About Eric
Depth, Experience, and Thoughtful Care
I hold a PhD in psychology and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC 46755) with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and a lifetime clinical member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
My clinical work has always been grounded in the belief that psychological struggles exist on a continuum and that meaningful care must be tailored to each individual and family system. Over the course of my career, I have worked with children, adolescents, adults, and families facing challenges ranging from severe mental illness — including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders — to trauma, abuse, anxiety, depression, and major life transitions.
Early Clinical Foundation
Understanding the Full Spectrum of Mental Health
Following my graduate training, I completed part of my clinical work at Bonita House Creative Living Center (now Berkeley Creative Wellness Center), a program serving adults with severe mental illness. There, I led groups, provided individual and milieu therapy, and developed a deep appreciation for how complex and individualized mental health treatment must be.
I also volunteered to work with veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, further broadening my understanding of trauma and reintegration challenges.
Community & Family-Based Work
Change Happens in Relationships
I then spent four years at Edgewood Center for Children and Families, a nonprofit organization serving youth and families in crisis. Working both in the community and within schools as a consultant to the San Francisco Unified School District, I supported children and families experiencing persistent instability and socioeconomic stress.
It was during this time that I came to understand a central truth of my work: lasting change in children requires engaging the entire family system. Transformation within a child’s primary living environment can generate meaningful and enduring psychological growth.
Academic & Specialized Training
Advanced Work with Adolescents and Eating Disorders
In 2010, I joined Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute at UCSF, where I worked as a family therapist for the Young Adult and Family Center. As an Assistant Clinical Professor, I instructed students, residents, and fellows, and directed a general assessment clinic for children, adolescents, and young adults.
During this period, I developed extensive experience working with adolescents and young adults struggling with eating disorders. In 2014, I received supervision from Daniel Le Grange, further deepening my understanding of the refeeding process in anorexia treatment. Collaborative work with physicians, nutritionists, and social workers within UCSF’s adolescent and young adult medicine programs was central to achieving successful outcomes.
Private Practice
An Integrated Therapeutic Approach
In 2016, I transitioned fully into private practice and opened my office in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood.
My individual work is psychodynamic in orientation, with careful attention to unconscious patterns and relational history. In family therapy, I integrate systems theory, attachment theory, and behavioral principles. My couples work is informed by Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Psychoanalysis for couples, emphasizing attachment bonds and emotional responsiveness.
Across all modalities, my work reflects a whole-system perspective — recognizing that individual wellbeing and relational dynamics are deeply intertwined.
Continuing Education & Expertise
Commitment to Lifelong Learning
Eric has pursued extensive coursework, workshops, and specialized training to deepen his clinical knowledge and refine his therapeutic skills. From advanced couples therapy and trauma treatment to family systems and Jungian and psychoanalytic approaches, his education reflects a commitment to providing educated, researched care.. Each training builds on his ability to support individuals, couples, and families with clarity, compassion, and clinical expertise.
Credentials:
2025 to Present: Psychoanalytic Couple Psychotherapy Group (PCPG) Intensive Study Program
2024, Certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist EFCT
2023, Emotionally Focused Therapy EFTCore Skills Training with Dr. Rebecca Jorgensen
2019, Jung as Psychotherapist - Jung's Practice and his Methods - Introduction into the Interpretation of Fairy Tales
C. G. Jung Institute in Zürich, Switzerland
2016, Advanced Clinical Work With Transgender Clients.
Intersex, Gender Non Conforming, Genderqueer, and Gender Questioning Clients
Lisette Lahana, LCSW - Senior Gender Specialist - JFK University - Berkeley, CA
2015, 2016 Transforming Trauma with EMDR Part 1, 2, and 3
Laurel Parnell, PhD - Alliant International University - San Francisco, CA
2014 Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa
Daniel Le Grange, PhD- UCSF Department of Psychiatry - San Francisco, CA
2013, Family and Couples Therapy, Topical Panel
John Gottman, PhD, Julie Gottman, PhD, and Cloé Madanes, Lic. Psic.
The Evolution Of Psychotherapy - Anaheim, CA
2013, Toward the Couples' Treatment of Infidelity: A Gottman Method Therapy
John Gottman, PhD, and Julie Gottman, PhD
The Evolution Of Psychotherapy - Anaheim, CA
2013, The Craft of Family Therapy and How to produce Change
Salvador Minuchin, MD
The Evolution Of Psychotherapy - Anaheim, CA
2013, Chain Analysis of Dysfunctional Behaviors
Marsha Lineman, PhD - Founder of DBT
The Evolution Of Psychotherapy - Anaheim, CA
2013, Eating Disorder Recovery Support EDRS, Inc. Conference
Marin County, Ca
2012, Emotionally Focused Therapy EFT 4-Day Externship
Susan Johnson, EdD and Rebecca Jorgensen, PhD
San Francisco, CA
2011, Working with Children and Youth with Trauma-Attachment Problems
Daniel A. Hughes, PhD - San Francisco, CA
2009, Working with Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan
Gretchen Lindner, PhD - JFK University, CA
2008, 2009 The Child Trauma Training Institute -Training
San Francisco, CA
2008, New Developments: 40 Years Later
Salvador Minuchin, MD - Structural Family Therapy
2007, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Shannon Dorsey, PhD - San Francisco, CA
2007, Brief Strategic Family Therapy
Olga Hervis, MSW, LCSW - San Francisco, CA