Online therapy for teens, adults, and families in California
Not everything you carry belongs to you or began with you. However, you do have a say in what happens next.
Elley Berg
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Hi, I’m Elley. I’m here to help you create a safe refuge within yourself and with your loved ones. As an immigrant daughter who knows what it means to navigate between worlds, I built this practice with you in mind. I work with you to explore themes of identity, complex family dynamics, and the weight and wisdom of generational experiences. If you are tired of feeling like a stranger in your own life and long to feel more at home in your own skin, then welcome.
I offer individual and family therapy for teens and adults located in California. I encourage a therapeutic space where we can get curious about how your culture understands mental health, including anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and relationship issues.
Together we will sort through inherited stories to keep what nourishes you and re-imagine what doesn’t. Therapy can be a safe enough place to sit with profound feelings, grieve what was or could have been, reconnect with possibility, and chart a path forward.
Read more about me and my practice here.
Ready to take the next step?
Call or text (707) 200-8081 to begin.
Who I Support:
My specialties include:
Immigrants and 1st gen adults navigating cultural and intergenerational effects on identity, family, life, and love
Adult family members looking to resolve conflict and strengthen bonds:
Therapy for siblings
Therapy for adult children and their parents
Therapy for you and whoever you call family
Adults wanting to explore complex family dynamics or grow from the effects of childhood trauma in a one-on-one therapy setting
Teens building self-esteem, emotional resilience, and healthy connections
I also enjoy working with:
Adults processing a DNA Discovery: NPE’s*, adoptees, donor conception
First-time therapy seekers exploring what support looks like
Those grieving the loss of a beloved pet or animal companion, and veterinary professionals holding unique emotional demands of this work
*NPE = Not Parent Expected, when a person’s presumed parent is not biologically related to them, often a surprise discovery
My style is relational, collaborative, and focused on developing a more empowering personal story that is felt in the body and reflected in your relationships. We will collect your values, strengths, and skills as key ingredients towards change.
The goal of each session is for you to walk away feeling cared for, respected, and wonderfully different from how you arrived.
There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to therapy, so I offer an integrated yet focused blend of approaches to resolve generational trauma and emotional pain, whether we know where it comes from or not.
My work is grounded in Narrative Therapy and Brainspotting Therapy, and shaped by somatic, parts-based, and solution-focused approaches. I also enjoy integrating therapeutic arts and writing exercises for those interested.
With less emphasis on labels and more intentional thinking when it comes to diagnosing, I prioritize understanding you as a whole person and seeing you beyond your symptoms.
Therapy Approach:
Frequently Asked Questions
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The initial free 20-minute phone consultation is an opportunity for us to briefly connect and explore your interest in working together. During this call, I will learn more about what you are seeking in therapy, and I will share information about my services, including scheduling, fees, and my therapeutic approach. You will also have space to ask any questions about what our work might look like.
This consultation is optional. If you feel ready to begin, you are welcome to reach out directly to schedule your first session.
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The first session is typically 60 minutes in length. During this meeting, I will gather a more detailed understanding of what brings you to therapy and the changes you are hoping to make. Together, we will begin to develop goals and expectations for our work.
In following sessions, we will typically begin with a brief check-in to pick up loose threads from the previous time and determine our focus for the day. While you lead, I collaborate closely to ensure we are honoring your goals and staying flexible as your life unfolds.
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I encourage weekly sessions for the first several meetings to support the development of a strong therapeutic relationship and shared foundation for our work together. From there, we can adjust the frequency to best fit your goals, needs, and availability.
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The number of sessions and overall length of therapy varies depending on many factors. While some people notice meaningful shifts after a single session, many choose to engage in therapy as an ongoing part of their wellness practice. Others prefer a more flexible approach, taking breaks as needed and returning to therapy when life circumstances call for additional support.
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Every therapist brings their own unique style and care to their craft, and I encourage you to be open-minded as you consider what kind of therapist feels like the right fit for you.
My style is lighthearted and humorous when appropriate, serious when needed, and always grounded in sincerity. I do not claim to be a neutral or entirely objective presence, and instead I bring my full humanity in a thoughtful and intentional way. I practice from a decolonial lens that actively reflects on how systemic oppression, historical trauma, and power dynamics can show up in the therapy space. As a professional providing a service of care, I put forth my best effort not to replicate harmful hierarchies, but rather support a process that values freedom, collaboration, and shared humanity.
I am also deeply interested in autobiographical and therapeutic writing, and I welcome integrating this into our work for those who feel drawn to it. No formal writing experience is necessary to engage in this approach. For those who wish to explore this layer, I encourage keeping a devoted therapy journal (digital or handwritten).
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Brainspotting is a focused, brain-based treatment approach that can help to identify, explore, and release sources of trauma, pain, and emotional distress. By focusing on specific eye positions (called brainspots), I support you in accessing and upholding change at the deep brain level.
During a brainspotting session, we collaborate to determine a topic or experience as a starting point. For example, I have used brainspotting to help people explore chronic pain, shame, panic, upsetting memories, childhood abuse and neglect, family conflict, and grief. I have also used brainspotting to help people better understand and solidify more positive, affirming experiences such as memories tied to feeling confident and worthy.
Throughout the session, I serve as a highly present, compassionate guide who facilitates a mindfulness process lasting anywhere from a few minutes to the entire session, depending on what feels appropriate or desired that day. The mindfulness process includes using your eye gaze, tuning into physical sensations, and reflecting about the chosen topic and any other thoughts or feelings that may emerge. For some, these sessions involve less talking and for others, talking is a meaningful part of the process. Brainspotting does not use a strict protocol, but rather offers a flexible, yet creative frame that can be adapted to your needs.
Brainspotting can be incorporated into any therapy session at any point during our work together, and it can be helpful for teens, adults, and families.
To learn more, visit: https://brainspotting.com/
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I currently offer Telehealth sessions only. I am based in the Sonoma County area, and for those who are local and interested in learning more about potential in-person availability, you are welcome to reach out.
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No, I do not currently accept insurance. I do offer a sliding scale, please see more on my Services page.
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The fastest way to reach me is via call/text at (707) 200-8081. You can also email me or reach out via the Contact Page on this website.