Ali Kimmell, LCSW, CGP - founder, process group leader, training group leader, co-leader consultation group

As a Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP), I bring confidence and experience to the groups I run. I also regularly teach, consult, and write about group therapy.

I received a BA from Wesleyan University and a MSW from Smith College School for Social Work. I received post graduate training in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the Psychotherapy Institute in Berkeley and in modern group analysis at the Center for Group Studies in New York City.

I serve as faculty at The Psychotherapy Institute and The Group Therapy Training Program in Berkeley, and have taught Group Therapy at Grateful Heart Counseling Center, Northern California Group Psychotherapy Association, the American Group Psychotherapy Association, and The Center for Group Studies. My recent publications include: Kimmell, A., & Gockel, A. (2017). Embodied connections: Engaging the body in group work. Qualitative Social Work, 17(2), 268–285 and the book chapter Belonging: Queer Theory’s Contribution to Modern Analytic Groups in Kane, Y. , Masselink, S. & Weiss, A (Eds.), Women, Intersectionality and Power in Group Psychotherapy. Routledge.

Professional Affiliations:

  • The Psychotherapy Institute 

  • Center for Group Studies

  • The Group Therapy Training Program

  • American Group Psychotherapy Association

  • Northern California Group Psychotherapy Association

  • International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy

  • Bay Area Open Minds

  • Poly and Kink Friendly Professionals Directory

  • Gaylesta

Email: Ali@BayAreaGroupCenter.com

Alexandra Jamali, LCSW, co-leader consultation group

I am a consultant and psychotherapist (Licensed Clinical Social Worker Lic. #71159) who works from a relational psychoanalytic stance. As part of my practice, I have written, taught, presented and thought extensively about the thoughtful integration of socio-cultural considerations within therapeutic spaces.

I have a B.A. from the University of Chicago and an M.S.W. from Smith College School for Social Work. Additionally, I completed a Post-MSW Fellowship at The University of California- Berkeley and engaged in a three-year post-graduate training program in depth psychotherapy at The Psychotherapy Institute in Berkeley, California. My writings and presentations have received professional recognition, both from the American Psychological Association Division for Psychoanalysis, the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, as well as the Journal for Psychoanalytic Social Work where I published "Know Whence You Came: Psychoanalytic Theory, Queery Theory and Mixed-Race Experience (2019). Importantly, I believe we can learn from a multitude of sources and invite one's creative associations into the work.

request a free consult with Alexandra now

Crystal Haviland, LPCC, leader neurodiverse process group

I am a neuroqueer non-binary psychotherapist.  My training is in relational psychoanalysis and parts work. I received my B.A. from San Francisco State University and my M.A. from Goddard College. I completed the two year program and the Advanced Training Program at Women’s Therapy Center and more recently became certified in the neurobiological model of parts work developed by Janina Fisher, PhD (Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment) as well as Level 1 Internal Family Systems. My group work journey began in activism working for social justice as a group facilitator, grew in my experiences of collective living over two decades, and continued into my career as a trainer for therapists and most recently, as a group supervisor at Liberation Institute. I believe in the liberatory power of groups and group process and hope to foster an environment process and hope to foster an environment of generative change.

request a free consult with Crystal now

Email: Crystal@bayareagroupcenter.com

Audre Mowry, LMFT leader in-person process therapy group

I received my BA in Women Gender Sexuality Studies at Mills College and MFT at The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. I have completed post-degree training at The Women’s Therapy Center, Seeds of Awareness, and East Bay Agency for Children. I have had a passion for group work most of my career. I lead group trainings around intersectionality in movement, dance, queer community and workout spaces. Before private practice I engaged in non-profit work, supporting families through grief and loss. I have led groups in schools and camps engaging with all ages spanning from 5- 60 year olds. I have co-led two cohorts of the Resilient Parenting for Bereaved Parents Program and am a certified parent resiliency coach. My other adult group work has been working with primary marginalized gendered people navigating issues around sexuality, relationships, and self esteem. Throughout my life, I have worked in Sex Positive Activism and have made it a priority to incorporate sex positive, gender inclusive, and kink/BDSM informed stance in my work. As a queer white cis-woman, I believe that accountability and responsibility are important in my role as a therapist , and I continuously check my own privilege and position of power inside and outside of the therapeutic space.  I am proactive in my work, and engage my clients supporting them to think and explore themes of their life that they want to manifest progress in. 

Email: Audre@bayareagroupcenter.com

 Our Values and Theoretical Stance

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  • Lasting change comes from shifting underlying ways of relating to the world and your self. Transformation usually comes from new possibilities we discover in the presence of healing relationships. This approach focuses on paying attention to the relationship dynamics that arise in the group as a way to understand and ultimately move stuck patterns folks are encountering outside the group. In this process, members gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others and start to change at a pace that works for them.

  • Groups have anywhere from 4-8 members and depending on the group a fair amount of diversity in areas of identity, personality, psychological orientation to the world, and treatment goals. The right group for you will have enough people similar to you that you won’t feel too different (and some people wouldn’t want to be in a group where they are the ‘only one’ of a certain group) and enough people different from you that you feel challenged. Group placement is a careful and collaborative process that happens during the pre-group intakes. Additionally, we offer a majority BIPOC group and majority LGBTQIA group for interested folks.

  • Sometimes our body communicates what can not yet and may never be able to be put into words. Our body sensations provide essential information about how we are doing and what we need. But being tuned into our somatic experience can feel out of control or unsafe or just not available. This approach utilizes mindfulness and somatically informed approaches to trauma treatment to help group members increase their awareness, intimacy, and sense of safety with their body’s communications. 

  • Our early family group and larger societal context form the template for what we expect in relationships in our adult lives. Group offers members a chance to understand these relationship proclivities and form a more sturdy and enlivening attachment to the group than may have been possible in one’s family. This group bond serves as a bridge from more insecure to more secure relating outside the group.