Therapy For Adults
Therapy Helps You Make Changes with Positive, Lasting Results
With years of experience I, Dr. Myra Bernecker, offer a seasoned perspective. I create a warm supportive environment where adult patients feel seen, heard, and understood, enabling them to explore and reconnect with their deep inner self.
I work with a diverse range of adults: professionals, students, stay-at-home parents, single and married individuals. My practice is inclusive, welcoming BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and individuals from various cultural backgrounds. Each person brings their own distinct challenges and unique life experiences. Together, we can delve deeply into your difficulties to help you reclaim or discover your hidden potential.
I focus on the deeper, unconscious aspects of the psyche, helping patients explore their inner world through dreams, symbols, sandplay, and archetypes. This process goes beyond addressing immediate symptoms to understanding their underlying causes. By interpreting these symptoms as symbolic messages from the unconscious, I guide patients toward personal growth, greater wholeness, and the discovery of their true, authentic selves. This therapeutic journey involves integrating various parts of the self, which can lead to profound transformation and a more meaningful life.
As we work together in therapy, we develop a relationship based on trust, integrity, and deep connection. This relationship allows for containment and holding of pain and other deep emotional experiences. Ultimately, accessing these deep and disowned aspects of the psyche lays the groundwork for healing and wholeness.
I also have a small delightful, hypoallergenic therapy dog that will join your sessions. I have found that therapy dogs provide several benefits, such as reducing stress, fears, and anxiety, and enhancing self-esteem, mood, social interaction skills, and cognitive functions. My therapy dog seems to provide comfort through physical contact and encourage engagement, which helps improve various skills and build trusting relationships.
Common Issues Discussed In Our California Therapy Sessions for Adults
Every person has her/his/their own set of unique experiences. We will work on whatever is important to you. Topics and issues that commonly come up in with the people I work with are:
- Anxiety, overthinking & worry
- Stress
- Life transitions (graduation, new Job, marriage, new baby)
- Grief & loss
- Parenting stress
- Relationships
- Confusing or weird dreams
- Irritability or frustration
- Anger or resentment
- Avoidance
- Sleep
- Depression
- Responsibility conflicts
- Work distress
- Cultural issues
- Self-care
- Wanting more joy
- Learning to say no
- So much more!
How It Works
What To Expect In Session
At the time of your first consultation, we’ll start by getting to know one another. I will ask you what’s on your mind so you can share your story and begin to talk about what you want to work on in therapy. My work is more conversational and relational, which means what happens between us is important. I create a safe, nonjudgmental space and meet you where you are to help you help yourself. We’ll talk through your history including your early childhood relationships. In therapy, you’ll have the space to sort things through. Feeling seen, heard & felt is an incredibly healing experiences that I offer my patients.
My Approach in Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
What are your hours?
Mon. 12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. (more hours in the Fall)
Wed. 9:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Thurs. 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Fri. 8:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. (no longer offered in Fall)
How long are your sessions?
The initial consultation/evaluation is 90 minutes. Therapy sessions are 45 minutes and scheduled at a weekly frequency. Parent collaterals are 45 minutes and scheduled at a monthly frequency or more depending on your needs. Consultation sessions with clinicians are also 45 minutes and are scheduled as frequently as appropriate to suit your needs. Depending on your situation or at various times during your treatment, we may determine to increase that frequency to twice a week or more.
What are your fees, cancellation, and rescheduling policy?
As a licensed psychologist, my fee for an initial evaluation/consultation is $500 for 90 mintues. You may also schedule a free 20-minute consultation using the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Ongoing psychotherapy, play therapy, parenting therapy, and consultation is $250 for 45-minutes.
I require a 7-day notice for cancelling or rescheduling appointmets.
Please Note: Under the No Surprises Act, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.
Do you accept insurance?
No. But after working with many insurance companies for nearly 20 years, I understand how complex navigating insurance can be. It’s important for you to understand your benefits. I work with patients who want to use their Health Savings Account (HSA) or their out-of-network benefits. Through my secure patient portal, you will have access to all your invoices at any time. Each invoice includes all the information you need to submit any out of network claims. My patients have told me that this access was easy, convenient, and much appreciated.
What types of payment do you accept?
I accept cash, checks, credit cards, and HSA credit cards.
What do I do if I have an emergency?
Call 911 to go to your nearest emergency room.
If you live in Marin county, you can call the Mobile Crisis Response Team Mon-Sat 1pm-9pm 415-473-6392 or Psychiatric Emergency Services 415-473-6666.
Other resources include:
- Crisis line 800-273-8255,
- S.F. Suicide Prevention: (415) 781-0500
- Warmline: PhoneSupportfor Peers (7 days a week 1pm-9pm) 415-459-6330
How do I know when it’s time to seek help?
A good time to consider seeking professional help is when the strategies you’ve tried are not having much of an effect. If you or your child’s issues significantly interfere with school, work, family, or social life, and if you or your child has experienced symptoms on most days for a month or more, and you or your child is open, curious, and committed, then it is a good time to seek help.
How can therapy help?
Adults, teens and kids often experience great relief when they express themselves fully and connect well with a trusted therapist. Success may vary depending on the particular issue addressed, how well you or your child is open, honest, and uses the process and feedback, and the extent to which what is learned is practiced outside the sessions. Some of the benefits from therapy include: attaining greater awareness, insight, and deeper understanding for yourself or your child that leads to improved relationships, self esteem, confidence, learning new ways to solve problems at work, school, or in your family, improving communication and listening skills, changing maladaptive behavior patterns
Do you work with kids or adults?
I see both! I see bright, high achieving children and teens who are anxious, grieving, or have low self-esteem. Children and teens do not always know what is happening and have a hard time verbalizing what is going on. I also see adults for individual therapy, parenting therapy, and clinical consultation. Many bright, high achieving adults who worry, have family issues or patterns that continue to challenge them, are coping with a difficult loss, or are experiencing a new or unexpected change find it helpful working with me.