A trail switchbacking gently across an open grassy East Bay hillside in late afternoon light

Approach

Movement-integrated therapy in the East Bay.

Therapy doesn't have to happen inside four walls under fluorescent lights. At Your Pace Psychotherapy, we provide outdoor counseling—integrating mellow movement into the therapeutic process along the trails and parks of Oakland and Berkeley, CA.

Principles

How mellow movement changes the work

A footpath through dry grass curving between two oaks toward open hills

Nervous system downshift: Sitting across from someone in a sterile office while keeping intense eye contact can feel intimidating and unnatural. When we walk side by side, bilateral movement discharges fight-or-flight energy, especially when wrestling with anxiety, anger, or burnout.
Side-by-side, non-confrontational space: Walking together creates a non-judgmental environment where silence feels natural rather than awkward. It is especially grounding for teens, young adults, and anyone who feels resistant to traditional clinical setups.
Your pace, not a protocol's: Whether walking briskly, strolling, or resting on a park bench, the physical and therapeutic pace is entirely yours. We explore grief, depression, and crises of identity at the speed your mind and body can process.
Roots, not just symptom suppression: Behavior that looks irrational usually made complete sense somewhere. We go looking for where it originated—separating the good roots from the weeds—so you can find lasting clarity rather than temporary fixes.

Method

Trained in four things that actually talk to each other

Motivational Interviewing

Ambivalence isn't resistance. It's two real wants in conflict, and it responds to being explored rather than argued with.

Mentalization

Much of the trouble between people comes from misreading minds, theirs and our own. That capacity can be strengthened.

Narrative Therapy

Your story is partly written, and you've been using language and unspoken elements that will be important to explore and retool. The next chapters are still open.

Harm Reduction

Meeting you where you actually are, without requiring a particular starting point before the work is allowed to begin.

I'm trained in these approaches and draw on them as the work calls for. I don't run a fixed protocol, and I'll say clearly if what you want is something I don't offer.

The best way to judge an approach is to talk to the person using it.

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