EDUCATION & TRAINING

• Ongoing since 2014, Advanced Training in Modern Analytic Group Therapy, Center for Group Studies
• Certificate, Two-Year Training Program, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, The Psychotherapy Institute,
• Masters in Social Work, Smith College School for Social Work
• Bachelors of Arts, Wesleyan University

 
​PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• The Psychotherapy Institute 
• Center for Group Studies
• American Group Psychotherapy Association
• Northern California Group Psychotherapy Association
• Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
• International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy
  
• Bay Area Open Minds
• Poly and Kink Friendly Professionals Directory
• Gaylesta

 

I am a psychotherapist (Licensed Clinical Social Worker 67173) and Certified Group Psychotherapist practicing in Oakland, CA. Reaching out for a phone consultation or an in-person meeting is the first step in finding out if we are the right fit to work together. 

My Approach 

My work is grounded in a relational psychodynamic approach. This means believing that lasting change comes from exploring and freeing oneself from the underlying causes of symptoms and repetitive patterns. Our relationship in the room provides a pathway to healing as well as understanding some of the wounding that has happened in your relationships. In the room together, we will experiment with new ways of being and find more space to know and accept your internal world. I utilize mindfulness and body-based interventions to help clients increase their awareness and intimacy with their emotional landscape. 

I also use a social justice lens in my work, which means that I am attending to the ways in which oppressions manifest as external forces and internalized beliefs and helping clients create resistance, resilience, and healing. I work to create an environment of radical inclusivity for all clients and have comfort and experience working with a diverse range of clients- racially, culturally, and folks from the LGBTQIA+ community and those in non-traditional relationship structures. 

FACULTY & PUBLICATIONS

• The Psychotherapy Institute​
  • Freud and the Racial Origins of Psychoanalysis (Nov. 2019, May 2016) 
  • Speaking to Racial Microaggressions (April 2019, April 2018)
  • Polyamory and Attachment Theory (Sept. 2018, June 2018, Feb. 2017). 
  • Co-Chair Diversity Committee (2017-2019)
• American Group Psychotherapy Association
  • Improv and Group Therapy (March 2018, March 2017)
  • Workshop Reviewer and Observer (2019, 2020)
• Northern California Group Psychotherapy Association
  • Improv and Group Therapy (June 2016)
  • Co-founder Modern Analytic Group Salon (2019)
• Group Therapy Training Program, Berkeley
  • Modern Analytic Group Therapy (Dec. 2019)
  • Guest Group Expert (2018, June 2019)
• Living Improv, Improv Therapy, Oakland
  • ​Co-founder 2015
  • Faculty and Facilitator 2015-2019
• Kimmell, A., & Gockel, A. (2017). Embodied connections: Engaging the body in group work. Qualitative Social Work, 17(2), 268–285.​​
• Kimmell, A. (2021). Belonging: Queer Theory's Contribution to Modern Analytic Groups. In Kane, Y. , Masselink, S. & Weiss, A (Eds.), Women, Intersectionality and Power in Group Psychotherapy. Routledge.   DOI: 10.4324/9781003033875-3

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