With Erik

Therapy

I believe that when provided the right conditions, each person will find their way - becoming whole, connected, and balanced. Psychotherapy provides light and clarity along this path so one is better suited to readily access and connect to these innate qualities.

Erik Karff, LMFT — LGBTQIA2S+ affirming therapist in San Francisco
Erik Karff, LMFT — LGBTQIA2S+ affirming therapist in San Francisco

Therapy With Me

Therapy with me is warm, inviting, honest, playful, and sometimes challenging. I provide a space that is free of judgement, open, and authentically curious. I meet with clients for a minimum of 50 minutes per week. Longer sessions and more frequent meetings are available for those who are interested in more in-depth work.

I deeply consider the impact that societal forces have on people. This includes everything from the traumas and adverse experiences one may have faced in childhood to fear and hate-based micro and macro aggressions experienced due to sexual orientation, gender/lack of gender, race, ability/disability, neurodiversity, ethnicity, immigration status and acculturation, sexism, and more.

I privilege what is happening in the room - in the here and now. Research shows that when we recall past experiences, traumas, interactions, and memories, the chemical composition of our bodies shift to match the physicality of said past moment. The re-embodiment of past experiences provides one an opportunity to re-write them and heal.

I’ve been told my presence is calming and non-assuming. Many people I’ve had the honor to work with share that they feel understood and supported. These elements help to set the space for ‘the work’ of gaining back one’s emotional freedom and liberation.

The Right Conditions

The space I invite people into is one that is safe, protected, and non-shaming. I believe that every person innately has what they need to feel whole and connected to themselves and others. Therapy is a science and art that prepares people to more readily access the parts of ourselves that allow us to fully experience our own lives and be increasingly present in our most closely held relationships.

Homework?

Some therapists assign worksheets to be done outside of session. While I do sometimes check in with clients to see if they’re interested in resources, I do not formerly assign homework. However, I believe that if the therapy is effective, what comes up and is processed in the space will “work on clients” over the week. In other words, we may only meet for 50 minutes a week, but the therapy is working in the background (or foreground) - all the time.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness greatly informs my practice. I meditated for the first time at age 15 and have maintained an (almost) daily meditation practice since 2012. My background in meditation includes vital silent retreat experience. Although I rarely meditate in session with clients, I do provide coaching upon request. Further, mindfulness and the fullness of the here-and-now, present moment inform my practice as does the burgeoning science which reveals the connection between meditation, emotion regulation, and well-being (among many other benefits).

My Background

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist #134190 in practice since 2018. I hold two master's degrees - one in counseling psychology and the other in education. I am highly trained in psychodynamic and somatic psychotherapy as well as more behavioral modalities. My natural curiosity leads me to continue my journey as a student of the art and science of psychotherapy - leading me to seek and engage with new training opportunities and breaking research and thought in the field.


Working With My Practice

While I maintain a full caseload, I also supervise and collaborate with carefully selected associate therapists who share my values and approach to care.

Each associate is trained and supervised closely, and their work is informed by the same relational, depth-oriented, and ethically grounded framework that shapes my own practice.

Analyn Abad, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Analyn works with young adults and adults who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck—especially those navigating anxiety, depression, and major life transitions. She offers a supportive, real, and judgment-free space where clients can slow down, feel understood, and build tools that genuinely fit their lives.

Her approach is collaborative and strengths-based. Analyn believes therapy should feel human and practical—not intimidating or performative. You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin; just a willingness to show up and explore what’s been weighing on you.

As an adoptee and a mother, Analyn brings a lived understanding of identity, transition, and adaptation. Growing up navigating culture shock and change shaped her sensitivity to belonging, resilience, and self-compassion. These experiences inform how she shows up as a therapist—with warmth, curiosity, and deep respect for each client’s story.

Interested in Working With Analyn?

Analyn currently offers a limited number of openings. All care is supervised by Erik Karff, LMFT.

Reach Out Now

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