Licensed Psychologist PSY17468 5835 College Avenue, Oakland
(510) 986-9295 [email protected]

Psychotherapy for Adults, Couples, and Adolescents

Therapy can help you overcome difficulties, live creatively, and feel more alive. Many people become stuck in ways of thinking and living that no longer serve them. Through a caring therapeutic relationship, you can develop the courage to live in a meaningful and fulfilling way.

Over the past 20 years, I have helped people with a wide variety of issues work through significant challenges, freeing them to make better choices. To work effectively, I believe it is necessary to meet clients where they are emotionally and intellectually, as true psychological growth involves a creative collaboration between client and therapist. I endeavor to bring sensitivity and awareness to my clients’ unique cultural, economic, and spiritual perspectives. Helping people to grow into their potential is a deeply rewarding experience, inspiring me to continue developing my own sense of humanity.

Choosing a therapist is an important decision. I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation for prospective clients to see if we are a good fit. In addition to psychotherapy provided in-person and via video, I also provide consultation and coaching, and offer talks to organizations of all kinds, including businesses. See my Creativity page for more information.

Dr Tara Rech
Experience

Since 1994, I have worked with a diverse group of clients – couples and individuals – with a wide range of issues in a variety of settings, including my private practice, college counseling centers, and community mental health clinics. Many of the clients I see in my psychotherapy practice are visual or performing artists, designers, and others working in creative fields. I also regularly treat mental health and medical professionals, business leaders and executives, college students, and professors. In addition to my full time private practice, I offer workshops on mental health and creativity topics, and served as the Director of Counseling at the California College of the Arts from 2005-2019. In my role at CCA, I supervised and trained doctoral-level psychology interns to work effectively with creative people in short-term and longer-term therapy, and provided consultations to staff and faculty working with art students. I continue to teach a variety of workshops to the Bay Area community on topics such as creativity, working through creative blocks, crisis intervention, sexual harassment and consent, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and making the most of the critique process.

Education
  • Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The Wright Institute, Berkeley, CA
  • B.A. in Psychology from UC Berkeley, graduated with highest honors
  • Trained in the Performing Arts at the Drama Studio of London
  • Continuing education courses taken each year through the Gottman Institute (completed Levels 1,2 and 3 couples training), Greater Good Science Center, Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology, and other professional training organizations
Sample of Professional Training
  • Mills College Counseling and Psychological Services
  • UCSF/Mount Zion Outpatient Psychiatry Department
  • The Wright Institute Clinic, Berkeley
  • La Familia Counseling, Hayward
  • Gottman Institute Couples Therapy levels 1,2, and 3
Professional Memberships
  • American Psychological Association
  • Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology
  • Alameda County Psychological Association
Creativity Consultation and Coaching for Individuals

In addition to psychotherapy, I help people in the creative professions on a consultation basis to overcome creative blocks and define and refine their creative processes. I also help people in other professions to learn to think and work outside of the box. This way of working is becoming a necessity in our ever-changing world. I offer consultation and coaching with an agreed upon number of meetings, usually three to ten. One-time diagnostic consultations are also available.

Talks and Workshops on Creativity and Mental Health Topics

I have been teaching on creativity and mental health topics in the Bay Area since 1999, after I completed my dissertation on the topic of how meaningful experiences are facilitated through art. I am available to tailor a talk or a longer workshop for your business, school or organization on the following topics: Enhancing Creativity, Thinking Outside of the Box, How to Make a Referral to a Mental Health Practitioner, Mental Health Crisis Intervention, Overcoming Depression, Stress Management, Anxiety Reduction, and more. Some of the places where I have provided talks and workshops are California College of the Arts, San Francisco Art Institute, Kaiser Outpatient Psychiatry Department (Oakland), Alta Bates Herrick Hospital (Berkeley), San Francisco State University, and the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology.

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