Private Therapy Practice in
Sonoma, California

Therapist Bio

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Sonoma, California. I've been in private practice for over twenty years.

I work with individuals and couples. I've always loved working with people to help them in their relationships, as well as with any parenting issues. I also help people who are hoping to get into a strong, committed relationship and/or want help with dating. Over the years, many of the people I've worked with have gotten relief from problems including anxiety, shyness, low self-esteem, grief, self-acceptance, depression and communication. Parents who want to get better at calmly setting limits with their children or who want help brainstorming options around parenting can benefit from my Parent Coaching, as well.

I have also worked extensively with hundreds of couples, and I am adept at helping each person to feel I'm hearing them and am not taking sides. I regularly check in during sessions to insure that each partner is feeling understood. My clients know early on that if something isn't working in the therapy process, they can let me know and I won't take it personally. You, the client, are so often the best judge of what will help you the most!

I love helping people get in touch with the Truth of who they are: lovable, whole, and enough. Many people get a deep sense of satisfaction that there are more choices available to them than they were originally aware of. Knowing that you are innately good is crucial in my therapy approach.

Experience

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Private practice, 1991-present.
Oakland, San Francisco, Sonoma

Workshop Presenter
Couples Communications Skills Workshops
Piedmont Adult School, 2003. Piedmont, CA

Group Therapist
St. Luke's Partial Hospitalization Program, 1995-1997. San Francisco & Oakland

Group Leader for:

Stress Reduction Through Visualization
Self Esteem and Assertiveness
Dealing with Difficult Relationships.

Clinical Interviewer
Treatment Research Unit of U.C. San Francisco, Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, 1993-1995.
San Francisco, CA.

Education

M.A. Clinical Psychology
John F. Kennedy University
Orinda, CA 1988

While in graduate school, I was one of a small group of students chosen by the faculty to receive advanced training in psychotherapy.

B.A. Philosophy
University of California
Berkeley, CA 1983
With an emphasis on Existential Philosophy.

Additional Training

I take 15-20 additional hours of training each year

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for the Real World, with Cross Country Education Seminars
Scientifically-Based Marital Therapy with John Gottman, Ph.D
The Social Neuroscience of Psychotherapy: Changing the Brain Through Healing Relationships with Louis Cozolino, Ph.D
Inside the Manipulator's Mind: The Insider's Guide to Ending Emotional Exploitation with Cross Country EducationThe Law and Domestic Violence, with Richard S. Leslie, J.D, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
Emotional Manipulation: Understanding Manipulators and Helping their Victims, with Jim Fogarty, EdD
Counseling For Couples: Understanding and Improving Love Relationships, with Jeannie Staudt, Cross Country Education
Exceptions to Confidentiality, with Richard S. Leslie, J.D, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
GLBT and Other Diversity Issues, with Richard S. Leslie, J.D, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
How Positive Psychological Changes Our Lives, with Lynn Johnson PhD, Cross Country Education
Control Mastery Theory, with Steven A. Foreman, M.D., President, San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group
Professional Ethics for MFT's, with Richard S. Leslie, J.D, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
Child Abuse Reporting, with Richard S. Leslie, J.D, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
Confidentiality, with Richard S. Leslie, J.D, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
Practice & Imagination in the Process of Change, with James M. Foreman, Psychotherapy Networker
Emotionally Focused Therapy, with Ann Margulies, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
Dangerous Patients and the Therapists Duty, with Richard S. Leslie, J.D, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
Spousal Partner Abuse, with Marcia Iris Baum, LCSW, MIB Continuing Education
Making Sense of the Child Welfare System, with Penny James, MFT, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
Dual Relationships and Boundaries in Therapy, with Ofer Zur, Ph.D.
Innovations in Couples Therapy: Turning Fights Into Intimate
Conversations, with Daniel Wile, MFT at John F. Kennedy University
Ethics and the Law, with John F. Kennedy University
Depth Oriented Brief Therapy Trainings, with Bruce Ecker, MFT
When Feeling Good Interferes with Living Well: Masterson workshop with California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
From Rage to Anger: Interventions in Abusive and Controlling Relationships, with California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
How and Why Psychotherapy Works: An Introduction to Control Mastery Theory, San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group
Shamanism: Archaic States of Ectasy, Instructor: Fred Tietjen, Holos Institute Public Program
Breaking The Argument Cycle in Three Effective Steps, with Sharon Rivkin, M.A., M.F.T., California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
The Curative Element in Psychotherapy: A Dialogue Between Attachment Theory and Control Mastery Theory, with Steven A. Foreman, M.D., President, San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group
Self Study: Scope of License, Scope of Practice, with Richard S. Leslie, J.D, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
Legal Requirements for MFTS, with Richard S. Leslie, J.D, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
Toxic People: Living and Working with High-Conflict Individuals, with Joseph Shannon, Ph.D.
Two Masters, Two Methods, One Couple, with Terry Real and Richard Schwartz
The Curative Element in Psychotherapy: A Dialogue Between Attachment Theory and Control Mastery Theory, with Steven Foreman, M.D., President San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group
New Insights Into Verbally Abusive Relationships, with Amanda Somberg, LMFT
Helping Clients Move Through Divorce, with Susan Pease Gadoua, LCSW
Profile of a Pedophile: Identifying Child Sex Predators in Clinical Practice

Memberships & Associations

Fees

My fee is $195 for one hour individual sessions, and $210 for one hour couples therapy sessions. 75 minute couples session is $260

Testimonials

“I think Diane DuBois, MFT is a really excellent therapist for mothers, as well as couples. She is sensitive, while helping clients come up with practical solutions. She is herself a mother, and can relate to many of the issues we face. Unlike some therapists I've come into contact with, she is interactive and engaging, while being extremely supportive and professional. I highly recommend her.”
—Berkeley Parents Network

Sonoma Therapist Diane DuBois

Therapy Options:

30 minute — 3 hour psychotherapy sessions
In-Person, Phone, FaceTime and Zoom Sessions

Therapy Services:

"Diane is gifted at getting to the essence of issues and designing miraculous interventions. I highly recommend her."
~ Marcia Ruben, Ph.D.