Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in San Francisco
Depression and anxiety can make everything feel heavier — relationships, work, simple decisions, even rest.
You might notice a persistent low mood, a sense of numbness, or a constant undercurrent of worry that you can't seem to shake. Some days it shows up as exhaustion. Others, as irritability, restlessness, or the creeping feeling that something is wrong even when nothing obviously is.
You don't have to keep pushing through alone.
What Depression and Anxiety Actually Feel Like
Many people who come to therapy don't fit the textbook description — they're still functioning, still showing up. But something is off.
Common experiences include:
Low mood or emptiness — not necessarily sadness, but a flatness or disconnection from things that used to feel meaningful
Persistent worry — cycling thoughts about the future, relationships, health, or work that you can't turn off
Fatigue and low motivation — feeling drained even after rest, struggling to start or finish things
Physical symptoms — headaches, stomach issues, tension, or sleep disruption
Irritability or emotional reactivity — feeling on edge, snapping at people you care about
Avoidance — pulling back from social situations, responsibilities, or anything that might make things worse
If any of these sound familiar, therapy can help.
My Approach — ACT for Depression and Anxiety
I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based approach that builds on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and takes it further.
Traditional CBT works by identifying and restructuring negative thinking patterns. ACT takes a different angle: rather than arguing with your thoughts, you learn to relate to them differently — to observe them without being controlled by them. This matters for depression and anxiety because trying harder to suppress or "fix" difficult thoughts often makes them louder.
In our work together, we focus on three things:
Mindfulness — noticing thoughts and feelings as they arise, without automatically acting on them or being swept away by them
Values — getting clear on what genuinely matters to you, separate from what anxiety or depression is telling you to care about
Committed action — taking meaningful steps in the direction of your values, even when discomfort is present
For some clients, I also integrate Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT) — particularly useful for people who appear high-functioning on the outside but feel emotionally closed off, overcontrolled, or lonely despite seeming fine.
Who I Work With
I work with individuals in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout California via telehealth. Many of my clients are high-achieving professionals — in tech, healthcare, law, and other demanding fields — who are managing a lot on the outside while quietly struggling on the inside.
I also have a particular focus on men's mental health. Men often present with depression and anxiety differently — through anger, withdrawal, overwork, or physical symptoms — and benefit from a therapist who understands that.
If you're dealing with depression or anxiety alongside work stress or burnout, relationship difficulties, or sexual concerns, those things are connected and we can address them together.
Is ACT the same as CBT?
ACT is part of the same family as CBT — both are evidence-based and focus on changing behavior. The key difference is that ACT emphasizes acceptance and values-based action rather than directly challenging thoughts. Many people find it more flexible and less confrontational.
Do I need a diagnosis to start therapy?
No. You don't need a formal diagnosis of depression or anxiety to benefit from therapy. If something feels off, that's enough reason to reach out.
Do you offer telehealth?
Yes. Sessions are available online throughout California.
How long does therapy take?
Many people notice meaningful change within 8–12 sessions. Others continue longer. There's no set timeline — you stay as long as it's useful.
