About Me
Kim Paulus is an Oakland therapist who works with queer people, people of color and others who have experienced marginalization. She works with issues of anxiety, trauma, transitions, grief and identity.
Photo by Sarah Deragon
I have worked in mental health and healing for almost 20 years and have experience working with issues of trauma, anxiety and depression, transitions, grief and loss, dissociation, body image, cultural identity, shame, and self-esteem.
I provide Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), a model used to help individuals, couples and families strengthen their core Self by exploring conflicting parts of their personalities with compassion and curiosity. I am a Lead Trainer with the IFS Institute, and am a Certified IFS Therapist and Approved Clinical Consultant for IFS. I have a Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from The Family Institute at Northwestern University in Chicago and I have also completed extensive trainings in somatics and attachment therapy, interpersonal neurobiology, and structural family therapy.
I draw on these trainings and knowledge to provide feminist, relational, strengths-based therapy in a safe and nurturing environment. My hope is to collaborate with clients to explore and manage emotional challenges using warmth and humor, while holding a respect for the sacred and serious work of personal growth and healing.