Cara Zeisloft, LCSW
Berkeley, California
VerifiedTelehealth Available
My Approach to Therapy
Every positive therapy depends on a good personal connection. I begin by trying to get a clear sense of how your life feels to you, and what you want to change. Regardless of the issue that brings you to therapy, I am committed to discovering together the solutions that work best for you. I have been privileged to witness this process throughout my practice, and I have come to believe that an understanding and connected treatment relationship is a powerful tool for change, growth, and enlivenment. My approach is warm, thoughtful, and engaged. I share my thoughts clearly and openly, and offer tools that I think will be useful, but also recognize that you are the best judge to choose what works for you. I am committed to helping you be more effective and feel in control of the direction your life is taking.
My Practice & Services
My fee is $160. I do not accept private insurance, but am happy to provide you with a bill if your insurance plan offers partial reimbursement. In order to help keep psychotherapy accessible to many, I reserve a few times where I can adjust my fee in cases of clear financial need. Let me know when we speak if this is something you think you would need. If I do not have any spaces open, I will refer you to lower-fee providers in the community.
On the Fence About Going to Therapy?
If you're not sure if therapy is right for you, I recommend having a first session--perhaps with a few different therapists--and seeing how that feels. I invite new clients to tell me what does and doesn't work for them in our sessions, and am focused on understanding the individual's experience. I share frankly whether I feel that therapy will be helpful to someone, and offer my thoughts of what else could be useful to them.
Had a Negative Therapy Experience?
Because therapy is a place where people are invited to be their most vulnerable selves, a negative experience can be especially painful and can resonate for years. However, therapists often work very differently from one another, and working with one who feels like a good "fit" can be transformative. As with any type of relationship, there is a wide range of possibilities; one bad experience does not represent all that's possible in therapy. When a client comes to me following a negative, or even an underwhelming therapy experience, I encourage them to tell me about it, both as a way to help heal, and as a way to help me understand what they need from our work together.
Expertise & Specialties
Age Groups I Work With
TeensAdultsElders
Groups I Work With
Areas of specialty include sexual and gender identity, including those in the gender transition process; relationship and sexual difficulties in both women and men; sleep issues; and parenting and step-parenting issues. I also have extensive experience working with teens. Other areas of particular interest include helping people who are navigating spiritual or religious issues, and helping men integrate masculinity and intimacy.
Therapy Services & Specialties
Clinical SupervisionConsultationIndividual Therapy & CounselingMarriage, Couples, or Relationship CounselingTelehealth
Concerns & Challenges Addressed
AbandonmentAbuse / Abuse Survivor IssuesAcademic ConcernsAddictions and CompulsionsAdjusting to Change / Life TransitionsAgoraphobiaAngerAnxiety
Therapeutic Approaches & Evidence-Based Methods
Anger ManagementCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Depth TherapyDepth-Oriented Brief TherapyDreamworkEmotion Focused TherapyFeminist TherapyIntegration of different therapy models