IT’S TIME for lasting CHANGE.
MEET Dottie, Depth therapist in saratoga & san jose california
You're here because you want more from life.
You know life isn’t what you hoped it would be. Sometimes you wonder if your expectations are too high. When you look around, it seems that everybody else is happy with the everyday grind. But you feel unsatisfied and you want more from life, from yourself, from others. You want to understand yourself better and you want a sense of meaning and joy, and freedom in your life.
You want to live your unlived life
that part of you that hasn’t yet lived
you’re in the right place.
Hi, I’m Dottie. i get it.
I personally know the search for meaning and I know, as well, the joy and freedom, and the passion that comes from finding it.
I also know that therapy can be challenging, but it becomes so much more meaningful when you have a therapist who truly understands you. When your therapist engages with you in a way that makes you feel seen, heard, and held within a safe, comforting space, it allows you to continue being your authentic, unapologetic self. Having someone by your side who is not only attentive but also compassionate and deeply engaged can truly transform your process.
Together, we can discover what you’ve been missing
My core values
GROWTH
At the heart of my approach is a belief that I can only meet my patients as deeply as I’ve met myself. As therapists, we’re human too, with our own limitations. Our ability to suspend judgment, hold space for others’ pain, and foster genuine connection hinges on our willingness to confront our own inner challenges. For this reason, I’ve committed to extensive personal psychoanalysis, diving deep into my own experiences to face my own struggles. This journey has been transformative for me, both personally and professionally, and it’s why I view psychoanalytic work not just as a profession, but as a way of life. It is as vital to my own personal growth as it is to the care I provide to my patients.
Honesty
Trust in your therapist doesn’t happen overnight, but from the beginning, it should feel like something we can build together. I believe that to create safety, trust, and a deep connection, I must be authentic with you. While I rely on theory, I also engage in the process with my whole, human self. I’ve found that this genuine engagement helps you feel safe enough to explore difficult emotions, uncover hidden parts of yourself, and work through deep-seated issues. At its core, therapy is about human connection, and authenticity ensures that this connection is real, meaningful, and healing.
Humility
“As you touch another human soul, just be another human soul.” Carl Jung’s simple but powerful words resonate with me. I deeply believe that we are all more alike than different and connected through our shared humanity. I know that our differences are important, but I also know that judging others often reveals where we haven’t fully embraced our own vulnerabilities. I will meet you where you are with genuine understanding and compassion, without judgment. I approach differences with a humble curiosity that recognizes that “normality” is variable and developed by culture and social norms; that there is no one, single path. Your lived experience is at the center of our work. Together, we can explore what makes you unique and work towards healing in a space that honors both our common humanity and your individuality.
Engagement
I am fully present and engaged in our work together. You’ll rarely see a blank face from me—I’m not sure that I could manage that even if I tried. I bring my whole self into our sessions, though I may not share much about my personal life, because this time is about you. I’m here with my emotions, thoughts, and imagination, ready to support your journey. I believe that this process is enhanced by the therapists use of intuition, reverie and imagination, as much as theory. I may not always openly reveal my inner world, but know that I’m creating a safe space for you to explore your own feelings, thoughts, and memories. Guided by a blend of intuition and a deep understanding of theory, my commitment to you is to be a steady, thoughtful guide as we navigate this journey together.
trauma
relationship issues
Anxiety, Depression &
Low Motivation
in therapy with me…
We’ll dig deep.
Together, we’ll create a compassionate and safe space where you can freely think, feel, and explore your expreinces, both past and present. Over thime, this will become a place where you can share your thoughts without the need to edit or sensor yourself. Even if it feels like you’re just talking, you might be surprised at how everything is connected, leading us to the deeper layers of your mind. I’ll share my own thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a way that brings new insights to your journey. Our relationship will serve as a mirror, reflecting patterns of relating that you may not have noticed before. We’ll work through whatever comes up together, and I’m dedicated to being mindful of my own role in this process, always holding myself accountable to support you every step of the way.
You’re in charge.
I’ll encourage you to share as much of your experience as you feel comfortable with, always honoring your sense of safety. When trauma is present, we’ll work together to find a balance that allows you to open up at your own pace, ensuring that you feel secure while gradually sharing more. Each session is truly yours - you decide what feels right to discuss. Some days, it might seem like there is nothing specific on your mind, but I’ve seen time and again how just beginning the conversation can lead to us to something meaningful. The unconscious mind has a way of guiding us. I’m here to help you trust this process and feel suported every step of the way.
Together, we will discover your truth.
Our awareness of ourselves is often more limited than we realize, even for those who are usually quite self-aware. As you share more about your past and present experiences, we’ll start to uncover patterns in how you navigate life. I’ll gently highlight aspects of your experience that you might not have noticed and help you see the ways you approach and interpret events and interactions with others. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward discovering new, more fulfulling ways of responding to relationships and life’s challenges. We often repeat these patterns unconsciously until we’ve had the chance to fully process and work through them. Together, we’ll explore these patterns and uncover your most authentic self, allowing you to move forward with greater self-awareness and freedom of choice.
My background
personally and professionally Dedicated to deepening my work in psychoanalytic pscyhotherapy
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Current Candidate of Psychoanalytic Training, Psychoanalytic Insitute of Northern California, San Francisco.
California Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY20868) since 2006
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Palo Alto University, 2005. Dual Specialization in:
Psychodyamic Psychotherapy
Neuropsychology
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Candidate of Psychoanalysis, Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California, San Francisco began 2023
Certificate, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction 2006
Postdoctoral Internship, VA Medical Hospital, Neuropsychology Assessment Unit, 2004-2005
Predoctoral Internship, UC Davis Medical Center, Department of Neurology & Alzheimer's Disease Center, 2003
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Candidate Member, Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California since 2023
Candidate Member, International Psychoanalytic Association since 2023
Community Member, San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis since 2020
Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology since 2020
Expanding my depths.
Deepening my presence.
Although I earned my doctorate and have been a licensed Psychologist for many years, I began a new journey in 2023, by setting out for advanced training in psychoanalysis. This is an extremely intensive training that goes beyond the usual and common expectations of a therapist. It involves four years of advanced weekly classes, weekly supervision of training cases, and furthering my own in-depth and immersive psychoanalysis. This new adventure has led me to new and expanding depths that I am excited to share with my patients.