top of page

About Me and My Practice

Divergent Worlds includes me, and associates here to collaborate and learn from like-spirited people. We all provide therapy in our unique styles, and a range of assessments, letters and documentation, and advocacy.

Training and Experience

My background and training draws heavily from depth psychotherapy theories (how our childhood experiences, histories, and relationships influence our current, past, and future perceptions and experiences), and relational theories (the ways relationships with ourselves and others impact, influence, and inspire us). I also find it important and exciting to learn and incorporate current methods and ideas into my work and style. I am particularly inspired and informed by and drawn to trauma aware approaches that acknowledge how our minds, bodies, and environments work together to contribute to our experiences and responses to the world.

 

There are many trainings I participate in and am drawn to, including training on sexuality/gender/relationship diversity, justice and oppression, and de-pathologized/non-judgmental approaches to sub cultures and symptoms. I combine these expansive trainings with participating in trainings that offer certification and expansion of therapy tools and ideas. These certification trainings reflect my goal of learning and applying additional tools and techniques and integrating them in along with liberated, community, and trauma aware foundations. I always aim to apply theories and skills based on what I and the client feel are the best approaches for each person and situation. We can explore new tools and include a range of practices as we go.

 

  • Level 1 certification in EMDR

  • Certification in Brainspotting

  • Completed Phase 1 and 2 Brainspotting training

  • Completed Gottman Method Couples therapy training level 1 and 2

  • San Francisco Sex Information sex educator training and supervisor training

  • Supervision- Supervision of clinical trainees

  • Certified Telemental Health Provider (Telehealth/ Distance Therapy)

About the Office

Meeting In Person

Our therapy office was designed with environmental friendliness in mind. Clean, sanitized, gently used furniture and accessories are used whenever possible, and supplies are natural, organic, recyclable, and compostable when possible. The office is free from direct animal products (fabrics, candles, etc) and is low-scent. We have filtered water, air filters in each room, hand sanitizer, and a sink in the waiting room if you would like to wash your hands or gather yourself before you leave.

 

The office is up one flight of stairs and down a long hallway. There is elevator access in the building, no steps to entry, and a push button security system with a numeric code for entrance.

 

Our building has gendered restrooms on each floor and an all gender restroom on the ground level. Keys for the restrooms are located in our waiting room.

Land Acknowledgement

I live and work within the unceded land of the Muwekma and Raymatush Ohlone peoples, also known as San Francisco. In recognizing this I acknowledge that I have benefited from colonial practices along with the genocide and displacement of Indigenous people.

I acknowledge the land to honor Indigenous sovereignty, activism, and joy, and I acknowledge that colonialism is an ongoing process. In continuing my journey in this world on this land I commit to listen to and amplify Indigenous voices, stand in solidarity with local Indigenous communities, and respect local Indigenous protocol.

For further Exploration:

Meeting Remotely

I typically use Doxy.me, a secure and therapy-specific platform for remote meetings. We can discuss other options if that ever doesn't work for us.

 

When meeting remotely, I am in my home office space. I share my space with a dog and a cat, and while they mostly stay in their own space during our sessions, you might hear them if the doorbell rings or they decide to loudly communicate about something. If you ever want to meet them I can welcome them in to the office to greet you.

A Little On Who I Am

I am a queer/bi, White-bodied, culturally/non-religious Jewish person of Polish/Spanish-Turkish Ladino/English/Welsh descent with mobility and vision differences and I use she/her pronouns. My practice, therapy styles, approaches, and training are all continuously growing and I am always excited to learn and try new things. I know and relate to many nerd worlds, strive to befriend animals and beings of all kinds, and my comments are often full of Sci-Fi and fantasy imagery.

I welcome you to ask questions about me and my work if and as you have them.

A Little On The Therapy Field

Therapy is an ongoing process, and there are many ways to do it. Therapy and the many corners of the field and versions of therapy are continuing to grow and develop, and both new or re-imagined traditional styles hold many keys to supporting us as we move through the world and our healing. Therapy isn't always the right option, and when it is, there are many many different theories and styles from very active and direct to incredibly spacious, structured to extremely unplanned. Sometimes our needs change, and a certain style or approach can become very or important, or much less so, as you move through the work. That can be part of the process, and I welcome you to continue your journey with me, and to move on to your next journey in a new context when or if that feels right.

The therapy field continues to have work to do. The field of mental health in general and psychology specifically has both historically and currently engaged in practices that lead to a lot of harm for many communities. Black, Indigenous, POC, non-monogamous, BDSM practitioners, gender expansive folks, fat folks, disabled folks, trauma-impacted folks, and many other communities have had to and still have to fight for safe, informed, person-focused, supportive care. Starting and being in therapy can be hard, and especially hard in the context of judgments, labels, misinformation, and barriers to getting what you need.

 

As a White psychologist I recognize my privileges in being able to operate in this field, and navigate the many hurdles it can bring.

I continue to work to acknowledge the whole therapy field through staying present, advocating for change, raising questions, learning our history, collaborating with others, listening, re-imagining diagnoses, providing letters and documentation to reduce barriers for clients, and exploring different ways of growing and healing.

 

I actively work to recognize my own conscious and unconscious biases as we all make our way together in the world and in therapy. My own work in deepening my clinical work and continuing my anti-racist journeys are and always will be an ongoing learning and unlearning process.

About
Rachel wears a warm slight smile and sits in front of a teal wall with shelves and a leafy green plant
A therapy office full of blue, purple, and grey furniture and decor
bottom of page