Brendan Hall

Clinical Director, MFT #92404

 

I VALUE RELATIONSHIPS AND SERVICE.  

I was raised in a family that stressed the importance of giving back to the community.  Since I was 15, I’ve worked and volunteered in non-profits, schools and agencies that I believed in.

In 2009, I left teaching to create my own company so I’d have the freedom to do the work of coaching, counseling and healing.  Today, I couldn’t be more enthusiastic with what I do and with who I get the honor of working with – amazing individuals like yourself.

Navigating the world around us can be difficult.  I am privileged to journey with clients through life and facilitate change.  I believe that deep within our minds and hearts, we are fundamentally hard wired for growth and healing.  Having the right support and guidance is critical so that we can break through and re-wire our core beliefs, emotions and negative patterns.  Together, we can look at past and current relationships, develop your support network and build more awareness to improve your overall well-being.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

  • Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT) Training I & II with Hans Stahlschmidt, Berkeley, CA 2016 - 2017

  • Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) Training with Chip Cooper, San Francisco, CA 2016

  • AEDP Essential Skills with Karen Pando-Mars, San Francisco, CA 2015-2016

  • Couples Consultation Group with Dr. Michael Klein, San Francisco, CA 2014 Ongoing

  • Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy Immersion Course with Diana Fosha, Vancouver, BC 2014

  • EFT Advanced Core Skills Trainings with Rebecca Jorgensen, San Francisco, CA 2014

  • The Developmental Model for Couples with Ellen Bader, San Francisco, CA 2013

EDUCATION

  • Community Mental Health Program: Masters in Counseling Psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA 2011-2013

  • Multiple Subject Credential & Masters in Teaching at University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 2004-2006

  • Bachelors of Arts at Eugene Lang College, New School University, Major: Education, San Francisco, CA 2000-2004

 

 

Max Kopeikin

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #100965

Supervised by Ken Breniman (LCSW)

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I am here to help whether you are going through something difficult, looking for opportunities to grow or both.

I am a California native and have been in the Bay Area since 2006. Working with fellow members of the Queer community has been the focus of my work as a therapist, yoga educator and with local non-profits.  In addition to being a therapist I am a dancer, yoga teacher and AcroYoga teacher. I trained in Dance/Movement Therapy in Barcelona and Expressive Arts Therapy here in San Francisco. Imagination and creativity are infused into my approach to therapy, whether in art therapy or in a more traditional talk-based therapy. I offer therapy in both English and Spanish.

In terms of populations, I have done a lot of my work with people who identify as Trans/Gender Non-Conforming/Nonbinary. Other queer populations who I have a lot of experience helping include working with couples, polyamorous relationships, the Latinx community, and gay/Queer men.

My therapeutic approach with individuals is grounded in the body and somatic psychology. My work with clients can include art therapy, yoga therapy, somatic therapy and/or talk therapy. In terms of talk therapy, my approach blends Postmodern Therapies, Existential Psychology and Mindfulness-Based Therapies. My work with couples blends a variety of research-based and evidence-based approaches to couples work. The core ideas from Social Work, Liberation Psychology and Community Mental Health inform a great deal of my work and have taught me to see people’s issues through a systemic and relational perspective. 

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

  • Trainingship at Queer LifeSpace, MFT-Trainee and MFT Intern, San Francisco, CA, 2016-2017

  • Queer Theory-informed Somatic Psychotherapy Individual Supervision with Aaron Hagaman, San Francisco, CA, 2016-2017

  • Expressive Arts Therapy Supervision from California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA 2016-2017

EDUCATION

  • Masters in Counseling Psychology, Expressive Arts Therapy at California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA 2017

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Dance/Movement Therapy from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 2013

  • Bachelors of Arts at the University of California, Berkeley, 2010

    • Major: Interdisciplinary Studies, Minor: Dance & Performance Studies 

 

BARBARA LABINGER

ASSOCIATE MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST#80283

Supervised by Inge Dean MFC #33666

 

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My path to both coming out and becoming a therapist wound through my experience in theatre.  The stage is where I first learned:

  • Sexualities, genders, and relationships come in a near-infinite variety.

  • Communication depends on not just on the words said but what’s under them. Bodies speak. Historical context matters.

  • We all can play multiple roles, with each other and with ourselves.

  • We are all shaped by story, and we each have a rich and important story to tell

  • It is always possible to change the script.

I relate to clients with a mix of compassionate listening and down-to-earth dialogue.  My toolbox includes body awareness, mindfulness, and expressive arts.    I’ve worked with a broad diversity of individuals, couples and families.  I particularly resonate with people and/or relationships with a foot in two (or more) worlds.  This includes, but is not limited to: first and second generation immigrants; cross-cultural couples; genders, sexualities, and/or relationships that fall outside common definitions; and major life transitions.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

  • Hakomi Institute of California Comprehensive Training levels 1 and 2, 2012-2013

  • Healing Shame-Lyon-Rubin Method

  • Certified practioner, Berkeley, 2016

  • Principles of Drama Therapy with Armand Volkas, Berkeley, ongoing

EDUCATION

  • MA Counseling Psychology California Institute of Integral Education, 2014

  • MFA Playwriting Yale School of Drama, 1999

  • BA in Theatre University of California, San Diego, 1995

 

Monica Munjal

INTAKE COORDINATOR

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Monica Munjal is an Intake Coordinator with the Queer Couples Center. She studied Communication with a concentration on management at San Francisco State University. She currently works in Operations at the California Institute of Integral Studies.

To reach Monica with any questions please email her at monica@queercouplescenter.com