Bay Area Community Counseling was started by the founder of the Institute for the Advancement of Psychotherapy, Dr. Keith Sutton, in 2011 in order to provide services to the community and provide up to date, effective, evidence-based training for student and new clinicians developing their skills. Our mission is to provide culturally competent therapy to children, adults, families, and couples in the community. We have a number of clinicians at various levels of ability to serve the needs of our clients. We hope to provide therapy to all those in the community in need. To learn more about our director/founder Dr. Sutton, you can listen to a recent podcast interview on Shrink Rap Radio.
Meet Our BACC Clinicians
Estelle Ho, LMFT
Estelle Ho is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist committed to the growth and well-being of her clients. She received her BA in English from Stanford University and her MS from Cal State East Bay’s Marriage and Family Therapy program. Estelle has years of experience using CBT with individuals across the lifespan grappling with anxiety, depression, anger, transitions, and interpersonal challenges. She has also been trained in attachment-based and systemic therapies and receives ongoing supervision to effectively treat couples and families in distress. Estelle’s warmth and compassion support her clients to clarify what is most important to them so they can address what gets in their way. Time and time again, she has witnessed clients accessing their own wisdom to generate the solutions that fit for them and their lives.
Lisa Ross, AMFT APCC
Lisa Ross is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor who was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her therapeutic approach is grounded in her mindfulness practice and a deep appreciation for the healing powers of nature. After working as an elementary school teacher for several years, she went on to obtain her Masters in Counseling Psychology from California State University, East Bay. She has experience providing individual, group and family psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults, incorporating a somatic approach to support clients struggling with anxiety, depression and substance abuse issues. As a queer mother of a toddler, Lisa is also passionate about helping LGBTQ individuals, transitional age youth, parents, and other clients thrive through the development of self-awareness and actualization.
Melissa Murphy, AMFT
Melissa is a somatic psychotherapist, which means she incorporates how clients feel in their bodies as therapy unfolds. Her interest in somatics grew out of her longtime yoga practice, and love of dance and music. Her style is gentle and effective, and draws on Hakomi, Internal Family Systems, and EMDR modalities (among others). She works with children, couples, adults, and families who have experienced complex trauma, drawing on a sense of humor and play, as well as her experiences as a community organizer, lawyer, and administrator in community health. In her spare time, she likes to be outside, to improve her French and Spanish, and to look at the night sky.
Anthony Pizzutillo, APCC
Anthony Pizzutillo, an Associate Clinical Counselor, holds a Master’s degree in Integral Counseling from The California Institute of Integral Studies. With experience in educational and developmental settings, especially with children, Anthony employs a collaborative and narrative approach to address various challenges, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, transitions, interpersonal relationships, and behavioral issues. He integrates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) with attachment-based and systems theory to provide comprehensive and effective interventions. Outside of work, Anthony enjoys spending days in Golden Gate Park, enjoying a good cup of coffee, and spending quality time with friends.
Julie Ware, APCC
Julie Ware, an Associate Clinical Counselor, offers a warm, down-to-earth approach informed by her certifications in Grief Counseling and Ayurvedic Wellness. She supports adults and families navigating the ripple effects of addiction, abuse, complicated grief, early life trauma, and generational patterns. With experience in both clinical and corporate settings, she has a deep understanding of the impact of workplace trauma, burnout, and chronic stress, helping clients through the emotional toll of major life changes and career transitions. Julie’s integrative style draws on CBT, Humanistic Psychology, Family Systems, and mindfulness-based practices to foster emotional healing and mind-body balance- helping her to connect with clients facing pressure to keep it together while struggling privately.
Nicole Rucinski, APCC
Nicole Rucinski is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor whose approach to therapy is holistic somatic and integrative. Offering therapy to children, adolescents, couples, families, and individual adults, she draws from a variety of modalities including Hakomi, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Somatic Experiencing. She uses mindfulness and somatic interventions to support healing of attachment wounds and developmental trauma. She stays grounded in the belief that we each carry our own inner healing intelligence, and provides effective interventions with compassion.