About Us: Our History

The History of Blue Oak Therapy Center

Blue Oak Therapy Center was founded as a non-profit agency in 1987 in Berkeley. The vision of the founders was to create a counseling center in the East Bay that would serve the community. There was particular interest in serving the low-income individuals and families who were in need of psychotherapy services, but could not afford to pay licensed therapists.

The creation of Blue Oak Therapy Center began when a few Marriage and Family Therapy Interns wanted to have the freedom to choose mentors and supervisors that embodied and worked from the psychological orientations that they found useful for themselves and their clients. The founding interns also wanted to work at a place where they could maintain their relationships with clients as they became licensed therapists and shifted to private practice, rather than having to interrupt the therapy and transfer clients to other therapists, as so often happens.

To stay in line with their vision, the founding members chose board members who would be supportive without a need to overly control the philosophy of the center. Interns at Blue Oak Therapy Center take more responsibility for the running of the center than at other agencies. Rather than a top-down hierarchy where board members make policies and pass them down to interns, Blue Oak Therapy Center’s decision making process is one where interns make suggestions and requests, while the board reviews them and provides input and approval. This allows for change, fluidity, and responsiveness to the group of interns and clients who are at the center at any particular time, as long as the basic principles that Blue Oak Therapy Center was founded on are upheld.

In 1991, Blue Oak Therapy Center had become so successful that it outgrew its original space and moved to its present location on Prince Street. The large open space on the second floor was transformed into the current configuration of two waiting areas, five therapy offices, and a staff office.

Where Blue Oak is Today

Today Blue Oak Therapy Center is thriving. We have nine interns, and our collective culture is strong and supportive. Present interns make decisions not only about the running of the center, but also about what new interns to take into the group, subject to approval from our clinical director. We look for thoughtful, heartfelt practitioners who are committed to serving and making a difference. We choose interns who are not only interested in expanding their expertise, knowledge and professionalism, but also who have a desire to be there for each other and the East Bay community we serve.

© Blue Oak Therapy Center
3101 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705    Phone: (510) 649-9818
Clinical director is Stuart Sovatsky, PhD, MFT Licensed #MFC 19173.