Helen Chao
Hello there - my name is Helen, and I'm a board-licensed, poly/ENM-friendly COUPLES/romantic relationships psychotherapist. My primary modality is Transformative Couples Therapy, where I guide couples to deepen their ability to feel, receive, and show love to their partner(s).
My primary modality is Transformative Couples Therapy, where I guide couples to deepen their ability to feel, receive, and show love to their partner(s).
Please note that due to insurance limitations, I am only able to offer 30 MINUTE FOLLOWUP SESSIONS. Don't worry, we will get a lot done in this time! My work is trauma-informed and grounded in psychodynamic theory training, relational group work, and liberation psychology practice. I am highly skilled in working with depression, anxiety, and stress, which are often variations of emotion dysregulation (fear, anger, sadness, dissociation; even personality disorders and complex PTSD). I am deeply curious and enjoy exploring and adventuring, which is reflected in the the way I work as a therapist. If something is new to all of us, I am committed to learning and growing with you - as a team.
First session
In our intake session you can immediately experience moving out of crisis/defensive/angry communication into talking about what each member of the relationship is longing for from their partner(s).
Strengths
I'm well-organized, thoughtful, empathic, and open minded, and willing to co-discover solutions with you AND admit + repair mistakes when I make them.
Ideal clients
I work with all couples/romantic relationship configurations who seek better communication, more love, better mental health and more emotion regulation. I am comfortable working with poly/ENM relationships, and especially welcome those who identify as immigrant, BIPOC, and/or queer. I can work with families, though this is not my specialty. I am not able to work with individuals at this time.
Treatment methods
Couples Counseling
I work using Transformative Couples Therapy, which is an attachment-based therapy that grew out of AEDP. Additionally, I am Foundational-trained (Level 3) in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which informs how I help clients develop and maintain emotional stability before doing higher-level or deeper, often trauma-related, couples work. I am particularly skilled at treating all conditions and dynamics involving emotional dysregulation (depression, anxiety, trauma, etc) and in helping clients find motivation and remove barriers to pursue lives and relationships that bring them joy and love.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions25 Monte Vista Ave, Oakland, CA 94611
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Doesn't specialize in
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 109280