About Hillary Braun, AMFT (she/her)
CA #142923

I believe that…

Every person has an innate capacity for growth, healing, and resilience. With the right support and tools, individuals can discover their inner strengths, uncover obstacles, and create meaningful change in their lives.

My approach is…

…welcoming, grounded, compassionate, and non-judgmental. My role as a therapist is to provide a warm and inviting space where you can be yourself, feel understood, and safely explore whatever may be holding you back from reaching your full potential. I focus on your strengths and collaborate with you to navigate life’s challenges with support and understanding. Drawing from an integrative approach, I blend pragmatic research-backed approaches with depth psychology, integrating approaches like internal family systems, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and child-centered play therapy. I tailor each session to your unique and individual needs. Together, we’ll work on building resilience, increasing self-awareness, and developing new ways to cope with everyday stressors so you can find a deeper sense of well-being.

Specialty areas

I love working with children, young adults, and families who experience anxiety, depression, and trauma. Managing the impact of separations, illnesses, and other transitions, like school or relationships, can be surprisingly onerous. Emotions are hard to control, behaviors become disruptive, and it seems impossible to return to how it used to be. In therapy, we’ll work together to navigate change and address your unique concerns, exploring ways to adapt and find a path forward that feels fulfilling and aligned with your values..

I’m also passionate about working with older adults who are struggling to manage shifts to their health, family dynamics, and other changes. Together we consider values and goals, developing ways to communicate with loved ones in order to make decisions and improve quality of life.

My credentials

I am an associate marriage and family therapist (AMFT) under the supervision of Sara Anderson, LCSW. My master’s degree is in counseling psychology with an emphasis in health psychology from Santa Clara University. I am a member of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and I also serve children and families in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.

I am a member of Postpartum Support International, the American Psychological Association, the California Psychological Association, and the Monterey Bay Psychological Association, where I serve as Board President.

I love…

Being outdoors – hiking and skiing in the mountains, relaxing and taking an ocean dip at the beach, running with my two dogs, and enjoying a good laugh with family and friends.