Growth and healing take time, and sometimes it can feel most overwhelming when we are in the trenches of this process. In the midst of change, we have moments of feeling deeply lost, disconnected, or alone. I believe that the ability to shift struggle into strength is shaped by the relationship we have with ourselves. I specialize in supporting teens and young adults in developing the skills and insight to overcome anxiety and depression as they adjust to many new types of stressors. I hope to illuminate worthiness, value systems, and the capacity for resilience by breaking through the barriers rooted in shame and self-doubt.

Welcome! Now that you have made the courageous decision to seek therapy, your next step is to find the right therapist for you. A positive therapeutic relationship is known to be the best predictor of a successful therapy experience. Warmth, empathy, a skill set based on 20 years of experience and a sense of humor (because that's never a bad thing) are qualities I bring to the treatment room. My style is dynamic and interactive. I work with adults, adolescents, couples and groups. I feel honored to do this work.

Ready to feel better? Ready to strengthen your relationship? How about an easier time parenting your adolescent? Perhaps your teenager can use someone to talk to? I believe life works better when you're able to give up the guilt and the judgment, and free yourself experience my joy in your life. When you're ready to find answers, I'm here to help. I work with individuals, couples, adolescents and families to help get things back on track. With all the pressures in our world today, it's easy to become overwhelmed. It just doesn't have to stay that way. Let me help you get things back to where you want them to be.

If you’re looking at this page, some part of you thinks that maybe it’s time to see if therapy can help you. Something in your life needs a tune-up, or maybe a number of areas do… that’s where I come in. I’m here to help spur change along. My psychotherapy sessions are customized to suit your individual needs, and my treatment style is flexible and accommodating. My goal is help you achieve your goals and get back to living a fulfilling, peaceful, & joyful life. I stay up-to-date on psychotherapy research, and I’m a big believer in collaborative care… I enjoy working alongside other providers to give clients top-notch care.

I appreciate very much that you are taking the time to read my page today! I take my job very seriously and thoughtfully and have the utmost respect for your desire to find some help for yourself or a loved one. I think that your story is important. Both professionally and personally, I know that feeling Depressed or Anxious or a combination of both can really effect our lives. Though I work with all ages, I tend to see Teens and Young Adults as well as Couples and Families in addressing issues resulting from these conditions.

Cultivating emotional health, growing vibrantly in daily life requires a harmony of being emotionally, mentally and spiritually grounded as a human being. As lovely as it sounds, this is challenging, if not altogether a daunting process for most of us. Especially with increasing depression, anxiety, life stressors and many other barriers we struggle with. How do we begin? What can be said and how do we embark on creating a healthier relationship with our true authentic self. How do we learn to connect to others and the world to nurture wellbeing? These are the questions to search out and discover. So breathe...and let's begin!

An important step toward living a happier and more fulfilling life involves recognizing the need and desire for change. I believe that therapy can be a very important and effective tool for bringing about positive change in one's life. I work collaboratively with you to set goals, and use strengths to complement and minimize weaknesses standing in the way of achieving these goals. I am passionate about working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families on a wide array of issues including anxiety, depression, parenting, behavioral challenges, self-esteem, relationship problems, and life transitions.

My approach will be guided by your needs and comfort-my philosophy is to help each person or family maximize their strengths. I have been helping adults, children, adolescents, and families for over 30 years, and offer individual psychotherapy, family and couples counseling, support and therapy groups, and educational and parenting groups.

Do you find yourself stuck in a rut? Doing the same things over again, expecting difference results? Do you want to feel free and easy? Strong and confident? Able to be effective, empowered, and create the life you desire, and deserve? I can help. I want you to feel hopeful, to see options and possibilities, to discover who you truly are, and to lead the life you are intended to live. I want to help you believe that you are enough, and you are worthy. Learn to let go of what no longer serves you, and grow.

Counseling Center for Sexual Health focuses on the clinical treatment of sexuality-related issues among individuals and couples. Located in Westlake Village, CCSH provides intensive outpatient programs and therapy for sex addiction/sexually problematic behaviors, sexual health concerns and partners impacted by sex addiction in Westlake Village. Jackson Sousa, director of CCSH holds a California Alcohol and Drug Educator certificate and is a certified sexual addiction therapist (CSAT ) and certified sexual addiction therapist supervisor (CSAT-S). Jackson also is an AASECT certified sex therapist (CST), and works with issues such as sexual disorders and dysfunctions, gender identity confusion, and a variety of sexually-related problems.

I have helped numerous couples, individuals & families find happiness, harmony, and coping strategies to life challenges. I use John Gottman's (research based) approach and EFT to help couples understand their strengths & areas that need improvement. By taking an online assessment couples save time & money & I can quickly assess areas of focus & recomend interventions. To help clients with anxiety/depression I challenge distorted beliefs and maladaptive behaviors using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This approach along with other interventions encourages clients to go out of their comfort zone & reduce problamatic symptoms.

My goal is to provide a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space for you to understand yourself. We will work together to explore your thoughts, feelings and relationships. This will allow you the opportunity to grow and change in whatever way you see fit, to become the you that you really want to be.

I understand the anxiety around therapy. Will the therapist have an open mind?, is he/she supportive?, is this therapist right for me? I offer a 30-minute phone consultation to alleviate these concerns before we get started. We get to know one another and see if we are a good match. And, it won't cost you a dime! I can be either active, asking questions, exploring behaviors inhibiting your growth or listening, assimilating information, getting a better picture of where we need to go in our work. Either way, our relationship is "collaborative", with your best interests at heart.

My private practice is a great place to share and explore very private thoughts and feelings without judgment. I use different modalities to address issues such as depression, anxiety, addiction or addiction of a loved one, grief and loss, as well as personal growth and life skills. I create individualized treatment plans that best suit your needs, and how much time you want to invest in between sessions on your own. Individual, couples and family counseling is a safe and confidential place to explore, talk, feel, process and grow.

You're a woman, man, or teenager going through struggles and it feels like your life is falling apart. You feel like you're not enough, too much or invisible by others. Your tired of walking on eggshells, pleasing others and hiding your true self. Being nice, loving, and giving generously hasn’t changed your circumstances one bit. Instead you're exhausted, overwhelmed, and stuck. You never thought you'd be in this place. What's worse is you don’t know how to change. You wonder if those you love will abandon you if you take a stand. You feel alone, confused, and you wish you could wave a magic wand and have the life you want.

I am passionate about helping my clients achieve their goals, whether it is to save their marriage; free them from destructive relationships; grow insight into their life's meaning, purpose and life's work; or find joy and happiness in a well developed relationship with God and others.

Improving dialogue between your mind and body can train your brain in reducing negative, and increasing positive emotions and behaviors, opening a door for your innate wisdom to offer clarity on how to get your needs met in healthy ways, even in the most difficult of circumstances. My experience and approach is based on an understanding of our mind-body interaction rooted in neuroscience, attachment and your values. Strengthening your authentic attachment with self and others will be a beautiful byproduct of understanding your needs. It would be a privilege to serve you in this way.

After 20+ years as a therapist, using traditional talk types of therapy, I have found that "EMDR" is the most rapid & comprehensive, form of therapy with lasting results. It allows you to quickly change the heart of the problem, which is typically unresolved feelings from life experiences. Many therapists teach you only to manage symptoms. With EMDR, significant week to week changes are common. Sessions are guided by a "roadmap" which we develop based on your life history. I also do marital and parenting work along with behavioral and psychodynamic therapy. Focusing on spiritual development is available if desired.

It is important to feel comfortable and connected with your therapist in order to work through difficult and challenging issues in your life. I believe that within that connection, healing can occur. A willingness to participate and engage in the work is important for both the client and therapist in order for progress to be made. I help individuals who feel stuck and unfulfilled and are at a crossroads in their life. I work from a holistic perspective taking into consideration relationships, environmental stressors and overall health.

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist and have worked for the past twenty years in the field of psychology. I have worked with couples and families focusing on better communication. I have also had success working with individuals who suffer from anxiety and depression helping them cope and utilize skills to facilitate a better quality of life.