We provide psychotherapy services to clients in California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. (Clients outside of the San Francisco area are seen via teletherapy only at this time.) If you are interested in the possibility of working with us, and you live in another state not listed, please feel free to contact us for information about potential services.
In addition to services in English, in California (only) we offer services in Mandarin (普通話), Russian (Русский), or ASL.
Individual Psychotherapy / Mental Health Counseling
Many of us reach out when we feel the need for support, or help working through challenging times. Sometimes we experience pain or distress that feels too difficult to manage alone. San Francisco Counseling Collective believes in taking a strength-based, client-centered approach to psychotherapy, working with you to help you grow toward your best self. The familiar ways you have of dealing with life's complications may not be working; together we can work to identify new positive means of change.
“I can’t make corn grow, but I can provide the right soil and plant it in the right area and see that it gets enough water; I can nurture it so that exciting things happen. I think that’s the nature of therapy.”
Clients come to our practice to address concerns related to depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, other mood conditions, and other issues of mental health. We have experience with individuals of many genders, sexual orientations, and cultures, and work from a cultural humility* perspective. Bart Shulman is a Gender Specialist, serving the needs of trans and gender-expansive clients, and has experience assisting clients with obtaining gender-affirming surgical procedures.
Many clients seek out services to address issues related to sexual orientation, intimacy, or sex work. Some seek counseling due to conflicts with their religion of origin. We work respectfully with many faith traditions. Other clients look to address concerns about alcohol or drug use, and we work from a harm-reduction, non-judgmental perspective.
We also have specialists in the following fields:
LGBTQ+
Long-Term HIV survivors
Group Therapy
Trans / Gender-Expansive / Enby clients
To find out more, contact us for a free 15-minute consultation.
* Cultural humility refers to maintaining an interpersonal stance that is client-oriented regarding aspects of cultural identity that are most important to the client. Cultural humility is different from other culturally-based training ideals because it focuses on self-humility rather than achieving a state of knowledge or "cultural competency."
Relationships / Couples
The most common issue relationships face is a breakdown or lack of communication. When we learn to really hear our partners, really understand what they are asking for (and why), we move toward healing and fuller, more satisfying relationships. We begin to remember what we knew when the relationship began; that we're on the same team, and that we want the same happiness.
San Francisco Counseling Collective works with couples (gay, straight, bisexual and others), and non-monogamous/poly/non-traditional relationships of all forms. We use a Rogerian, person-centered focus to help clients work toward better communication and more fulfilling relationships.
Are you contemplating marriage or other formalized commitment?
We can help with pre-marital or pre-commitment counseling, to get your relationship
firmly on the right path before you take that important step.
Bart is also an experienced wedding officiant.
To find out more, contact us for a free 15-minute consultation.
Families
Families (of all configurations) may struggle with communication, misunderstandings, and conflicts resulting from having different expectations and roles within the family unit. We help families to identify their unique ways of interacting and learn new, more effective ways of communicating. As families grow and change, adjustments can be difficult to navigate. We help families reconnect with their shared experiences and the love they share with each other, and reduce barriers to effective communication.
To find out more, contact us for a free 15-minute consultation.
Clinical Supervision
Bart Shulman provides individual, triadic, and group supervision to counselors and therapists in training, as well as associates (APCC, AMFT, ASW). He particularly focuses on providing opportunities for traditionally under-represented populations, and works from a cultural humility stance. Bart is able to provide clinical supervision in any of the states in which he holds licensure, unless the state does not allow telehealth-based supervision.
Please contact us if you are seeking clinical supervision.