AK Portrait of Anke Kalaiah

Anke Kalaiah, LMFT

Compassionate, practical therapy for everyday overwhelm

15 years in practice · based in California · sessions in English, German · online sessions

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About Anke

Anke Kalaiah is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California who works with people facing stress and anxiety. She speaks English and German and brings 15 years of clinical experience to sessions. Her style is straightforward and practical, aimed at helping people find steps they can use right away.

Anke uses a client-centered way of working - she listens first and helps people set their own goals.

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Background and approach

She draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to link thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and from Dialectical Behavior Therapy to teach skills like emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Mindfulness and motivational interviewing are other tools she may bring in when they fit the person's needs.

Her background includes a bachelor degree in German and social psychology from Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, and a master degree in counseling psychology from Santa Clara University. She received her California LMFT credential in 2014 and has spent many years working in a variety of clinical settings.

Anke often helps with relationship and family challenges, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, grief, and coping with life changes. She also supports people dealing with addictions, ADHD, depression, bipolar mood concerns, and compassion fatigue. Her practice reflects experience with diverse cultural backgrounds and the stressors that come with immigration and multicultural family life.

She offers sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text messaging. To begin, a short matching questionnaire is completed and scheduling follows based on availability.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Client-centered work focuses on the person's goals and priorities. Online sessions let the therapist listen and help clients set clear, realistic steps they can try between meetings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and offers concrete exercises to change patterns that feed anxiety or low mood. CBT exercises can be assigned and reviewed during video or text sessions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches skills such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness that people can practice in daily life; these skills adapt well to coaching-style conversations and short check-ins online.

Finding the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will work with each person to try methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences and adjust techniques over time based on what helps. That decision-making happens together rather than being predetermined.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text messaging. Video works well for deeper conversations and skills training. Phone sessions can fit a busy day or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messages are useful for shorter check-ins, brief coaching, or practicing skills between sessions. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into work, caregiving, or other routines.
Book with Anke Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Questions people ask

What kinds of concerns does Anke address?
Anke works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, relationship and family challenges, parenting issues, grief, addictions, mood concerns, ADHD, and related topics listed in her specialties.
What is her general approach in sessions?
She uses a client-centered approach and draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to teach practical skills and help clients reach their goals.
How long has she practiced clinically?
Anke has 15 years of clinical experience, working in a variety of settings with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Where is she licensed and based?
She holds a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist credential (CA LMFT) and is located in California.
Which languages are offered in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and German.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time; sessions are provided to clients located in California.
What session formats are available?
Session formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different schedules and preferences.
How does payment and getting started work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
15 years
Licensed
California
Languages
English, German

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