Thank you for visiting me. I know preparing yourself to find a therapist that you feel comfortable with and can trust is not easy. It takes a lot of courage. If you’ve gotten to this point of being ready to speak with someone new, you’re doing a great job. My main goals in our work together will be to always have hope that everything is healable and to always treat you and your journey with the upmost respect and compassion.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I use a variety of approaches, including EMDR, Brainspotting, CBT, Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration, Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP), and talk therapy. Please note I am accepting referrals however I am having technical difficulties with the calendar provided. I will confirm available session times I have with you once we speak.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am very passionate about healing. I believe we are all here to heal something and there are many avenues to healing. I provide a safe container for you to unpack painful memories and narratives so that you can leave the session feeling lighter and clearer.
About Michelle Gutierrez
Identifies as
Licensed in
Accepts
Address
1124 Ballena Blvd, Alameda, CA 94501Appointments
Virtual & in-personMy treatment methods
EMDR
"EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. Ongoing research supports positive clinical outcomes, showing EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences (Maxfield, 2019). EMDR therapy has even been superior to Prozac in trauma treatment (Van der Kolk et al., 2007). Shapiro and Forrest (2016) share that EMDR therapists in 130 countries have successfully treated millions." https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/
Brainspotting
"Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of other challenging symptoms. Brainspotting gives us a tool, within this clinical relationship, to neurobiologically locate, focus, process, and release experiences and symptoms that are typically out of reach of the conscious mind and its cognitive and language capacity. Brainspotting works with the deep brain and the body through its direct access to the autonomic and limbic systems within the body’s central nervous system. Brainspotting is accordingly a physiological tool/treatment which has profound psychological, emotional, and physical consequences." https://brainspotting.com/about-brainspotting/what-is-brainspotting/"
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
"Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, MBCT, is a modified form of cognitive therapy that incorporates mindfulness practices that include present moment awareness, meditation, and breathing exercises. This therapy was formulated to address depression. Using these tools, the mindfulness-based therapist teaches a client to be in the here and now as well as break away from negative thought patterns that can cause a decline into a mood-disordered state; this therapy can help a person fight off a difficult frame of mind before it takes hold." https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
"IFS is a transformative tool that conceives of every human being as a system of protective and wounded inner parts led by a core Self. We believe the mind is naturally multiple and that is a good thing. Just like members of a family, inner parts are forced from their valuable states into extreme roles within us. Self is in everyone. It can’t be damaged. It knows how to heal. IFS is frequently used as an evidence-based psychotherapy, helping people heal by accessing and healing their protective and wounded inner parts. IFS creates inner and outer connectedness by helping people first access their Self and, from that core, come to understand and heal their parts." https://ifs-institute.com/