Jesse Whittle-Utter

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Jesse Whittle-Utter

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Telehealth Available
Professions: Marriage & Family Therapist, Mental Health Counselor, Psychotherapist
License Status: I'm a licensed professional.
Primary Credential: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - 79783
Billing and Insurance:

I don't currently accept insurance, but I can provide documentation if clients wish to submit to an insurance company for "out of network" benefit coverage

Fees: I currently offer both in-person and online sessions.

My fee is $225 per 50-minute session, with a $25 cash discount. I am not in-network with any insurance providers, but many insurance plans offer partial reimbursement for out-of-network psychotherapy and I can provide a Superbill for you to submit with your claim. My website has instructions on how to check with your insurance provider about their coverage.

I reserve reduced-fee slots for current clients who are experiencing financial hardship.
Free Initial Consultation

Offices

1600 Shattuck Ave
Ste 200
Berkeley, California 94709

View Accessibility

Follow on Social Media

FB

My Approach to Helping

I offer a warm, focused, and practical hybrid of psychotherapy and coaching that is aimed at unearthing root causes of suffering and then co-creating action plans to help you disrupt unwanted patterns. I work from the premise that traumatic experiences and relationships--whether obvious or subtle, incidental or enduring--profoundly shape the way we see ourselves and experience the world around us. If you suspect that your inner life could be more vibrant and connected, or if you find that fear, avoidance, or simply the force of habit is preventing you from thriving, you may have unprocessed trauma that is seeking resolution. I have a particular interest in helping my clients set and maintain healthy boundaries, develop communication skills, question their beliefs assumptions about themselves and others, and learn how to be vulnerable and take risks.

I am queer-identified and specialize in working with clients across a broad range of non-normative sexual and gender identities, and those who have unconventional relationships (polyamory, nonmonogamy, etc.). However, my clientele is diverse and comes from all walks of life.

Psychotherapy is more than just paying for someone to be an active listener. Therapy engages you, challenges you, and supports you around your current suffering, and helps you find clarity and momentum toward future goals. It's a method of moving through stuck places and interrupting repeating patterns. It's a space where you can be completely honest with yourself and with another. It's a place to heal, experiment, grieve and hope. And it's a way of offering yourself choices.

My goal is to engage the parts of you that are seeking healing and wholeness; to share observations and feedback; to offer practical guidance, tools and resources; and to earn your trust. The basis of my therapeutic approach is psychodynamic, meaning I look at the ways unconscious thoughts and beliefs determine and keep us stuck in present difficulties. I also utilize eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to help heal past traumas and alleviate anxieties about the future.

What I Usually Need to Know to Help

I love to know basic background information, as well as what you have already tried in terms of seeking support and coping. This information helps me better understand how to best meet your needs.

On the Fence About Going to Therapy?

If you're not sure if therapy is right for you, give me a call at 510-740-8024 and we can discuss your situation. An initial consultation is an easy and quick way to get a sense of me, have your questions answered and any concerns addressed. I will not try to sell you on therapy if I don't think it's right for you--sometimes it isn't the best option, or I'm not the best fit, and I am happy to provide other resources might meet better your needs. I am knowledgeable about mental health resources and supports, and consider connecting people to these resources a way of giving back.

Had a Negative Therapy Experience?

I work with many people who have had negative experiences with therapy in the past. Sometimes, after hearing their stories, I am astonished they are giving it another try! Here's the thing: therapists vary widely when it comes to skill, training, and appropriateness for your unique situation. Sometimes therapists are ineffectual and sometimes they actually do more harm than good. One common complaint I hear is that therapists just listen, nod, and ask you how you feel.

If you have had a bad experience, it's important for me to know that so we can avoid re-creating an unhelpful or harmful situation for you.

What I Say to People Concerned about the Therapy Process

Choosing a therapist you feel comfortable with is essential, so I encourage you to listen to your intuition and interview several therapists before making your decision. The cost of therapy is sometimes a concern. Because I find that the most rapid change occurs in the first three months of meeting consistently--and because my ultimate goal is to help you thrive without the need for therapy--the cost tends to be a finite investment in yourself that yields a lifetime of returns. Of course, I am available for ongoing therapy should we both determine it would be useful.

Video Message


Please note: The video above was submitted by Jesse Whittle-Utter, and any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by GoodTherapy.org. We do our best to ensure videos align with our mission and vision; however, if you find there is inappropriate content, please email us or call 888-563-2112 ext. 2.

Services I Provide

  • Clinical Supervision
  • Consultation
  • Individual Therapy & Counseling
  • Telehealth

Ages I Work With

  • Adults
  • Elders

Languages

  • English

Groups I Work With

    Gay men, LGBTQ+ community, polyamory, nonmonogamy, trauma survivors

Industries & Communities Served

  • First Responder/Medical Professionals
  • LGBTQ+
  • Self-Employed and Freelance Professionals

Client Concerns I Treat

  • Abuse / Abuse Survivor Issues
  • Anxiety
  • Codependency / Dependency
  • Dissociation
  • Emotional Abuse
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Emotional Overwhelm
  • Fear
  • Gender Dysphoria
  • Habits
  • Identity Issues
  • Inadequacy
  • LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) Issues
  • Men's Issues
  • Midlife Crisis / Midlife Transition
  • Polyamory / Nonmonogamous Relationships
  • Posttraumatic Stress / Trauma
  • Psychedelic and Altered State Integration Therapy
  • Relationships and Marriage
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Workplace Issues

Types of Therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Depth Therapy
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
  • Integral Psychotherapy (IP)
  • Psychodynamic

See other therapists in Berkeley, CA.


By using this site, you signify your assent and agreement to the Terms of Service.

GoodTherapy uses cookies to personalize content and ads to provide better services for our users and to analyze our traffic. By continuing to use this site you consent to our cookies.