Andy Sussman LCSW Psychotherapist 5435 College Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618

"Working with Andy has allowed me to break down mental barriers in my life and take steps towards becoming the person I’ve always wanted to be. It’s hard to overstate how big of a change I’ve seen in every aspect of my life as a result of my sessions with Andy. I came to Andy’s practice with a lot of undirected or misdirected anxiety and frustration. Working with him has helped untangle the complicated web of thoughts & feelings that cause me to act the way that I do. Our sessions helped reveal fundamental truths about how I view myself, and helped give me the tools to navigate those new insights. Andy’s style is more somatic versus CBT offered by many psychotherapists. I am someone who tends to think and act quickly, often talking my way into and out of situations. I found the slower change of pace in somatic therapy to be a necessary discomfort for my own growth. Slowing down to really feel into how, where, and why I feel the way that I do has been an important step to uncovering the root of those feelings. Digging deeper into these emotions, and revisiting thoughts I’ve held on to for years has helped me find answers to questions I was not able to answer myself. If you’re a high-achieving, high-stress tech worker who has found yourself at a plateau of self-improvement, I cannot recommend Andy highly enough. I personally found his somatic style to be an immediate challenge to the fast-paced nature of a typical day-to-day conversation. The acts of merely slowing down, feeling into discomfort, and engaging with those uncomfortable feelings directly, we were able to get to the heart of my issues much faster than I could have done on my own. He is always cognizant of where you are, right now, and makes sure to check in regularly. He will ask how you’re feeling in the moment, ask permission to be let in or if it’s okay to move on to the next step. This helped both him and I get to the heart of the issues I was dealing with at exactly the pace I was ready for. I came to Andy originally thinking “What have I got to lose?” and I gained more than I could have imagined. If you’re on the fence about somatic therapy, do yourself a favor and give him a try."

"I first started coming to Andy close to two years ago. After a few attempts in my past that either did not match for me, or I was not ready for, I didn't have much hope therapy could work for me specifically. Working with Andy has changed my life. I came to him with a specific goal to work on. I never realized with time, so much more would be revealed. Andy sets the stage of feeling safe to share, asks permission on your comfort levels, and gives sound reflection and advice to help achieve a greater self awareness. Andy is a calm, caring, loving, professional and has been a key factor in my recovery in so many facets of life. He has helped me discover new joys and helped me to reveal why toxicity for so many years felt comforting and natural. This helped me realize it was not giving me life, but taking it. Through Andy I realized that wasn't life at all. It's been amazing for me to see and feel this journey with Andy. Who I was then to who I am now. It truly feels sometimes like a different person. How I handle and embrace life situations and feelings that I never did before. I know now I have the strength to experience these things, but I have control of my life in knowing my triggers and boundaries. I used to be a "never me" or expiration date kind of person when thinking of therapy. Committing to things, even for my own health, felt strange if it was something I wasn't already familiar with. Before, I never wanted to commit to something for too long or without some safety of knowing when something was going to end. Health and discovering yourself/loving yourself doesn't work like that. Now, I can't imagine my life without therapy. Therapy changed my life. It saved the good in me and brought out new joys I never knew could exist. I think of Andy as a phenomenal therapist, teacher, confidante, and friend. It might have taken a few tries but I'm so unimaginably grateful life brought me to Andy. He is one of the greatest healers and therapists I've ever known. If you are wondering if this is for you... my advice? Give it a shot. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Remember therapy takes time. It isn't an overnight thing because you have so much of your own story to share and learn about yourself. Be kind and patient with yourself and therapy. Give yourself this gift by giving yourself time with a professional to help you. You'll be shocked how much you see and especially, feel a change before you know it. Thank you Andy for all you do!!"

"Andy Sussman possesses exceptional skills and expertise in understanding the human condition. With insightful empathy, he has guided me. I've learned to trust myself again and find strength amidst adversity. His compassionate approach fosters self-acceptance and deep understanding. I am grateful for Andy’s wisdom, gentle guidance and for the transformative journey that I've embarked upon under his care."