Haley Friesch (she/her) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#165080) dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and parents through life’s emotional, relational, and developmental challenges. Haley holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Bowdoin College and a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling - Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Francisco.

Haley’s journey into the mental health field was sparked by her younger brother’s experience with dyslexia, giving her a deeply personal understanding of how learning differences affect self-esteem and emotional well-being. Prior to joining the Practice team as a clinician, Haley worked as the Intake Coordinator, connecting clients and families with support from one of our team providers and assisting in co-facilitating our Mighty Minds program. She completed her clinical training with the YMCA’s Youth Service Bureau, delivering school-based individual therapy and caregiver support across elementary and middle schools.

Haley brings extensive experience working with clients from diverse multicultural backgrounds, non-traditional family structures, and varying intersectionalities of identity. She approaches each client through a culturally responsive, affirming lens—honoring how culture, family dynamics, and identity shape a child or teen’s lived experience.

In her practice, Haley works with clients navigating anxiety and mood challenges, OCD, emotional regulation, attentional and behavioral hurdles, social dynamics, and self-esteem. She integrates evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), mindfulness, play, and art therapy.

By grounding her work in warmth, humor, and a strength-based perspective, Haley creates an inclusive, safe, and collaborative space where young clients and their families feel genuinely seen, supported, and empowered.

Haley lives in San Francisco and enjoys weightlifting, baking, walking in Golden Gate Park, and channeling her creativity through writing and painting.