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Training and Consultation

The work of a mental health professional can be both rewarding and demanding. Therapists, counselors, and organizations alike often benefit from mentorship, collaboration, and structured training to strengthen their practice and create lasting impact for the communities they serve. That’s where our training and consultation services come in.

Therapist guiding professionals during a consultation session
Training and consultation designed to support growth

At Oakland DBT & Mindfulness Center, we believe that meaningful professional development is more than acquiring new skills—it’s about cultivating confidence, clarity, and connection. Whether you’re a clinician seeking expert consultation on complex cases or an organization striving to build a stronger culture of care, we provide personalized support designed to foster learning, growth, and professional fulfillment.

Why Training and Consultation Matter

Even the most experienced clinicians can feel the weight of working with challenging clients or navigating shifting treatment landscapes. Consultation offers a structured space for reflection, problem-solving, and refining approaches. For organizations, training provides staff with evidence-based tools and strategies to improve outcomes, reduce burnout, and align practices with the latest advancements in mental health care.

When professionals engage in thoughtful consultation and training, they not only sharpen their expertise but also renew their sense of purpose and satisfaction in the work they do.

Professional Consultation: Guidance Tailored to Your Needs

Individual Consultation

One-on-one consultation offers a confidential space to discuss cases, enhance clinical decision-making, and expand your therapeutic toolkit. Our consultants draw from diverse backgrounds in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based approaches, trauma-informed care, and relational therapy to provide nuanced support tailored to your needs.

Therapists often turn to consultation when:

  • Facing challenging client presentations.
  • Seeking feedback on treatment strategies.
  • Integrating new therapeutic frameworks into practice.
  • Wanting to prevent burnout and maintain professional resilience.

Group Consultation

Collaboration can be a powerful form of learning. Our group consultation sessions create opportunities for professionals to share perspectives, discuss clinical challenges, and explore strategies within a supportive community. These sessions are designed to foster collective growth, strengthen clinical skills, and reduce professional isolation.

For many therapists, group consultation becomes a vital source of connection, accountability, and renewed energy in their work.

Training for Organizations: Building Stronger Teams

We recognize that organizations—whether clinics, schools, or community agencies—face unique challenges in providing adequate mental health support. That’s why we design customized training programs that reflect your team’s goals, client populations, and organizational culture.

Examples of training topics include:

  • Practical DBT skills for use in individual and group settings.
  • Mindfulness-based strategies for staff and clients.
  • Trauma-informed practices to create safer therapeutic environments.
  • Emotion regulation techniques to prevent staff burnout.
  • Building Resilience and Well-being within Professional Teams.


Every training is interactive, collaborative, and designed to translate theory into practice. Our goal is to equip your team with actionable tools they can apply immediately.

If you’d like to see how these offerings fit into the broader scope of our services, you can review our full range of therapy and wellness services offered at Oakland DBT & Mindfulness Center.

Who We Work With

Our consultation and training services are designed for:

  • Licensed clinicians seeking ongoing professional support.
  • Agencies and organizations interested in building a culture of care.
  • Schools and universities are seeking to improve mental health services for their students.
  • Healthcare providers want to integrate evidence-based practices.
  • Community groups are committed to improving collective well-being.


While we do not provide clinical supervision for unlicensed therapists, our team occasionally brings interns onto our staff to gain direct experience. Professionals interested in collaboration are always encouraged to connect with us.

Our Team of Experienced Consultants

Each member of our team brings a special background, combining expertise in DBT, mindfulness, trauma-informed care, and relational therapy. What unites us is a shared commitment to professional growth and compassionate mentorship.

When you reach out, we’ll match you with a consultant who aligns best with your needs, ensuring you receive support that feels both relevant and impactful. Our consultants are not only skilled therapists but also experienced educators and mentors, dedicated to helping colleagues thrive.

What to Expect in Consultation or Training

Step 1: Initial Connection

We begin with a conversation to understand your professional challenges, goals, and context. This helps us identify whether individual consultation, group consultation, or organizational training is the right fit.

Step 2: Customized Planning

Your consultant will collaborate with you to design a personalized plan. For clinicians, this may involve setting consultation goals or case priorities. For organizations, it means outlining training topics, formats, and learning objectives.

Step 3: Ongoing Support

Consultation is often most effective when it’s consistent. Many professionals choose ongoing sessions to maintain support, deepen their learning, and sustain professional satisfaction. Training engagements may include follow-up sessions or extended learning modules to ensure lasting impact.

The Value of Continued Learning

In mental health, growth is a lifelong process. Consultation provides clinicians with the opportunity to refine their practice, while training enables organizations to serve their communities better. Together, these services create ripple effects—clients benefit from more effective care, staff feel more supported, and organizations become stronger.

For clinicians interested in structured learning environments, our DBT skills classes also provide opportunities to deepen knowledge in practical, evidence-based strategies that can enhance both personal and professional growth.

Investment in Your Professional Development

Mental health professionals engaged in therapy consultation
Expert training and consultation for therapists

The cost of professional growth is an investment in long-term effectiveness and satisfaction. Consultation fees are available on an hourly basis, while training fees are determined based on scope, format, and duration.

For detailed information on consultation and training costs, please review our transparent pricing page. Knowing what to expect financially allows you to make educated decisions about your professional development journey.

Taking the Next Step

Professional growth thrives on connection, reflection, and collaboration. Whether you’re an individual clinician navigating complex cases or an organization seeking to strengthen your team, our training and consultation services are designed to support you every step of the way.

Reach out today to discuss your goals and discover how we can partner with you to create meaningful, lasting change—for yourself, your team, and the communities you serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between consultation and supervision?

Consultation provides licensed professionals with guidance, feedback, and support to enhance their practice, while supervision is for pre-licensed therapists working toward clinical hours. Our center focuses on consultation to help experienced clinicians refine skills and gain fresh perspectives.

How are organizational trainings customized?

We design each training around your team’s needs, goals, and client population. From DBT skills to trauma-informed care, the content is tailored to ensure practical strategies that participants can apply immediately in their work.

Can I schedule both individual and group consultations?

Yes, many clinicians choose a combination of both. Individual consultation allows for focused case discussions, while group consultation offers collective wisdom and shared learning from peers in a supportive setting.

Who benefits most from consultation services?

Licensed therapists, counselors, and healthcare professionals seeking guidance on complex cases or wishing to deepen their therapeutic approach often find consultation invaluable. It’s also highly beneficial for professionals wanting to prevent burnout and strengthen resilience.

What can I expect from the first consultation session?

Your first session will focus on understanding your current challenges, clinical goals, and areas of support you’d like to explore. Together, we’ll outline a plan for ongoing consultation that is flexible, collaborative, and aligned with your professional development.

Rajesh Jagannathan

Rajesh Jagannathan

Rajesh Jagannathan was born in India and earned a B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT, Madras. After spending a few youthful years in the Masters/Ph.D. program at the Ohio State University moved to the Bay Area for work. Since then he has stayed in the Bay Area and worked in tech for the better part of 20+ years. He has been with the center since its inception playing a key advisory role on tech related matters.

He enjoys living in the bay area with his family, exploring the outdoors in California and the world at large. While interests change over time some constants through the years have been travel, cooking, painting and board games. Lately all his spare time has been consumed by pickleball.

David Pepper

David Pepper, MD (Retired)

Dr. Pepper was born in San Francisco and attended UC Berkeley and then Medical and Graduate School in Iowa. Returning to California, he practiced and taught full spectrum Family Medicine with UCSF for 30+ years, working in Fresno, San Francisco and Contra Costa Counties. 1,000 births and 1,000 deaths one could say – with thousands of Families in between… in the ER, Hospital and Outpatient Clinics – always with a focus on Family and Community.
 
He has a long interest in Psychedelics and completed the CPTR program through CIIS in 2023. He is passionate about helping people think about how to craft their second half of life with meaning, including planning for a natural End of Life process that is not over medicalized.  He believes that a well planned End of Life allows people to live well.  More about his work can be found here.  
 
He brings his expertise in clinical assessment, and the tools that support this to working with the Team at Oakland DBT and Mindfulness Center to develop best practices for working with clients seeking expanded state treatment.  He collaborates with his wife who also works with clients in Expanded States.  He enjoys his 4 children, gardening, hiking, and community.
Rochelle

Rochelle Frank, PsyD

Rochelle Frank, PhD is a clinical psychologist in Oakland, CA with over 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. Dr. Frank earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at Syracuse University and completed her clinical training at Yale Psychiatric Institute. She specializes in evidence-based transdiagnostic treatment of  complex and co-occurring mood, anxiety, and trauma disorders in adults and adolescents, and related  problems in high-conflict couples and families. 

In addition to her private practice Dr.  Frank is an assistant clinical professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and also  holds faculty and supervisory appointments at The Wright Institute and the University of California San  Francisco School of Medicine.  She is co-author of The transdiagnostic road map to case formulation and  treatment planning: Practical guidance for clinical decision making (Frank & Davidson, 2014; New Harbinger),  a contributing author to S. G. Hofmann & S. C. Hayes (Eds.), Beyond the DSM (2020, New Harbinger), and  currently serves on the board of directors for the Institute for Better Health.

Dr. Frank has been involved with Oakland DBT and Mindfulness Center since 2012.  She has served as a clinical consultant and focuses on helping the Team bring a transdiagnostic process-based perspective to case formulation and treatment planning, as well as integrating methods from other third-wave cognitive behavioral therapies into the DBT model.  

In addition to enjoying time with her family, Dr.  Frank is an avid golfer, home chef, and a frequent beta-tester of her clinical skills while skiing and mountain biking.

Michael Stanger

Michael Stanger, MD

I am a board-certified psychiatrist practicing in California and Colorado across a range of settings – inpatient, outpatient, emergency and partial hospital, with current affiliations at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Boulder Community Health.

I have a particular interest in the therapeutic utility of ketamine to support psychotherapy. I began working with ketamine in 2016, initially in my California private practice where I administered oral and intramuscular doses. I have since continued to support therapist access and to develop understanding around the most effective use of these modality. In related work, I have mentored with the CIIS Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research and taught sessions with the Polaris Insight Center on ketamine.

My background includes childhood immigration from South Africa to New York, working in the technology industry for several years and then traveling in an unscripted manner to arrive at the awareness that medicine, and ultimately psychiatry would be the path to be helpful to others in an applied way.

Chrysanthe

Chrysanthe Christodoulou

Operations Manager

Chrysanthe is our Operations Manager and one of our in-house Mindfulness Experts. She connects with new clients as they come into the Center, oversees day to day operations and runs special projects.  She is instrumental in supporting the Team by bringing joy, flow and ease.

Chrysanthe studied Meditation, Yoga, and Mindfulness with some of the most respected teachers of our time. She also holds a BS in Economics.  This combination of skills ensures our Center runs efficiently behind the scenes and lends wisdom to our budding Mindfulness Program.

Her local teaching career has spanned the Bay Area and beyond: overseas in Spain, Chile, Greece, and Amsterdam; and locally in San Francisco, Marin, Berkeley, Oakland, and Walnut Creek. Chrysanthe honors the magic in both movement and stillness, stirring energy and witnessing what emerges as everything settles into place. 

When Chrysanthe isn’t handling the business end of the Center or running mindfulness programming, you can find her exploring trails with her wolf pup, finding connection in community, and enjoying the sun and the sea.

Priya Jogia

Priya Jogia

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

​​Priya Jogia is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Since 2013, she has worked in various clinical settings including: community mental health, hospital, and outpatient programs. Priya’s also spent time in Vietnam studying international social work and the relationship between culture, ethnicity, and mental health.

Priya is an active practitioner of mindfulness-based behavioral therapies including DBT and ACT, and has extensive training in CBT. As a DBT therapist, she’s seen the positive impact of using DBT skills in her own life, and is strongly committed to helping clients live meaningful lives that are aligned with their values.

Priya has an interest in perinatal mental health and working with BIPOC populations, and she strives to integrate a social and racial justice lens into her work. While being a therapist has brought a lot of meaning to Priya’s life, she tries not to take herself too seriously, and gets much joy from being a mum, being in nature, and cuddling with her dog.

Jay Indik

Jay Indik

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Jay brings his compassion, creativity, and equanimity to support each person who seeks therapy.. He believes that what makes each person happy is connected to their deepest sense of what is important. Jay listens for how each client can idiosyncratically transform their suffering into a happier life. As a result of working with Jay folks’ learn to address unwanted behavior, regulate their emotions, recover from individual or cultural trauma, repair relationships, and organize their behavior consistent with their values Jay has intensive training and has practiced the following modalities for decades: DBT, Narrative Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, Sensory Modulation, Psychodynamic Treatment and Expressive Arts Therapies. Jay specializes in working with couples, parents, parent child dyads and young adults, as well as with individuals from mid-life through retirement. Jay’s experience as a theater director, parent, teacher, and executive combined with his knowledge of research validated treatments allows him to best relate and serve each individual.

Jay has two adult children (one daughter, one non-binary), a “Real Dads Love Trans kids” t-shirt, and one amazing grandchild he watches one day a week.

Ari Tavano

Ariana Tavano

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Ari Tavano is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). She has worked in an array of clinical settings for over ten years, and utilizes the diversity of her experience to foster a therapeutic frame rooted in curiosity and empathic regard. She specializes in working with those looking to cultivate self-growth, increase interpersonal efficacy, and develop an affirming relationship with their internal worlds.

Ari extends a humanistic approach to her work by nourishing the whole self – according to one’s intersectionality and inherent wisdom. She is trained in DBT and other treatment modalities, including CBT, Existentialism, and Trauma Theory. She harmonizes the concepts of behaviorism and intuitiveness of relational healing, with opportunities to explore psychedelics and expanded-state work.

Ari invites you to build capacity for both processing and playfulness. She prioritizes humor and is often found in the ocean, on the dance floor, and imagining her next adventure. Ari has also worked as a licensed public school teacher in Hawai’i and documentary photographer in South Africa. She is committed to equity, inclusion, and the pursuit of social justice.

Alyson Barry

Alyson Barry, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Alyson Barry is a licensed clinical psychologist (PhD). Since 2005, she’s gained experience in diverse areas of practice, including inpatient hospitals, intensive outpatient programs, community mental health, and private practice. Alyson came to DBT in 2013 through her own yoga and meditation practice, which led her to seek additional training in mindfulness-based therapies. Drawn to work with people who’ve experienced developmental trauma, she begins by addressing what’s happening in the present, helping her clients develop practical skills that fundamentally improve how they interact with themselves and the world around them. As a result of this work, this can over time, set the stage for healing the older wounds. She believes in a collaborative and consent-based treatment approach, working to ensure that clients understand and are in agreement with any diagnosis or therapeutic technique. She hopes that this transparency can help to create an environment of respect for her clients’ choice, autonomy, and knowledge of themselves. She is also a big believer in bringing humor and irreverence into therapy. In her free time, Alyson enjoys snorkeling, hanging out with her cat, and spending time with friends. Alyson is available to work via telehealth with clients in California, Colorado, and Florida.
Heather Macbeth

Heather Macbeth

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT)

Heather co-founded the Oakland DBT & Mindfulness Center in 2012. She is a licensed MFT. She offers a relational, somatic, experiential and humanistic approach to her work and is committed to relieving psychological suffering. Her style is both compassionate and gentle as well as directive and aims to be supportive of each person’s unique needs. Her work focuses on emotion regulation, changing persistent cycles of self-blame, listening more closely to intuitive knowing and increasing self compassion. She is committed and dedicated to helping her clients have a life where they can find themselves thrive vs. just survive. Working as a therapist, clinical supervisor, skills group and workshop facilitator has brought her a lot of joy. In addition to a private practice setting she has worked in community mental health organizations with disenfranchised youth and families and in public schools as a Behavioral Specialist. Heather works with adults and teens. She is intensively trained in DBT and other treatment modalities such as; Gestalt, Psychodynamic, MBSR, ands Expressive Arts. She is certified in EAP (Equine-assisted psychotherapy) and offers equine-facilitated learning workshops in the Bay Area. Additionally, she has received her training in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy through the Polaris Insight Center in San Francisco and is inspired by the potential healing benefits of expanded states of consciousness work.

In her free time, and in ideal worlds, she is exploring jungles, hot springs, beaches, hanging out with animals (large and small), enjoying good food, travel and most importantly time with loved ones.

Christine Benvenuto

Christine Benvenuto

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT)

Christine is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the co-founder and Executive Director of the Oakland DBT and Mindfulness Center. She brings over 25 years of experience in mental health to her work, with a background in working with people in all walks of life in residential, outpatient and home based settings. A systems thinker, valuing sustaining relationships, she works with individuals, couples and groups, with a strong belief that small shifts can create dynamic changes.

She blends a lifetime of interest and practice in somatics, meditation, embodiment, psychedelics and the arts with a passion for social justice, nature and thriving ecosystems. Her mentors are psychologically savvy, center co-existence, value differences and maintain a sense of humor.

Her professional training spans from depth oriented, expanded state and attachment based to behavioral styles of treatment. She co-creates a therapeutic container that feels collaborative, warm, dynamic, thoughtful and deeply resonant.

She works with individuals, couples and groups, offering ongoing weekly therapy, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Consultation.

Along side of her professional life, Christine is grateful for her extended web of relationships as daughter, sister, wife, friend, step-mom and community connector.

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