Shawn V. Giammattei, PhD #PSY22570
Shawn is a licensed psychologist in Northern California, and specializes in the treatment of gender identity issues in children, adolescents and adults, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couple and family issues. He maintains a private practice in both San Francisco, CA and Santa Rosa, CA. As a narratively informed, culturally sensitive, psychologist, he works collaboratively with clients to find solutions to the problems that are negatively impacting their lives and relationships. His approach to therapy is interactive and solution-focused. He integrates complementary methodologies and techniques to offer a highly personalized experience that is tailored to each client or family's needs.
With compassion and understanding, he works with individuals, couples, and families to help them build on their strengths and attain the personal growth and interpersonal relationships they are committed to achieving.
He primarily works with couples and families dealing with a wide range of problems including family conflict, parenting, couple relationship issues, sexual and gender identity issues, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, addictions, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and child/adolescent behavioral problems.
Shawn is also a researcher and professor teaching online graduate and postgraduate courses in LGBTQ psychology and family systems, the founder/director of the Gender Health Training Institute and the TransFamily Alliance, a WPATH GEI SOC7 Certified Mentor, and the author of several articles and book chapters on gender, sexuality, and family work, and is a member of the transgender community.
Find more information about Shawn V Giammattei, PhD.
Dr. Lisa Richards, PsyD. #PSY32644
Dr. Lisa Richards received her doctorate in clinical psychology, forensic track, from California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. Dr. Richards is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and is also a certified LGBT-informed therapist by The Rockway Institute in San Francisco.
She completed a predoctoral internship at Mississippi State Hospital where she provided individual, group, and crisis interventions to individuals with varying degrees of mental illness and chemical dependency. There she utilized a LGBTQ+ affirming approach and created a group for LGBTQ+ clients in the chemical dependency program.
Dr. Richards’ postdoctoral fellowship was completed at Mule Creek State Prison which is a transgender hub within CDCR, meaning that many transgender individuals reside at that institution and the appropriate services are available for them. While at Mule Creek, she provided gender health evaluations for individuals requesting gender affirming surgery as well as individual and group therapy. She has since transferred to California Department of Corrections Sacramento which is also a transgender hub.
An active member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, Dr. Richards works with gender diverse populations, using a gender affirming, trauma-informed, and integrative therapeutic approach, including evidence-based practices (CBT, DBT, ACT). She specializes in treatment with individual adults but also incorporates family therapy when clinically appropriate. She is motivated to engage with clients in a non-judgmental manner and to create a sense of value. “My aim is to assist clients in exploring and aligning with their authentic self. I look forward to hearing from you and joining you on this journey into self-exploration.”
Dr. Richards is accepting new adult clients for telehealth sessions (no in-person at this time), and is available Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Sarah Almaquosi, LMFT #80874
Sarah has a long history as a political activist, teacher, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). During the 1990s, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts from San Francisco State University in Ethnic Studies and Women’s Studies with a minor in Black Psychology.
At that time, she began working on immigrant & farm worker rights issues in her home town in the San Joaquin Valley. As a public school teacher, she organized migrant farm worker parents & facilitated access to education for their children. She oversaw large community mural projects celebrating César Chavez and worked to provide a less hostile environment for migrant farm worker families in her hometown.
After a decade of teaching, Sarah felt the calling to work in psychology & obtained a Master’s degree from University of San Francisco in Counseling Psychology. She has worked in various nonprofit agencies throughout the Bay Area serving families, individuals, children, and couples as a psychotherapist and program manager and director. Most notably, Sarah has been involved with Queer Life Space since its inception, San Francisco’s only LGBTQIA mental health clinic. As an intern, she saw clients for over five years, and after licensure she continued to stay involved by being a supervisor, trainer, and eventually the Executive Director alongside her busy private practice. She has served on the Board of Directors for Gaylesta: Psychotherapists Association of Gender & Sexual Diversity. Sarah brings with her a wide range of skills and a clear passion for community organizing and queer mental health advancements. Sarah and her family recently moved and are very excited to call Sacramento home.
Sarah works with families, individuals, and couples, and is accepting new clients for telehealth sessions (no in-person at this time).
"Little" M Vila-Barrett, LMFT #117302
Little (they/them) is a transracial adoptee from Bogota, Colombia, a BIPOC/QBIPOC (Black Indigenous Person Of Color/Queer Black Indigenous Person Of Color) community activist and mental health advocate. Little has been in the Bay Area for 17 years working with young people in various levels of programming and community based mental health roles.
Little is an Expressive Arts Therapist, Harm Reduction therapist, Certified Professional Coach and member of AAMFT (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy) and the Queer and Trans Advocacy Network (QTAN). Their work focuses on developing and enhancing individuals’ internal strengths, cultural identity, empowerment, and internal decolonization. Little helps people develop their own narrative, explore their unique cultural identities and engage in the lifelong work of overcoming systemic oppressive barriers and healing. Little’s work focuses on QBIPOC, QLGBTQ+2SP identity development, strengthening and honoring these identities from a person centered place. Gender support is an open and welcoming, expansive based approach that works with Transgender and Gender Expansive (TGE) diverse populations and their families.
Little works with people from a strength based way to break down walls of social stigmas, microaggressions to find one’s inner voice, create tools for everyday survival through creative means to stop cycles of harm. With a trauma based therapy framework for healing and creative process tools, these in combination with guidance and coaching help to honor personal truth.
Little is accepting new clients for telehealth sessions and limited in-person sessions in San Francisco, and is available Mondays through Fridays most mornings and afternoons. Priority age range is 11-17, TAY, and limited spaces for adults ages 25-35, with QBIPOC/BIPOC priority.
Kimberly Liang, AMFT #129554
Kimberly (she/they/ze/zir) received her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. She is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist supervised by Shawn V. Giammattei, PhD. while working towards licensure. Prior to graduating, she primarily worked with the mandated adolescent and young adult population for concerns around drug and alcohol use and anger management. In her previous life, she worked as an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking and a Wellness Coach for YouTube content reviewers specializing in the review of child pornography.
Her passion and interests lie in working with couples and families dealing with concerns around family conflict, parenting, relationship concerns, and gender identity and sexuality including sexual trauma, consensual non-monogamy, BDSM/Kink, etc. She uses a gender affirmative, strengths-based, and collaborative approach with her clients to embolden their authentic selves and help guide them towards their (inter)personal goals.
She works with individuals ranging from ages 13 to 70 and her primary focus is working with transgender families with adolescents, young adults or adult children and couples of all ages. Kimberly is accepting new clients of all ages, and is available most weekday evenings and weekends. Kimberly offers sessions via telehealth and in-office sessions in San Francisco (masks required).
Caitlin Casey, ASW #100155
Caitlin (she/her) received her master’s degree in Social Work from Boise State University and her undergraduate degree in Biology from Oberlin College. She is a Registered Associate Social Worker supervised by Jill Rees, PhD. while working towards licensure. Caitlin had a previous career as a horse trainer and riding instructor until she went back to graduate school. In this work, she learned the value of individualized approaches, and carries that lesson into her clinical work with families and individuals.
Caitlin is passionate about helping families and children thrive. She believes that when each individual in a family has their needs met and feels safe, a harmonious family life is possible. Caitlin also works for Sonoma County Office of Education as a school-based mental health provider, specializing in trauma-responsive practices. She believes the best way to help young children is to support the important adults in their lives, and enjoys collaborating with caregivers, schools, and other service providers for a holistic and inclusive approach. She has specific personal experience with adoption, developmental trauma, parenting, neurodiversity, and challenging behavior in young children. Caitlin and her wife are adoptive parents to two young children and live in Santa Rosa.
Caitlin’s approach to clinical work is rooted in social justice and equity. She is gender and neurodivergence affirming, strengths-based and systems focused. She enjoys working with children and families as well as individual adults. Caitlin is available via telehealth or in-person in our Santa Rosa office Monday through Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings.
Petra Janopaul, AMFT #136462 & APCC #12997
Petra (she/her) graduated with a Masters of Art in Counseling Psychology from the Wright Institute (Berkeley, CA). She is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and a Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, supervised by Shawn V. Giammattei, PhD. while working towards licensure. Petra’s practicum training during graduate school focused on suicide prevention work on the National Lifeline, as well as direct counseling with seniors.
Becoming a gender-affirming psychotherapist has been a natural evolution for Petra. From her earliest media career to ardent AIDS and feminist activism within the LBGTQ+ community, Petra has been a tireless fighter for the rights of all people to be loved and accepted as their true selves.
Petra works with individuals and families of all ages and stages using a gender-affirming approach, supporting their work of imagining and becoming fuller, more authentic versions of themselves. Her goal is to co-create a safe and welcoming space where clients can bravely explore and work through the challenges that bring them to therapy, while also nurturing their inner strengths and resources.
Petra is welcoming new clients of all ages via telehealth, and in-person sessions in our San Francisco office (masks required) and in-person 'walk and talk' sessions in the Golden Gate Park area. Petra is available weekday mornings and early afternoons, with limited late afternoon and evening availability.