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OLIVIA WALDORF, AMFT/ATR
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Pronouns: she/her
Title: Associate Therapist
Email: olivia@tendriltherapy.com
Location: Virtual - California
& In-Person - San Francisco, CA at 110 Gough Street, Suite 202, San Francisco, CA 94102
Client Focus: Adults, Parent-Child, Teens, & Children
Areas of Focus: Grief & loss, Trauma, Identity, LGBTQIA+, Relationships, Burnout, Perinatal
Modalities: Art Therapy, Somatic, Polyvagal, Feminist, Whole-Person Approach
GET TO KNOW OLIVIA.
Welcome — I am so glad you found your way here. Whatever it was that brought you to this page took courage — even the act of seeking can feel scary. I love the reminder that "sometimes the most healing thing we can do is remind ourselves over and over and over — other people feel this too" (some wise words from the late poet, Andrea Gibson). You are so not alone in what you're carrying. A big part of how we carry together in session is through body-based practices, creative expression, and shedding our internalized shame. A place where everything is process over product and where we are actively seeking the imperfect. Whether you're navigating relationships, grief, identity, life transitions, or simply seeking balance, let's do it together.
I deeply value co-creating the therapy space together and honoring your unique lived experience, cultural intersections, and everything else that makes you, you. Rooted in expressive arts, somatic, feminist, and whole-person centered frameworks, we start our work together right where you are and walk together the rest of the way. As a clinician, I specialize in working with nervous system regulation, neurodiverse individuals, queer folks, as well as children, teens, and dyadic care. My practice centers trauma-informed care, intersectional identities, destigmatization, creating emotional safety, a space for exploration and creativity, and building meaningful tools for change.
My goal is to help you find more freedom and feel more connected to yourself and others. Through our time together, however long that might be, my hope is that you're able to explore the many wonderful, scary, and magical layers that we hold. You can find me in my virtual office space (from anywhere in California) or in-person at my San Francisco office. When I’m not sitting in the therapist chair, you can also find me guiding expressive arts workshops, working with queer youth, reading multiple books at one time, out enjoying nature, or spending lots of time in community (one of my favorite places to be). I hope we get to meet soon!
MORE ON ART THERAPY:
Art therapy is a mental health treatment where the act of making art in session helps you process emotions that are hard to put into words. The emphasis is on the process of creating art and reflection, not the finished product so no prior art experience is needed at all. Art Therapy is for all ages and can be done virtually or in-person. Science also backs this up! Research shows that at its core, even just free form art-making noticeably lowers cortisol levels, regardless of prior art experience. In other words, the simple act of creating something with your hands significantly regulates your nervous system, so imagine what might be released when that same process becomes intentional and guided. Wondering where to find more information on Art Therapy or how to describe it to a loved one who might benefit? Check out this Art Therapy fact sheet or this kid-friendly video about the value of exploring your emotions through art.
licenses & certifications
California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist 147478
Supervised by Robyn Buresh, LMFT 91826
education
Loyola Marymount University, 2024
M.A. Marriage & Family Therapy and Art Therapy
Lipscomb University, 2018
B.A. English Literature and Journalism
trainings
1. Specialization in Early Childhood Mental Health 2. Somatic Therapy Certificate, in progress 3. Specialized training in Art Therapy and Expressive Therapies Continuum 4. Art Therapy services via Telehealth, 2023 5. Identity, Art Therapy, and Working with LGBTQIA+ Community, 2023 6. SOGiE (sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression) Framework for Young Populations, 2024 7. Understanding Intimate Partner Violence: A Queer Perspective, 2023 8. Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), 2023 9. Co-developed and researched CRISP Framework (Creative Resilience Initiatives for Service Providers), 2023 10. Annual American Art Therapy Conference Attendee, 2023
memberships & achievements
1. California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists-Associate, Member since 2024 2. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Graduate Research Grant, 2023 3. C-SSRS Certified, 2023
find us
11590 W. Bernardo Ct.
Ste 230
San Diego, CA 92127
760.652.9680