About Liora Abrahams-Brosbe
Psychotherapist, Drama Therapist, and Dating Coach (she/her)
Online therapy and coaching for shy professionals, chronically single individuals, and overwhelmed couples
Hello! I’m so glad I have the opportunity to connect with you. I'm Liora Rahel Abrahams-Brosbe, a California-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#53921), dating coach, couples counselor, and Registered Drama Therapist who works with shy professionals, chronically single individuals, and overwhelmed couples. My goal is to help you overcome anxiety, clarify what you want, and learn how to connect with others so that you can build loving, mutual relationships.
As a coach and therapist, I find it meaningful to support others. In particular, I love:
Helping shy professionals understand and learn strategies to overcome anxiety so that they have the confidence and energy needed to excel at work.
Supporting chronically single people (welcome, late-in-life virgins!) as they develop the clarity, confidence, and skills needed to find a loving relationship.
Teaching couples how to stay connected when life is overwhelming (parents of young kiddos, I see you!), replace defensiveness with kindness, and get back to feeling loved and seen.
Guiding people who’ve survived more than their fair share (hello BIPOC, survivors of dysfunctional families, and neurodivergent folx) identify and honor their needs so that they can build joyful relationships.
My journey to becoming a psychotherapist and coach
When I was growing up, I didn't have the language to identify as an empath. Looking back, though, I see that I deeply felt other people's experiences and emotions. Even as a child, I wanted to help create a world where people felt safe and connected to one another.
Funnily enough, I stumbled onto my calling when I almost got suspended from high school.
In truth, I was a pretty tame rebel. I was (and in many ways still am) a strict rule follower, but after a momentary lapse in judgment when I was 15, I was given two options: suspension or community service. I opted for the latter, which meant helping out at an after-school program for traumatized children.
At that program, we engaged the kids using all kinds of creative activities, including drama and theater programming. Seeing kids who’d endured terrible things express themselves and come alive through their performances, I was struck and inspired by the healing power of theater. Then and there I resolved to become a drama therapist (i.e. someone who uses drama and theater to help others grow).
Because my experience volunteering at that program was so profound, I stayed on long after completing my community service requirement. I suppose I could be the poster child for a "reformed" high school delinquent 🙂.
I went on to study drama therapy, counseling psychology, and the science of building healthy relationships. I worked with children, adults, groups, families, and couples in all kinds of settings: prisons, community mental health agencies, Bay Area Dating Coach, the Social Anxiety Support Center, and the Relationship Center. Decades after first hearing the calling to help others heal from trauma using creative approaches, I still feel deeply called to do this work.
I love being a therapist and coach.
I love witnessing my clients as they courageously rewrite constraining life scripts.
I love that my work as a healer is never boring. I stay inspired and engaged by connecting with colleagues, training with experts in the field, and learning innovative ways to support my clients.
I find myself endlessly curious about how to best support my clients. Each one needs something a little bit different.
I believe that every one of us needs support at different times in our lives. And I feel honored that my clients include me in their process.
My why: a safer, more connected world
Within days of my birth, my parents brought me over to the house of our neighbor, Millie, a woman in her 50s with grown children of her own. She was the kind of adopted grandmother everyone needs: unconditionally accepting, affectionate, and loving in a no-strings-attached way. I memorized Millie’s phone number before I could even read. She took me to get my ears pierced and was always happy to hear from me.
Throughout my life, I felt 100% unconditionally loved by Millie. She taught me that one kind, stable adult can have an incredible impact on a child, and that family forms not from blood ties but from consistent love.
Millie wasn’t the only adult in my life who taught me the power of a secure mentor. Growing up, my piano teacher, Beverly, spent the first 20 minutes of each one-hour lesson simply listening to me. She somehow knew that I needed to get everything out before I could focus on the creative learning process.
As a result of growing up with available adults like Beverly and Millie, I know firsthand what research shows: that children who have even one safe and consistent adult are significantly more likely to become happy adults who form stable relationships.
I also know that there’s hope for those of us who lacked that crucial caregiver. Through therapy with a skilled professional, we can "fill in the blanks" with love and self-compassion.
Helping my clients fill in those gaps brings me a great deal of joy and meaning.
I know from personal and professional experience that a happy human is a connected human. As such, I place my relationships at the center of my life, including my relationships with my clients. I believe (and science agrees) that the quality of our clinical relationship, including how “seen” you feel in my presence, will determine how quickly you reach your goals.
It’s important to me to walk my talk, so I make it a point to notice my patterns and get the support needed to heal old wounds. I also practice good sleep hygiene (rest is central to my well-being!), meditate (though I struggle with keeping a daily practice, maybe you can relate?), and set (and reset) boundaries that help me thrive. I am continually working toward my own healing so that I am whole and emotionally available to my clients.
Outside of sessions, I work toward a world where people have access to resources and human rights regardless of their gender, race, country of origin, abilities, or who they love. I learn, consult, and question what I know on a regular basis to make sure I’m an effective clinician who uses the most innovative and evidence-based tools available.
My unique gifts: authenticity, care, and playful co-creativity
People often describe me as genuine, caring, supportive, and playful.
I often hear, “You have great energy!”
My clients say that they feel heard and supported in my presence. I’m a deep listener, however, that doesn’t mean I sit by passively — I'll give you ideas and hold you accountable to those wonderful goals you’re setting.
I have a knack for celebrating my client’s achievements and offering hope when they struggle. That said, I know that enthusiasm is only helpful to a point; I’ll also give you concrete tools and help you develop the skills needed to build meaningful relationships.
I also believe in play, laughter, and not taking myself too seriously.
I am honest and authentic. I sometimes say that I missed the day in therapy school when they taught us to keep a blank face. So rest assured, you’ll see my reactions on my face and know you are having an interaction with a real person.
I care about my clients and want them to be successful in our work together. I often think about past clients and send them warm wishes in my mind and heart.
Among other things, my unique qualities help my clients experience results such as:
Increased self-compassion.
Feeling positive about finding love in spite of the very real challenges presented by modern dating (coughcough dating apps).
Understanding how their early family dynamics set them up for painful patterns (and learning how to break free of those cycles).
I’m a friendly introvert, avid/voracious reader, delighter in technology, traveler, compassionate neighbor, loyal friend, engaged citizen, and (most importantly) coffee ice cream lover.
In case you’re still wondering whether I’m human like you, here are some fun facts:
I am an Android user, but also can use a Mac quite easily.
I went cherry picking for the first time in 2022, which was so fun I hope to make it a regular spring tradition!
I’m a proud Bay Area native but have called various places outside of California home.
I'm here to support all of you
Our sessions will provide you with a new perspective, self-awareness, and evidence-based tools. In feeling accepted, seen, and validated, you'll clarify what you want, overcome anxiety, and enjoy connecting with others.
Even though our process won’t always be comfortable, you will have my company, encouragement, and expertise. While you may encounter tender feelings and roadblocks along the way, my goal is to leave you feeling energized and hopeful.
It's important to me to ensure the process is collaborative and supports all of you (even the parts that you’re scared to show). I am committed to helping you feel seen and heard. There isn't a "one size fits all" approach to therapy or coaching, so our sessions will fit your specific needs and concerns.
As a therapist, I embrace the following philosophies
I believe that:
You are worthy of love
Black and brown lives matter
Women's rights are human rights
We can do hard things
It's not selfish to take care of yourself
You matter
Immigrants make America great
Stop Asian hate
Trans bodies are worthy bodies
My professional background
After obtaining a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and Drama Therapy from the California Institute for Integral Studies, I studied at the Child Trauma Training Institute in San Francisco. I’m also a Registered Drama Therapist and California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#53921).
My clinical specialties include early childhood mental health, grief and loss, intimate partner violence, anxiety, depression, attachment issues, and dating and romantic relationships.
Before helping singles, socially anxious professionals, and overwhelmed couples, I was lucky enough to help incarcerated individuals overcoming addiction and trauma as well as families and youth impacted by poverty, the foster care system, immigration, systemic racism, and oppression.
Services I provide
Let’s discover how I can help
I know how hard it can be to find a good counselor. In fact, finding a therapist can feel a lot like dating (read: disheartening; like a second job; “when is s/he going to return my call?”).
For that reason, I want to thank you for reading this far. I know it isn’t easy holding onto hope that the right support is available.
If you think I might be your best fit therapist or coach, reach out and let us know.
When you reach out, you'll talk to our Care Coordinator about what’s going on for you, ask any questions you may have, and get scheduled for your first session with me.
Fill out the free 30-minute consultation application today to get started. I'm here for you.