviews. I look forward to meeting you and working with you.
Email:
Sheila.Smith@bayareatherapygroup.com
Phone: 866-227-7715
Laura Goossens
Gender: Fluid (female-leaning)
Languages: English
Training: MA Counseling, MFC emphasis
Palo Alto University
Therapy Focus: Somatics, Anxiety, Trauma, Communication
Pronouns: she, they, he
Registration: Registered Associate MFT #110920, Registered Associate PCC #5987
Supervised by John C Bieda Jr. LMFT 42387
Hello, I’m Laura! I'm passionate about helping people improve their Present by addressing their Past. People describe my style as collaborative, warm, direct, and goal-focused. I help clients in their work toward self-esteem, healthy relationships, grounded communication, stress management, improved mood, and access to services/resources. I have extensive experience in–but don’t limit my work to–traum a therapy. I use an integrated and evidence-based approach of CBT, EMDR, IFS, and somatic/mind-body techniques. My frameworks include anti-classism, anti-racism, harm-reduction, intersectional feminism, and disability-informed and trauma-informed care. I offer a free consultation, including Q&A about all the aforementioned acronyms and terms! (Details below.) Please note I work with families or adults age 18+ only, no individual minors.
Communities I belong to and am experienced in serving: disabled/chronic illness, sex positive, kink/polyam/alternative lifestyle, genderqueer, fat positive, and neurodivergent folks. Happy to serve folks from other groups too of course!
Personal values I bring to sessions: unconditional positive regard, challenging someone with compassion, lifelong work on my own biases and blindspots, and openness to feedback.
Sessions are remote (video only) and for clients living anywhere in California. Pricing: Significant sliding scale available; note I am not accepting new sliding scale clients likely until Jan 2023. Pro-rated sessions up to 90minutes available. Individual therapy: $135/therapeutic hour, Couples' therapy $175/65minutes, weekly sessions required for at least first three months. Please contact me for a free video consultation at laura.goossens@bayareatherapygroup.com (note: copy-paste to avoid spelling errors).
P.S. I support clients in setting better boundaries in their lives, but I'm a total hypocrite when it comes to my senior rescue kittie. She wants hand feedings, 4am belly rubs, and 80% of my pillow at night; I say Yes to all of it.
Email:
Laura.Goossens@bayareatherapygroup.com
Phone: 510-662-3959
Thuy Cao
Gender: Female
Languages: English
Training: MA Clinical Psychology, Antioch University
Specialty: Workplace stress, Cultural & LGBTQ
Pronouns: She, Her
LMFT 49946 & 203533
My name is Thuy Cao (pronounce Twee Cow). I was born in Vietnam, raised and educated in the United States. Prior to becoming a licensed clinician, with a specialty in Employee Assistance Programs, I was a classroom teacher, a curriculum & diversity trainer, a registered financial advisor and a technical project manager.
I enjoy working with adults on issues pertaining to workplace burnout, fears-worries around money and LGBTQ-related topics. I primarily use Cognitive-Behavioral, Solution-Focused and Strength-based Psychology techniques to help clients feel less stress, sleep better, and more confident. My diverse personal and work experiences as well as my academic training make me uniquely qualified to help individuals with the aforementioned issues.
Your level of comfort with me is very important. Our initial telephone conversation will give us a sense of our compatibility. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you.
Email:
Thuy.Cao@bayareatherapygroup.com
Phone: 866-227-7715
Heather Mclarnon
Gender: Female
Languages: English, Spanish & Portuguese
Training:
Specialty: Trauma
Pronouns: She, Her
LMFT 515193
When we experience trauma or when life becomes stressful, it can feel like our lives are unraveling. When your life isn’t working out the way you want, and you know you have to change what doesn’t work, it’s hard to know how to make it all different.
I meet my clients wherever they are at with a lot of empathy and a lot of heart. I can support you if you want to:
-heal from trauma
-manage anxiety
-understand the roots of addiction
- -strengthen your relationships
- build a life in spite of childhood abuse and neglect -move through the grieving process after a loss -create the life you truly want for yourself
My style is based in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and I am certified in EMDR to treat trauma. I have 10 years of clinical experience and am a licensed psychotherapist. We all have the potential to find fulfillment in our lives. If you are ready, let’s work.
Email:
Heather.McLarnon@bayareatherapygroup.com
Phone: 866-227-7715
Ruth Whittington
Ruth Whittington
Marriage and Family Therapist, MA, PPSC, LMFT
Languages: English
Pronouns: She, her
Specialty : Anxiety, OCD, Trauma, Neurofeedback, teenagers, and couples
LMFT 126060
I am originally from Southern California and have slowly moved up the state while
earning my MFT, MA/PPSC and LMFT.
I received my bachelors in social science and then studied social work and decided to
work with children and families in foster and group homes. That lead me to have a
family of my own. The next area of study for me was a degree in counseling with an
emphasis in academic counseling where I supported students and families
(academically and emotionally for 17 years). I became interested in psychology and
how the brain works, particularly related to trauma and earned my LMFT along with a
program in Neurofeedback. This lead me to working with a private agency and
supporting individuals, couples and families. I work with clients using cognitive behavior
therapy, mindfulness techniques, brief therapy and narrative therapy, eclectic and NFB
to support them in recognizing and understanding what changes they can make to
lessen and eliminate unhealthy patterns.
Life can be challenging and stressful and it can affect a person in many ways such as:
depression, anxiety, trauma, illness or strained relationships. If you’re struggling in your
relationship, adjusting to change in your life, stressed, anxious or depressed and trying
to survive, perhaps I can help.
My many years of working with foster and group home youth, working academically and
emotionally with high school students and their families, supporting a variety of
individuals with their depression, anxiety, trauma, transitions in their life have given me
a great deal of experience and respect for those who seek help.
I enjoy reading, cooking, gardening, hiking and traveling the world. I enjoy learning
trying new recipes and new restaurants. My latest endeavor has been refurbishing a
home from 1912 and visiting all of the National Parks in the continental U.S.
Email:
Ruth.Whittington@bayareatherapygroup.com
Phone: 866-227-7715
additional clincians:
Lillith Shonkwiler, Licensed Clinical Social Worker #107517
Kameswari Jammalamadaka, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #45662