Awarded Best Of Richmond (SF East Bay) for Mental Health Practitioner 2024! Are you searching for a therapist with warmth, compassion, and proven experience to help you with the challenges you’re facing in life? Are you looking for actual tools to manage thoughts and emotions? Hi, I am Serina Harris. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 17 years of experience proudly serving teens, young adults and families in the San Francisco Bay Area. As an Integrative Therapist I provide you with a culturally sensitive and non-judgmental space that invites you to embrace change, challenge unhelpful patterns and be more of who YOU are. Whether it's navigating the many challenges of adolescence, managing the complexities of adult life, or fostering healthy family relationships and communication, I am here to help. Feeling overwhelmed by the constant stress of just getting through the day? Are the negative thoughts in your mind holding you back? You are not alone. This may be one of the most important decisions you ever make. Taking this first step towards therapy shows how brave and resilient you are. Yes, YOU! I am here to help you, support you, and walk beside you on your journey to yourself. *Availability & Schedule: My office hours are M-F 10am-5pm. I am not available on weekends. I currently have Mondays at 10am, Friday afternoons, and alternating late afternoons during the week (every other week sessions).
During our first session we will review your intake form so that I have a clear idea as to what goals you have, experiences with therapy you may have had in the past, and answer any questions you have about what to expect from me. If you are a teen, it is also important for me to understand the concerns and goals your family may have and how this impacts you. We will explore important relationships and how these relationships influence you. Your input during this session will serve as a foundation for our work together, ensuring that our sessions are focused, productive, and aligned with your needs. I will work collaboratively with you at your pace.
I have always been an open, creative, and collaborative person. I care deeply about fostering a trusting relationship that is fundamental to your therapeutic journey. I really want to help you understand not just what you think about your situation but what you feel and help you find ways to work through challenges. I can be very supportive and encouraging and still be able to hold space for some “realness”. I am not your every day therapist that repeats things, I am engaging, collaborative, and curious. Learn more about me at: www.mindfulphoenixtherapy.com
I find purpose in helping you find healthy strategies to manage the ongoing curveballs that life can throw. If you have been struggling with depression, self-esteem, ADHD, anxiety, identity shifts, peer challenges, loss, or family conflict, I am here and ready to help. For the past 16 years of my career, I have supported a diverse population of youth, families, and adults in crisis, provided risk assessments, developed DBT Skills programs, as well as individual and family therapy. This population motivates me to keep learning in order to provide care that is fresh, new, and interesting. In 2021 I received certification from Yale University - PRIME Clinic to provide assessment for risk of early psychosis symptoms (SIPS). With all of my experience and expertise, I am dedicated to helping you reach your goals through a foundation based in CBT, DBT Informed Skills, and Trauma Focused care. Together, we will work towards helping you reach your highest potential and reduce stress and suffering. Guiding you towards self-discovery and resilience is not just a profession for me but a meaningful journey I embark on with each client.
You are unique with unique experiences and challenges. As an Integrative Therapist for the past 15 years of my career, I work from a foundation rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma Informed Care. I combine this with other methods and tools that allow me to provide you with flexible and inclusive treatment. We will explore how your thoughts impact behavior as well as learn more about your needs, personality, spiritual beliefs, and level of motivation. I will incorporate tools and strategies which may include DBT Skills, Meditation, Art, Story Telling, Mindfulness, Family Work, or Solution Focused treatment as an example. This approach allows me to provide you with the most beneficial and holistic care to address your unique needs and helps you reach your goals.
Sometimes the challenges you face are not so easily managed by how you think about them. In these cases, you may benefit by learning how to manage these challenges and stress in a more effective way. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is an evidence-based approach, created by American psychologist Marsha Linehan, to support individuals struggling with emotion dysregulation. As a DBT-Informed therapist, I have over 6 years of experience providing DBT Skills to Teens, Adults, and Families in group and individual sessions. It challenges me to keep the information fresh, relevant, engaging, and fun for you to learn. Life is filled with its unique challenges and very big emotions. DBT Skills can support you and your Family with specific strategies to feel more in control of those big emotions, instead of them controlling you. Research has shown that this method can be very helpful for teens and adults with Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, and reducing self harm. It can improve self esteem, communication, and confidence. You and I will work as a team and we will go at your pace as I teach you all the different skills. If you are a Teen, I will also want to incorporate your family so that they understand these skills and can support you in your treatment. Practicing the skills outside of our sessions is crucial for successful outcomes, but I will work hard to keep it fun.
CBT is my foundation. As a CBT therapist, I help you identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. It's about understanding how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are interconnected and using practical strategies to promote positive change. This process is structured, goal-oriented, and focused on empowering you to make lasting changes in your life.