Therapists in Santa Monica, CA

We all have a story, but when burnout spirals into deeper struggles like anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and compassion fatigue, we can lose sight of that narrative. Pressures like work stress, relationship issues, societal expectations, identity struggles, or pursuit of perfection can engulf us to the point that we can't handle the burden. This impacts our creativity, relationships, and sense of direction. But burnout isn't the end of the story; with support, a new chapter can unfold. I love stories because they foster understanding. Throughout history, stories have been our tools for making sense of ourselves and the world.

Do you feel anxious, sad, worried, overwhelmed, or stressed? Do you have difficulty coping with life challenges? Do you find getting through the day to day activities of life more strenuous lately? It can be isolating to not only feel painful emotions, but difficult to relate to those in our lives when we’re not feeling like ourselves, leaving us feeling more alone. That’s where therapy can help. I’m a therapist who listens, seeks to understand your experience, and supports you with tools to help you feel better. I’m a CBT Certified Beck Clinician and EMDR trained; two well-researched modalities with proven results.

Hi, thank you for being here! Working on your mental health is one of the bravest and most important things you can do for yourself. There are things in your life — from the present or, often, from the past — that might not feel great. These things can leak through —affecting your future. It takes courage to look what's not working in your life and make positive change. I want to support you in moving towards the life you want!

I hold my master’s degree in clinical psychology and am finishing my doctoral degree. Throughout my experiences, I have worked with individuals, families, and kids in some of the most challenging situations to overcome some of the most challenging times in their lives. As a strengths-based coach, I focus on helping you understand the patterns in your life, and we focus on building your resiliency skills for breaking unhelpful habits and replacing them with helpful lifestyle changes. My superpower is finding potential in the hidden and overlooked places when you can't see it in yourself and then empowering you to take control.

The therapeutic process has the ability to transform. I am living proof of this. At my lowest point, I was anxious, depressed, suicidal, and trapped in addictions. With the help of a skilled therapist, I was able to come out of this darkness - inspiring me to leave the business world in order to help others who are suffering. I believe that everyone deserves a fighting chance to overcome trauma and abuse and live a rich, full, and satisfying life. I believe that we can change and grow at any time in our lives. I believe in the beauty, resiliency, and strength of the human spirit. I believe that we are all worthy and capable of love.

I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with many years of experience providing psychotherapy to adults, couples and families. I offer a warm, collaborative and confidential place where you will feel heard and understood while working together to identify issues of conflict and remove the obstacles that are getting in the way of your life. My specialties include eating disorders and body image issues, also self-injurious behaviors. My practice also focuses on women's issues such as those related to beginning a family, fertility challenges and perinatal and postpartum anxiety and depression. I am EMDR trained and incorporate as needed

My ideal client is aware that some primary positive feeling has changed. The positive feeling has suddenly, or over time, become negative and painful. Because of this change, he or she may have reluctantly given up on a long term goal, or may be in the midsts of a divorce where there was once loving contentment that has disappeared. Sometimes the pain is so severe that the Client considers ending his or her life. No matter what the circumstance, this Client is longing for relief from the pain. The Client needs a Therapist who can, incrementally over time, help to alleviate the pain and begin a more positive approach to living life.

I'm glad you're here: you have taken a courageous and healing step by seeking support. I provide an integrative, resiliency-focused approach to therapy, pulling from your strengths and values to guide our work and help you regain a sense of mastery, meaning, and connection in your life. My perspective is that we are built to survive and often develop ways of relating which once helped us get by, but may no longer be helpful to a current situation. My goal is to form a safe connection to explore these factors that may contribute to ongoing difficulties, re-process experiences, and ultimately co-create your next chapter.

Are you feeling stuck in a cycle of conflict and misunderstanding in your relationships? Do you long for deeper connections but find yourself facing barriers you can't seem to overcome? As a therapist specializing in relationship issues, I am here to offer you a guiding hand on your journey towards healing and connection. With a warm, empathetic approach, I provide a safe and supportive space for individuals and couples to explore their feelings, communicate effectively, and foster healthier relationships. My focus areas include anxiety/depression, childhood trauma, PTSD, people-pleasing, and marital/pre-marital issues.

Change can be rewarding, even exciting, when undertaken with the right support. In these uncertain times, I am committed to providing calming, nourishing help. I am warm, collaborative, understanding, and real. Let's connect so you can tap into greater ease, clarity, and connection.

People seek therapy for so many reasons, but mostly we all want to feel loved, safe and understood. We want to feel a sense purpose & feel good enough as we are, and yet so many of us struggle to feel these ways. Sometimes our lives look very different than we imagined & we need help making sense out of things. We might be feeling numb or disconnected, uncertain or alone. We might be questioning the direction we are heading and need to find some hope or clarity. Self compassion & radical self-acceptance are cornerstones of my work. I'd like to explore these concepts with you and help you make meaning of your life and sense of self.

Our past and present challenges can lead to painful feelings, distorted thought processes, unhealthy behaviors and paralysis around decision making. In the therapeutic relationship we create a safe space for you to clarify confusion, find meaning and develop the tools and skills needed to address your distress. Some of my clinical specialties are in the following areas: Anxiety, Depression, Chronic illness, Grief and Adjustment Disorders. Several of the evidence based therapeutic modalities I utilize are: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness based practices.

We all have hard times and moments of loneliness, but a good support system helps us be resilient. We all deserve support and care as we work through things, but reaching out to friends and loved ones can be scary. If you're having trouble finding or keeping support and intimacy, or if you feel consumed by fears and low self-esteem, then it can be hard to get the connection and love you deserve. As a marriage and family therapist, I can help. I focus on helping my clients create close, supportive relationships with their loved ones, (and with themselves) so that they have the support they need to overcome challenges and flourish.

Does anxiety, fear, sadness, grief, confusion, helplessness, anger, or shame overwhelm you? Maybe a recent loss or previous trauma affects the way you are coping. Perhaps you struggle to navigate your emotions, thoughts, behaviors, or relationships. Let me help you find meaning, patterns, and ultimately relief, with compassion, insight, and tools to heal. Through this process, I hope you will find a greater sense of calm, clarity, and agency.

You are so close to feeling better! I am highly trained and experienced in treating eating disorders, exercise addiction, poor body image, body dysmorphia, and poor self-esteem. Clients appreciate my strengths-based and client-centered approach. I often work from interpersonal, family systems, and culturally-informed perspectives. Clients find me genuine, attentive, and compassionate, and I thoroughly enjoy building a relationship with my clients through engaged listening, authentic connection, and hospitable warmth. Clients often mention that I provide a sense of trust and security through my attenuation and depth of conversation.

My approach is nurturing, collaborative, and client-centered. As an Asian immigrant, I recognize and appreciate how culture can be a powerful force that influences the way we think and shapes the way we understand ourselves, our emotions, and our life circumstances. Our work together will involve strategies that will help you gain awareness, knowledge, and skills to help improve your life in a manner that is consistent with your personal values and life experiences.

Are you objectively successful in life, but something still feels missing? Have you noticed yourself repeating old patterns that no longer serve you? I am passionate about creating a safe, supportive environment to guide women on this path to come out stronger on the other side. I utilize a mind-body approach to give you the tools to uncover the root causes of your "stuckness" and help you move forward to live a more full and authentic life. Together we can journey towards understanding how your past influences the way you currently relate in relationships, to yourself, and to the world.

Life is filled with inevitable change–some of which is more manageable than others. Youth, especially, undergo rapid transitions – in the development of the mind and body, within relationships, and with their emotions, identity, attitudes, and beliefs. Navigating these transitions on their own can be overwhelming, leading to incongruent living and problematic behaviors including withdrawing from peers or family, exhibiting defiance, or struggling at school. Children and adolescents also struggle with self-confidence leading to excessive worrying about the opinions of others, increased dysregulation, and a lack of calm and composure.

I look forward to witnessing when my clients reach their goals. I have partnered with clients sharing what I've learned for over 17 years. We all have our unique histories and strengths. I am inspired by your journey and your readiness to makes changes. To work with you ethically (Social Work Code of Ethics), I have education, training and supervision (AASECT and EMDRIA) as well as my own personal self-growth practices.