Dr. Kari Kagan

*Please note: Dr. Kagan will be accepting clients in person in Orinda, CA starting in July 2024*

My approach to psychotherapy is collaborative, empathic, flexible, and oriented toward achieving the results my clients desire. Together, we will explore the patterns that may have worked for you at some point but are now leading to feeling stuck. Left unaddressed, these patterns can take a toll on relationships, work, health, and self-esteem. My goal is to create a comfortable, non-judgmental, and supportive space for exploration and change and to help people live a more meaningful and enjoyable life. 

I have a particular passion for helping people cope with the challenges that can arise during the perinatal period, which includes pre-conception, pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond.  I work with many moms and dads and understand how common it is to feel a mix of emotions during this vulnerable stage in life. Many people feel overwhelmed, anxious, guilty, exhausted, happy, and sad... sometimes all within the same day. I draw from a variety of evidence-based approaches to provide the most effective interventions to help people not only cope better with “the grind” of the daily tasks, but also to shift from surviving to thriving.  

Clinical Specialties

  • Perinatal Mental Health Certified (postpartum depression and anxiety)

  • Depression

  • Anxiety Disorders (worry, panic, phobias, social anxiety, stress)

  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

  • Life transitions 

  • Relationship stress

Education and Training

I earned my doctorate in psychology from the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium in Palo Alto and my undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. I completed my pre-doctoral internship at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Los Angeles and my post-doctoral training in private practice in San Francisco. My other clinical experiences include providing evidence-based treatments for depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, and insomnia in outpatient clinics at the Palo Alto VA, San Jose Job Corps, and the San Francisco VA.