In-Person & Virtual Therapy in San Francisco, California
Meaningful Therapy for Lasting Change
Sometimes the hardest struggles are the ones other people can't see.
You may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or unsure why life feels so hard. Perhaps your relationships have become painful and confusing, you're going through a major life change, or you have the sense that something isn't working, even if you can't quite put it into words.
You don't need to have the right words, or even understand why you're struggling. Therapy is a place where we begin making sense of it together.
You might notice yourself
second-guessing yourself, even after carefully thinking things through
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blaming yourself when things go wrong, even when you know you're being much harder on yourself than you would be with anyone else
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pushing yourself until you're exhausted, then wondering why you feel so overwhelmed
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reacting in ways that surprise you, or feeling like your emotions take over before you understand what's happening
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feeling like you're doing everything "right," but still not feeling fulfilled
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wondering why relationships keep ending in similar ways
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Making sense of what feels stuck
One of the hardest parts is that you may understand what's happening and still feel unable to change it. Or you may simply know that something feels off, without understanding why you keep feeling, reacting, or relating in the ways you do.
Neither experience is a sign you've failed. More often, it's a sign that something deeper is asking to be understood.
What therapy can open up
Therapy can open up the possibility of feeling more at home within yourself, relating to others with greater freedom, and meeting life's challenges with more flexibility and choice.
Therapy isn't about having all the answers or knowing exactly what's wrong. It's about creating a space where we can begin to understand your experience together.
Together, we'll get curious and begin to notice what's been happening beneath the surface. We’ll explore your emotions, relationships, and the experiences that have shaped the ways you see yourself and navigate the world.
You don't need to have everything figured out before therapy begins. Often, through our conversations, a deeper understanding of yourself begins to emerge. As that understanding grows, you may find yourself becoming less self-critical, more connected to yourself and others, and more able to respond to life with greater intention rather than being pulled into familiar ways of coping.
Natalie Yates, LMFT
Hi, I'Hi, I'm Natalie, a psychotherapist in San Francisco.
I became a therapist because I'm deeply interested in how people come to understand themselves, and how our early experiences and relationships continue to shape the ways we relate to ourselves and others throughout our lives.
Some people come to therapy with a clear sense of what they want to work on. Others arrive feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply knowing that something doesn't feel right, even if they can't yet put it into words.
Wherever you're starting, therapy offers a place to slow down, feel understood, and become curious about your experience without judgment..
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, hopelessness, 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.”