Therapists in Pacoima, CA

Rui is a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in the treatment of trauma, developmental and attachment trauma, dissociative disorders and reactions to other stressful events in teens and adults. Rui is a certified somatic therapist combining Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment, as well as Attachment-Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Rui's approach is holistic (mind-body-spirit), non-violent, mindfulness-based, and attachment-based, as well as based on Interpersonal Neurobiology which is also the foundation of Rui's parenting consultation and coaching practice.

Beginning therapy can feel intimidating. Finding the right therapist, a daunting task. I aim to support you with all aspects of the therapeutic experience while co-creating your treatment. My goal in therapy is to support you by creating a safe, affirming space to communicate your needs. My therapeutic style is focused on creating a sex positive, culturally humble place for growth. I specialize in working with the LGBTQ+ community and related challenges faced by being LGBTQ+.

You feel an unexplained sense of hopelessness. You have had better days, but difficult emotions seem to be in control of you. You wonder why it's so difficult to be with your thoughts, why a stable connection with others feels so hard to establish, and why it feels so impossible to please everyone without compromising your own well-being. You want to know how to better relate to yourself and your loved ones. Is it even possible to be happy? Or is it impossible because something is wrong with me? These questions confront you so often, but you are struggling to find the answers.

As a first generation Middle Eastern therapist, I have had the privilege of working with clients from a wide variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, but what they've all had in common is the desire to feel stronger; whether they're battling social anxiety, depression, or PTSD my clients want to feel empowered and capable of living a better life, and my goal is to teach them the skills they need to overcome the barriers to wellness. My clients are resilient, and I help them discover how their past traumas affect their present and future, and how they can be successful regardless of these challenges.

Healing from trauma, reclaiming power, growing from struggle and learning to work WITH emotions rather than AGAINST them are the goals I strive to support my clients in achieving. I want to help my clients move beyond simply not feeling so depressed, anxious, angry or manic. I want to help them transcend their pain, feel like they are fulfilling their purpose in life, are able to truly love themselves and are cultivating relationships that feed their soul. Narrative Therapy teaches my clients to transform the meaning of what they have been through and techniques from Existential Therapy help clients create or discover their purpose.

Are you feeling lost? Or maybe out of control, burned out, stuck, or like an imposter? Are you or your loved ones repeating behaviors, relationships, or situations, and wishing you could break the cycle? Maybe little things feel more stressful than usual. Sometimes, we aren't sure what causes our distress, but we can sense we're not reaching our potential for health, happiness, or success. Even when we know the cause, change can still feel impossible. That's where I come in. My job is not to judge you; it's to listen, help you understand the root causes of your difficulties, and teach you practical tools to help change your life.

Welcome! I am a queer psychotherapist working from a social justice and anti-oppression framework. This means that we will work together to understand how the systems of the world and your environment contribute to your life. I strongly believe in the ability we each have to better understand ourselves and heal with the support we need - I am here to guide you in that process.

Are you feeling disconnected, stressed, stuck, scared, or angry? Are you repeating relationships, patterns, or situations and wishing you could break the cycle? Maybe life feels more frustrating or stressful than usual. Sometimes we aren't sure what causes our distress, but we know we're not reaching our potential for health, happiness, or success. And even if we know what the issue is, change can feel impossible. That's where our team of qualified professionals can help. Our job isn't to judge you or your choices, it's to help you understand the root causes of your issues and work together to create a custom plan for change.

Do you sometimes find it difficult to express your needs, or even feel that yours are not important? Maybe you feel like you are on an emotional roller coaster that never ends, which impacts your connection with others? These outcomes are common when we have experiences that negatively impact how we feel about ourselves, others, and the world. Fortunately, each of us has the power to create change and move toward the life we desire. I believe it is important to work collaboratively with you to create a safe space where the work can be done.

You deserve an affirming space for all of your parts to be embraced. I work with survivors of acute and complex trauma who tend to be perfectionists and struggle with self-criticalness. I specifically specialize in working with marginalized populations, with a majority of my clients being women, LGBTQ+, and trans/non-binary. Many of my clients internalize the stigma and shame conditioned by our society's oppressive norms and politics. I help my clients find self-compassion, embrace their authenticity, and process their trauma from an intersectional, warm approach that always emphasizes fostering safety rather than "fixing."

I am a licensed clinical social worker with over ten years of experience. As a therapist, I’m not here to judge you or tell you what’s wrong. Instead, I am here to help you uncover your hidden strengths and harness those abilities to address any challenges or roadblocks you may face. You don’t have to do it alone; we can walk this path together.

Relationships are either the most fulfilling or the most challenging part of our lives (or both!) - whether with our partner, kids, friends, or family. I'm certain you value your relationships, but maybe you're struggling to feel connected, appreciated, or to stay calm when conflict arises. I promise there’s a reason you’re feeling the way you do, and the reason is more understandable than you think. When we’re at odds with a person we love, it's easy to get stuck in "me vs. them" thinking instead of tackling issues like a team. These last few years have been hard on everyone - if you're struggling right now, you're not alone.

Are you feeling unseen or unheard in your relationships? Do you often find yourself trapped in an internal tug-of-war with conflicting internal voices or parts? Do you often feel like the black sheep of your family or "the problem"? These experiences can be deeply isolating and spark feelings of hopelessness. If you're currently grappling with the overwhelming impact of trauma, shame, conflict, stress, or pain without a supportive ally by your side, I would be honored to accompany you, your partner/s, family, and children on this transformative journey toward healing and growth.

Whether you are having a crisis, struggling with a mental health diagnosis, need emotional support or want to have a better understanding of yourself and your relationships, I can help you deal with these issues. I provide a safe, and supportive atmosphere for individuals, couples and families to do deep personal work.

I specialize in a depth-oriented approach to psychotherapy that addresses the root cause of the problem thereby promoting significant changes in your feelings about yourself, your life, and your relationships. My style is direct, engaging, and to the point, which allows for understanding and change to proceed relatively quickly. Insights are offered with warmth, humor, and compassion. Sessions are active, deep, and keenly attuned to your thoughts, feelings and expectations.

If you are reading this then you have already taken the first step to addressing whatever challenge you are facing or questions you may be asking yourself. Perhaps you are unsatisfied with your life and don’t know why or how to change it. Perhaps you know what the underlying issue is but are afraid to tackle it. Maybe you struggle with co-parenting after a divorce or your teenager is self-harming and you want to help but don’t know how. Maybe you struggle with addiction or self-medicate to avoid dealing with emotional pain.

Are you feeling stressed, unmotivated, overwhelmed, or alone? Is your relationship missing the spark it once had? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we can start changing this today.My practice experience includes working with individuals, couples and families, who struggle with marital, self-esteem issues, addiction, trauma/PTSD, depression, anger, grief and loss, bipolar disorder, OCD, anxiety, and eating disorders. In therapy, we will identify the source of these issues, practice alternative coping skills, and learn how to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

We are not your average therapists! If you're looking for someone to nod their head in agreement with everything you say or for someone to just listen until "time is up," then this is not the place for you. We are an active part of your treatment. We focus on helping people find stability, life satisfaction and self-love. To do this effectively, means we offer insights and feedback, encourage you to dig deeper and challenge you. We're able to do this with care and compassion because we develop a strong therapeutic alliance built on mutual respect and trust. This is the foundation of what we do.