In-Person & Virtual Relational Therapy in San Francisco

Meaningful Psychotherapy for Lasting Change

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Pain can quietly shape your life and your sense of self, even when things appear "fine" on the outside.

You may be navigating relationship or interpersonal difficulties, a major life transition (such as a move, beginning or ending a relationship, marriage, starting a new job, or going to college), trauma-related symptoms, or a desire to know yourself more deeply and move toward a more free and fulfilling way of living.

You might notice yourself

feeling like you’re “too much” in some moments and “not enough” in others

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feeling things deeply, but also feeling ashamed of those feelings or unsure if and how to share them

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noticing the same relational dynamics show up again and again, even when you try to do things differently

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struggling to know what you feel or need until things become overwhelming

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turning inward with self-criticism when you can’t “figure it out” or change it

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pulling away or shutting down in relationships when things feel too intense or unsafe

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Making sense of what feels stuck
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These experiences can feel confusing, especially when part of you is trying to understand what is happening while another part feels unable to move beyond familiar patterns.

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What therapy can open up

Therapy can open up the possibility of feeling more at home within yourself, relating to others with more freedom, and responding to life with more flexibility and choice.

Rather than focusing only on symptom relief or coping strategies, we'll pay attention to the patterns that shape your inner world, relationships, and emotional life.

Together, we'll explore how these patterns developed and what begins to shift as they are experienced and understood within the therapeutic relationship.

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Natalie Yates, LMFT

I’m Natalie, a psychotherapist in San Francisco.

I work with people who often recognize themselves in what you’ve just read. Many are thoughtful, reflective, and self-aware, and yet still find themselves feeling stuck in ways that don’t fully make sense or 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.

Work With Me
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Areas of Focus

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Depression

    Feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, heaviness, or disconnection

    Low energy, withdrawal, or loss of interest

    Feeling stuck, lost, or unsure how to move forward

  • 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.”
— D.W. Winnicott

Connect

If something here resonates, you don’t have to keep navigating it alone. Reach out today.

Business Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9am–4pm; Fridays, 10am–3pm

CONSULTATION