Start with a dot. Continue to center.
At DOT Center, we believe that the decision to seek therapy, however small it might feel in the moment, can be the beginning of something profound. DOT stands for Downtown Oakland Therapy, and the name carries a quiet intention. A dot is a starting point. It is also a place to return to, a center of gravity within yourself. That is what we hope this place becomes for you: somewhere you can begin, and somewhere you can come back to, again and again, as you find your way back to yourself.
Built With Purpose
DOT Center was founded in 2018 by Liz Tong, MPH, LMFT and Alice Dote, LCSW, two clinicians of color with a clear vision: to create a thoughtful, professional therapy practice built on the belief that social justice, dignity, and inclusion are not just values but the foundation of good therapeutic work.
From the moment you reach out, we are committed to offering you a personalized, attentive experience in which you are treated with genuine respect and care. We wanted to create something that felt different — a practice where clients are truly held throughout the process, from that first phone call to the ongoing work of therapy itself. Where the quality of attention you receive, the beauty and calm of the space you enter, and the depth of the clinical work all reflect the same core belief: that you deserve to be treated with dignity and professionalism, from the very beginning.
We welcome people of all backgrounds and life circumstances. We are especially committed to those for whom therapy has not always felt like a safe or attuned space, those who may have felt misunderstood, unseen, or underserved by traditional mental health spaces. You deserve so much better. This is the practice we wished had existed, and we built DOT Center to be exactly that.
Our Office in Downtown Oakland
You'll find us in The Frank, a professional building in the heart of downtown Oakland at Franklin Street and 17th Street — three blocks from the 19th Street BART station, with street parking also available.
Our offices are light-filled, calm, and private, designed with a quiet NorCal minimalist sensibility that invites you to exhale the moment you walk in, a still point in the middle of the city's hum. This is a space that was created with intention, to hold you and this important inner attunement and psychological work.
In-Person & Telehealth
We offer both in-person and telehealth sessions. While we are happy to meet you wherever you are, we warmly encourage our clients to come in person when possible. There is something uniquely powerful about having a dedicated physical space for your healing — a place that is yours, contained, and separate from the rest of your life. Our offices provide exactly that kind of intentional container, and we invite you to take advantage of it.
Our Therapists
We are a group of clinicians who share not just a space, but a community and a common mission. Our team brings deep clinical training, cultural humility, and genuine care to every session. We specialize in depth psychotherapy, trauma, couples counseling, and personal growth, and we stay at the forefront of our field through ongoing training and consultation.