Therapists in Oak View, CA

Establishing a trusting relationship and working collaboratively with our clients is our primary goal. My name is Samantha Markman and I have hand selected a team of excellent therapists with various specialties. We strive to create a therapeutic space of comfort and support, as we work with you to explore deep personal issues and experiment with new ways of thinking. We work with a wide range of clients that are dealing with various issues including depression, anxiety, infidelity, postpartum issues, addictive behaviors, LGBT issues, eating disorders, codependency, grief and loss, life transitions, and various types of trauma.

Are you struggling with trauma, grief, or loss? As a first-generation Armenian-American from an immigrant family, I understand the unique challenges that come with navigating relationships, family, and work while carrying around the complexities of intergenerational trauma. Grief and loss can take many forms, and not all are widely recognized or supported by society. This is called disenfranchised grief, the type of grieving that can leave you believing you are alone, but the truth is that you are not.

For over 30 years, I have been helping individuals, families and couples through their journey of self discovery, with awareness of the roots of their issues, and with tools for growth, for self improvement and improved relationships in a safe, warm and supportive environment. In addition, I specialize in cross- cultural therapy and effective parenting tips for parents. I possess Armenian and Arabic language skills. I have written a book on effective parenting skills in Armenian for Armenian parents. I have trained interns in the field of Psychotherapy for 17 years.

I practice from both a relational and an attachment based framework. It’s widely known that the main driver of successful outcome in psychotherapy is the quality of the relationship between the patient and the clinician. It is also acknowledged that the majority of mental health issues are either caused, maintained, or intensified by unhealthy relationships. For these reasons, I place a great deal of emphasis upon our relationship as a foundation for implementing any clinical interventions.

You have taken the first step in your healing process which is awareness that you want to make a change in your life. Because only YOU have the power to create the life that feels peaceful, rewarding and meaningful to you. I applaud you for your courage to seek help. It is a privilege for me to work with you and to guide you in your journey. In 25+ years of my practice, I have experienced some of the most powerful changes that take place in the psychotherapeutic process. I believe everyone has the inner capacity to better themselves.

80s, 90s & early 2000s, you were born and raised along with some of the greatest music of all time! Millennials are a unique generation remembering the simpler days yet "gotta hussle" in this age of online living. Stuck between opportunities and challenges, perfection and purpose, stability and striving for more. Catch yourself saying "Why is it so damn hard to just be me? I should know who I am by now. Is it mercury retrograde again? I am too grown not to have my shit together! I don't feel complete." You are probably going through some significant change in your life, taken on a new role, or society defining your existence. Yes?

What is this all for, anyway? Navigating the challenges of life and death can be inevitable and isolating, often accompanied by a whirlwind of feelings that may seem impossible to understand. I provide a safe and supportive space for finding moments of peace amidst the turbulence of the unique emotional complexities you're facing. Together, we will find the right approach that will lead you to meaning, empowerment, and resilience in the face of your profound human experience.

Navigating life's complexities, you often feel invisible strings pulling you in unfamiliar directions. You find yourself in repetitive emotional patterns, relationships that seem all too familiar. Intriguing dreams and symbols capture your imagination as you desire a deeper connection to your authentic self. Analytical psychoanalysis offers a path to compassionately explore these nuanced layers within you. Our work together will aim for more than quick fixes; my goal is to facilitate your profound self-realization, individuation and emotional well-being. If you’re called to go on this introspective journey I’m here to walk with you.

Release anxiety, depression, stress, and traumas through Neurologically based healing techniques, that quickly restore you to explore your potential. I am a certified Brainspotting and Mindfulness expert who will help you set goals based on your personality type to release trauma integrating Art, Guided Imagery, Somatic, Mindfulness, SandTray, Psychodynamic, and Cognitive Behavioral techniques. Together we will choose from a combination of techniques that will release negative experiences and help you rebuild positive goals for your future! Experience true joy and love aligning your mind, body, spirit, and soul for purpose.

At the core of my approach is the belief in your power as an individual. Your unique experiences and feelings are like a compass guiding our work together. I use the Psychodynamic model. We'll explore your thoughts and emotions to find insights and practical solutions that truly resonate with you. As we understand your individual process, we will also highlight the importance of relationships. Meaningful connections are the foundation of our lives, whether with family, friends, or others, all of which play a vital role in nurturing well-being.

At Hillside Wellness Center we are dedicated to provide affordable inclusive mental health services to individuals, couples, and families who reside in Sherman Oaks and the surrounding areas. We offer Individual therapy ; Family Therapy; Couples therapy; and Groups.

On a daily basis we are faced with the choice to embrace our truth or to just live in autopilot blending into a routine of existence. That was me many years ago. Totally stuck, dissatisfied, angry, anxious and unhappy. I knew I had to take responsibility of my own wellbeing. There was a missing link between my day to day reality and the truth of who I was. Over the past 3 decades I have been using the same techniques that got me out of my stuck states to support my clients to live a life of choice and be fulfilled and happy.

Let go. Let go of the fear, the worry and anxiety, the stress, the doubt, the overwhelming thoughts, and the negativity that's surrounding you. Easier said than done, right? We live in a day and age where stress is part of our daily lives. Sometimes, all you need is someone to talk to. Now, imagine that someone being trained in helping you overcome whatever it is you're facing. There is nothing wrong with seeking help, because maybe seeing a psychologist once or twice a week can be what you need to change your entire life around.

You carry a smile on your face and present yourself so put together. Behind your smile is a belief that you are not good enough. You find yourself overachieving and striving for the next thing you think will make you feel satisfied and fulfilled. But it's exhausting. You're tired of taking care of everyone's needs except your own, and believing that people will only love you if you behave a certain way or perform a version of you. Your mind is constantly running, wondering if what you said was “weird” or "too much", believing that other people are judging you as harshly as you judge yourself. I know how hard this is.

Neuro-Psychotherapy: This unique therapeutic modality combines psychotherapy with a brain and behavior perspective. The integrative format helps you better understand your brain patterns in relationship to your behavior and emotional output. This information will help you to permanently correct the negative feeling or behavior, allowing you to establish positive patterns instead. We offer individual, family and couples therapy to children, adolescents and adults with the following problems or difficulties: sadness/depression, mood swings, anxiety (panic attacks), social phobia, poor social skills, OCD, substance abuse (relapse prevention), video game/internet/pornography addiction, gambling, eating disorders, sleep difficulties, impulsivity, anger problems, relationship issues, trauma/abuse, PTSD.

With a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology and a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, I have actively engaged in therapy since 2007. I understand that our behaviors and self-perceptions are significantly influenced by early childhood experiences, often perpetuated by our current relationships and family dynamics. Additionally, our community and cultural backgrounds play a crucial role in shaping these perspectives and behaviors. I believe that fostering meaningful change involves creating an environment where individuals feel safe, supported, and receive honest, constructive feedback on their concerns and behaviors.

Hi there, I'm Wanchun (Athena)! I provide support to individuals, teens, couples, and families to develop awareness, strength, and healing in their lives. I draw on family system, CBT, mindfulness, psychodynamic and attachment theory, and narrative theory. My approach is warm, relational, and collaborative. I have worked as a therapist and counselor for a community mental health clinic, a social worker at a multipurpose senior service program, behavior health specialists, and a K-5 school in San Francisco. I have trained interns and taught therapy and counseling in a university graduate school program in CA.

Individual therapy is a powerful process to help grow insight, identify and cultivate resiliency, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and progress towards your unique goals for personal growth. Individual therapy can serve as a safe haven to openly process past wounds, learn ways to cope with past, current, or upcoming stressors, and to identify and develop skills and traits to better tackle both unexpected or planned challenges that come one’s way. Individual therapy is effective not only for addressing and reducing problematic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, but also for improving and maintaining one's well-being.

Childcare is provided during your session. Bring the kids to spend time at our Kid's Room, while you get treatment from our therapists. All of our therapists hold a minimum of a master's degree in a psychology-related field that qualifies them with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to provide counseling/therapy in California. Sessions are available in-person as well as online via telehealth. We are accepting new clients now and can get you an appointment within 2-3 days. Open every day apart from Sundays, from 10:30 AM to late evening.