459 Fulton St, Suite 106
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 625-9778
About Rachel and Divergent Worlds
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 initial 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). These inform some of my work but don't tell the whole story and often involve reinterpretation and a de-pathologized lens. I am inspired and informed by 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 non-judgmental approaches to sub cultures and symptoms. I also participate in trainings that offer certification and expansion of therapy tools and ideas. All of these additional tools and techniques are then integrated 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.
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Level 1 certification in EMDR
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Certification in Brainspotting
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Completed Phase 1, 2 and 3 Brainspotting training
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Completed Gottman Method Couples therapy training level 1 and 2
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San Francisco Sex Information sex educator training and supervisor training
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Supervision- Supervision of clinical trainees
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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. There are a few options for seating (couch or chair, wood or fabric, cushion for the floor), and lighting (brightness and hue). There are a range of sensory tools and toys available (fidgets, weighted blankets, card decks, sand). 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.
For directions to our office, check our Contact page.
Land Acknowledgement
I honor the Ohlone and Muwekma people as the traditional stewards of the stolen land where I live and work, currently known as San Francisco.
I pay my respects to their Elders and youth and everyone in between, past, present and future, and recognize their continuing connection and contribution to this land and our plants, animals, air, water, and world.
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 usually 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 challenges and I use she/her and they/them 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, 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.
I welcome folks from a broad range of backgrounds and lived experiences, and acknowledge space for your multiple identities and experiences around race, ethnicity, religion, spirituality, socio-economic status, ability, size, culture, immigration experience, alternative cultures, sexuality, gender, age, politics, and other identities and outlets for expression.
A Little On The Therapy Field
Therapy is an ongoing process, and there are many ways to experience it and go about 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 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. I welcome you to share what works and what doesn't as you 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 harm. Black, Indigenous, POC, non-monogamous, BDSM practitioners, gender expansive folks, fat folks, disabled folks, trauma-impacted folks, and many others have had to and still have to fight for informed, person-focused, de-pathologized care. Starting and being in therapy can be hard, and especially hard in the context of judgments, labels, misinformation, and barriers to being understood. I recognize my privileges in being able to operate in this field and navigate the many hurdles it can bring, and I am always searching for opportunities to apply the benefits to challenge and move through systems . I acknowledge the context of 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.
