Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
How Bertha works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- California
- Years in practice
- 20
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Bertha
Bertha Ruvalcaba is a California licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage anger, stress, anxiety, and depression. She speaks English and Spanish and brings two decades of experience to each session. Her style is straightforward and warm, aimed at making the first steps feel easier for someone who is nervous about starting therapy.
Bertha creates a calm space where people can talk through painful memories and current struggles without feeling judged.
Background and approach
She focuses on building practical skills for coping with strong emotions. Sessions emphasize clear goals and real-life tools that clients can use between meetings. Her approach blends acceptance and commitment ideas, cognitive techniques, and mindfulness practices to reduce reactivity and improve day-to-day functioning.
She often teaches breathing, grounding, and thought-challenging exercises to help with anger, anxiety, and mood shifts. The work also covers relationship strain and family-related stress when those issues come up. Clients who have gone through trauma, abuse, postpartum changes, or major life transitions will find a steady, listening presence.
She also supports people dealing with caregiver stress, grief from divorce or separation, and the long-term effects of isolation or shame. Bertha aims to help people reconnect to purpose and self-compassion. Sessions are offered through a variety of online formats to fit different schedules.
She uses plain language, practical homework, and a gentle but direct manner to help clients make small, manageable changes over time.
What Bertha works with
Everything Bertha lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Bertha's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Adoption and foster care
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
Approaches Bertha lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How therapy approaches are used online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It focuses on identifying values and taking steps toward a meaningful life, which can be useful for anger, anxiety, and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches specific strategies to change unhelpful thinking and behavior. CBT is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and mood shifts.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Bertha will work with each person to choose techniques that match their goals and preferences. Sessions may include short practices, goal setting, and real-life homework to test new skills between meetings.
Online therapy offers flexibility. Video calls let you use visual cues during deeper conversations. Phone sessions are a good option when bandwidth is limited or when you prefer not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging can support quick check-ins, reminders about skills, or brief problem-solving when schedules are tight. These options make it easier to fit regular work on anger, stress, or trauma into a busy life.
Questions people ask about Bertha
What concerns does Bertha commonly help with?
She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, anger, trauma and abuse, relationship strain, bipolar mood challenges, and adjustment to life changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is warm and direct. She focuses on practical skills, teaching mindfulness and coping techniques you can use between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings 20 years of professional experience as a California clinician working with mood, trauma, and stress-related concerns.
What are her credentials and location?
She holds an LCSW license in California and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
What session formats does she use online?
She works with clients through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule based on the therapist's availability.