Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists in Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA

Why do I have anxiety in this situation? Why do I avoid it? Where are these distressing and intrusive thoughts from? Why do I repeat this behavior over and over? If these questions sound familiar, you may have anxiety and/or OCD. Anxiety sucks but it is an emotion and has a goal, helping us to prevent dangerous situations and survive. I love defining anxiety as the cognitive (thoughts) and the physiological expressions (body feelings) of the fight-or-flight system. Our society tells us how anxiety is bad and how we should run away from it. We never have had the opportunity to see and learn something different about it.

Do you find yourself having a difficult time coping with anxiety, depression, and trauma? Do you have a hard time communicating and setting boundaries with others? Life is full of obstacles and hardships that may be difficult to overcome without the right tools, resources, and, guidance leading to the manifestation of these symptoms. I specialize in working with adults, couples, and adolescents using a Psychodynamic approach to explore unconscious thoughts and behaviors. In doing this, we are able to collaboratively recognize old ineffective patterns and process unresolved feelings and trauma.

I specialize in evidence-based treatments for children, adolescents, and young adults with depression, anxiety and life stress. I have experience working with clients with diverse and intersecting identities and strongly value integrating evidence-based treatments into the fabric of their lives. I believe that each individual is the expert on themselves and I work to tailor and integrate therapeutic skills into clients’ lives in creative and effective ways.

You're unique, and you feel it every day. Maybe you identify as autistic, ADHD, or part of the LGBTQ+ family. You're on a quest to figure out who you really are, to show the world your true colors without hesitation. You're craving that sweet spot where you can just be you, without judgment, fully understood and embraced. It's not just about fitting in; it's about finding where you truly belong.

I often wish I could change my professional moniker from “psychotherapist” to “life enhancer,” because that is truly what I do. I want to help you cultivate self-compassion and acceptance for who you are and where you are at in your life, while at the same time encouraging you to evaluate and change what is not productive. My style can be described as “radically genuine” – I communicate authentically, compassionately and openly. You won’t ever hear that space cadet therapist-y voice coming from me, but you will definitely hear an f-bomb or two.

Do you find yourself plagued with unsettling and intrusive thoughts? Do you worry about bad things happening to you or your loved ones? Do you worry that you might not be living in accordance with your true sexual orientation, that you might be with the wrong romantic partner or experience fears of being contaminated? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) & Anxiety can take many forms and is frequently misunderstood.

Perhaps you or a loved one struggles with anxiety, mood changes, adjusting to a new situation, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, chronic pain, stroke/brain injury, medical problems (including end-of-life), or cognitive impairment & dementia. Maybe you want to understand yourself better or chart a new path forward. If any of this sounds familiar, I’m glad you’re here. I am experienced in assessing and treating a variety of clinical presentations and have completed a 2-year fellowship in outpatient/inpatient rehabilitation neuropsychology. I am passionate about working with those coping with changes in cognition, behavior, and mobility.

We all have emotional needs to feel understood, accepted, and validated by others. But, seeking support may be more challenging to some of us because of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, language differences, religious reasons, or other minority status. I went through similar challenges and I have a great passion toward working with people who feel isolated, misunderstood, and disenfranchised . My heart especially goes out to immigrants, racial and ethnic minorities, and international students, although I enjoy working with anyone who has the courage to seek help. I also have an expertise in helping couples and families.

I specialize in helping adolescents and adults who are struggling with anxiety disorders (including OCD), depression, shame or guilt, negative self-judgments, perfectionism, grief, a sense of feeling overwhelmed, lost, or disconnected from themselves or others. My aim is to help you increase psychological flexibility through mindfulness and evidence-based practices in the service of creating more space in your life to identify, connect to, and act in alignment with your own values. I want to help you build the life that you want even in the presence of struggle. I offer individual therapy.

My aim is to provide a compassionate, straightforward and personalized therapy experience based on therapeutic tools and techniques that have been found to be effective. I utilize in equal measure cognitive behavioral principles to target changes you want to make in unhelpful thinking or behavioral patterns as well as acceptance, mindfulness and compassion-focused approaches focused on self-understanding and self-compassion for life's struggles.

Have you found yourself emotionally, mentally, or physically dysregulated after a crisis, trauma, or change? If you have found difficulty managing OCD, anxiety, depression, grief, BPD, or chronic illness, I can help using therapeutic tools customized to your recovery. Whether you are looking for short-term or long-term therapy to transform your narrative from helplessness to self-efficacy, I offer treatment plans utilizing culturally aware care, as well as evidence-based practices such as Exposure Response Prevention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and EMDR.

As a Counseling Psychologist and psychoanalytic psychotherapist, I specialize in helping creative individuals and men overcome challenges and reach their full potential. With extensive experience working with artists, writers, actors, musicians, and men around issues of fatherhood, masculinity, and relationships, I provide a safe and supportive environment for personal growth.

Seeking out therapy can be intimidating and difficult. I get it. There are probably a million questions that you have rushing through your mind. Is it worth it? Will this even work? Am I just wasting my time? If therapy has crossed your mind, there is a reason for it. My approach to therapy is to create a safe, open and inviting virtual environment filled with compassion, empathy, and acceptance. I am here to support and guide you in your journey of self-exploration and self awareness.

I understand firsthand how very distressing and threatening it feels to be disconnected from loved ones. In my work, I dive deep into the center of what drives clients apart, and I help to pull them together into a united team against their relational difficulties. I help my clients tap into the deep transformative power that their relationships have to offer as a means of healing inner wounds, providing safety, and giving confidence to tackle life’s challenges. I also work with men's issues, and I get why it may feel more comfortable for many men to talk to another man about tough emotional experiences.

I specialize in evidence-based treatments for children, teens, and young adults with anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and behavior problems. I have extensive experience working with clients from diverse, multicultural backgrounds. I strive to provide therapy that is grounded in science, while honoring the unique needs of each individual. My approach is deeply relational, and I aim to create a safe, non-judgmental space for you to understand your struggles and learn new tools. I am passionate about empowering clients to face their fears, change unhelpful patterns, heal from trauma, and develop more self-compassion.

We are a comprehensively trained multidisciplinary team of clinicians, psychologists, and psychiatrists who provide evidence-based treatment to children, adolescents, young adults & families. Starting with the science and research, we deliver evidence-based treatment tailored to your family's individual needs. Our early and middle childhood team specializes in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Trauma-Focused CBT, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Children (DBT-C) to treat anxiety, OCD, ADHD, autism, disruptive behaviors, selective mutism, trauma and depression. Our adolescent and young adult programs specialize in providing DBT and DBT-Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE), ACT and Exposure Therapy (ExRP) to treat anxiety, OCD, depression, gender dysphoria, suicidal behaviors, non-suicidal self-injury (self-harm), substance use, disordered eating, dissociative disorders, somatic disorders, autism spectrum disorder, non-verbal learning disability, as well as PTSD and Complex-PTSD. Additionally, we offer parent coaching, family therapy, and couples therapy.

Between the impact of culture, sexual/gender identity, and neurodiversity, the world can be a confusing place as you try to navigate life. As a bicultural psychologist, I understand the importance of culturally informed care, and how difficult and isolating it can feel when your family or community's beliefs don’t align with yours. It is my priority to provide a safe space to examine your unique identity, helping you understand and overcome self limiting beliefs and feelings of shame that may be blocking your path, and to be fully present with you as you deepen your self-awareness and embrace your true self.

"Life is not what it's supposed to be. It's what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference." I am a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist specializing in relationship and intimacy issues, sex therapy, infidelity, betrayal trauma and sex and porn addiction . I work collaboratively with my clients to facilitate recognition of their strengths so they can actualize self-growth, meet therapy goals, find peace and develop healthy relationships.

My practice, which is located in West Los Angeles, offers customized, personalized psychological services to adults of all ages who are experiencing mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, trauma, insomnia, relationship concerns, or other struggles that are interfering in their ability to feel fully alive and satisfied. My focus is on providing weekly individual therapy, in person.