Myra Gueco Bernecker, Ph.D.
As a mental health professional, I’ve been listening to people tell their stories for a long time.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been listening to people’s stories. Even in high school, friends would call late into the night, sharing heartbreak over a boyfriend, the sting of rumors, or struggles at home. I mostly listened, holding space for their feelings without judgment. They kept calling. I kept listening. And somewhere in those conversations, I discovered the quiet power of being truly heard.
That early pull toward deep listening shaped my path. I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology, followed by a master’s and a Ph.D. in the field, all while working in mental health.
Today, I continue to honor that calling, not only as a psychologist but by undertaking the rigorous and soulful journey of training to become a Jungian psychoanalyst. This next step allows me to deepen my ability to help others explore the rich layers of their inner life and move toward wholeness.
Decades after those first phone calls, I still feel a profound sense of privilege each time someone trusts me with their story. Bearing witness to their healing, growth, and transformation is a gift I never take for granted.
Beyond my work, I am a wife and mother. My pronouns are she/her, and I identify as cisgender and Asian-American. Life outside the therapy room nourishes me, whether I’m skiing down fresh powder, walking in nature, practicing martial arts or pilates, or letting live music move me. Mindfulness threads through it all, keeping me grounded and connected.
At my core, I am here to listen, not just to words, but to the unspoken truths beneath them, and to walk alongside people as they return to themselves.
our work together
Feel Seen & Heard.
As a mental health professional, I focus on helping bright, high-achieving children, adults, and parents navigate challenges such as anxiety, life transitions, grief, and loss. My practice is inclusive and welcoming to individuals of all backgrounds, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and those from diverse cultural experiences. I understand the pain of otherness, the loneliness of feeling invisible, the weight of being overlooked, pushed aside, or silenced, the hiding that can come from not feeling safe to be fully yourself. This space is meant to honor all of who you are. Here, you don’t have to explain or justify your existence; there is room for your story, your identity, and your truth to be seen, heard, and held with care.
I have the ability to listen to a wide range of experiences, no matter how embarrassing, frightening, or painful they may be for my patients. My emotional strength creates a safe environment for them to engage in profound therapeutic work. You can catch a glimpse of my personality in my interview about the movie Inside Out published in the Pacific Sun.
Qualifications
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist (CA PSY 21427 and IL 071.011212)
- Analytic Candidate at C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco
- Registered Sandplay Practitioner
- Canine-Assisted Therapist
- Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from CSPP at Alliant International University
- M.Ed. in Counselor Education from Pennsylvania State University
- B.A. in Psychology from University of California, Santa Barbara
Affiliations
- C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco
- Sandplay Therapists of America
- California Psychological Association
- Marin County Psychological Association
- San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis
- 4Paws Wellness and Training Center