In-Person Therapy in San Francisco & Online Throughout California
Compassionate, Psychodynamic Therapy for Lasting Change
You can look like you have it together—
and still find yourself in the same painful emotional places, both within yourself and in your relationships.
If that feels familiar, you’re not alone. Many of the people I work with feel caught in patterns that are painful, confusing, and feel hard to change.
You might find yourself:
feeling like you’re “too much” in some moments and “not enough” in others
seeming fine on the outside, while internally feeling anxious, sad, or disconnected
feeling things deeply, but also feeling ashamed of those feelings or unsure if and how to share them
noticing the same relational dynamics show up again and again, even when you try to do things differently
struggling to know what you feel or need until things become overwhelming
turning inward with self-criticism when you can’t “figure it out” or change it
shutting down or pulling away from the people in your life
Understanding these patterns
This can feel confusing, because these are not only emotional states, but ways of relating that have developed over time and can repeat outside of awareness.
They are not random, and they are not who you are.
Many of these ways of coping and staying connected began in earlier relationships, where they often made sense and served an important purpose, even if they feel painful or limiting now.
In therapy, we take time to slow down and understand how these patterns show up in your current relationships and inner life, and what they might be communicating or protecting.
From there, something new can begin to emerge, with more space, more choice, and a way of relating that feels more aligned with who you are.
Natalie Yates, LMFT
I’m Natalie, a psychodynamic therapist in San Francisco.
I work with people who often recognize themselves in what you’ve just read. They tend to be thoughtful and self-aware, and yet still find themselves feeling stuck in ways that don’t fully make sense and don’t feel fulfilling.
I welcome people of all identities and backgrounds, and I aim to create a space where you feel seen, respected, and able to show up as you are.
My Approach to Therapy
My work is grounded in a psychodynamic and relational approach to therapy.
Rather than focusing only on symptoms or strategies, we pay attention to the deeper patterns shaping your inner world and relationships—and how those patterns continue to show up in real time.
We notice how you relate, how you protect yourself, how you respond to closeness, and what becomes possible when those patterns are understood rather than acted out automatically.
Over time, this process can create more clarity, choice, and emotional freedom in how you relate to yourself and others.
Areas of Focus
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Self-Esteem & Self-Worth
Feeling unsure of yourself or overly self-critical
Difficulty trusting your instincts or feeling grounded in who you are
Wanting to feel more secure, steady, and at home within yourself
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Early Relationships & Developmental Trauma
The lasting impact of early relationships and formative experiences
Carrying unresolved pain, shame, or unmet emotional needs
Noticing how the past continues to shape your expectations and relationships
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Anxiety & Emotional Overwhelm
A persistent sense of worry, unease, or inner tension
Feeling emotionally flooded, on edge, or stuck in overthinking
Difficulty slowing down or accessing a sense of calm
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Relationship Challenges
Repeating patterns in romantic or interpersonal relationships
Struggles with closeness, vulnerability, conflict, or disconnection
Wanting to understand how you relate to others and why it feels hard at times
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Depression
Feelings of emptiness, heaviness, or disconnection
Low energy, withdrawal, or loss of interest
Feeling stuck, lost, or unsure how to move forward
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Life Transitions & Identity Shifts
Navigating periods of change such as moves, loss, health, relationship shifts, college or career transitions
Periods that bring up questions about identity, direction, or belonging
Wanting a greater sense of stability and continuity through change
“It is a joy to be hidden, and disaster not to be found.”