In-Person in Lafayette, CA 94549
Online in California
My practice is especially supportive for people navigating transitions, burnout, identity shifts, or the quiet sense that something in life needs to change. I bring steadiness, creativity, and a deep respect for your lived experience, offering a space where you don’t have to perform or hold it all together. You get to arrive as you are, and we move at a pace that feels safe, honest, and sustainable. If you’re longing for clarity, connection, or a more spacious relationship with yourself, I’m here to walk with you as you find your way forward.
Client Focus
Session Format: Family, Group, Individual sessions.
Age Specialty: Adult, Children, Senior, Teen, Young Adult
Demographic Expertise: Asian, Hindu, Hispanic / Latino, Middle Eastern, Muslim, Women clients.
Languages: English, Turkish
Treatment Approach
- Biofeedback / Neurofeedback Teaches people to control body or brain activity using real-time monitoring. It’s often used for stress, anxiety, ADHD, and migraines.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) One of the most widely used approaches, CBT helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and replace them with healthier patterns. It is effective for anxiety, depression, and many other concerns.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Combines CBT with mindfulness to help regulate emotions, tolerate stress, and build stronger relationships. Originally designed for borderline personality disorder, it’s now used more broadly.
- Eclectic Therapy Draws from different therapeutic methods based on what fits each client best. It is flexible and personalized rather than following one single model.
- Existential / Humanistic Therapy Encourages people to explore meaning, freedom, and authenticity in their lives. It focuses on personal growth and living in alignment with one’s values.
- Experiential Therapy Involves hands-on activities to bring emotions into the present moment. It helps clients process feelings more deeply than through conversation alone.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) A structured therapy that uses guided eye movements to help process traumatic memories. It is widely recognized for treating PTSD and trauma-related conditions.
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) Helps clients heal by working with different ‘parts’ of themselves, like inner critics or wounded children. It fosters harmony within the self.
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Combines mindfulness practices with CBT to prevent depression relapse. It helps people notice thoughts without judgment and respond more calmly.
- Motivational Interviewing (MI) A collaborative, client-centered approach that strengthens motivation for change. It is especially effective for addictions and health behaviors.
- Multicultural Therapy Acknowledges the role of culture, race, and identity in mental health. It values diversity and adapts treatment to each person’s background.
- Narrative Therapy Encourages people to view problems as separate from themselves and reframe their life story. It helps build resilience and self-identity.
- Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) Emphasizes empathy, unconditional positive regard, and authenticity. It provides a safe space for self-discovery and growth.
- Play Therapy Uses toys, games, and creative play to help children express emotions. It is especially useful when children can’t fully verbalize their feelings.
- Psychodynamic Therapy Explores unconscious thoughts and patterns that influence current behavior. It builds insight into how the past impacts the present.
- Psychoeducational Therapy Provides education and coping tools about mental health conditions. It empowers clients with knowledge and practical skills.
- Relational Psychotherapy Emphasizes the healing power of the therapist-client relationship. It uses trust and safety as a foundation for change.
- Sandplay Therapy Uses sand trays and miniature figures to allow symbolic expression. It is especially helpful for children and trauma survivors.
- Somatic Therapy Helps clients notice how emotions are stored in the body. It uses breath, movement, and awareness for healing trauma and stress.
Approach Description: Over time—through my own lived experiences, my studies, and the stories clients have trusted me with—I’ve learned a few things about how we move through the world. We repeat our patterns unconsciously, and those patterns shape our present and future far more than we often realize. While we all navigate very real systemic barriers, we are not only defined by them. As Viktor Frankl wrote, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” These patterns often recreate familiar dynamics from earlier wounds, as if some part of us is trying to “get it right this time.” Because they’re rooted in unresolved experiences, they tend to operate outside our awareness. Life transitions tend to bring these patterns to the surface. During these moments, we may feel anxious, depressed, unmoored, reactive, disconnected, or simply “off.” The intensity of our responses can feel disproportionate to what’s happening around us—and that discomfort often becomes the doorway that leads us to seek therapy. This is where meaningful change becomes possible. Transitions offer a rare opportunity to slow down, understand what’s being activated, and begin making intentional choices instead of repeating old, painful cycles. With support, we can strengthen our capacity for self‑ and co‑regulation, improve the quality of our relationships, and move toward a more authentic way of being. And perhaps most importantly, this is how we interrupt generational patterns—by becoming more conscious of what we’re passing on, and choosing to offer something different, something more aligned with who we truly want to be.
Fees & Insurance
Fees
- Average Session Fee 230
- Affordable sliding scale therapy: apply if you may be eligible.
- I reserve a limited number of sliding‑scale spots for clients who truly need reduced fees in order to access therapy, and these are offered on a first‑come, first‑served basis. If I’m not able to meet your financial needs, I’m happy to connect you with one of my associates who offers more affordable rates. My goal is always to help you find care that feels both accessible and supportive.
- Out of Network
Education & Credentials
Nes Pinar Psychotherapy LMFT
- Female
- License # LMFT94911
- Licensed in CA
- Practicing Since 2011
Education: Masters degree in counseling and previous career in engineering
Nes Pinar Psychotherapy Practice Details
Therapy Sessions
- Available In-Person in Lafayette, CA 94549
- Available Online for residents of California
- Online Therapy Details: Secure Video platform - Simple Practice
Hi, I’m Nes.
My office is located in downtown Lafayette with free, easy parking and just a five‑minute walk from the BART station. I offer both in‑person and online therapy sessions to fit your needs and schedule. As a multicultural therapist, I bring a deep respect for identity, culture, and lived experience into the work. I provide individual therapy for kids, teens, and adults, creating a grounded, supportive space for people across different stages of life to feel seen, understood, and supported.
Like many of my clients, I move through the world wearing many hats—therapist, parent, partner, daughter, trainer, supervisor, immigrant, and an incurable volunteer at heart. But in my role with you, think of me as someone who helps you move forward and live more fully, with clarity and intention.
I support people who long for a sense of contentment and belonging but feel pulled by the past or overwhelmed by the uncertainty of what’s ahead. My work centers on helping you build confidence, presence, and self‑trust so you can actively shape the life you want rather than feeling stuck, reactive, or disconnected.
My mission is simple: to help you feel more alive, more grounded, and more at home in yourself.
After years of deeply rewarding clinical work, I’ve come to believe wholeheartedly in our capacity to shift, heal, and reclaim our lives. I lead with steadiness and encouragement, inviting you to take thoughtful risks while knowing you’re supported every step of the way. Together, we build relationships and ways of communicating that honor your authentic self—not just venting or getting things off your chest, but creating meaningful, lasting change from the inside out.
Therapy can be a powerful support when something in your life isn’t working the way it used to. You don’t have to navigate the hard work of reshaping your life on your own—I’m here to walk with you as you move toward the version of yourself and your life that feels more aligned.
In its simplest form, change tends to unfold in three interconnected steps:
- **Awareness** — noticing the pattern or pain point that has been running on autopilot
- **Intention** — choosing, even quietly, to move toward something different
- **Practice** — trying on new ways of being until they become the new, more supportive autopilot
People find their way to therapy at any point in this process—sometimes even before awareness fully forms, in what I often think of as “the suffering phase,” when something feels off but the language for it hasn’t arrived yet. Wherever you are, I meet you there.
Because the practice phase is often the longest and the most challenging, I stay with you through the repetition, the setbacks, and the slow rewiring. I help keep your awareness and intention alive, and I offer creative, personalized ways to practice so the work feels engaging, doable, and never lonely.
During our initial phone call or first session, if it becomes clear that we’re not the right match for any reason, I’m always happy to connect you with one of my associates or refer you to another trusted therapist who has availability. You’ll only pay for your first session if we both feel it’s a good fit. If not, you owe nothing—and I’ll gladly offer referrals to help you land with someone who feels right for you.
There are many wonderful therapists out there. If you sense we might be a good match, feel free to call or email. And even if we don’t end up working together, I’ll do my best to help you find someone who’s a better fit for your needs.