Counseling in San Francisco and Marin

Welcome…

Greetings and welcome to my website. Here you will find some basic information about my approach to therapy, services offered and my background.

Paths to Transformation

Are you looking to make a change in your life but don’t know how to go about it?

Are you in a rut and feel stuck, with no one to talk to?

Are you looking to make a change in your life but don't know how to go about it?

Do you struggle with self-esteem or relationship issues?

Are you looking for a warm and trusting connection to be truly seen and understood?

I believe in the human capacity to transform in significant ways throughout our lives. Sometimes this happens by necessity. Other times we choose to make changes when we experience something missing or that we’re not living up to our capacities. I have many years of experience and wide expertise in helping people. Common problems I work with my clients on are depression, anxiety, life transitions, stress and burnout, relationships, compulsive thinking (“spinning”), creativity and career building. My approach combines cutting edge approaches in neuropsychology, mindfulness, and more traditional psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapies. If you would like me to help you transform your life don’t hesitate to call (or, give me a call).

Contact

➤ LOCATION

2506 Clay Street
San Francisco, California 94115

1030 Sir Francis Drake

Kentfield, California 94904

☎ CONTACT

(415) 454-6007

Areas of Practice

couples therapy

Perhaps the most important thing in life is connection to others. Time and time again, perennial spiritual teachings and science show how important are healthy, deeply connected and loving relationships are for a person. Clarisse is a Relational therapist and Experiential (AEDP) therapist who works with each member of the couple in relationship and connection to the other. Most often, disruptions in our relationships can provide insight into who we are and if our current relationships are serving us. Clarisse helps with intimate/romantic issues, family communication and social connection. Psychological research is quite adept and clear now about how personality types and attachment styles provide a blue print for our relational patterns and interventions can be tailored to attachment styles. Clarisse works with this education while maintaining curiosity in how you relate to each other and what you want to change in your relationships. Specifically, Clarisse methods include Communication, Attachment patterns, Problems with sexuality, Differences in the developmental cycles. She aims for the experience of “We-ness” or as a bonded pair while respecting each members’ individuality

depression and anxiety

Depression is a nuanced experience that is often misunderstood and over-simplified in our society. Those that are depressed range from a feeling of discontentment and lack of meaning to the feeling of being totally empty or full on punishment of the self. Clarisse’s approach to working with depression is to listen, care and really hear what type of depression you have and how you particularly feel. From science to psyche, nature to nurture and spirituality to nihilism…there are many different valuable ways to understand depression. Clarisse works with you to uncover and process feelings hidden by the clouds of depression.

The face of anxiety arises from overwhelming environmental and genetic factors. You may experience inner turmoil, somatic complaints (e.g., tension in various body parts), rumination, worry about future events, restlessness and problems with concentration. There are different types of anxiety — social anxiety, existential crisis and panic attacks.

Clarisse works with INDIVIDUALS with care and compassion to help you find the support you need to heal.

Life Transitions anf grief

A certainty in our life will be grief from the passing of those close to us. This can be some of the most difficult times our life, giving rise to many different painful experiences. Naturally, we cope during these times the best way we know how to. Processing death is a complex endeavor that takes time, attention and resilience. How grief affects us presents differently with each individual and is not something that is ever solved, figured out and fully processed. It is an ongoing relationship and practice with grief that gives us some control over our mental, emotional and spiritual self. Through this intentional experience of working with grief, we can then feel…and grow more fully from the pain, have more depth and become more resilient. If respected and accepted, we can have more harmony and balance with life…and death.

Life transitions range from changes in family structure (e.g., births, break ups), geographic and career relocation and changes in you r point of view and sense of purpose. Clarisse will help you explore these changes and their implications for your life. Together we’ll make a map of this new territory.

““The wound is the place where the light enters you””

— Rumi

Treatment Approach

It’s human nature to develop persistent patterns of thoughts, beliefs and behavior in childhood that may no longer work for us. Literally, our brains become wired through repetition that wears paths or ruts into our neural circuitry. Two recent developments in neuropsychology can be combined with a number of psychological approaches to provide effective ways for you to change in ways both desired and not yet even dreamed of. Through warm and compassionate exploration we can look at the challenges you face and discover the underlying contributing factors. Our beliefs about ourselves and how we react are primarily based on how we were treated in the past when we had limited cognitive capacity, less physical strength and a lack of emotional perspective that comes with experience.

These beliefs are often unconscious and accompanied by coping strategies that worked in the past but may not be working now. But how to shift out of these long held patterns? Being a “good “child, an “angry” child, or one who “withdrew” to minimize overwhelming feelings won’t work to get you what you want and need as an adult. Our range of tolerance can grow or become more elastic/flexible such that we don’t get triggered or stuck in uncomfortable spaces. So rather than being defensive we can identify other options that align with your values and desires. There are many paths our lives can take and I can draw on a number of approaches to customize an approach that works for you. Experiential psychological approaches get to the root of the matter much more quickly. You’ll be able to sense your truth in your body and that can guide you. Cognitive strategies aid in re-wiring the brain and dynamic therapy allows us to trace the patterns that no longer work for you, how they developed as well as to learn new coping strategies. We’ll make sense of your world and free you up from unproductive patterns and coping strategies.

Types of Client

Individual Therapy

This is an individual (teen or adult) whom is aware that there is an issue that needs attention, is dissatisfied with their circumstances or wanting support in having more happiness in their life. This often manifests as anxiety, depression, anger, irritability and sadness. Many times showing up in relationships and the work environment. These symptoms are signs and indicators to us that something is imbalanced, not working and needs attention. Anxiety and Depression lets us know that we want more from life. People naturally use coping strategies and defenses when feeling this way, usually presenting as alcohol/substance abuse, over eating, over working and fighting with partners. Clarisse focuses on working with clients that have these symptoms, abuse substances and are seeking support in finding a new way to deal with life’s challenges.

Couples

These are individuals having difficulty in their partnership and are seeking a solution. Often, there are feelings of frustration, disconnection, loneliness, anger and confusion. It’s normal to have difficulty in processing and exploring with our partners. Therapy offers a focused and facilitated space to discuss issues such as: intimacy, communication, sexual dissatisfaction, child rearing, substance use, in-laws, excessive conflict and infidelity. As Freud said, “We are never so defenseless against suffering as when we love”. Clarisse believes one of the best opportunities to know yourself and grow as an individual comes during stressful times in our relationships. It is a real opportunity to understand yourself, your family of origin issues and how to love deeper. Love, intimacy and long term partnerships are very complicated…seeking support is only smart.

About Me

I believe in our endless human capacity to adapt, reinvent ourselves and create new meanings.

BACKGROUND & TRAINING

”Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” Carl Jung

***What matters when choosing a therapist?***
The most significant factor is the “fit” between the therapist and the client. Training and experience, therapeutic orientation, how actively engaged the therapist is, and my beliefs about what works are also important.
***What you can expect working with me?***
My primary base is as an AEDP therapist. Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) is a contemporary model of psychotherapy that welcomes your whole experience of emotions, body, and thoughts, and weaves together the latest developments in brain science and the process of change.
This experiential approach is designed to mobilize new energy using the innate biological wiring that we all have for healing, repair and change. By helping you work through habitual defenses and regulate anxiety in a safe space, you can access core emotions and experience a felt sense of your truth and take action based on that.

I am also trained in Relational Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic Therapies that identify patterns of thoughts, beliefs and behaviors originating in the past but currently showing up in the present! We can also explore Attachment styles and tailored interventions to ensure the safety and sustainability of your relationships. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be used to identify problematic patterns of thoughts that result in difficult moods and our work can draw on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness Interventions based on my experience practicing meditation for over 20 years.

Psychotherapy, Executive Coaching, Business & Teaching Experience

My background and experience helps me to understand not just your emotional world but also the world you may work in. I also bring over 25 years of mindfulness practice to assist us in stepping back and gaining perspective as well as customize mindfulness practices specifically for you.

CREDENTIALS

• Marriage and Family Therapist licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences

• License Number MFT 44260 AEDP Therapist, Level 3 (the highest level)

• Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, Institute of Imaginal Studies

• Master’s Degree in Economics, University of Pittsburgh

• Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning and Economics (double major), University of Pittsburgh

CONTINUING EDUCATION, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

Psychology Training and Experience

• AEDP Level 3 Therapist in process for certification

• San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis (SFCP): Multiple years of training in Relational and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

• Ongoing Executive Coach for over 20 years

• Counseling at Zen Hospice Center

• Supervision and coaching other therapists including those from California Institute of Integral Studies, Family Service Agency and Community Institute for Psychotherapy

Business, Executive Coaching & Teaching Experience

• Business Analyst, Economist, Consultant and Executive Coach in finance, strategy, marketing, for over 20 years in technology (both start-ups and established firms), consumer products and services, manufacturing and financial services;

• Environmental economics and policy analysis where I co-founded my own firm and ran my division successfully for 10 years for local, state, federal and international organizations;

• Associate Professor, Organizational Development and Transformation at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS);

• Lecturer, Economics, University of Pittsburgh

• Lecturer, Economics, Robert Morris College

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• AEDP Institute

• California Association of Marriage and Family Therapy

• San Francisco Psychoanalytic Center

Let's talk!

Whether you want to improve yourself or your relationship or want coaching to improve your career or performance, I’d like to hear from you. My initial phone consultation comes at no charge to you. Please call or email me and we can begin that process. I’ll be happy to address your specific situation as well as make recommendations and referrals.

Appointment &Fees

Each session is 50 to 55 minutes. Longer sessions can be made according to your needs.

I am an Out-of-Network PPO Provider for most insurance companies. If you have a PPO plan my fees can be offset by your insurance company up to 100% in some cases. If you wish, I will submit your invoices directly to your insurance company using my electronic billing service. Please contact me for information about my fees and availability.

Clarisse V Lula MFT

2506 Clay Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

1030 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Suite 100, Kentfield, CA 94904

(415)454-6007

cvlula@aol.com

Use the form below to contact me.

Integrative Psychotherapy

Every client is unique and no one approach to therapy, in my view, is guaranteed to work in every case. For this reason I draw upon a wide range of disciplines and experience (including over 20 years in business) to ensure treatment that fits the client, not the other way around. I refer to this as Integrative Psychotherapy.

Practicing Integrative Psychotherapy allows me to draw upon recent research and practice from the fields of neuroscience, attachment and developmental psychology, expressive therapies, experiential and body-oriented therapies, cognitive reframing and behavioral modification, i.e., CBT and mindfulness.

Experiential Therapies build upon traditional psychotherapeutic techniques and principles, but approaches the body as central in the therapeutic field of awareness, and includes observational skills, theories, and interventions not usually practiced in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Theoretical principles and treatment approaches from both the mental health and body psychotherapy traditions are integrated in this approach.

These allow me to custom-tailor our work into a unique pathway for each individual with one or more of the following approaches. More specifically, I am trained to draw from components of:

• Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) is an integrative approach that takes into account the mind-body connection by initially focusing on the felt sense of your experience moment-to-moment. From here we can explore both old and new experiences and move through them.

• Developmental psychodynamic psychotherapy

• Attachment styles and patterns of behavior

• Exposure and response prevention to deal with fears and phobias

• Mindfulness-based therapy

• Developmental pathways of couples cycles

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Various approaches to sexuality (e.g., sensate focus, sustainable sexuality)

• Neuro-biological methods

• Communication skills that lead to connection

Each of these areas calls for further explanation and as we proceed I’ll make my recommendations and explain what I see work well for you.