Graciela Pagano, PT, CIMI, the founder and leader of Baby Builders, has more than 20 years of experience in the field of pediatric physical therapy.  Our uniquely-qualified, multicultural team of therapists (Spanish- and English-speaking) provides services in the natural environment of your home and in our clinic’s specialized outpatient setting.  Our professional staff’s mission is to consistently meet and exceed your individual needs. [Read More]

My Clients are individuals who are facing hardships regarding managing negative emotions that are preventing them from living a fulfilling life. People who are at a point in their lives who are facing the existential questions and are trying to find meaning in life and making their journey of achieving success a fulfilling one. I work with clients who are trying to tend to different areas of their lives to improve the qualities of their relationships with their friends and family, to add to the enjoyment they receive from their work, and to be able to acquire peace of mind and enjoy the present moment fully. [Read More]

Worried about your mental health? Relationships don’t work? Struggling to take that next step in your life? Trouble with anxiety or depression? Struggling with identity or sexuality issues? I can help. I am a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive training in individual and adolescent mental health. My areas of specialization include the treatment of anxiety and depression, trauma, PTSD, LGBTIQ, acculturative stress. If you want help with something specific that isn’t listed above, reach out. If I can’t help I have a large network of colleagues who might. I am particularly experienced helping expats, entrepreneurs/founders, and immigrants. [Read More]

Lara Taylor Kester is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Masters in Counseling Psychology and a Certificate in Traumatology from Holy Names University. She has also presented on mental health and geek culture at several comic conventions. Lara will work to integrate your passions into evidence based treatment approaches to make therapy fit your experiences. From comics and video games to sports, music, or whatever you geek out about, Lara encourages her clients to share what they are most passionate about as part of their therapeutic journey. [Read More]

I work in this field because I believe that we are all connected.  The well-being of one person has effects on others. When one person heals, those nearby are affected as well.  A centered parent can raise healthy children, a teacher that can reduce their own anxiety can create a calm classroom, a person that can be in the present can find clarity in the future. I am inspired to be part of the cycle of change for those that choose therapy.  I have been working in private practice offering mental health therapy since 2009. I have worked with children, adolescents, adults, parents and families. We have addressed parenting, stage of life transitions, adoption, identity, trauma and symptoms related to depression and anxiety. [Read More]

Throughout my career, I have successfully treated a broad spectrum of clients. I have seen adults, children, and couples seeking therapy for a wide range of problems and struggles, such as anxiety, depression, childhood trauma, and intimacy issues to mention a few. The common thread in working with such a diverse clientele is that I firmly believe that the primary curative factor in therapy is the safe and caring environment provided by the therapist. Therapy should never feel shaming or persecutory. It should be a place where people feel that they can be their true self so that exploration of who they are and wish to achieve can be possible. [Read More]

​“Live your life on purpose.”  For Dr. Vernita Marsh, this is more than just a philosophy, it describes her life’s path and her vision for the future.  From an early age, she knew what she wanted, laid out a plan, and set off to achieve her goal.  Helping clients in need, training and supervising up-and-coming therapists, and managing her own business, for Vernita Marsh, this is exactly where she was meant to be. [Read More]

Dr. Tompkins treats adults, adolescents, and children with anxiety disorders (panic, worry, phobias, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, health anxiety), stress, insomnia, body-focused repetitive behaviors (trichotillomania, skin picking, nail biting), elimination disorders (enuresis and encopresis), and Tourette’s and tic disorders. [Read More]

Dr. Lundin is a licensed clinical psychologist, in San Francisco and Oakland California, specializing in anxiety and mood-related disorders for Adults, Teens, and Children. He is an instructor, supervisor, and author of numerous publications on trauma, depression, anxiety, and what makes a psychotherapy effective. [Read More]

Dr. Tracy Ong is a licensed psychologist and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with doctoral training in behavior analysis. She graduated from the University of Southern California in 1996 with a B.A. in Psychology before pursuing her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of San Diego and her Ph.D. at Northern Arizona University. [Read More]

My style in therapy is a mix of person-centered, solution-focused, cognitive-behavioral, and psychodynamic theories. With children I utilize a variety of expressive therapies including play, art, narrative, sand tray and bibliotherapy.  In working with children, adolescents and adults, it is my belief that many of our current struggles in daily life stem from what we tell ourselves and how we react to situations (our cognitions and behaviors), thus I focus on coming up with solutions to your dilemma’s that can help you fairly quickly in your day to day life. [Read More]

I started in my quest to understand behavior and emotions as an undergraduate at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where I studied Psychology . I continued my education at San Francisco State University, earning a Masters of Science in Counseling. After earning my Master’s degree, I returned home to Oakland, California, where I have worked for over ten years with at-risk youth in Alameda County. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I currently provide therapy to young adults and teens at Children’s Hospital Oakland as a mental health therapist in their satellite clinic in East Oakland. I see clients in private practice once a week on Fridays. [Read More]

My practice is rooted in the belief that there is power in knowing and telling your own story. Who are you? What’s important to you? Let’s work together to untangle your story, identify your strengths, goals, passions, and barriers, and make you the author of what comes next. I work with people who want to make positive changes, but feel paralyzed by stress, fear, indecision, or old habits. I can also help you learn concrete strategies for managing uncomfortable thoughts, emotions, transitions, health conditions or problematic relationships. [Read More]

Matt has dedicated his professional career to developing innovative programs for individuals with disabilities. He has worked as a special education teacher, behavior analyst and administrator. He is also a speaker and consultant working at the local, national and international level. McAlear’s major professional interest centers on the therapeutic and educational needs of young children with autism spectrum disorders. He is dedicated to providing empirically based interventions at what he sees as a critical juncture in a child’s life. [Read More]

James C. Wogan, MFT, LCSW, PPSC is a dedicated school administrator, child and family therapist, teacher, and school social worker.   James developed the content for these trainings outside of his role with Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) in Contra Costa County (Bay Area, CA).  James developed and administers all aspects of the highly successful and state-recognized Foster Youth Services program in MDUSD, the Homeless Outreach Program for Education (Mt. Diablo HOPE), Elementary Mental Health Counseling and Play for Education (CAPE), the WIOA Workforce Readiness Program, and field placement supervision social work twenty (20) social work (MSW) and interns.    James has trained hundreds of school employees in Trauma-Informed Practices, School Wellness Centers, and School Coordinated Care Teams, and Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) system used for the delivery of behavioral health services by multi-disciplinary teams in school settings. [Read More]