Virtual Therapy for Relationship Issues, Conflict and Breakups in Oakland, CA
providing services to individuals and couples throughout the Bay Area and California
I’m a therapist working with individuals and couples who want to better understand themselves in connection with others
Many people come to therapy feeling stuck in recurring relationship conflicts, emotional patterns, or cycles they can’t seem to break. I work to support you in understanding yourself through conflict, breakups, dating, or alongside couples therapy. Together, we make sense of these patterns so you can engage with more awareness and choice.
Notice. Reflect. Respond. You’re in the right place.
It’s easy to feel stuck or frustrated in your relationships, whether with partners, friends, or chosen family.
There’s often a quiet struggle inside: the desire to maintain meaningful connections clashing with the urge to take space, leaving you conflicted and uneasy.
Perhaps you…
feel a lot in the relationship, yet struggle to put those feelings into words - adding to the worry that what goes unsaid is slowly creating distance.
feel like it’s impossible to set boundaries, leaving withdrawal or overextending yourself as your only options
crave closeness and reassurance, but your mind is constantly racing, replaying conversations and bracing for distance or loss
want to make sense of how your background and your social environment shape you into feeling this way
I am here to help you feel steadier, more confident, and able to show up authentically with the people who matter.
Who I Work With
Second-generation individuals of all genders and men of all backgrounds
For Second Generation Adults:
Many of my clients feel pulled in different directions by familial obligations, cultural expectations, and their own desires for more freedom, choice, and ease in their relationships. You may feel guilt when you assert yourself, fear disappointing people you care about, or exhaustion from constantly adjusting who you are depending on the setting. For example…
You find yourself translating between your partner and your family and feeling like you fully belong to neither.
You carry guilt when you choose what feels right for you, even when you know you’re not doing anything wrong.
You notice yourself performing different versions of who you are depending on the cultural or family context you’re in, feeling exhausted and unsure where you can finally relax
You mentally rehearse who you need to be before family visits, overthinking conversations and feeling your anxiety rise before you even arrive.
You notice conflict doesn’t just feel relational; it feels cultural, emotional, and heavy in ways that are hard to explain to others.
For Men Navigating Love, Family and Friendships:
Many of the men I work with want to show up as caring, dependable, and present, yet feel frustrated or disconnected in their relationships. You may feel pressure to stay composed, struggle to express what’s going on inside, or carry quiet anxiety and tension even when everything “looks fine” on the surface. For example…
You do everything a “good partner” should do, yet your partner still feels distant, leaving you frustrated or unseen.
When stress hits, you pull back, go quiet, or focus on trying to fix things, even though you want to feel closer.
You struggle to put your feelings into words, so conversations feel stuck or disconnected.
You’re dealing with breakups, ongoing conflict, or friendship and family tensions, and feel weighed down by the emotional load.
You want couples therapy (or other support) to actually lead to clearer communication, stronger presence, and deeper connection.
For Clients Moving Between Languages & Cultures:
Many clients move between English and Spanish or navigate multiple cultural and linguistic spaces, and want a therapy environment where they can express themselves fully. As a non-native Spanish speaker who learned Spanish specifically for therapeutic work, I provide support in Spanish when it helps you communicate what’s most important in the moment.
About Me
A Second-Generation Therapist for relationship
challenges, breakups, and family conflict in Oakland, CA
I understand what it means to track the influences of multiple cultures, and also how to hold the unanswered questions that arise when stories get lost in the process of migration and assimilation. These experiences shape how I approach the challenges of relationships, identity, and life transitions, and how they intersect with family, culture, and community.
My experiences in activism, including work supporting the struggle for Palestinian liberation, have shaped how I see mental health as connected to larger social systems and the legacies of colonialism and inequality. At the same time, I have witnessed the strength and resilience within communities and relationships, and how they help us reclaim agency and grow.
I’m a man of Moroccan and Tunisian Jewish descent who grew up navigating the space between my parents’ experiences and my own life. Moving between the cultures I was raised in and those I embraced in adulthood has given me a deep curiosity about how family, history, and social context shape the ways we relate to ourselves and others. Developing an anti-zionist framework has been central to my personal process.
I bring a sense of curiosity to therapy, supporting exploration of how your past, culture, and social context shape who you are and fostering healing that extends into the relationships and communities that matter most. Click the button below to learn more about me and the therapy services I provide for residents of Oakland, the Bay Area, and across California.
Specialties
For individuals navigating conflict, emotional distance, or uncertainty in their relationships — and for those questioning who they are in connection with others. This work helps you identify relational patterns, strengthen connection, and explore how family, culture, values, and history shape your identity, so you can move forward with greater clarity and intention.
Therapy for Relationship Issues
For individuals navigating conflict, distance, or endings in friendships. This work helps you understand shifting dynamics, process grief and loss, and thoughtfully redefine connection and personal identity outside of just romantic relationships. Together, we explore how your values, boundaries, and patterns shape your friendships and support healthier, more fulfilling connections moving forward.
Therapy for Friendship Problems
For individuals going through breakups, separations, or the period after a relationship ends. Therapy helps you process the loss, understand recurring patterns, and make sense of who you are and what you want moving forward. Together, we work to rebuild your sense of self, gain clarity in your relationships, and move toward healthier connections in the future.
Therapy for Breakup Recovery
Therapy for Family Conflict and Estrangement
For individuals experiencing difficult relationships with family members, whether they remain in contact, have limited connection, or are fully estranged, therapy focuses on understanding relational roles, boundaries, and value conflicts while helping clients develop agency in how they relate to family regardless of the level of contact.
For couples experiencing conflict, disconnection, or uncertainty about how to move forward, including those in both traditional and non-monogamous relationship structures. Therapy focuses on understanding relational patterns and communication so partners can relate with more clarity and intention, rather than blame.
Couples Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
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I provide individual therapy for personal growth and relationship challenges, couples therapy for romantic partners (including non-traditional and non monogamous couples), and support for people experiencing family conflict or estrangement. All services are provided virtually for adults living in California. Sessions focus on understanding relational patterns, clarifying boundaries, and navigating life transitions.
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Standard sessions are 50 minutes for individuals and 75 minutes for couples. Many clients start with weekly sessions to build momentum, though frequency can be adjusted to your needs. Therapy is tailored to your pace, goals, and availability, whether in-person in Oakland or via secure telehealth.
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Currently, I provide private-pay therapy, and I can provide superbills for insurance reimbursement, depending on your out of network benefits. Your session fees support a focused, individualized approach to your therapy goals.
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My fee for services is $185 for 50-minute individual therapy sessions and $275 for 75-minute couples therapy sessions. I have a limited amount of sliding scale slots, so please let me know if you need sliding scale fees during our call and we can discuss. If I cannot accommodate, I am happy to point you in a direction to meet your financial needs. I can also provide a superbill for insurance reimbursement, depending on your out of network benefits.
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You can schedule a consultation to discuss your needs, explore how therapy could support you, and determine if we are a good fit. This initial conversation is low-pressure and focused on understanding your goals and how I work.
Let’s begin.
Use this form if you are interested in a free 20 minute consultation or if you have any questions. You can also send an email to ariel@therapysecure.com or leave a voicemail at 510 342 9962. I aim to respond to all inquiries within 48 hours.