BLACK THERAPISTS IN BERKELEY & OAKLAND
Find a therapist who understands your experiences
Effective, trauma-informed therapy with Crystal Cooper, AMFT. In-person appointments available at Evergreen Counseling in Berkeley, with telehealth across California.
Current openings available. Out-of-network practice (we can assist with filing for reimbursement).
Schedule Your Free 20-Minute Call
If this sounds like you, therapy at Evergreen can help
- Not wanting to spend half your session explaining: You want to talk about your workplace, family, relationships, or culture without having to provide all the background before getting to what you actually came to discuss.
- Wondering whether you can really say what you’re thinking: You’re used to reading the room, choosing your words carefully, or deciding which parts of yourself feel safe to bring forward. You want a space where you can speak openly without filtering yourself.
- Carrying more than people realize: From the outside, you may look like you’re doing fine. Underneath, there’s stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, family pressures, or experiences you haven’t had much space to process.
- Being good at pushing through: You know how to keep going when things are hard. But functioning doesn’t always mean you’re okay—and some things deserve to be worked through, not just carried.
Therapy where you don't have to explain the context first
Whether you’re coming in to process racial issues, navigate a tough relationship, manage anxiety and burnout, or simply live a more fulfilled life, you shouldn’t have to spend your first three sessions educating your therapist.
With Crystal, shared context is the baseline, not something you have to prove or explain. That gives you more space to focus on what you actually came to therapy to work through.
Her approach combines practical reflection through Trauma-Focused CBT with attention to how your body holds stress through Somatic Experiencing. Some weeks that might mean processing an interaction at work; others might mean unpacking family patterns, setting boundaries, or working through grief.
Meet Crystal Cooper, AMFT
“Before becoming a therapist, I worked as a firefighter, an emergency room EMT, and a mental health worker in a psychiatric hospital. I’m deeply comfortable supporting people through both acute crises and long-standing stress—so whatever you bring into the room won’t throw me off balance.
So many of us are navigating heavy societal, familial, and cultural expectations about how we’re supposed to show up. In our sessions, you set the pace. My goal is to create a space where your true self feels seen and valued, and where your time, energy, and intentions are finally received as intended.”
What Our Clients Say
I had an amazing journey with my therapist at Evergreen Counseling in Berkeley. She was professional and friendly and welcoming and comforting. All of which I needed after the death of my husband. As we worked together she also helped me process a series of traumatic events that had been causing me huge pain. And even though I had been in therapy before, our work together went deeper, and really brought healing. My relationships have improved and my confidence is much stronger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Evergreen Counseling is an out-of-network practice. If your plan includes out-of-network benefits, our team handles claim submissions for you so you can receive any reimbursement available through your plan. We provide clear pricing upfront and offer Good Faith Estimates before you book.
Only if you prefer in-person sessions. Our Berkeley office on Shattuck is a quick BART ride or about a 15-minute drive from downtown Oakland. Crystal also sees clients via video anywhere in California.
It’s a low-pressure conversation to discuss what you’re looking for, ask questions, and see if working with Crystal feels like the right fit. There’s no obligation to schedule a session afterward.
Crystal works with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, life transitions, racial trauma, and many forms of trauma. During your free 20-minute call, you can share a little about what you’re navigating and ask any questions about her experience or approach. If Crystal isn’t the right fit, our intake coordinator can help connect you with another therapist on our team.
Your first session gives you and Crystal more time to talk about what’s bringing you to therapy, what you’ve been experiencing, and what you’d like to work toward. It’s also a chance to get a feel for working together before deciding whether you’d like to continue with ongoing sessions.
Ready to take the next step?
Schedule Your Free 20-Minute Consult Call
The 20-minute consultation is a relaxed, low-pressure space to connect directly with Crystal. You’ll talk through what’s bringing you to therapy, ask any questions about her approach or logistics, and see if working together feels like the right fit. No payment or long-term commitment required.