My Philosophy

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There’s no question that life can be difficult. The times in which we live require a combination of focus, stamina, dedication, and persistence- or in other words balance. At one time or another, most of us will experience unexpected difficulties that make it hard to function and sustain the energy and balance needed just to get through our daily routines. Hardships such as loss, trauma, grief, financial problems, personal identity, career issues, addictions, toxic relationships and unresolved issues from childhood can keep us off balance and chip away at our self-esteem. When we experience really difficult times it can seem as if our goals and our dreams for a fulfilling, authentic life come to a frightening halt. The idea of seeking help may or may not be new to you; you may have found it useful to work with a person trained to listen, understand, support you through difficult times. Or, you may be considering taking this step for the first time. Although making the decision to seek support may be a bit frightening at first, I believe that seeking help is a sign of strength and reflects resilience and your commitment to having the life you really want. This includes having relationships that are healthy, supportive, and mutually enhancing to yourself and others.

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My Work

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My work is anchored in a psychodynamic/relational way of understanding problems and is influenced by Control Mastery Theory (CMT). Working from CMT perspective incorporates the understanding of a person’s cognitive, behavioral, and emotional experiences. One of the primary concepts of CMT is that on some level (often unconscious) most people have an idea of what they need to heal and feel better. Working from this perspective can facilitate a way of providing you with an external nervous system (the provider) to help identify and process the issues that are holding you (the person seeking support) back. I base my interventions and strategies on your subjective experience and ideas about the problems you may be having. My job is to guide you through the process and assist you in working through issues in an empathetic, non-judgmental, and goal oriented fashion.

Contact Me

If you would like to discuss any of the services listed above you can contact me for additional information

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• email:

• phone: 510-330-1649

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Elizabeth B. Cleves, Psy. D. Registered Psychological Assistant B94023658

Supervised and employed by Rachel Robbins, Psy.D. # Psy22646