California Integrative Counseling Center was founded by Karla Schlags, LMFT in 2020.

Karla Schlags, LMFT

I am a mother, a partner, a sister, and a transplant to the Bay Area. I share this because my journey informs my work.

I am originally from Upstate NY. I moved to California to pursue a Master’s Degree in Psychology at the University of San Francisco. Since moving here in 2004 I have seen the Bay Area change firsthand. The tech industry’s boom over the last few decades has brought amazing opportunities to many young people. But still, our lives are all joined by a lot of the same struggles. The pace of life is fast. The hustle is a real challenge and many of us are finding ourselves in the rush hour of our careers with no end in sight.

I specialize in therapy with couples and individuals who have relational issues, are feeling burned out, are anxious, and more specifically, are ADHDers. In recent years I have been supporting my clients with how to launch into the next developmental stage. For many young people, this means managing serious relationships. Or, becoming parents and balancing very demanding careers.

I believe that early in our lives, relationships shape who we are and how we connect with those closest to us.

By developing a strong bond in therapy we can heal old wounds and learn new ways to relate. I will bring myself into the room, and we will share stories. This bonding will help to build a therapeutic relationship. We then can work from a place of trust in forming new habits to succeed at work, in relationships, and in personal growth.

In my personal life, my practice has been learning how to slow down, connect with those I love, feel more fulfilled in my success, and be more gentle with the ‘hiccups’ along the way.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #53850

Ceci Walken, LMFT

Hello, my name is Ceci (she/her). I am passionate about creating group therapy opportunities for adults who have ADHD. I especially enjoy working with adults who were not diagnosed in childhood and have been struggling to understand why their goals and dreams are often just out of reach.

My treatment style is empathetic, warm, and practical.

Curiosity, problem-solving, and humor are how I work with my own ADHD, and how I work with people who have ADHD. My approach draws from my training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and executive function skills training.

The Importance of Connection.

Connection heals. ADHD is highly treatable once you have support, strategy, and lifestyle changes in place. Through group therapy, I create a safe and empathetic environment for neurodivergent folks to connect and learn useful tools and skills. If you’ve ever wondered if you have ADHD, or if you already have a diagnosis and feel that I may be a good fit for your ADHD treatment, please feel free to reach out.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #99288

Corey Barber, LMFT

Hi! I’m Corey. I am originally from upstate New York and spent my early adult life living in Boston, though I have called the Bay Area my home for over 12 years.

My journey as a therapist began by working in higher education, counseling students transitioning into and out of college, and advocating for disabled and neurodivergent students through academic accommodations. This setting taught me to see disability as diversity and better understand the role of cultural context in mental health.

Over the last decade, my therapy practice has evolved to focus on helping not only individuals, but also families and couples.

I have experience helping families navigate grief and complicated grief due to chronic health issues and I work with couples using Gottman Method therapy and other evidence-based practices. I have a deep commitment to serving the LGBTQ community and offering empathy and understanding to couples within this community. I'm here to provide a compassionate and skilled hand to guide you forward.

My goal as a therapist is to support clients in navigating life transitions, managing anxiety and burnout, better understanding relationship issues, and coping with challenges connected to ADHD or neurodivergence.

My theoretical orientation and style are pulled from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Nonviolent Communication, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, Self Compassion, and the Gottman Method for couples.

I believe that our relationships with ourselves and with others are at the center of the mental health journey. Through better understanding ourselves, we are more able to communicate and live effectively and authentically.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #124917

Zdravko (Z) Rozic, AMFT, APCC, CCC

I am Zdravko but I mostly go by Z. I was born in former Yugoslavia. At the age of 14, circumstances forced me to leave my homeland. After a few years in Germany, in the late 90's I embarked on a new chapter by moving to the United States. My journey through life and career has been marked by diverse experiences, including roles in mortgage banking, retail, and ride-sharing, as well as being a parent and getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, all of which have profoundly influenced my approach as a therapist.

I work primarily with adults with ADHD and with couples. In that work, I utilize a combination of approaches that are personalized to each individual client. While as a therapist I am rooted in the person-centered approach. I generally use some combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness, and meditation as well as interventions from other approaches as needed by the client I am working with. It is important to me that this is a collaborative approach and that in our work together your needs are addressed.

In addition to mental health counseling, I studied career counseling and am a Certified Career Counselor.

In my view, personal and career counseling are intricately interconnected. Our work not only impacts our mental well-being but can also be a catalyst for issues such as anxiety and depression. This, in turn, affects our work performance, creating a self-perpetuating cycle. I specialize in exploring these intricate connections.

We are all unique individuals shaped by our backgrounds, cultures, abilities, genders, races, life experiences, and various other factors. Therefore, the approach to addressing our challenges must be as unique as we are. My mission is to assist you in discovering your own path to thriving in the future.

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #128566, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor #10334, Supervised by Karla Schlags LMFT #53850; Certified Career Counselor

Graham Holoch, AMFT

I am a bi-racial, Asian-American therapist, born and raised in the Bay Area. My cultural background and experiences as an artist, photo-journalist, and athlete, add influence to my practice. As a person, I am compassionate, positive, pragmatic, and flexible. I am no stranger to humor and cynicism. Talk therapy and expressive forms of communication (journaling, arts, etc.) all have an equal place in the therapy room.

I am dedicated to supporting neurodiverse folks in identifying their goals.

I engage clients in their special interests as a way to form a bond and build a strong therapeutic relationship. I help clients understand their neurodiversity in the context of our everyday world. I work virtually with clients if needed and also enjoy working in person with people in our downtown SF office.

Developing a deeper understanding of ourselves allows us the ability to define who we are and connect in a more fluid way with those around us. My areas of experience include:

• Transitioning life stages

• Anxiety

• Depression

• ADHD

• And the nuanced experience of being on the Autism Spectrum

I work with individuals, couples, and families using an integrative style. This includes using combinations of Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and a systems approach.

Flexibility is paramount as life is ever-changing. I deeply believe therapy is a collaboration wherein the client is the driver and the therapist is the co-navigator. My support is adaptive and sensitive to who you are and wherever you are on your healing journey.

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #129621, Supervised by Karla Schlags, LMFT #53850

Ruben Velazquez, AMFT

Hi – I’m Ruben and I’m originally from Southern California. As a proud gay Mexican American, my upbringing in a religious, bilingual, and bicultural household shaped the lens through which I view the world. In my early 30s, it was through my self-discovery in therapy that led me to pursue a career change to mental health. Unveiling the layers of my own identity, I discovered that I am more than the sum of my experiences, and that realization ignited a fervent desire to guide others on their own empowering journeys.

I’m on a mission to create a space for couples and individuals to explore their own narratives.

I have experience working with couples and individuals with anxiety, depression, relationship issues/conflict, life transitions, self-esteem, and trauma. My therapeutic approach revolves around a collaborative relationship with clients aiming to comprehend their multifaceted selves and establish goals to reduce distress. My practice is firmly rooted in neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ affirmation, intersectionality, and providing a supportive space for self-identified third-culture kids and people of color.

I firmly believe that traumatic experiences can overwhelm our coping mechanisms, shaping narratives that influence our perception of events. In a world inundated with information that molds our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, my focus is on promoting self-discovery against social constructs that may be distressing our lived experiences. Together, let’s navigate the complexities of life and foster resilience through understanding and empowerment.

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #132799, Supervised by Corey Barber LMFT, #124917

Begin Therapy in California

Our team of experienced clinicians understands the many mental health issues individuals may face in our current day and age. We are happy to offer support from our Bay Area-based therapy practice, and across the state via online therapy. We would be happy to help equip you with the tools to overcome the concerns that affect you most. To start your therapy journey, please reach out to book a free 20-minute consultation call today.

Other Services at California Integrative Counseling Center

Our team is happy to provide a variety of mental health services at California Integrative Counseling Center. Our California-based counseling center is also happy to offer adult ADHD treatment, couples therapy, and therapy for life transitions. We also offer therapy for teens and support clients across the state with online therapy. Contact us to learn more about our ADHD support group, or visit our blog for more helpful info!

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