Amynta Hayenga

Dr. Amynta Hayenga is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who sees clients in Oakland and San Francisco, CA, as well as online via Telehealth throughout California. Her practice includes individuals from diverse backgrounds and identities with a variety of life concerns, including their mental health, emotional pain, relationship difficulties, work stress, and past traumas. Dr. Hayenga further specializes in the treatment of chronic pain conditions from a mind-body perspective and recovery from substance abuse/addiction.

Dr. Hayenga’s clinical approach is grounded relational psychodynamic psychotherapy, while incorporating tools from ACT, CBT, DBT, and MBSR. She sincerely believes the heart of psychotherapy is experiencing healing conversations with an attuned, supportive individual. In her clinical work, she values kindness, honesty, playfulness, respect for autonomy, and the importance of understanding one’s suffering in order to transform.

While completing graduate training at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA, Dr. Hayenga conducted a dissertation study about the therapeutic uses of reading imaginative literature (e.g., fiction and poetry). She previously assisted on research projects at the Jagust Lab at the UC Berkeley Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and the Corpus Lab at Reed College (see Google Scholar for publications).