About My Therapy Practice
I believe healing happens in relationship: in the relationship we have with ourselves, with others, and within the therapeutic relationship we create together.
- Natalie Yates, LMFT
I’m a psychotherapist in San Francisco, and I work from a psychodynamic and relational perspective. I’m interested in understanding not only what brings you to therapy now, but also the experiences and relationships that have shaped how you see yourself, connect with others, and move through the world.
Many of the struggles people bring to therapy make more sense when we look at them in context. Anxiety, self-doubt, relationship difficulties, or feeling stuck often have roots in experiences that shaped how we learned to relate to ourselves and others.
Therapy offers a space to notice and understand these patterns with curiosity and compassion. Over time, this deeper understanding can create more room for flexibility, choice, and a different way of relating to yourself and others.
“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.”
— Kahlil Gibran
The Therapeutic Process
Therapy with me is collaborative, thoughtful, and paced with care. We’ll begin with what brings you to therapy now, while also staying curious about the experiences, relationships, and emotions that have shaped how you see yourself and move through the world.
Together, we’ll pay attention to what emerges in our work. This may include moments that feel difficult to put into words, recurring struggles that seem hard to change, or familiar ways of responding that no longer feel helpful.
I believe the relationship we build together is an important part of the therapy itself. How you experience me, how we navigate moments of uncertainty, and what happens between us can offer meaningful insight into the ways you relate to yourself and others outside of therapy.
Over time, therapy can create more room for choice. As you develop a deeper understanding of yourself, you may find that old patterns begin to shift and that you feel more able to respond to life in ways that feel aligned with who you are.
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
Related areas of clinical focus
Depression
Relationships & dating
Attachment challenges
Difficult family dynamics
PTSD & complex trauma
Grief & loss, and separations
Friendship & peer relationships
Anxiety
Sexual trauma & sexual assault
Domestic abuse & intimate-partner violence
Boundaries & people-pleasing
LGTBQIA+
Suicidal thoughts & self-harm
Body image
Therapeutic Approach
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We explore how unconscious patterns and past relational experiences shape your current emotional life.
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We attend to how early relationships influence your sense of safety, connection, and belonging.
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We move at a pace that respects your nervous system, prioritizing safety and choice.
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Our relationships shape how we experience ourselves and the world around us. In our work, we pay attention to these patterns, including how they emerge within the therapeutic relationship. Together, we can begin to understand how you connect with others, what may make relationships feel difficult, and what becomes possible through a consistent and meaningful therapeutic relationship.
Training and Background
Education
Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University
Emphasis in LGBTQ+ Counseling
Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara
Minors in Applied Psychology and Education
Training
I’ve worked in a range of settings, including schools, community mental health clinics, and private practice, which has shaped how I understand people, relationships, and care. I remain engaged in ongoing consultation to support thoughtful and ethical work. I’m deeply committed to this practice, and I am in my own analysis—something I believe is essential to showing up with presence, care, honesty, and authenticity, both as a psychotherapist and as a person.
My training has included working with survivors of sexual trauma, intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, and human trafficking. In that work, I’ve been continually struck by people’s capacity for resilience, and I aim to support a process of healing that feels meaningful, steady, and at your own pace.
License and Certifications
CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #139404
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
Professional Affiliations
The Embody Lab
The Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California (PINC)
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT & SF-CAMFT)
Next Steps
If this resonates, I invite you to reach out for a consultation.
Connect
Please feel free to reach out with any questions or to schedule a consultation.
Business Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9am–6pm; Fridays, 10am–3pm