Sybil Lockhart (she/her/they/them), LMFT

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.

-Nelson Mandela

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a wise, flexible, artistic, overeducated human with life experience that includes growing up with disabled and neurodiverse friends and family, teaching high school and middle school students, PhD work in neuroscience, research about women’s sexual pleasure, and so much more. I work with couples, families and individuals.

As a couples therapist I am optimistic but not unrealistic, both collaborative and gently directive. I easily discover people’s strengths, and find inspiration in the way self-understanding opens channels for connection with a partner. We will investigate the repeating cycles that can run a couple ragged; dive into the deeper emotions and defenses driving those cycles; and together create new patterns so partners can find relief and shelter in each other’s care.

Depending on the client, we can do this work online, inside my Berkeley and Lafayette offices, or outside in parks or walk-and-talks, for those who need that.

Common topics are the making and raising of children, midlife transitions, empty nest, perimenopause, job switches, sex, money, queer and genderqueer kids having feelings about their parents and vice versa, caregiving for elders, and support for adult children of alcoholic or otherwise troublesome parents. I also enjoy working with sober people (alcoholics/addicts/gamblers).

I have done a lot of work with families, addressing complex trauma, parenthood, disability, and couple dilemmas. In that context I have seen again and again the remarkable effect that firming up couple connections has on the well being of both adults and children. Because I resonate so strongly with attachment theory, I’ve obtained training in both Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and parts work (Internal Family Systems).

I’m also a devoted mama, compulsive journal writer, strong bicycler, singer, and very slow reader. I am deeply committed to social justice and honoring the differences that make us who we are.

Please reference my education and experience below. I look forward to speaking with you.

EDUCATION

California State University East Bay, Hayward, CA

Masters in Counseling, concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy & Professional Clinical Counseling

Brandeis University, Waltham, MA

PhD, Cell & Molecular Neuroscience

University of California, Berkeley, CA

BA, Psychology

RELEVANT EMPLOYMENT

Bay Area Psychotherapy Training Institute, Lafayette — Associate Marriage & Family Therapist

2022-2024

Through the Looking Glass, Berkeley, CA — Early Head Start Home Visitor

2020-2024

Elliot Residence, Berkeley, CA — Eldercare

2018-2020

For Goodness Sake, Berkeley, CA — Interviewer & Researcher – Women’s Sexuality

2016-2018

TRAININGS

EFT Core Skills

With Lisa Palmer-Olsen & Sam Jinich, 2025

IFS Online Circle: Foundations of the IFS Model

With Richard Schwart, Toni Herbine-Blank & Pam Krause, 2023

Transforming Trauma with Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy

With Sue Johnson & Leanne Campbell, 2023

4-Day Externship in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy

With Robert Allan, 2022

Hard Conversations: An Introduction to Racism and Its Undoing

With Patti Digh and Victor Lee Lewis, 2018

Mindful Communication: How to Create Real Dialogue & Healthy Relationships

With Oren Jay Sofer, 2018

Demons in Love: the 5-Step Feeding Your Demons Approach

With Lama Tsultrim Allione, 2018