Oak Creek Relational Counseling Center
  • Home
  • ABOUT THE CENTER
    • About Oak Creek
    • Working with OCRCC
    • Telehealth
    • Couples Therapy Pleasant Hill
    • Directions
    • Take a Tour
    • Payment Methods
  • Meet Our Therapists
    • Julie Beach (Trainee)
    • Tiffany Castillo (Trainee)
    • Sara Diaz (Trainee)
    • Madison Gluck (Trainee)
    • David Libby (Associate)
    • Donna V. Norona (Associate)
    • Dawn Orlando (Associate)
    • Hanna Ma (Trainee)
    • Maddy Mellema (Associate)
    • Jennifer Mellin (Associate)
    • Leila Mohajerany (Associate)
    • Angelina Rinaldi (Trainee)
    • Tasal Sherzad (Associate)
    • Desiree Tatarazuk (Trainee)
    • Francis Toal (Associate)
    • Stacey Watson (Associate)
    • Sara Zavala (Associate)
  • Forms
    • Individual Intake Forms
    • Couples Intake Forms
    • Minors Intake Forms
    • Formularios de admisión españoles
    • Additional Forms
  • Client Hub
  • LEARN
    • Resources
    • Open Groups
    • CBT Homework Packs
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • ABOUT THE CENTER
    • About Oak Creek
    • Working with OCRCC
    • Telehealth
    • Couples Therapy Pleasant Hill
    • Directions
    • Take a Tour
    • Payment Methods
  • Meet Our Therapists
    • Julie Beach (Trainee)
    • Tiffany Castillo (Trainee)
    • Sara Diaz (Trainee)
    • Madison Gluck (Trainee)
    • David Libby (Associate)
    • Donna V. Norona (Associate)
    • Dawn Orlando (Associate)
    • Hanna Ma (Trainee)
    • Maddy Mellema (Associate)
    • Jennifer Mellin (Associate)
    • Leila Mohajerany (Associate)
    • Angelina Rinaldi (Trainee)
    • Tasal Sherzad (Associate)
    • Desiree Tatarazuk (Trainee)
    • Francis Toal (Associate)
    • Stacey Watson (Associate)
    • Sara Zavala (Associate)
  • Forms
    • Individual Intake Forms
    • Couples Intake Forms
    • Minors Intake Forms
    • Formularios de admisión españoles
    • Additional Forms
  • Client Hub
  • LEARN
    • Resources
    • Open Groups
    • CBT Homework Packs
    • Blog
  • Contact Us

Thursday Night Live: A New Empowerment Group for Teen Girls in Pleasant Hill

2/12/2026

 
Picture
High school is a whirlwind of social transitions, academic pressure, and the constant search for "where I fit in." At Oak Creek Relational Counseling Center, we know that traditional talk therapy isn’t the only way to grow.

We are excited to announce Thursday Night Live: Empowerment Edition! This unique 8-week drama therapy group is designed specifically for identifying female students in grades 9-12 who are ready to build social confidence and learn healthy boundaries in a space that is as fun as it is transformative.

Why Choose a Drama Therapy Group?Unlike a standard classroom or clinic setting, our group uses drama games and improv to help teens "rehearse" for real-life situations. This creative approach allows participants to:
  • Boost Social Confidence: Practice taking up space and speaking up without the fear of being "wrong."
  • Set Healthy Boundaries: Use role-play to identify personal limits and communicate them clearly.
  • Develop Communication Skills: Improve active listening and non-verbal cues through interactive play.
  • Find Community: Connect with peers who are navigating similar high school challenges.

No theater experience is required! This group is about empowerment, not acting ability.

Program Details & LocationThis group meets weekly at our Pleasant Hill office, providing a convenient resource for families in the East Bay.
  • Who: Identifying Female students, Grades 9–12
  • When: Thursdays, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
  • Dates: 8-week session starting Thursday, March 5, 2026
  • Where: Oak Creek Relational Counseling Center 2100 Monument Blvd. Ste 7, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
  • Cost: $50 per session (*Adjustable based on financial need)

Meet Your Facilitators: The group is led by MFT Trainees Sara Diaz and Hanna Ma, and is supervised by Stephen Polin, LMFT #7861.

Ready to Join?

Help your teen step into their power this spring. Space is limited to ensure a close-knit, supportive group environment.

How to Register:
  1. Sign Up Online: Visit our registration link here
  2. Scan the Code: Use the QR code on the flyer at the top of this post.
  3. Questions? Feel free to contact us at the center if you have questions regarding the curriculum or our sliding scale fees.

Congratulations to our NEW Associates!

9/18/2025

 
Picture

Oak Creek Relational Counseling Center (OCRCC) in Pleasant Hill, CA is thrilled to congratulate Stacey, Maddy, Tasal, and David, who in 2025 moved from being trainees to being full Associates in our clinical training program. This is more than a title—it represents hours of learning, growing, reflection, and real client work. Well done!

Why Oak Creek is a Top Therapy Practicum Site in Pleasant Hill / Contra Costa County

If you’re a graduate student, especially in Marriage & Family Therapy, Counseling, or Social Work, looking for a practicum site, there are few places that combine all the essential ingredients like OCRCC:


  • Strong, consistent supervision
  • Real client experience (individuals, couples, families)
  • A relational, community-focused approach
  • Experienced leadership and teaching​
​At OCRCC, the community receives affordable counseling while trainees grow into confident, relational therapists.

Meet Stephen Polin: Supervision Director & Mentor

​
A big part of what makes Oak Creek such a strong practicum site is Stephen (“Steve”) Polin.

Some highlights:


  • He is the Supervising Clinical Director at Oak Creek.
  • Has over 30 years of experience as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
  • Before OCRCC, he worked in crisis settings: he was supervisor at the Marin County Crisis Unit, providing psychiatric evaluations for the Marin County Jail, and was also a clinical supervisor at Options Recovery Services.
  • He has taught at graduate level: adjunct faculty at John F. Kennedy University (courses in MFT practice, psychopathology, clinical interviewing, etc.).

These credentials make him someone who not only has deep clinical and supervisory experience, but also understands both the academic side (theories, ethics) and the real-world side (clients, crises, relational work).

What Supervision Looks Like: More than Once a Week

A standout feature at Oak Creek is how frequent and engaged supervision is. Trainees and Associates are offered supervision from Stephen Polin at four different times a week. This high level of supervision ensures:


  • Regular feedback on client sessions
  • Opportunities for case consultation and exploring clinical challenges in close detail
  • Chances to reflect on personal style, relational presence, interventions, ethics, relational dynamics

This intensity helps make the jump from trainee to Associate more solid, more confident. You’re never “left hanging” or operating in isolation.

The Trainee Journey: What It’s Really LikeBecoming a trainee at OCRCC means:
​
  1. Learning by doing. Trainees work with clients under supervision, gradually increasing responsibility.
  2. Ongoing skill development. With Stephen Polin’s supervision flexibility times/week, you get constant input—what’s working, what could be refined, how to relate more deeply.
  3. Integration of theory & practice. Whether it’s family systems theory, attachment, trauma, relational practice—you get to test out what you learn in class and get real feedback.
  4. Peer support & collegiality. You’re in cohort with other trainees and Associates; you share challenges, successes, and learn from each other.
  5. Focus on relational, ethical, culturally responsive practice. Oak Creek emphasizes relational counseling, relational presence, ethical work, and serving diverse communities in East Bay & Contra Costa County.

What Rising Graduates Should Know: Tips for Getting a Practicum Site Like OCRCC

If you're in a graduate program and seeking a practicum, these tips helped Stacey, Maddy, Tasal, David—and might help you:
​
  • Look for programs with frequent supervision. Weekly is minimal; four times a week is exceptional.
  • Check the supervisor’s credentials. Someone like Stephen Polin—licensed, experienced in both practice & crisis, and a teacher—can make a big difference.
  • Prioritize relational fit. Working well with your supervisor and peers, being able to get honest feedback, feeling seen relationally, matter a lot.
  • Be ready for real client work. Practicum is not just observation—it’s doing the work under guidance. Be brave.
  • Reflect often. Use supervision time well. Bring cases, bring questions, bring self-awareness.

Final Words & Congratulations

Stacey, Maddy, Tasal, and David—you embody what OCRCC aims for: compassionate, skilled, relational therapists, grounded in supervision, growing through practice. Congratulations on becoming Associates in 2025! You’re an inspiration for trainees across Pleasant Hill, all of Contra Costa County, and the East Bay.

And to all of you graduate students out there: a practicum site like Oak Creek, under supervision of someone like Stephen Polin, can be transformative. If you aspire to become your best clinical self, to serve with integrity and relational presence, OCRCC is one of the places to seriously consider.


If you are experiencing an emergency or are in crisis: please call 988, 911 or call Crisis Support Support Services at 1-800-309-2131.

To speak to one of our therapists about our counseling services and to schedule an appointment, please choose one of the following options. A therapist will contact you within two business days.
​
  • Call our Intake Line at 1-408-320-5740​
  • Contact a therapist directly through our Meet Our Therapists page.
  • Email us at i[email protected]

Business inquiries: call 408-320-5740 or email i[email protected].
​

Associate and traineeship inquiries, please visit the Working with OCRCC page.

Affordable Therapy in Pleasant Hill: How Open Path Helps You Heal

9/9/2025

 
Picture
Have you ever thought about getting therapy, only to pause because of the cost? You’re not alone. Many individuals, couples, and families delay seeking support due to high session fees or lack of insurance coverage. The good news is there’s a solution. Oak Creek Relational Counseling Center in Pleasant Hill, California, is proud to be part of Open Path Psychotherapy Collective, a nonprofit that makes therapy accessible through affordable, sliding-scale rates.

What Is Open Path Psychotherapy Collective?

Open Path is a national nonprofit network of mental health professionals who provide therapy at significantly reduced rates. For a one-time lifetime membership fee of $65, clients can access therapy sessions that range between $30 and $70 each. For the surrounding community and telehealth clients in California, this means high-quality relational counseling through Oak Creek without the financial barrier that so often keeps people from starting therapy.

Key Benefits of Open Path at Oak Creek
​
  • Affordable Rates Without Sacrificing Care: With sessions between $30–$70, you can receive therapy that fits your budget while still working with highly trained therapists.
  • Lifetime Access: Once you join Open Path, your membership never expires. You can return for support whenever you need it, as long as financial need exists.
  • Flexibility: Whether you prefer sitting with a therapist in person at Oak Creek in Pleasant Hill or connecting through telehealth anywhere in California, Open Path makes both options possible.

How to Get Started with Oak Creek + Open Path

If you’re ready to begin, here’s how the process works:
  1. Visit openpathcollective.org.
  2. Register and pay the one-time $65 membership fee.
  3. Select a therapist at Oak Creek Relational Counseling Center.
  4. Fill out our intake forms, then schedule your first appointment and begin your path to healing.

Why Acting Now Matters

The future of mental health access is shifting toward greater equity and affordability. By taking advantage of resources like Open Path, you don’t have to wait for “the right time” or better insurance coverage. Affordable therapy is available now, and Oak Creek is here to walk with you.

Take the Next Step with Oak Creek

By choosing Open Path through Oak Creek Relational Counseling Center, you can receive compassionate, affordable therapy that meets you where you are. Ready to begin? Visit Open Path and choose Oak Creek as your provider, or contact us directly to learn more about your options.

If you are experiencing an emergency or are in crisis: please call 988, 911 or call Crisis Support Support Services at 1-800-309-2131.

To speak to one of our therapists about our counseling services and to schedule an appointment, please choose one of the following options. A therapist will contact you within two business days.
​
  • Call our Intake Line at 1-408-320-5740​
  • Contact a therapist directly through our Meet Our Therapists page.
  • Email us at i[email protected]

Business inquiries: call 408-320-5740 or email i[email protected].
​

Associate and traineeship inquiries, please visit the Working with OCRCC page.
<<Previous

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Adolescence
    Alternative
    Anxiety
    Couples And Families
    Domestic Violence
    Groups Kids
    Groups - Kids
    Groups Teens
    Narcissism
    News
    Sexual Assault
    Somatic Therapy
    Teens
    Telehealth
    Welcome To Oak Creek

    Archives

    April 2026
    March 2026
    February 2026
    January 2026
    December 2025
    November 2025
    October 2025
    September 2025
    August 2025
    July 2025
    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024

Hours by Appointment
408-320-5740
[email protected]
Join Our Newsletter
@ 2026 Oak Creek Relational Counseling Center
Privacy Policy
Photo from edenpictures