Kate Leyva
Founder and Clinical Director
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
When you're carrying everyone else's needs, it can be hard to notice how little room is left for your own. You may feel more reactive with your children than you want to be, find yourself in the same family conflict again, or realize that an old experience is still shaping how you respond today. A death, relationship ending, or major transition can also change your sense of stability. Therapy can help you make sense of what you are carrying and begin to feel less alone.
I work primarily with adults and parents navigating grief and loss, trauma and developmental trauma, parenting stress, parent-child conflict, family relationship concerns, and major life transitions. I also offer EMDR when it fits your needs and goals. Our work can make room for the emotional depth of what happened while also helping you understand patterns, respond more intentionally, and find a steadier way forward.
My style is warm, practical, and collaborative. I listen closely and want you to feel understood. I may offer a reflection, ask a question that helps us look beneath the surface, suggest a concrete strategy, or slow down for deeper trauma work. Some people need time and space to process; others benefit from more structure or a clear plan. We will find the balance that works for you, without judgment or pressure to have everything figured out.
I have spent more than a decade in private practice. I began by specializing in child and teen therapy, and that experience continues to shape how I support parents and understand family patterns. As a mother of four, I also know how complicated it can be to hold the needs of a family alongside your own. I am the founder and clinical director of Valley Oak Counseling, where I supervise and support a team of therapists committed to thoughtful, relationship-centered care.
kate@valleyoakcounseling.co
(925) 322-1747
“You do not have to have everything figured out before you begin. We can make sense of what you are carrying together.”
Education
M.A. Counseling Psychology
Saint Mary's College of California, Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy
B.S. Psychology
Northern Arizona University, with minors in Family Studies and Criminal Justice
License & Role
LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST
Kathleen "Kate" Leyva, LMFT #84265
FOUNDER AND CLINICAL DIRECTOR
Valley Oak Counseling
Clinical Experience
PRIVATE PRACTICE
More than a decade supporting adults, parents, children, teens, and families
CURRENT FOCUS
Grief and loss, trauma and developmental trauma, EMDR, parenting support, and family relationships
DEVELOPMENTAL PERSPECTIVE
Early specialization in child and teen therapy and family support
Advanced Training & Associations
ADVANCED TRAINING
Child Therapy Institute Training Program; Child-Centered Play Therapy Intensive Training; Pediatric Medical Art Therapy; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
LEADERSHIP
Board Member and former Clinical Director, Bay Area Psychotherapy Institute
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and East Bay Chapter
VOLUNTEER SERVICE
A Home Within volunteer therapist
Areas of Support
Parenting Support
Parenting can feel more reactive, uncertain, or disconnected than you want it to be, especially when you are already carrying too much. We can look at the patterns beneath difficult moments, develop practical ways to respond, and help you feel more connected and confident in the kind of parent you want to be.
Grief and Loss
A death, relationship ending, or other significant loss can change your sense of stability and identity. Therapy offers room for grief without pressure to move on or follow a timetable. Together, we can help you adjust to what has changed, reconnect with your life, and find your own way to carry the loss.
Trauma and Developmental Trauma
Painful past experiences and chronic relational wounds can continue to shape your reactions, relationships, and sense of self. Using trauma-informed therapy and EMDR, we can understand those patterns, reduce distress, and build a steadier and more compassionate relationship with yourself.
Family Relationships and Transitions
Conflict, changing roles, separation, grief, or a major transition can leave family members feeling stuck or disconnected. I help families and parents understand repeating patterns, communicate more clearly, and move through change with greater connection and stability.
My Approach
My approach is relational, integrative, trauma-informed, attachment-informed, and grounded in family systems. Together, we may explore how earlier experiences and relationships affect what is happening now, use EMDR to process distressing experiences when appropriate, or focus on practical changes in communication and parenting. I tailor the work to your needs rather than following one fixed method.
My early child and teen specialization taught me to understand the young person and the family system together. When I work with a minor, I involve parents or caregivers closely and in a developmentally appropriate way while protecting the therapeutic relationship. Across all ages, I want you to feel respected in the full context of your identities, culture, abilities, neurodiversity, relationships, and lived experience.