Therapy makes life better. It does so in a number of ways—some concrete and measurable, some a little less tangible and a little more magical. As a therapist, I am an ally and co-conspirator, helping clients cultivate more freedom, aliveness, intimacy, and joy in everyday life.

PSYCHOtherapy

Where would you like to start?

Some people come in with very clear ideas of what they want from therapy—whether it’s confronting anxiety, finding a better job, or getting more from a stalled relationship. We work with the internal and external forces that are keeping them stuck, building the needed self-support to move into a new phase. Other clients arrive with a more generalized state of existential discomfort or depression, grappling with questions about why we’re here, where to find meaning in life, a sense of cosmic isolation, or fear of mortality. Together we explore those extraordinary and unanswerable questions, while honestly confronting and integrating the scared, anxious, optimistic, or joyful parts we encounter along the way. Combining the principles of relational Gestalt, existential psychotherapy, attachment theory, and Yogic philosophy, I collaborate with individual clients to get exactly what they need from therapy. 

My practice is explicitly inclusive: I have successfully worked with clients of various ages, races, sexual orientations, religions, and gender identities. Guided by core gestalt values of curiosity and the appreciation of differences, I strive to create an open and inviting environment for all kinds of people, confronting all kinds of issues.

Particular areas of interest, experience, and focus include:

Sessions

Therapy sessions are 50 minutes, generally weekly (double sessions, every-other-week sessions, or other arrangements are available as clinically appropriate). My office is located in the Castro, easily accessible by MUNI and five blocks from BART.

My fee per session is $185. I can accept cash or credit or FSA cards.

Group Therapy

Therapy groups are a rare and beautiful thing: a chance to connect with others in a profoundly safe, yet intimate way. Within this supportive context, members’ emotional vulnerability, curiosity, and joy are able to emerge. My groups use a combination of structured exercises and open-ended exploration to facilitate self-inquiry and interpersonal process.

Current Groups

While I have no current groups running, I would like to assemble one at some point when it’s safe to do so in person and unmasked. Feel free to reach out to learn more about group therapy with me.  

Emily Fasten
(MFT LIC#97098)

I have masters degree from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), am a certified yoga instructor, and have worked for more than 20 years as an editorial and marketing professional in a variety of corporate settings. I have spent time at the Esalen Institute, sat retreats at Spirit Rock, and have a committed Vinyasa yoga practice. I am personally inspired by the creative and aspirational aspects of the human potential movement and the psycho-spiritual influences of CIIS and yoga. I effectively balance this humanistic world view with a direct, pragmatic, responsive approach to life and work, informed by my extensive professional experience (and East Coast upbringing).

Trained in the lineage of gestalt, I hold the values of self-responsibility, authenticity, difference, and freedom in the highest esteem. I’m fiercely protective of our rights and capacities as humans to be honest—in the here and now—about our experience; to be in self-aware intimate relationships with others; and to cultivate a sense of joy, aliveness, and humor in everyday life. This is what I want for my clients, myself, and, really, all people everywhere.

RESOURCES

The following are some Northern California resources that can help support self-inquiry and mental-emotional health.

Mental Health

Education

Retreats and Workshops

These Northern California centers are located in beautiful places and offer many day-long and residential opportunities for a wide range of psycho-spiritual exploration.

San Francisco Meditation Classes

If you’re looking to deepen your meditation practice, here are some Bay Area classes and programs.

Substance Abuse Recovery

GET IN TOUCH

I am currently offering therapy both in person and remotely. You can email me using this form to set up a free initial consultation. (Please note that, due to the nature of email, I can't guarantee confidentiality. I use email for casual contact about scheduling, referrals, or general inquires, not to address deeper psychological material.)