Local Christian Counseling
Below is our Care Ministry’s recommended list of Christian therapists and counselors in the Castro Valley area.
Christian Therapists
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Claudio Silva is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, ordained pastor and professional pianist. He specializes in counseling couples, children and adolescents. He worked for 16 years as a pastor in Brazil and the US. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Theology and a Master’s degree in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy. He is also a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and speaks fluent English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Claudio has a certification in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and is a supervisor in training to help other clinicians who are learning the modality.
He is also trained in Child Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), utilizing play to help children from 3 to 10 years old and coaching parents who want to further develop their parenting skills to better communicate and connect with their children.
https://www.christiancounselingcenters.org/claudio-silva
(408) 658-8576 -
Joy Wong Liu is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC 53681) who enjoys working with individual adults and couples. Joy received her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary in Los Gatos. A former teacher at the Neighborhood Youth Theater ministry at 3 Crosses many years ago, Joy now uses drama therapy in her work with clients and has pursued additional training in the Therapeutic Spiral Model, a clinical form of psychodrama for the treatment of trauma. She's also trained in EMDR, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Level 2 Gottman Method Couples Therapy, as well as PREPARE-ENRICH for premarital counseling.
Quiet Waters Counseling
www.qwaters.net
www.live-deeply.com
510-999-6380 -
Anthony Liu is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC 81072). He earned his M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy at Western Seminary and a B.A. in English from UC Berkeley. He is also a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, receiving on-going training with the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals.
In addition, he is trained in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy as well as EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and Psycho-drama. Anthony has worked at non-profit organizations that provide drug treatment counseling and crisis intervention services to children and families. A son of first-generation immigrants, Anthony speaks proficient Cantonese, Mandarin, and Taishanese.
Anthony enjoys working with individuals, adolescents, and couples. His areas of interest include:
trauma counseling
cross-cultural issues
depression and anxiety
child/adolescent issues
pre-marital and marriage counseling
addiction issues, with a focus on sex addiction
Anthony believes that counseling is a safe avenue to facilitate healing and that therapy can draw people to Christ — who forgives, loves, and redeems.
Anthony enjoys playing basketball, singing karaoke, and learning about improv theater. He especially enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons.
Quiet Waters Counseling
www.qwaters.net
510-999-6380 -
My name is Valerie, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor blessed to be in this work for a decade. I work with children, teens, and women dealing with self-esteem, depression, anxiety, relational issues, grief or life adjustments, eating disorders, chronic illness and trauma from a faith-based approach and integrating psychological insight, tools, and strategies. I love this work, love being a person who can hold the tough stuff, to provide support, to find connections that help connect some dots, but most of all, I love getting to celebrate and rejoice in the victories, the healing and watching you bloom into your fullest self.
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Hello! My name is Lauren Quock and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the East Bay Area. I am deeply passionate about working with adults, teens and children to address issues including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, low self-esteem, relationship challenges, stress, mood disorders, life transitions, grief, and anger management. My goal is to uniquely address your concerns from a Christian perspective and to integrate your goals, values, and strengths into the process. I count it a great joy to walk alongside fellow believers and equip them with the tools they need to manage their emotions, improve relationships, process traumas, solve problems, and increase confidence. I am invested in you, your story, and our therapeutic relationship.
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Steve is a therapist at Christian Counseling Centers in San Mateo and has a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary. Since 2002, he has been a counselor in the Biblical Counseling Ministry at Central Peninsula Church in Foster City, CA.
The focus of his clinical work includes couples counseling, and adults struggling with depression, anxiety and mood disorders. An emerging specialty is supporting those struggling with the mental challenges associated with early stage dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (DAT). His focus is on early stage for the afflicted, and support for the family caregiver and extended family. A devoted Christian, Steve is experienced in integrating psychodynamic principles with biblical truth.
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The therapists at Sycamore Grove specialize in: marriage counseling, relational issues, group therapy, child and adolescent issues, developmental disorders in children including ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome, childhood trauma, conflict resolution, communication, and recovery from sexual abuse.
Location: San Ramon, CA
kdennis@sycamoregrove.org
925.309.5216 -
Annie is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges with grace and resilience. With a Master’s degree from CSU East Bay, she specializes in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), alongside art and play integrated therapies that help people express what words sometimes cannot.
Annie believes that your spiritual life is an essential component of your "whole health." Whether integrating scripture for guided meditation or exploring prayer journaling for emotional processing, she provides a space where your faith and mental health can grow together.
Whether you are seeking support for your marriage, your child, or your own personal journey, Annie provides a compassionate space for healing.Davis Street Community Center
510-347-4620 (Ext. 113) and specifically request to be seen by Annie Marumahoko (AMFT, Lic. 157030)
Christian/Biblical Counselors
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Kristin Silva Linder is a counselor in Portland, OR., offering both in-person and online counseling. She also leads a counseling internship for students completing their training in biblical counseling. In addition to counseling she is a speaker, teacher, and author, contributing to the Journal of Biblical Counseling as well as writing on her own blog occasionally.
Prior to moving to Portland in 2012 she completed a master's degree in Theological Studies from Westminster Seminary California and her counseling training and internship with the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation (CCEF). Her passion for biblical counseling comes from a deep desire to see Christ sing into the intimate and intricate details of the lives of those she walks with.
Kristin is married to her husband Larry and enjoys life with two stepchildren – one grown, and one almost grown their Corgi Maggilou. Two of her favorite things about living in the Pacific Northwest are the coffee and the kayaking.
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Kathy received her Master of Arts in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Kathy’s passion for Biblical counseling comes from experiencing the love of Jesus invading the darkest parts of her story of trauma and debilitating mental illness in her family. She has a deep heart for working with those burdened by relational breakdown, whether marriage, family, friendships, or sexual brokenness, as well as the pressures and potential burnout for those in vocational ministry. She seeks to bring Biblical reframing to a person’s struggles while holding hope in the often hidden hand of God in places of suffering.
Kathy is available for remote counseling and in-person counseling in Palo Alto, CA.
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Steve is a therapist at Christian Counseling Centers in San Mateo and has a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary. Since 2002, he has been a counselor in the Biblical Counseling Ministry at Central Peninsula Church in Foster City, CA.
The focus of his clinical work includes couples counseling, and adults struggling with depression, anxiety and mood disorders. An emerging specialty is supporting those struggling with the mental challenges associated with early stage dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (DAT). His focus is on early stage for the afflicted, and support for the family caregiver and extended family. A devoted Christian, Steve is experienced in integrating psychodynamic principles with biblical truth.
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Loraena is a Biblical Counselor from Portland Oregon. Prior to becoming a counselor, she served alongside her husband in bi-vocational church ministry and grew a passion for how faith intersects with life’s struggles. She learned how powerfully transforming it is when we humbly and wisely care & counsel each other as the hands and feet of Jesus. Her life experience includes parenting children from hard places, parenting autism, interracial adoption, and advocacy for underprivileged women and families around the world.
Loraena received her Master of Arts in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary and also has a Certificate in Counseling in Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation.
Additional Info
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Approaches differ in the degree to which psychological theories and techniques are integrated with biblical truth. Generally, while Christian Therapy addresses mental health conditions, providing longer-term solutions for unwanted thoughts and feelings affecting day-to-day functioning, Biblical Counseling tends to focus on specific internal and relational issues influencing daily life. There are Christian Therapists who pursue additional training in Biblical counseling as well as Biblical Counselors who pursue further training in psychological theory and techniques.
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Therapists are clinically trained, have a master’s level or higher degree in a program such as Clinical Mental Health, Marriage and Family, etc.. They consider biological, chemical and psychological aspects of a person, incorporating faith to the degree the client is comfortable. Clinical Counselors glean from what they find useful in secular science and psychology for the healing of Christian people.
Biblical Counselors have a master’s level degree from a Seminary, receiving extensive training in theology and soul care, while appreciating psychological theories. They evaluate the realities of life in a broken world through the lens of spiritual formation; seeing the client as created in the image of God, recreated into the likeness of Christ. Biblical counseling offers insight into where life and Scripture meet and how the Spirit of God is at work bringing the hope of the gospel into the problems of life.