Recomendations for Therapists in the Bay Area of California?

[BloodLeopard]

Wanting to know just feedback from therapists they have had that live here (or got it here) just to know if they are, well, helpful or not. I don't have much money, so I can't just spend it on unhelpful people (I think everyone should give a short trial session to see if you match up).

I just don't want anyone spouting the same things over and over. And ones that won't instantly label me as too weird to talk to.

[tekla]

I know several people who swear by Anne Vitale, Ph.D. in San Rafael.  But there are a pile of people in the area who have lots of experience.  Try the LGBT Center in SF, I'll bet somewhere there they have a list.

[Alexmakenoise]

I saw Valeria Igl in El Cerrito for a while.  She's very easy to talk to, works on a sliding scale and will listen to your financial concerns and try to work out something you can afford, and I don't think she'd consider anyone "too weird".  She's very pro-diversity, just wants people to be comfortable and confident being themselves.

Therapy sessions are goal-oriented.  I don't think you'd feel like you were going nowhere.  However, she is experienced in a lot more than trans issues, and if she sees any possible signs of anything else, she'll bring it up.  I think it would be possible to get side-tracked and end up covering a lot of ground in addition to being trans.  Not necessarily a bad thing. 

I think she'd be worth looking into.

Here's the website for her practice:

https://feministtherapyassociates.com/home.html

Her thoughts on the meaning of "transgender":

https://feministtherapyassociates.com/Transgender.html

[Ms.Behavin]

I'll Second Anne Vitale, also Rebecca Auge in Berkeley on Ashby