About Rachael Shapiro
I believe that positive transformation — of attitudes, energy, and behavior — is possible for everyone. I am a psychotherapist who works in private practice with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families who wish to create lasting, positive changes in their lives and relationships. My personal style is interactive, empathic, and respectful of individual values and choices.
I am compassionate, action-oriented, and love to help people bring about the lasting changes they want in their life. I enjoy working with people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds and sexual preferences, both individually and in couple or family situations. Since 1990, I have worked with a wide variety of people and settings. I love my work and look forward to meeting with you!
Therapeutic Style
My work is holistic in nature, with attention paid to the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and relationship aspects of each person’s life, as well as the community and environmental context. I listen deeply in order to access and support your strengths, your natural powers, and your self-healing capacity.
I work collaboratively with you during our sessions, using your feedback to build on what’s working best. We consider your challenges and resources, and decide together on your goals and how deep and broad a process you want to engage in.
Brief psychotherapy, which usually lasts less than six months, works best when you feel relatively stable in your life and want to focus on a specific area of difficulty. Open-ended psychotherapy allows for a broader focus and a deeper level of exploration in which ample time is allowed for multiple themes to develop.
Training and Degrees
I earned a Masters of Social Work and a Masters of Public Health from the University of California-Berkeley (1986-87). I have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) since 1990.
Some of my training includes:
- Eye Movement, Desensitization, and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Focusing Training with Ann Weiser Cornell
- Mindfulness-based therapy
- Anxiety and Depression treatment
- Brief-Solution Oriented Therapy
Please see Resources for more information.

“Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”
Rumi