Hi, I’m Clare Friedlander, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and I provide therapy to adults as part of the Petaluma Family Therapy team.  If you feel like your challenges are too intense, like your story is too hard, like no one can help, let’s talk.  I will listen with compassion and without judgment, and together we will see if we can come up with a plan that will help.  

Approach:

My approach is client-centered, incorporating mindfulness techniques and evidence-based practices, as well as how aspects of identity and experience shape mental health and well-being. I have worked with individuals facing challenges related to trauma, anxiety, depression, and addiction, chronic health conditions, and phase-of-life transitions.   My goal is to support people in improving relationships, improving quality of life and sense of well-being, and creating meaningful change in their life. 

Experience:

I have worked as a psychotherapist for almost 30 years, in various settings and with varied populations.  Early in my career I worked with parents and children and led therapy groups for parents working towards reunifying with their children and groups focused on strengthening families.  I have also worked in a rural health clinic, first as a counselor and clinical director of an addiction treatment program, and then as a psychotherapist in the clinic’s behavioral health program.  I worked for many years for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), providing mental health care to veterans and as director of mental health at a rural VA clinic.  Throughout most of my career I have also had a small private practice in which I worked with adults and children, and have provided clinical training, guidance and supervision to new therapists.