Laura M Castro, PsyD

I take pride in my capacity to build relationships with my patients that are based on respect, compassion, and empathy. Relationship quality is one of the strongest predictors of treatment outcome; growth and change occur within a safe and non-judgmental therapeutic alliance. I have learned that people approach therapy for a variety of reasons but primarily for symptom relief and to gain an understanding for the meaning of these symptoms.

I support patients through a journey of self exploration based on the belief that our past informs our present. Obtaining this insight frees us to move forward. I am a licensed clinical psychologist at the Child Trauma Research Program, at the University of California, San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry. For 20 years, I have supervised psychology and social work interns.

Part of my passion is to provide professional development to trainees who may be first generation graduates as they embark on the beginning of their careers. I enjoy transmitting my knowledge of Child-Parent Psychotherapy, a specialized trauma-informed treatment model for young children, to community-based mental health clinicians who are front-line service providers to families in need.