Psychotherapy
Individuals, Couples, Groups, Supervision, and Training
For inquiries about psychotherapy, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jürgen Braungardt, please send an email to Jurgen.Braungardt@gmail.com, or call us at 510-969-6090.
Welcome to my Practice! As an active, engaged, and experienced therapist, I offer personalized psychotherapy for individuals, couples, adolescents, and groups. My approach is versatile, drawing from various therapeutic methods to best serve each client's unique needs. The therapeutic relationship we build together is key to the success of our work.
Individual Therapy
Change isn't easy, but with professional support, it is possible to address mental health challenges and to transform your life. While therapy requires commitment and there are no quick fixes, the process can profoundly alter how you think and feel about your life experiences.
In our sessions, you're invited to express yourself freely. Together, we will explore your thoughts, feelings, and relationships – including the one that develops between us. This "talking cure" can help you:
Effectively address your current mental health concerns.
Enhance your problem-solving skills in the present
Reframe your perspective on past experiences
Improve your ability to shape a fulfilling future.
Couples Therapy
Many relationships can be revitalized when couples seek professional help during times of crisis. I have worked with many couples, acting as a mediator, translator, and at times, a referee. My role is to advocate for the relationship itself, creating a space where conflicts can be understood and resolved.
Couples therapy often leads to deeper feelings of respect, intimacy, and love. It can help you:
Navigate differences constructively
Break free from negative, repetitive patterns
Foster a more harmonious family environment
Adolescent Therapy
Young people face a complex world, and the challenges they encounter can be overwhelming. From family dynamics to peer pressure, adolescents are particularly vulnerable to developing problematic coping mechanisms.
My approach to adolescent therapy is family-oriented, occasionally involving other family members. I address a range of issues including:
Behavioral problems
Anxiety, depression and mood disorders
Attention-deficit disorders
Academic challenges
Family-related difficulties
Why consider Psychotherapy?
People who seek psychotherapy often suffer from one or more of the following problems:
Anxiety disorders, such as phobias, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD)
Various forms of depression, ranging from mild symptoms to major depressive episodes.
Mood disorders, or bipolar disorders
Addictions: alcoholism, drug dependence, gaming or internet porn consumption, compulsive gambling.
Eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, or weight management issues.
Problems arising from personality structure: borderline personality disorders, forms of narcissism, or dependent personality disorders.
Schizophrenia or other disorders that cause detachment from reality (psychotic disorders)
Medication can be helpful, but psychotherapy is often necessary in treating these mental health problems. Medication lowers the symptoms and the emotional pain, but it cannot address the real causes.
Therapy can also be tremendously helpful in situations not captured by the above categories. You don’t have to be diagnosed with a mental illness in order to benefit from talk therapy. Psychotherapists routinely address interpersonal and social problems, and they help you to:
Resolve conflicts with your partner or someone else in your life
Address problems with intimacy, sexuality, or loneliness.
Relieve anxiety or stress due to work or other situations
Cope with major life changes, such as divorce, the death of a loved one or the loss of a job
Learn to manage unhealthy reactions, for instance passive-aggressive behaviors, avoidance, anger and impulsivity.
Come to terms with an ongoing or serious physical health problem, such as diabetes, cancer or ongoing (chronic) pain
Recover from physical or sexual abuse or witnessing violence
Cope with sexual traumas, whether they are due to a physical or psychological cause
Sleep better, if you have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep (insomnia)
Psychotherapy can help you to find the strength to change what needs to be changed in your life, or to accept what is unavoidable. It will give you more personal freedom, strengthen and recover your confidence in yourself, and it can make you feel more alive.
Therapy is a deeply personal journey. It can't undo the past, but it can transform how your past affects you today and how you create your future. If you're ready to begin this journey of self-discovery and growth, I'm here to support you every step of the way.