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Evergreen Counseling

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United States
Berkeley, CA
Evergreen Counseling

A boutique, trauma-informed, 18-clinician therapy center in the heart of Berkeley, California.

11/13/2025

Many accomplished individuals have experienced therapy that felt transactional or formulaic.

You may have left sessions wondering if your therapist truly grasped the complexity of your situation, or if you were simply another case to manage.

Ruth Kleast, LCSW, approaches her work differently: "I sincerely care for each person with whom I work, and I feel a shared investment in your quality of life."

This relational foundation is what research shows creates lasting change.

At Evergreen Counseling, our therapists combine clinical expertise with genuine investment in your outcomes.

We understand that healing happens within authentic connection—when you feel both challenged and supported as you work through complex patterns and create meaningful shifts in your life.

Therapeutic partnership means your growth becomes our shared priority, not just a professional obligation.

Experience the difference that genuine care makes. Schedule a complimentary consultation to explore how this approach might support your goals. https://taplink.cc/theevergreencounseling

11/11/2025

Veterans Day reminds us that gratitude for service must include access to skilled trauma care.

At Evergreen Counseling, Ruth Kleast, LCSW brings specialized expertise in military trauma recovery, understanding the profound journey from combat to civilian life.

Ruth's approach recognizes that effective treatment honors both strength and struggle.

Through evidence-based modalities like EMDR and somatic therapy, she helps veterans reclaim capacity for rest, connection, and purpose beyond survival.

We don't just acknowledge service—we support healing.

Explore our specialized trauma services: https://taplink.cc/theevergreencounseling

11/10/2025

Psychological constriction following adverse experiences often manifests as diminished access to core capacities—creating a subtle but pervasive disconnection from one's inherent strengths and relational potential.

"I see my role as a supportive guide in helping you heal from painful experiences and rediscover your unique gifts and abilities to meaningfully connect with yourself, your loved ones, and your community." - Deborah Schwing, LMFT, LPCC

At Evergreen Counseling, Deborah employs a neurosequential approach that recognizes how trauma disrupts developmental integration.

Her clinical methodology systematically addresses both psychological wounds and their neurobiological imprints, restoring access to regulated states where innate competencies naturally emerge.

This evidence-based process facilitates reconnection across multiple domains—intrapersonal, interpersonal, and communal—creating sustainable resilience beyond symptom reduction.

Interested in reclaiming capacities that may have become inaccessible following difficult experiences?

Schedule a complimentary consultation with Deborah to discuss how her integrative approach might support your specific circumstances: https://taplink.cc/theevergreencounseling

11/07/2025

What if the internal conflict you experience isn't pathology—but an understandable response to experiences that required you to fragment in order to survive?

Internal Family Systems recognizes that we develop different aspects of self to manage overwhelming situations.

The part that drives relentless achievement, the one that numbs through substances or behaviors, the voice that judges mercilessly—each emerged to protect you from unbearable feelings or circumstances.

Our IFS-informed therapists help clients befriend these exiled and protective parts, creating integration rather than suppression.

This evidence-based modality is particularly effective for complex trauma, offering a pathway to self-compassion that doesn't bypass accountability or growth.

When all parts of you feel heard, transformation becomes possible.

Learn about our IFS approach: https://taplink.cc/theevergreencounseling

11/05/2025

Your stress response made sense once.

The question is whether it still serves you now.

This National Stress Awareness Day, we're highlighting three extraordinary clinicians who specialize in transforming deeply embedded stress patterns:

Emma Leighton, LMFT supports high-functioning professionals in reconnecting with their authentic selves.

Deborah Schwing, LMFT, LPCC offers hybrid therapy approaches that honor individual healing journeys.

Ruth Kleast, LCSW guides clients through complex emotional landscapes with precision and compassion.

At Evergreen Counseling, we help clients distinguish between situational stress and trauma-rooted patterns, creating evidence-based pathways toward genuine nervous system regulation.

Learn more about our approach to anxiety and stress: https://taplink.cc/theevergreencounseling

11/04/2025

Neurobiological safety forms the foundation for psychological growth—without it, even the most insightful therapeutic interventions cannot access the deeper neural networks necessary for meaningful change.

"I would be honored to work together to create a space where all of this becomes possible, and where you can feel safe and supported." - Ari Costello, Ph.D.

At Evergreen Counseling, Dr. Costello specializes in creating precisely calibrated therapeutic environments where polyvagal responses can modulate from defensive states toward regulated engagement.

This evidence-based approach activates the neurological conditions required for adaptive learning and integration.

Through deliberate attunement and strategic intervention, clients experience both conceptual insight and the embodied security necessary for sustainable transformation.

Interested in working with a clinician who understands the complex interplay between physiological safety and psychological change?

Schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Costello to discuss your specific needs and determine compatibility: https://taplink.cc/theevergreencounseling

11/03/2025

Gratitude isn't about minimizing pain—it's about expanding our capacity to heal.

This month, we're honoring the profound resilience of our clients and our incredible therapists Emma, Deborah, and Ruth. Each brings a unique, trauma-informed approach to help you transform challenging experiences into pathways of growth.

No matter where you're starting from, it's never too late to change.

Curious how trauma-informed therapy can support your healing journey?

Book a complimentary consultation: https://taplink.cc/theevergreencounseling

10/31/2025

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy offers a comprehensive framework for developing emotional resilience through evidence-based skills that address the realities of intense feelings and difficult circumstances.

Rather than promising to eliminate emotional intensity, DBT acknowledges that challenging emotions are part of the human experience—particularly for individuals navigating complex professional demands, relationship dynamics, or past trauma.

The therapy focuses on building practical competencies in four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

These skills transform how you relate to emotional experiences, moving from being overwhelmed by feelings to having concrete tools for navigating them skillfully.

For high-achieving individuals, DBT's structured approach often resonates because it provides actionable strategies that can be implemented immediately, whether you're managing workplace stress, relationship conflicts, or the aftermath of difficult experiences.

True emotional resilience emerges when you can experience the full spectrum of emotions while maintaining your capacity for thoughtful decision-making and authentic connection.

Ready to build your practical toolkit for emotional resilience? Learn more: https://taplink.cc/theevergreencounseling

10/30/2025

Many of the beliefs that create the most suffering— "I'm not worthy," "I always mess things up," "I can't trust anyone"—weren't originally our thoughts.

They were messages we absorbed from difficult experiences, critical voices, or traumatic circumstances when we were too young or overwhelmed to question their accuracy.

These internalized beliefs become the background soundtrack of our lives, influencing every decision and relationship.

But they're not immutable truths—they're interpretations that can be examined and challenged.

At Evergreen Counseling, we help clients identify the unfair narratives they've carried and distinguish between what actually happened and the meanings they assigned to those experiences.

Sometimes emotional peace comes from recognizing that the harsh inner critic isn't your voice—it's an echo of someone else's pain or limitation.

When you can separate yourself from the untrue messages you've internalized, you create space for a more compassionate and accurate understanding of who you really are.

Ready to question the beliefs that have been limiting your peace? Explore therapy options: https://taplink.cc/theevergreencounseling

10/29/2025

"Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love." This simple directive reveals one of the most pervasive patterns our therapists encounter: highly accomplished individuals who extend compassion freely to others while maintaining harsh internal dialogue with themselves.

The critical inner voice often develops as a protective mechanism during childhood—an attempt to prevent failure or rejection by maintaining impossibly high standards.

While this internal critic may have contributed to professional success, it frequently becomes a source of chronic anxiety, perfectionism, and difficulty enjoying achievements.

Through modalities like Internal Family Systems, clients learn to recognize these critical parts of themselves, understand their protective intentions, and develop more balanced internal relationships.

This isn't about eliminating high standards—it's about cultivating the same emotional support system internally that you would offer a dear friend facing similar challenges.

The quality of your relationship with yourself fundamentally shapes every other relationship in your life.

Ready to explore a more compassionate approach to self-dialogue? Learn more: https://taplink.cc/theevergreencounseling

10/28/2025

Many people spend years feeling like strangers to themselves, uncomfortable with their emotions, disconnected from their bodies, or powerless in their own circumstances.

They might achieve external success while feeling internally fragmented or uncertain.

True wellbeing means developing a genuine sense of ease with who you are—your emotions, your responses, your needs, and your boundaries.

It means trusting yourself to navigate challenges without losing your center.

At Evergreen Counseling, we understand that empowerment isn't about controlling everything that happens to you.

It's about cultivating the inner resources to respond to life from a place of choice rather than reactivity.

When you feel comfortable in your own skin, you naturally make decisions that align with your values.

You set boundaries that protect your wellbeing.

You engage in relationships from authenticity rather than performance.

This kind of embodied confidence transforms not just how you feel, but how you move through the world.

Ready to feel truly at home in your life? Schedule a consultation: https://taplink.cc/theevergreencounseling

10/27/2025

The inner critic often masquerades as motivation or high standards, but research reveals its profound impact on our neurobiological functioning—activating the same brain regions associated with physical pain.

For accomplished individuals, this internal voice can become particularly sophisticated, using logic and past achievements to justify its relentless assessments.

Our latest blog post explores how this critical inner dialogue develops from internalized external judgments and offers evidence-based approaches to transform your relationship with self-evaluation.

Rather than attempting to eliminate critical thoughts entirely, the goal is developing the capacity to respond with self-compassion—a practice that research shows significantly improves emotional well-being and builds genuine resilience.

Dr. Kristin Neff's work demonstrates that self-compassion isn't self-indulgence; it's the foundation for sustained growth and authentic confidence.

When you approach your inner experience with the same kindness you'd offer a valued colleague, you create space for both accountability and self-acceptance—a combination that fosters lasting change and emotional equilibrium.

Ready to explore a more compassionate relationship with yourself? Read our full blog post and learn more: https://taplink.cc/theevergreencounseling

Address

2140 Shattuck Avenue Suite 804
Berkeley, CA
94704

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 8pm
Tuesday	8am - 8pm
Wednesday	8am - 8pm
Thursday	8am - 8pm
Friday	8am - 8pm
Saturday	8am - 8pm
Sunday	8am - 8pm

Telephone

+15103732723

Website

https://evergreencounseling.com/, https://evergreencounseling.as.me/jennifer-voss, https://taplink.cc/theevergreencounse

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