psychodynamic Therapy for adults in the SAN FRANCISCO bay area and across california
Therapy can be a place you come home to yourself
You’ve built a life that looks fine on the outside. But there’s usually more underneath the surface.
That’s where we look.
You're probably good at holding it together. Capable, thoughtful — someone others rely on. And yet something underneath isn't settling. A pattern that keeps returning. A feeling you can't quite name.
In our work together, we create space for what's been harder to reach. We explore the deeper roots: past relationships, early experiences, the quiet rules you learned about who you're supposed to be. And we pay close attention to what happens between us because the therapeutic relationship itself becomes a place where old patterns surface and something different becomes possible.
I’m Areeza, a licensed therapist (LCSW) in the Bay Area
There's a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from working hard on yourself and still feeling stuck in the same place. Or from holding your life together so well on the outside that no one would guess how much is going unattended inside. If either of those lands, you're probably exactly who I work with.
People come to me at different moments. Some are caught in patterns they can name but can't seem to change. Some are in the middle of a transition: a relationship ending, a career shifting or becoming a parent, and find that the change has stirred up something much older and harder to place. Some are asking quieter questions: who am I, what do I actually want, what have I been carrying that was never really mine to carry. And some are navigating all of this while also carrying the richness and weight of a multicultural identity, of being first-generation, of belonging to more than one world at once.
What these people share is that the usual answers haven't been enough. And that the real work needs to go somewhere deeper.
My approach is relational and psychodynamic, which means I'm not just listening to your story. I'm listening with you for what the story is organized around. What it's protecting. What it hasn't been allowed to say yet. The relationship between us is part of the work. What comes up in the room is data, and I pay attention to it. I'll name what I notice.
I trained at The Psychotherapy Institute in Berkeley, where I received advanced training in relational and psychodynamic therapy, and have spent the last decade working with adults across California.
I believe being truly seen by another person, not advised, not fixed, but seen, is still one of the most healing things there is.
My approach to Psychodynamic and Relational Therapy: for people whose lives look fine on the outside, but doesn’t feel that way inside.
My approach is psychodynamic and relational, meaning our work focuses on understanding the deeper emotional patterns that shape how you experience yourself, your relationships, and the world. Rather than offering quick fixes or surface-level strategies alone, psychodynamic therapy helps uncover the underlying dynamics - often rooted in early relationships or repeated relational experiences - that continue to influence present-day struggles.
In our work together, the therapeutic relationship itself becomes an important space for insight and change. By paying attention to what unfolds between us, we can better understand longstanding relational patterns, attachment styles, and emotional responses that may show up in other areas of your life.
I often work with high-achieving professionals, parents, and individuals navigating complex family systems or relationship dynamics. Many of my clients are outwardly successful yet feel internally anxious, emotionally disconnected, or stuck in familiar cycles they can’t seem to shift on their own. Psychodynamic therapy offers a space to slow down, reflect, and make sense of these experiences at a deeper level - supporting growth that feels both meaningful and sustainable.
Who Psychodynamic Therapy is Helpful For
Adults experiencing chronic anxiety or emotional overwhelm
Individuals navigating relationship or attachment difficulties
High-achieving professionals dealing with burnout, perfectionism, or identity questions
People interested in depth-oriented therapy rather than short-term symptom management
Those wanting to understand how past experiences continue to shape present patterns
I specialize in helping people uncover the “why” to their feelings and break repetitive patterns.
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Major transitions - ending a relationship, shifting careers or becoming a parent can stir up a lot more than just change. They can shake up your sense of identity, bring up grief, or raise questions about this next stage in your life.
I can help you move through these in between stages with compassion. Together, we will explore the emotional roots that get activated in times of change - whether it’s a fear of being alone, a pressure to “have it all together,” or uncertainty about who you are becoming. Rather than pushing through, I will help you slow down and support you with making meaning of these changes
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You’re stuck in the same patterns - giving too much, feeling unseen or struggling to express what you really need. Perhaps family dynamics feel heavy or friendships unsatisfying.
In therapy, we’ll explore how relationships - from your family of origin to current relationships with others - have shaped your relationship to emotions, responsibility and self-worth. We will work together to understand how unspoken rules, roles and survival strategies you might unconsciously still be carrying are affecting you.
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Somewhere along the way, you lost yourself. Or perhaps, you never consciously knew who you were.
You might be seeking support with defining your purpose. Perhaps you need help finding meaning in your life. Or maybe are grappling with major life decisions, and you need help finding clarity.
You want to understand yourself - your needs, values, desires and boundaries. If this is you, you have come to the right place.
How it works
Ready to begin?
Click this link to schedule a complimentary consultation. I typically respond within two business days.
We will set up an initial 20 minute phone call where you can share what you’re seeking support with in therapy. You will have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have and get a sense of my style.
If we both feel aligned, we will schedule our first session. Here is what you can expect in our first few sessions.