Chloe Demisch, LCSW
Location: Oakland, California (in-person) + online across California
Specialties: Life Transitions, Fertility & Infertility, Self-Confidence, Anxiety and Burnout
Why Work With Me
By the time most people reach out, they’ve already spent a lot of time in their own heads. They’ve tried to “get over it”, “look on the bright side”, “stop thinking negatively”, and experimented with quick fixes - none of which last.
A lot of the time, popular self-help approaches don’t go deep enough, or are hard to translate into something you can actually use in your real life.
That’s usually where I come in. I’m Chloe Demisch, LCSW. I’ve been working in mental health for over 20 years, and I provide in-person therapy in Oakland and online across California.
The work we do together examines what’s underneath you’re thoughts and feelings. We’ll learn new ways to relate to them. I’ll ask questions that help you look at things differently, and we’ll stay with the parts you’d normally move past quickly.
Building a connection with you, helping you feel seen, providing encouragement and offering validation are integral to how I work. Because of the connection we build, many clients return off and on to me as they go through different life stages or encounter new problems
If what you want is quick advice or surface-level reassurance, this probably won’t feel like a fit. But if you’re ready to understand your patterns and do something different with them, then we’ll have something to work with.
What Working With Me Is Like
My style is warm, welcoming, and empowering. It’s important to me that you feel like I can relate. I’m human too and know what it’s like to feel scared, alone, and insecure. So I do everything I can to help you feel comfortable in your vulnerability.
In my practice:
Sessions will feel like conversations where I’m actively engaged with you.
I’ll reflect things back, help you identify patterns, and introduce tools that we apply to what’s happening in your life right now.
You might hear me say things like, “I wonder if we could go a little deeper here,” or “What did your mind say about that?”
Getting curious about difficult emotions and observing our thinking makes it easier to move through them. It’s when we judge our thoughts and feelings that we remain stuck.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is all about taking action and maintaining forward momentum.
As we explore your thoughts and feelings, you can expect that:
I will listen carefully, validate you, and ask insightful questions
Understanding your background is an important foundation
I try to be direct and use humour where it makes sense
You start to notice your patterns more quickly
You catch yourself in real time
You make different choices that ultimately lead to a more fulfilling life
The connection we build through your vulnerability and my encouragement is what makes the work life-changing. I see the best in you, and why where you’re coming from makes sense. I want to help you see this too.
My Approach To Therapy
My approach might feel a little different from what you’ve experienced before.
A lot of people come in with the goal of just wanting to feel better. Which makes sense, but conventional ways of accomplishing this tend to lead to trying to push thoughts away, control emotions, or wait until things settle before taking action. And that’s usually where people get stuck.
I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), along with Motivational Interviewing and elements of DBT. Instead of trying to eliminate anxiety, doubt, or fear, we learn how to relate to them differently. You’ll start to notice your thinking rather than automatically getting pulled into it, which gives you more flexibility in how you respond.
From there, we get clear on what actually matters to you, on what gives you purpose, not what you think you should want or who you should be. Then we build ways to move toward that, even when things still feel uncertain or hard.
Getting To Know Me
My work in a wide range of mental health settings with people dealing with complex challenges has shaped how I think about change and what actually helps. A deep commitment to compassion and social justice runs through my professional career.
Discovering what makes you tick (or not!) as quickly and accurately as I can is very rewarding to me. I delight in seeing you build self-worth, challenge yourself, and transform your life
Begin Therapy in Oakland, CA
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably already thinking about whether this could help. There’s rarely a perfect time to start therapy. Most people begin when they’re already tired of going in circles and know something needs to change.
Starting therapy is hard. It’s scary to confront problems and become vulnerable. Plus it can be incredibly hard to find the right therapist. You can book a free 10 minute consultation with me to get a better sense of our fit. I offer in-person therapy in Oakland and virtual sessions across California. I look forward to meeting you.
Ready to Try Something Different This Time?
If you’re fed up with what you’ve been trying and are curious about how life could be different, schedule a consultation with Chloe Demisch Oakland Therapy. Sessions are 50 minutes and offered weekly. In-person sessions are conveniently located near MacArthur BART in the Temescal District of Oakland, and virtual therapy is available across California.