Margaret Brako

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Berkeley, CA, and I’ve worked in mental health care since 2012. My background includes community-based work, trauma-informed care, and leadership in training and clinical development. I earned my MSW from NYU and specialize in treating anxiety, self-esteem challenges, and life transitions. I enjoy working with adults navigating changes - career shifts, identity questions, or simply trying to feel more at home in themselves. Clients often say they feel safe, understood, and more at ease after we talk. I believe therapy works best with a good sense of humor - even in hard sessions, there’s room for relief and laughter.

My approach is collaborative, relational, and compassion-focused. I help clients rebuild a sense of safety and trust within themselves using mindfulness, parts work, and trauma-informed CBT. We’ll explore what supports you and what gets in your way, balancing insight with practical tools. Our work is about learning to be on your own side, even while you’re still figuring things out.

Our first session is about getting to know each other and clarifying what brings you to therapy. We’ll talk about what’s been feeling hard, what you’d like to change, and what helps you feel grounded. Together, we’ll identify early steps toward relief and clarity. My hope is that you leave feeling a bit lighter and more confident that change is possible.