About Me & My Practice

Licenses & Affiliations

→ Licensed Marriage Family Therapist: MFC# 48159
→ CA Association of Marriage & Family Therapists
→ E Bay CA Assoc. Marriage & Family Therapists
→ CA Certified Massage Practitioner: #30470
→ Assoc. of Bodywork & Massage Professionals 

Psychotherapy & Bodywork Education

→ California Institute of Integral Studies. MA
    Counseling Psychology (Somatics)
→ McKinnon Institute - Swedish/Esalen certificate

Selected Additional Learning

→ Brainspotting Phase 1 & 2 (Lisa Larson)
→ Brainspotting Phase 3 (David Grand)
→ Treating Chronic Pain with EMDR (Mark Grant)
→ Treating Headaches & Migraines with EMDR (Steven Marcus)
→ EMDR Part 1, 2 & 3  (Laurel Parnell)
→ Professional Trainings in Psycho-Physical Therapy (Bill Bowen)
     Somatic Psychotherapy & Somatic Resourcing
→ Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (Reba Connell)
→ Applied Anatomy Institute (Joan Marie Passalacqua)
→ Deep Tissue Training (Art Riggs)

Selected Work Experience

→California Institute of Integral Studies 
        Adjunct Faculty
→ New America Media
       Youth Services Department Coordinator
      Staff therapist
→ California Council on Youth Relations
      Co-Director
 :: Welcome :: :::

Hello. My name is Alissa Blackman. Thanks for your interest in my practice. As you may already know from checking out my site, I am a Licensed Psychotherapist & Certified Massage Practitioner/Bodyworker. I am also an EMDRIA Certified EMDR Practitioner and consultant in training through the Parnell Institute.

My work as a holistic professional began over twenty years ago when I became a massage therapist. In my day-to-day work I noticed that touch helped many people feel more ease, not only when experiencing physical pain and discomfort, but also when feeling emotional pain. Inspired to learn more about the ways psychological, body and emotional processes were interconnected, I returned to school to study Somatic (Body-Mind) Psychology and completed my MA in Counseling Psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). I also spent time learning outside of the classroom, including work in community mental health as a Therapist and Mental Health Educator and Advocate supporting at-risk youth. I became a Licensed MFT in early 2010. Pursuing integrative learning and transformation from the inside out, I know the power of my own personal body-mind psychotherapy process, pursue integrative bodywork and movement myself, and also have a daily meditation practice.

I now offer holistic therapies from two different starting points, Somatic Psychotherapy and Mindful Bodywork, which I maintain in two separate practices. (See my Therapies page to learn more). I am committed to being a guide in helping you learn how your body, mind, emotions and your spirit are connected, and I'll support you in growing towards the life you want to live. In addition to helping you with personal growth and transformation, I am thrilled to have tools to support you in specific ways that can help change your body pain. Having suffered through my own body pain over the years, I am passionate about offering Brainspotting and EMDR for Chronic Pain and Headaches. Additional offerings include EMDR Consultation as a Parnell Institute Consultant in Training and Supervision for pre-licensed therapists.

Regardless of the many tools and techniques I offer, I believe the relationship between therapist and client is the most important part of the work. I invite you to give me a call at 510-496-6030 or send me an email to make an appointment or if you have questions about which type of work is best for you. Hope to see you soon!

⁓Alissa
You Be You
I help people from all walks of life to ease stress, anxiety, depression, work & relationship problems, chronic pain and headaches, trauma experience & many other difficulties. I help families of all constellations, couples & individuals of all ages. I accept clients in the CA Victims of Crime compensation program.

I am an ally to clients whose sexualities or gender identifications may include lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, transgender, and/or who identify as polyamorous or non-monogamous. I also support those struggling with the effects of race, class and gender inequities.