Gretchen Shibl

Welcome! I am a Clinical Psychologist (California License PSY 25643) with extensive experience helping adults across the lifespan navigate depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, grief and loss, chronic illness, chronic pain, stress, and relationship challenges. I strive to create a collaborative, compassionate, and nonjudgmental environment where every person is treated with respect, kindness, and understanding. My aim is to make therapy approachable and accessible while helping clients create meaningful change in their daily lives and overall wellbeing. I enjoy working together with clients to develop targeted therapy goals, with regular check-ins to ensure therapy is moving in a direction that feels helpful and aligned with their needs.

My approach to therapy is holistic, eclectic, and client-centered. I believe emotional wellbeing is connected to many aspects of life, including physical health, relationships, work life, and personal meaning. In therapy, we focus on both practical strategies to help manage current life challenges and deeper exploration of patterns or experiences that may be affecting overall wellbeing and satisfaction in different areas of life. I use evidence-based approaches tailored to each client’s goals, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based practices, motivational interviewing, person-centered therapy, and trauma-informed approaches. I view therapy as a collaborative process where we work together to identify strengths, build coping tools, and create lasting change.

Clients can expect a warm, welcoming, and supportive experience from the very beginning. We typically start with an initial phone consultation to discuss your needs, answer questions, and determine whether I am a good fit for your therapy goals. Before our first appointment, you will complete some initial paperwork to help guide treatment and better understand the challenges you are facing. During the first session, we will discuss the most pressing concerns, begin identifying both short-term and long-term goals, and create a collaborative treatment plan together. My goal is for clients to leave feeling heard, supported, and hopeful, with a clearer understanding of how therapy can help move them toward meaningful and lasting improvement.