Sheila Rubin

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

“I am a leading authority on healing shame and I integrate somatic, expressive and attachment modalities in my work as a therapist.”

About Me

I specialise in helping individuals navigate and heal from shame, drawing on my deep understanding. My approach thoughtfully integrates somatic, expressive, and attachment-focused methods. We might explore feelings through body awareness or creative techniques, also looking at early relational patterns. I offer a collaborative space to understand deep-seated emotional patterns, guiding you towards greater self-acceptance and freedom.

Approach

Sessions unfold through felt attention to the body, imaginative expression and gentle exploration of how past attachments shape present reactions. In my Berkeley office or online we pace between short experiments, reflective conversation and practical self-regulation practices you can try between meetings. We track sensations, scenes and relationship dynamics so discoveries land in your everyday life, often using art or movement to access what words miss. People wrestling with shame, eating or relational patterns tend to find this steady, clarifying way of working helpful.

Contact Sheila

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Berkeley, United States

In-person & Online

Services

Services Offered:

Art Therapy
A form of therapy that uses visual art-making (drawing, painting, sculpture) as a means of expression and emotional processing.
Learn more about Art Therapy
Drama Therapy
A form of therapy that uses role-play, storytelling, and movement as tools for emotional expression and exploration.
Learn more about Drama Therapy
Psychotherapy
In-depth therapeutic work that explores patterns in thoughts, emotions, and relationships to produce lasting psychological change.
Learn more about Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
A therapy that explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape current feelings, relationships, and behaviour.
Learn more about Psychodynamic Therapy

Works With:

Adolescents
Adults
Children
Couples
Families

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

Addiction
A compulsive dependence on a substance or behaviour, such as alcohol, drugs, or gambling, that causes harmful consequences to health, relationships, or daily life.
Learn more about Addiction
Adoption
The process of legally becoming a parent to a child who is not biologically yours, which can raise complex emotions around identity, attachment, and belonging for all involved.
Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
Body Image
How a person perceives, thinks, and feels about their physical appearance. When persistently negative, it can drive distress, avoidance, and disordered eating.
Learn more about Body Image
Child Psych & Diagnostic Assessment
Formal assessment of a child's psychological, cognitive, or emotional functioning to identify conditions and guide appropriate support.
Eating Disorders
A group of conditions, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, involving disturbed eating behaviours and a distorted relationship with food and body image.
Learn more about Eating Disorders
Family Issues
Difficulties within the family system, including conflict, communication breakdown, blended family tensions, or intergenerational patterns, that affect individual and collective well-being.
LGBTQI+ Support
The unique psychological experiences of LGBTQI+ individuals, including identity exploration, coming out, discrimination, minority stress, and relationship dynamics.
Relationship Issues
Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.
Learn more about Relationship Issues

Professional Title:

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
A therapist licensed to work with couples and families on relationship difficulties, communication, and family dynamics.