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Education & Training

I'm a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY29469) who has been in private practice for over nine years, working with adult and young adult clients. I bring experience from hospitals and university counseling centers, including most recently the student counseling center at San Francisco State University, where I provided individual and group therapy to students and faculty. I received my doctorate in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in San Francisco.

 

Clinical Work Experience and Training:

San Francisco State University

Saint Mary’s College of California

Highland Hospital, Oakland CA

San Francisco VA Medical Center

Crisis Support Services of Alameda County

 

Affiliations:

American Psychological Association

Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology

Bay Area Open Minds

Specialty & Clinical Interest
 

Relationship Issues

I believe that a lot of psychological suffering and distress can be addressed in the context of working through relationship difficulty. I have found that symptoms related to anxiety and depression can be addressed when feelings, needs, wishes, and wants in important relationships are explored. You will likely find that your communication improves when you are more aware of your feelings.

 

Social Anxiety

I've spent much of my career supporting clients who identify as shy, sensitive, introverted, or having low-self-esteem. These are not pathological or clinical terms, in fact, some of them are unique strengths. You may identify as having some of these traits and not others. Regardless, people who identify as having these traits have unique challenges in the world and often feel anxious and misunderstood in social situations.

Complex Trauma

I have extensive experience treating clients across the trauma spectrum, drawing on clinical training and hands-on work with emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, neglect, and trauma experienced in relationships and within one's family of origin. When safety, consistency, and support are unavailable — especially in early relationships — this can leave us feeling dysregulated, confused, and lost. Later in life, this can manifest as feeling disconnected from yourself, having a fierce inner critic, and experiencing somatic symptoms or chronic stress.

Sexual/Gender/Relationship Diversity

I am committed to affirming and supporting folx in the poly/non-monogamous, queer, gender non-conforming, and LGBTQI+ communities and have years of experience in serving clients with these identities. I believe that relationships, sexuality, and gender diversity are natural and healthy expressions of the human experience.

Young Adults

A significant part of my practice involves working with young adult issues, identity development, life transition, and first-generation college students. Separating from your family, navigating new relationships, and discovering your path and interests are some of the unique challenges in this period of life. I have over five years of experience working in university counseling centers providing individual and group therapy to students, staff, and faculty. 

 

Graduate Students, Staff & Faculty

Having been a graduate student myself, and having spent years working at several universities has made me very familiar with the challenges of the unique and stressful world of academia.

          Tel: 925-216-7690

                Email: dr.vengel@davidvengel.com

                       Berkeley, CA

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