Veronika Gold

Vegan Therapist in San Francisco

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A CHANGE?

You are probably here because you are looking for more joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment in your life. Maybe the stresses of daily life are getting to you and you are feeling overwhelmed, maybe you are struggling with a relationship, or cannot find the right person, maybe you are having issues at work, maybe you are dealing with past unresolved experiences, repeating old patterns, or maybe you are just feeling stuck and don’t know what to do next.

If you want to move forward, you have come to the right place, my name is Veronika Gold, and I specialize in Integral Counseling and Psychotherapy for Individuals and Couples. I view therapy as a unique opportunity to understand yourself more deeply and achieve changes you want in your life.

Through our work together, you will begin to experience deeper connection and harmony in your relationships and your professional life, an enhanced sense of well being, increased feelings of confidence and empowerment, and an overall sense of satisfaction in your life.

We will explore what is standing in the way of you having a rich, joyful, and fulfilling life. I will help you move through past experiences, and increase your ability to respond to current situations, instead of reacting or using unhealthy ways of coping. I will help you access and process difficult feelings, and give you tools for self-regulation. I will support you through the process of uncovering and living from your deepest truth and connecting with you life purpose.

Therapy is an investment in YOU – your relationships, your life, and your family. I want to help you resolve issues as quickly as possible. I believe it is important to find a therapist that is a good match, one you feel comfortable with, and who has expertise in the area you are seeking help in. Look through my website, and if you are interested in working together give me a call 415-255-2553 or email me info@veronikagold.com to schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation.

I am looking forward to meeting you and helping you to have the life you want,

Veronika

INDIVIDUALS

If your issues are standing in the way of having the life you want I can help. I have an Integral Approach to counseling and psychotherapy that is tailored to your uniqueness and your issues.

My therapeutic style is interactive, engaging, non-judgmental, and supportive. I draw from a variety of psychotherapy theories including Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Somatic, Cognitive Behavioral, Solution Focused, and Transpersonal, current research in psychology, neuroscience, and mindfulness, as well as my extensive training, and experience. I believe in the dynamic interrelatedness of body, mind and spirit.

I work with individuals who experience a variety of challenges including:

• Anxiety
• Attachment issues
• Career issues
• Cultural issues
• Depression
• Employment issues
• Grief and Loss
• Immigration issues
• Life choices issues
• Personal Growth issues
• Phobias and Panic Disorders
• Relationship issues
• Sexual issues
• Spiritual issues
• Transitions
• Trauma and PTSD

According to the Consumer Reports Study on Effectiveness of Psychotherapy 89% of people who came in for psychotherapy benefited substantially from treatment, and effectiveness considerably increased with the length of treatment (Seligman, 1995).

COUPLES

Relationships are a fundamental aspect of our lives and when things are not going well joy in life is significantly decreased. I will help you rediscover and experience even stronger love, passion, and connection in your relationship. I will teach you new ways of interacting that will nurture your relationship.

The center of my work with couples is strengthening the bond between you and your partner that creates a feeling of safety in the relationship as well as in the rest of your lives. I have seen with many couples that once this safety is established other issues including communication, decision making, parenting issues, financial issues, and sexual issues are resolved with greater ease, things start to fall into place.

Each session will allow you to explore emotions, internal responses, reactions, behaviors, and needs within the context of your relationship. Through this exploration, we will identify how these affect the dynamic of your relationship. I will help you to express your inner experiences and emotions in a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment, which will allow each of you to voice and address your deepest concerns.

Couples come to me with a variety of issues including:

• Attachment issues
• Alternative relationship style issues
• Commitment issues
• Communication issues
• Extended family issues
• Infidelity
• Intimacy and Trust
• Parenting Issues
• Pre-marital Counseling
• Multi Cultural Issues
• Sexual issues
• Transitional Issues

I am trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), evidence based treatment for couples, grounded in the attachment theory. The research shows that with EFT 70-75% of couples move from distress to recovery, and that 90% show significant improvements.

I invite couples of all sexual orientations, lifestyles and cultures. As a couples therapist I listen equally and attend to each partner’s needs.

ABOUT

I am passionate about helping people connect to themselves and create happiness in their lives. I grew up in the Czech Republic under the communist rule, and before making The Bay Area my home in 2003, I traveled and lived around the world, learning from people of diverse cultures. Since my teenage years I have been drawn to contemplative traditions, inspired by various teachers and mentors. Meditation, mindfulness, exploration of consciousness and non-ordinary states of consciousness, and embodiment practices became an important part of my life.

I am warm, authentic, and present for my clients. I am an advocate of the powerful process of healing and transformation through psychotherapy which I see as my vocation, as living my life purpose. I have a deep gratitude for the invitation to help my clients on their journeys. I am committed to personal and professional growth and have a strong connection to nature, enjoy traveling, art, cooking, sports, and spending time with family and friends. I have a wonderful nephew and niece, sweet labradoodle Chloe who you might meet in our sessions, and a cat.

My endless interest and intrigue with human behavior and relationships, as well as my own healing of cultural and personal trauma influenced my decision of studying psychology. I received an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the Charles University in Prague in 2000, and an M.A. in Integral Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco in 2009.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC#52967) by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. I am EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Certified Therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. I am a Certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) and I am in Organic Intelligence Expert training for treatment of trauma. I have an advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples, and I am a Certified Realization Process Teacher.

I am a Sub Investigator and a co-therapist in MAPS Clinical Program for MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy at the San Francisco Insight and Integration Center. I have co-developed a Ketamine Assisted Therapy Program at New Pathways Ketamine Clinics. I am a co-founder and therapist for Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy at Polaris Insight Center. I volunteer as a mentor at the HEART (Human Empowerment and Resiliency Training) and currency I volunteer as a facilitator at EMDR HAP (Humanitarian Assistance Program).

I have over 15 years of International experience helping clients with various backgrounds, beliefs, and sexual orientations. I worked with all age groups and constellations (children, youth, adolescents, adults, elderly, individuals, couples, and families), and variety of issues including anxiety, depression, abuse, domestic violence, past traumas, relationship issues, body image, pre-marriage counseling, divorces issues, loss and grief, stress, transitional issues, addiction, identity issues, sexual orientation issues, sexual dysfunctions, life threatening illness, accidents, physical and sexual violence, psychedelic integration, and personal growth.

I worked in The Bay Area at The Marina Counseling Center , Francisco Middle School, and The Golden Gate Integral Counseling Center , Relationship Counseling Center, Community Psychiatry, Psyched in SF, and as an After Hours Parent Support Line Counselor and a Training Specialist at Family Paths, in Japan I worked at The Ikebukuro Counseling Center, and in the Czech Republic at Sananim.

Education

MA in Counseling Psychology, concentration in Integral Counseling Psychology, 2009, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California, USA
MA in Psychology, concentration in Clinical Psychology, 2000, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Certification

Certificated Somatic Experiencing Practioner
EMDR Certified Therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant
Certified in Realization Process Spiritual Psychotherapy
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Specialized Training

Training of Trainers in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy through Ketamine Training Center
MAPS MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy Training
Organic Intelligence Expert Training
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Training
The Realization Process Teacher Training
Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship and Core Skills Training
Hotline Counselor Training
EMDR, Two-Part Basic Training
Group Psychotherapy Training
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Professional Affiliations

CAMFT – California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist
EMDRIA – EMDR International Association
See my profile at Psychology Today, Psychotherapy Network, EMDRIA therapist Directory, MAPS Psychedelic Integration Directory, and Somatic Experiencing Directory.