Laurel Fujii, LCSW #115618
Psychotherapy
for adults in California
WELCOME
I’m Laurel Fujii, LCSW (she/her) and I’m a psychotherapist in the Bay Area who specializes in trauma, burn out, and interpersonal relationships.
My approach to therapy
With warm curiosity and humor, I use a mix of psychodynamic and behavioral techniques to approach distress and unease. Through collaboratively examining memories and current conflict, we can better understand ourselves and the communities we come from. Allowing the self to come through can lead to increased confidence, self-compassion, gratitude and emotional security.
The timeline of psychodynamic therapy is open-ended, rather than given a hard number of sessions.
Common areas I focus on include PTSD, racial and intergenerational trauma, familial conflict, career issues, identity, grief, and Asian American experiences.
Symptoms can look like burn out, depression, anxiety, and feeling like we’re not functioning like “normal.”
I believe in anti-oppressive practice and my clinical lens is ever curious about the generations before us.
About me
I’m a fourth-generation Japanese American clinical social worker (LCSW) born/raised in the SF Bay Area. The families I come from sold plants, peaches, almonds, and grapes. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, I worked for Veterans Affairs in Homeless Programs.
My northern light has always been storytelling and amplifying the voices of people who have been historically oppressed, othered, profited off of, and made to feel small.
LCSW in California #115618
Master’s of Social Welfare (MSW) from UC Berkeley, Certificate of Aging
Certified RISE clinician (Recovering from intimate partner violence through Strengths and Empowerment)
Certified Strength at Home clinician (behavioral therapy for veterans who use violence in intimate relationships)
Coalition for Clinical Social Work Foundations Courses Year 1 and Year 2
Education, certifications, and credentials:
The nuts and bolts:
My sessions are 50 minutes and I meet with clients on a weekly basis.
I have openings for in-person sessions at my office in North Oakland/Berkeley. I’m prioritizing clients seeking in-person sessions, rather than telehealth/video sessions, at this time.
I’m not seeing couples currently.
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My office is located near Ashby and Telegraph. There are approximately 30 steps/3 flights of stairs to enter the suite. There is street parking on Telegraph and free parking in residential neighborhood. AC Transit bus 6 goes up/down Telegraph.
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My insurance slots with Aetna and Optum are currently full. I’m only taking cash-paying clients at this time and my fee is $200. I accept Venmo and Zelle. I can provide a superbill if you seek reimbursement through HSA, FSA, or out-of-network insurance. I have sliding scale slots and I encourage you to reach out if curious!
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With Psychodynamic therapy, we approach our stress and unease through questioning it. This reflective process tends to reveal internal conflict. Rather than using therapy to “fix” such conflict, we are creating room (psychologically and literally) to talk about it and the complicated feelings it provokes. Psychodynamic therapy has an open-ended timeline, unlike behavioral therapies like CBT and ACT.
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You feel like you don’t neatly fit into identity boxes (e.g., gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religious, etc). You want to dive deep on familial issues that your family doesn’t want to talk about. You’re really good at what you do, but you don’t feel like yourself. You’re questioning your role in a group or relationship. I welcome clients who have a range of familiarity with therapy, from no prior experience to years of weekly treatment.
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Clients of psychotherapy have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” so they can anticipate the costs of their treatment. This is part of the 2021 No Surprises Act and pertains to clients who pay out-of-pocket, rather than through their insurance, for psychotherapy. Clients can request a copy of their Good Faith Estimate at any time. I provide a Good Faith Estimate in my intake packet prior to starting treatment. Please see https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises for more information.