Ellen Stern, Marriage Counselor in Oakland, 94610

Ellen Stern

Profession(s):
Marriage & Family Therapy, Psychology, Coaching
License Status:
I'm a licensed professional.
Primary License:
MFT - 23218

My Approach to Helping

My work is an invitation to live with possibilities and be open to outcomes.

I work present forward, without ignoring the past, and with a focus on what is now and what do you want.

The work I provide includes:

Consulting, influenced by years of experience as a psychotherapist, to improve your relationship with your most authentic self.

A look at what you have, and clarify what you want.

Concrete, workable action steps to get what you truly want.

An opportunity to engage with your most capable, authentic self to achieve a sense of fulfillment and wholeness.

And, through collaboration, find your own best answers.

I work with people and what they dream of having in their lives. We approach the work from an understanding of what you have and what you truly want, and we find ways to take steps to fulfilling those dreams.

More Info About My Practice

I am a licensed Marriage Family Therapist as well as a Certified Financial Recovery Counselor. With my background in psychotherapy, my understanding of addiction and co-addiction, I help people understand what they actually have, whether it be hundreds of thousands of dollars or very little, and we look at ways to help you clarify and achieve what you really want.

I also work with young adults to "Launch" which involves knowing their financial needs and situation and when agreed upon, meeting with the parents to sort out issues of separation, how money plays a role in the family dynamic, and how to manage until they can get on their own two feet.

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

I create a very safe place for personal wisdom to come forward and be used. I have had great success helping people gain a new perspective that is more closely tied to what is authentic to them. This is work that helps people uncover who they are with a focus on what can change and how and live in a more satisfied way in the present.

Theoretical Influences that Guide My Work

I am deeply influenced by my knowledge of what I call "looping". That is the mind spinning we do in an attempt to change someone or something. It is what happens when we can't stop thinking about how to fix, manage or control something and we believe that if we keep looping, we will finally get the answer or the right solution and everything will feel better. It never works and though we know that, we can't change it until we know how to recognize it and what else we can do. I work with the recognition of knowing what we do, what we want to do, and the action needed to make change. The action is never as big, or different or daunting as we fear. The process to stop the looping is not complicated, it is manageable, and done more easily than we usually think.

Services I Provide

Individual Therapy & Counseling
Marriage, Couples, or Relationship Counseling
Family Therapy
Group Therapy
Coaching
Consultation
Clinical Supervision
Online Counseling / Phone Therapy
Home-Based Therapy
Other

Ages I Work With

Teens
Adults
Elders

Languages I Speak

English

Groups I Work With

I specialize working with young adults launching into the next right step. I work with the young adults and when important with their parents helping all look at what is holding back the transition and what is needed to move it along.