Hi there, I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Oakland, California. I studied Somatic Psychotherapy at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco, and have been practicing for about 5 years. I work somatically and relationally, helping people to integrate their mind, body, and feelings through talk therapy, mindfulness, parts work, guided imagery, and more.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session we'll go over any questions about how therapy works, feel into being with a new person in a new space, and you'll have a chance to introduce yourself and what brings you to therapy at this time.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I offer a warm and gentle container allowing you to go at your own pace. I'll work with you to assess how direct I should be, and how much to let you guide the way. I work relationally and somatically which allows you to integrate your experiences into the full being you already are.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I enjoy working with adults of all ages and life stages who would like to deepen their self awareness and explore their core beliefs and patterns; see how these traits support them and also how they get in the way as obstacles to truly living.
About Dena Ehrlich
Identifies as
Licensed in
Accepts
Address
5835 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618, Suite DAppointments
Virtual & in-personMy treatment methods
Somatic
I work somatically which means that in addition to you having a chance to share your story and process day to day events like people do in traditional talk therapy, we will also incorporate the body. Somatic therapy is based on the idea that the body physically expresses deeply painful experiences, and by addressing these manifestations you can release tension, trauma, and stress. By weaving together the mind and the body through movement, mindfulness, body awareness, and other exercises, you will gain greater self awareness and connection to yourself, which often leads to a more balance and a greater sense of well being.
EMDR
I incorporate EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) as just one tool to help you unstuck past traumas and unhelpful core beliefs. It is a modality that uses eye movements, along with other forms of bilateral stimulation, to help you process and heal from traumatic or distressing memories.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Depending on the day, I might offer guided meditation, guided imagery, or breathing exercises to bring you into the present moment. This can support your nervous system is slowing down so you can think more clearly and move through your days with more balance and ease.
Trauma Informed Care
Trauma can show up in so many mysterious ways. I have an ability to track and be with the concerns you are aware of and also those under the surface in the subconscious. I work collaboratively to co-create a safe environment for you to process big scary events as well as less obvious forms of trauma like developmental trauma and childhood neglect.
Sandplay
Sandplay therapy brings light to connecting your inner and outer world. It can take the struggle out of your head and into the visual field so you can gain greater insight into what is happening in your life, and what direction you would like to go in next.