Pictured above: Beach picnic one week after adopting my dog, Eevee. Photo Credit: Memory captured by my friends, Jordyn and Alexandra.
Much of my own life has been a quest towards understanding:
Who am I, and how did I get here?
What am I here for?
Who’s with me?
I’m interested in exploring these questions (and more) in therapy. My background as a Filipina-American immigrant daughter and late-discovery NPE has given me a special interest in cultural identity, emotional inheritance, and complex family dynamics.
The name of my practice, Heirlooms Family Counseling, is inspired by the concept of a family heirloom. A family heirloom is something of value that may be physical (like a handwritten recipe) or non-physical (like a holiday tradition) that is passed down generations to preserve a family’s history. My therapy work seeks to honor and help people have a say in what is passed up, down, and across generations. I believe that when we tend to ourselves and those we call family, we make waves that heal our local and global communities.
After a day of providing therapy, I remind myself of how important it is to invest in my own well-being. Outside of work, I cherish time spent with my loved ones and pets. When I’m seeking peace in solitude, I am likely to reach for a book, my watercolor set, or my comfiest shoes to go on a walk. Some of my other joys and interests include live music/performances, animals, writing, yin yoga, meditation, and energy healing.
I am here to learn all the different ways to love each other well and take care of our earth. I am grateful for those who join me in this precious work.
My wish for you is to create a life filled with what you find most precious.
Elley Berg, LMFT
Education and Experience
CA Marriage and Family Therapist, License #154337
MS Counseling, San Diego State University (2021)
BA Psychology, University of San Diego (2017)
My clinical and academic background includes:
Completed Brainspotting Phase 1 Training
Licensed therapist in private practice settings working with teens and adults across the lifespan
Guest lecturer, co-instructor, and instructor on record in the undergraduate and graduate counseling programs at San Diego State University
Pre-licensed therapist and group therapy facilitator at an outpatient mental health program for adults
Therapist trainee at non-profit agency working with immigrant and refugee children and families experiencing domestic violence
Therapist trainee at counseling and training center for Narrative Therapy