(she/her)
Awarded Best Therapist of El Cerrito 2025 and Best Of Richmond for Mental Health Practitioner in 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 18 years of experience proudly serving adults 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 complexities of depression and anxiety, managing various symptoms of ADHD, perimenopause, or fostering healthy family relationships and communication, I am here to help. Feeling overwhelmed by the constant stress of just getting through the day? Is all the negativity and stress on your mind holding you back from living the life you really want? 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 9am-5pm. I am not available on weekends. I see clients weekly or every other week depending on clinical need and treatment plan.
During our first session, we will review your intake form to gain a clear understanding of your goals, past experiences with therapy, and any questions you have about what to expect from me. Together, we will explore the important relationships in your life and how they may influence your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Your input during this session will serve as the foundation for our work together, ensuring that our sessions are focused, productive, and tailored to your unique needs. I am committed to working collaboratively with you, at a pace that feels comfortable and supportive, as we navigate your journey toward growth and well-being.
I bring openness, creativity, and collaboration to every session. I care deeply about fostering a trusting relationship, which I believe is fundamental to your therapeutic journey. My approach helps you explore not just your thoughts about your situation, but also your feelings, so we can work together to find meaningful ways to navigate challenges. I am supportive and encouraging while also holding space for honesty and authenticity. I do not take a one-size-fits-all approach; instead, I engage actively, stay curious, and collaborate with you to make therapy a dynamic and personalized experience.
I work with adults—men, women, and nonbinary individuals—who are ready and motivated to do the work of therapy. My clients are often seeking support with challenges such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, relationship difficulties, intense emotions, or struggles with communication and boundaries. I am especially effective with those who value collaboration and are open to exploring both their thoughts and feelings. Together, we will develop practical strategies that fit your unique circumstances and goals—whether that’s improving emotional regulation, building confidence, strengthening relationships, or navigating life transitions. My approach is supportive, honest, and paced to meet your needs, helping you make meaningful progress as you engage fully in the therapeutic process.
Integrative
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.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Sometimes the challenges you face aren’t easily managed just by thinking differently about them. In these cases, learning practical strategies to manage stress and intense emotions can make a real difference. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based approach, developed by American psychologist Marsha Linehan, designed to support individuals struggling with emotion dysregulation. As a DBT-informed therapist, I have over six years of experience teaching DBT skills to teens, adults, and families in both group and individual sessions. My goal is to make these skills fresh, relevant, engaging, and even fun to learn. Life brings big emotions and unique challenges, and DBT provides concrete strategies to help you—and your family—feel more in control, rather than being controlled by those emotions. Research shows that DBT can be especially helpful for managing depression, anxiety, PTSD, and reducing self-harm, while also improving self-esteem, communication, and confidence. We will work together as a team, going at your pace as I guide you through the different skills. Practicing these skills outside of our sessions is important for success, but I will make sure the process is supportive, engaging, and tailored to your life.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
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.
Trauma Informed Care
I understand how past experiences—whether big or small—can leave lasting emotional imprints. My approach is grounded in empathy, safety, and collaboration. I’m trained to recognize the ways trauma can show up in your body, relationships, and sense of self, and I’ll work with you at your pace to gently explore and heal those layers. You won’t be pushed to revisit anything before you’re ready—instead, we’ll focus on helping you feel more empowered, grounded, and connected in the present.
1 rating with written reviews
June 27, 2025
Super easy to talk to. Felt like she understands what I got going on and looking forward to our next session.