SKYELLEN KULANU

Vegan Psychotherapist in Oakland

Living a value congruent life brings joy and meaning to our connections. Fear and past trauma present obstacles to practicing our values consistently, or knowing what they are.

My goal is to help you experience more growth and wellness in all areas of your life by focusing on what really matters.

Some modalities I commonly utilize are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, and other Mindfulness based approaches. I work through a feminist, antiracist, and social justice lens. I approach therapy with curiosity, compassion, and a healthy dose of humor.

Individual Therapy

Therapy is available at my Oakland office, or via Telehealth on a HIPPA compliant platform. I offer telehealth appointments to individuals in California and Florida. I offer an initial free 15 minute telephone consultation in order to answer any questions you may have about working with me. One of the essential elements of effective therapy is developing a safe relationship with your therapist. The first few sessions are an opportunity for you to get a sense of how I work and to determine if we are a good match for an ongoing therapeutic relationship. I welcome your thoughts and feedback at every stage of the therapeutic process.

Couples Therapy

Many people seek therapy to strengthen their relationships or for help repairing when a crisis has emerged. Whether you are seeking to improve communication with your partner(s), figure out how to navigate areas you are stuck, or deciding if it’s time to separate or divorce; therapy can help. I welcome individuals of diverse identities into my practice. I serve individuals in monogamous relationships as well as those in open and polyamorous constellations. My approach to couples work is informed by attachment theory and I am trained in PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy).

Common reasons for seeking relationship therapy include:

• Communication problems
• Intimacy/sexual difficulties
• Parenting Conflicts
• Opening up a relationship
• Mixed Orientation partnerships
• Pre marital therapy
• Concerns about a partner(s) drug and alcohol use
• Healing from infidelity/betrayal

About Me

EDUCATION & BACKGROUND

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSURE

Licensed Psychologist, License # PSY 22942, California Board of Psychology

Licensed Psychologist, Telehealth License # TPPY2037, Florida

Certification in Mindfulness and Compassion in Psychotherapy, CIIS, San Francisco.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, San Francisco

B.A. Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California Irvine

PAST CLINICAL INTERNSHIPS & TRAININGS

Clinical Supervisor, The Pacific Center, Berkeley

Postdoctoral Fellow, Kaiser Permanente, Walnut Creek, CA

Predoctoral Intern, Kaiser Permanente, Walnut Creek, CA

Intern, Rubicon Programs Inc. Richmond, CA

Intern, Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, Oakland, CA

Intern, Y-Team, YMCA, Richmond, CA

Volunteer staff, GLBT National Help Center, San Francisco, CA

Intern, Laguna Shanti, Laguna, CA

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Bay Area Open Minds

The Northern California Behavioral Therapy Network

Association for Contextual Behavioral Science

The PACT Institute

Specialities

I work with a wide range of clients that is reflective of the diverse Bay Area population. Some of my areas of interest include the following symptoms, populations, and treatment approaches.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Trauma
• LGBT Issues
• Transgender and Gender Diverse populations
• Relationship concerns, intimacy, dating & sexuality
• Substance Abuse
• Codependency/Assertiveness/Boundaries
• Mindfulness
• Polyamory/Kink & BDSM communities

Insurance & Fees

My fees are comparable to licensed psychologists in the Bay Area. Please contact me for more information on my current rate. Sliding scale fees may be available for those experiencing financial hardship and will be considered on an individual basis. I am in network with Lyra Health. If you have another insurance plan, you can check if your policy has out of network benefits.

If you choose to pay out-of-pocket for your therapy, you will be provided with a superbill that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. If you choose to use your out of network insurance benefits, be mindful that insurance companies require information about your treatment and a diagnosis to reimburse for services. Additionally, I have a 48 hour cancellation policy and insurance companies do not reimburse for missed sessions.

Visit my Resource Page for a list of clinics that offer low fee and sliding scale services.