Psychodynamic Therapists in Calabasas Hills, CA
I work with people who are used to performing under pressure and being the one others rely on—but are starting to feel the cost of it. This includes first responders, professionals, parents, and trauma survivors experiencing burnout, anxiety, irritability, or emotional exhaustion. Many come in used to pushing through while feeling overwhelmed underneath. I help by combining practical nervous system skills with deeper trauma work, drawing from both clinical expertise and lived experience so you can not only manage stress in the moment, but begin to feel more steady overall.
I work with people who are used to performing under pressure and being the one others rely on—but are starting to feel the cost of it. This includes first responders, professionals, parents, and trauma survivors experiencing burnout, anxiety, irritability, or emotional exhaustion. Many come in used to pushing through while feeling overwhelmed underneath. I help by combining practical nervous system skills with deeper trauma work, drawing from both clinical expertise and lived experience so you can not only manage stress in the moment, but begin to feel more steady overall.
My approach is psychodynamic, relational, and insight-oriented with a holistic focus on the mind-body continuum.
My style, while rooted in empathy, is also very direct. I will act as your mirror in order to help you see yourself more clearly.
My approach is psychodynamic, relational, and insight-oriented with a holistic focus on the mind-body continuum.
My style, while rooted in empathy, is also very direct. I will act as your mirror in order to help you see yourself more clearly.
I work with young adults who are thoughtful, self-aware, and often quietly wrestling with questions that don’t have easy answers. You might have a lot going for you—education, resources, opportunities—and still feel disconnected, stuck, or unsure of your place in the world. Maybe you’re carrying guilt about your privilege, or you’re feeling pressure to live a life that looks good on paper but doesn’t feel real on the inside. Maybe you’ve been told you "should" be fine—but you’re not.
I work with people who want to understand themselves more deeply. People who are navigating questions of identity, responsibility, family, belonging,
I work with young adults who are thoughtful, self-aware, and often quietly wrestling with questions that don’t have easy answers. You might have a lot going for you—education, resources, opportunities—and still feel disconnected, stuck, or unsure of your place in the world. Maybe you’re carrying guilt about your privilege, or you’re feeling pressure to live a life that looks good on paper but doesn’t feel real on the inside. Maybe you’ve been told you "should" be fine—but you’re not.
I work with people who want to understand themselves more deeply. People who are navigating questions of identity, responsibility, family, belonging,
Dianne Porchia is featured in HEAL Documentary film for her successful healing work with advance stage cancer client who remains cancer free following a stage IV colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2013. Porchia's unique holistic approach to healing integrates the principles and practice of mind-body-heart-soul energy medicine, epigenetics, psychoneuroimmunology and heart-centered communication skills to reduce mental-emotional stress, support immune function and create and maintain successful and loving relationships through high stress life challenges such as divorce, death, loss of job, serious illness, disease and cancer.
Dianne Porchia is featured in HEAL Documentary film for her successful healing work with advance stage cancer client who remains cancer free following a stage IV colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2013. Porchia's unique holistic approach to healing integrates the principles and practice of mind-body-heart-soul energy medicine, epigenetics, psychoneuroimmunology and heart-centered communication skills to reduce mental-emotional stress, support immune function and create and maintain successful and loving relationships through high stress life challenges such as divorce, death, loss of job, serious illness, disease and cancer.
Life can be complicated, and there isn’t a handbook for managing issues like anxiety, depression, addiction, and relationships. It’s important to know that you’re not alone, and these challenges are growth opportunities. You’re probably here because it’s time to “do something different.” Let our team at Meridian Counseling guide you on this journey.
Life can be complicated, and there isn’t a handbook for managing issues like anxiety, depression, addiction, and relationships. It’s important to know that you’re not alone, and these challenges are growth opportunities. You’re probably here because it’s time to “do something different.” Let our team at Meridian Counseling guide you on this journey.
Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to make it as seamless as possible. We offer both in-person and telehealth appointments, with flexible scheduling including evenings and weekends. Once you reach out, our intake team will match you with a therapist whose experience, style, and specialty best align with your goals.
Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to make it as seamless as possible. We offer both in-person and telehealth appointments, with flexible scheduling including evenings and weekends. Once you reach out, our intake team will match you with a therapist whose experience, style, and specialty best align with your goals.
More Therapists Nearby
Strengths and areas of emphasis include: An eclectic approach working with individuals, adolescents, and couples; clients involved in creative pursuits/endeavors/careers; an archetypal/alchemical approach; dreams; symbols; active imagination; meaning-focused work; depression; trauma; anxiety; relational issues; systemic and psychodynamic lenses with which to view the work.
I look forward to working with people interested in examining their past, present and future in hopes of finding greater meaning in, and understating of, all three of those aspects of their lives. Therapy can be scary, and is not without its risks, but I will provide a safe and non-judgmental container for the process. My passion is helping people interested in the examined life, and I bring much experience, both clinical and life experience, to this shared journey ahead.
Strengths and areas of emphasis include: An eclectic approach working with individuals, adolescents, and couples; clients involved in creative pursuits/endeavors/careers; an archetypal/alchemical approach; dreams; symbols; active imagination; meaning-focused work; depression; trauma; anxiety; relational issues; systemic and psychodynamic lenses with which to view the work.
I look forward to working with people interested in examining their past, present and future in hopes of finding greater meaning in, and understating of, all three of those aspects of their lives. Therapy can be scary, and is not without its risks, but I will provide a safe and non-judgmental container for the process. My passion is helping people interested in the examined life, and I bring much experience, both clinical and life experience, to this shared journey ahead.
Welcome to my page! I am mindful of how expensive therapy can be and I offer a sliding scale. My approach as a psychodynamically/psychoanalytically trained psychologist is to create an atmosphere of safety and empathy to help you feel at ease. I will work with you to unfold and rework your deep seated beliefs. These beliefs form out of experiences throughout your life, especially in childhood, and are often maladaptive, limiting, and impede your functioning, causing noticeable symptoms. Furthermore, they may get in the way of achieving your desired goals, and negatively impact your self-esteem and ability to cope with stress.
Welcome to my page! I am mindful of how expensive therapy can be and I offer a sliding scale. My approach as a psychodynamically/psychoanalytically trained psychologist is to create an atmosphere of safety and empathy to help you feel at ease. I will work with you to unfold and rework your deep seated beliefs. These beliefs form out of experiences throughout your life, especially in childhood, and are often maladaptive, limiting, and impede your functioning, causing noticeable symptoms. Furthermore, they may get in the way of achieving your desired goals, and negatively impact your self-esteem and ability to cope with stress.
I use a Psychodynamic and Mindfulness approach to achieve self-compassion/understanding of one's needs by considering both conscious and unconscious levels.
You deserve to feel seen and live a life of authenticity without the stress and anxiety of being afraid to show others who you are or who you want to be. So often we find ourselves holding back our needs to ensure the needs of others are being met but this pattern leaves many of us feeling lonely and isolated in our relationships. Therapy can be a way to help you achieve the authenticity you are seeking through processing thoughts and feelings that might be getting in your way of showing up for yourself.
I use a Psychodynamic and Mindfulness approach to achieve self-compassion/understanding of one's needs by considering both conscious and unconscious levels.
You deserve to feel seen and live a life of authenticity without the stress and anxiety of being afraid to show others who you are or who you want to be. So often we find ourselves holding back our needs to ensure the needs of others are being met but this pattern leaves many of us feeling lonely and isolated in our relationships. Therapy can be a way to help you achieve the authenticity you are seeking through processing thoughts and feelings that might be getting in your way of showing up for yourself.
Life is full of transitions and sometimes it's hard to know who you are on the other side of them. Maybe you're navigating a career shift, a relationship change, or simply a quiet but persistent feeling that something needs to be different. You're not broken. You're just ready for something more - more clarity, more confidence, more ease.
I work with young professionals like yourself who are in the messy middle; people who are done feeling stuck, second-guessing themselves and ready to build a life that actually feels like theirs.
Life is full of transitions and sometimes it's hard to know who you are on the other side of them. Maybe you're navigating a career shift, a relationship change, or simply a quiet but persistent feeling that something needs to be different. You're not broken. You're just ready for something more - more clarity, more confidence, more ease.
I work with young professionals like yourself who are in the messy middle; people who are done feeling stuck, second-guessing themselves and ready to build a life that actually feels like theirs.
Welcome to my profile and congratulations on taking your first step to seeking a happier, healthier you! Seeking counseling and finding the right therapist can be a challenging process so I hope to make this experience as smooth as possible. My ideal client would be an individual (teenager or older) who has decided to make a commitment to work together to achieve their goals whatever they may be. If you are considering counseling and are ready to address what is keeping you from getting the most out of your life, then I look forward to helping you.
Welcome to my profile and congratulations on taking your first step to seeking a happier, healthier you! Seeking counseling and finding the right therapist can be a challenging process so I hope to make this experience as smooth as possible. My ideal client would be an individual (teenager or older) who has decided to make a commitment to work together to achieve their goals whatever they may be. If you are considering counseling and are ready to address what is keeping you from getting the most out of your life, then I look forward to helping you.
Open Space Therapy Collective (OSTC) was founded by and for the queer and trans community. Far too many intersectional identities, clients have to educate their therapists instead of receiving the support they came in for. Not here. When you work with an OSTC therapist, you are guaranteed a mental health partner who is: A member of the LGBTQ+ community member or deeply committed ally, Queer and Trans-knowledgeable, Anti-racist, Sex-positive, Specializing in supporting non-monogamous relationships.
Open Space Therapy Collective (OSTC) was founded by and for the queer and trans community. Far too many intersectional identities, clients have to educate their therapists instead of receiving the support they came in for. Not here. When you work with an OSTC therapist, you are guaranteed a mental health partner who is: A member of the LGBTQ+ community member or deeply committed ally, Queer and Trans-knowledgeable, Anti-racist, Sex-positive, Specializing in supporting non-monogamous relationships.
You’re someone who’s insightful, self-aware, and smart, but still feel stuck—whether it’s constant overthinking, uncertainty in relationships, guilt around food, or feeling overwhelmed by your emotions. You’ve tried to figure it out on your own, but nothing seems to shift. You’re not broken—you just need deeper understanding to move forward. I work with overthinkers, people-pleasers, and sensitive souls who are ready to stop spiraling and start trusting themselves.
You’re someone who’s insightful, self-aware, and smart, but still feel stuck—whether it’s constant overthinking, uncertainty in relationships, guilt around food, or feeling overwhelmed by your emotions. You’ve tried to figure it out on your own, but nothing seems to shift. You’re not broken—you just need deeper understanding to move forward. I work with overthinkers, people-pleasers, and sensitive souls who are ready to stop spiraling and start trusting themselves.
My work is rooted in neuroscience, attachment theory, systemic and psychodynamic work.
I provide depthful, supportive, and highly relational therapy to:
- Grieving individuals
- Those having experienced trauma (childhood trauma, emotional abuse, physical abuse, neglect, relational trauma)
- Creatives
- People pleasers
- The LGBTIQ+ community
- Highly Sensitive People, empaths, or folks with sensory differences
- Therapists looking for their own space
- Music industry professionals and their families addressing touring stress, performance anxiety, identity, creative block
- Those going through a significant life transition (end of relationship, moving, identity work, perimenopause/menopause, and more)
My work is rooted in neuroscience, attachment theory, systemic and psychodynamic work.
I provide depthful, supportive, and highly relational therapy to:
- Grieving individuals
- Those having experienced trauma (childhood trauma, emotional abuse, physical abuse, neglect, relational trauma)
- Creatives
- People pleasers
- The LGBTIQ+ community
- Highly Sensitive People, empaths, or folks with sensory differences
- Therapists looking for their own space
- Music industry professionals and their families addressing touring stress, performance anxiety, identity, creative block
- Those going through a significant life transition (end of relationship, moving, identity work, perimenopause/menopause, and more)
I integrate somatic approaches with relational talk therapy, parts work, and psychodynamic understanding.
Many of the people I work with are thoughtful and capable, but something in their life feels stuck. They keep experiencing the same patterns and they struggle to feel confident in themselves, their relationships, or their life path. They come to therapy ready to understand themselves more deeply and create a life that feels fulfilling and purposeful.
I offer a warm, grounded space to explore patterns that have shaped you while supporting you towards impactful change. My priority is to build a meaningful relationship with you so that you can awaken your innate wisdom and inherent worth, then bring that awareness into your life.
I integrate somatic approaches with relational talk therapy, parts work, and psychodynamic understanding.
Many of the people I work with are thoughtful and capable, but something in their life feels stuck. They keep experiencing the same patterns and they struggle to feel confident in themselves, their relationships, or their life path. They come to therapy ready to understand themselves more deeply and create a life that feels fulfilling and purposeful.
I offer a warm, grounded space to explore patterns that have shaped you while supporting you towards impactful change. My priority is to build a meaningful relationship with you so that you can awaken your innate wisdom and inherent worth, then bring that awareness into your life.
You look like you have it all together. But inside, you're exhausted. The anxiety. The overthinking. The pressure to get it right. Maybe you're used to being the responsible one, keeping the peace, or putting everyone else's needs before your own.
You may be navigating perfectionism, people-pleasing, relationship patterns, or experiences with faith that have left you questioning what you believe—or what still fits.
You look like you have it all together. But inside, you're exhausted. The anxiety. The overthinking. The pressure to get it right. Maybe you're used to being the responsible one, keeping the peace, or putting everyone else's needs before your own.
You may be navigating perfectionism, people-pleasing, relationship patterns, or experiences with faith that have left you questioning what you believe—or what still fits.
I admire you for considering therapy for yourself or your child/adolescent. It’s hard to ask for support even though we can all benefit from an authentic space to help us grow. My clients are brave and looking for a reflective, containing space to work through sadness, worries, chronic stress, transitions, familial and cultural stressors, and relationship difficulties. Therapy requires connection, vulnerability and collaboration; together we'll disrupt toxic stress and make progress toward your goals. We’re all lovable and deserving of rest and joy.
I admire you for considering therapy for yourself or your child/adolescent. It’s hard to ask for support even though we can all benefit from an authentic space to help us grow. My clients are brave and looking for a reflective, containing space to work through sadness, worries, chronic stress, transitions, familial and cultural stressors, and relationship difficulties. Therapy requires connection, vulnerability and collaboration; together we'll disrupt toxic stress and make progress toward your goals. We’re all lovable and deserving of rest and joy.
I draw from the psychodynamic approach focusing on bringing the unconscious to the conscious to get to the root of the issue and explore defense mechanisms that have been adapted along the way.
I utilize various evidence-based practices including DBT, CBT, solution-focused, polyvagel theory, EMDR, and IFS to help clients gain awareness of what is happening in their inner world and learn ways to let go of the past. I can help you gain insight that challenges negative core beliefs and work towards breaking negative cycles of trauma.
I draw from the psychodynamic approach focusing on bringing the unconscious to the conscious to get to the root of the issue and explore defense mechanisms that have been adapted along the way.
I utilize various evidence-based practices including DBT, CBT, solution-focused, polyvagel theory, EMDR, and IFS to help clients gain awareness of what is happening in their inner world and learn ways to let go of the past. I can help you gain insight that challenges negative core beliefs and work towards breaking negative cycles of trauma.
Needing more than just “talk therapy” or a “safe space”? Perhaps you like your general therapist, but still haven't received specific tools and guidance needed to address ANXIETY or OCD. I hope to provide clear insight and actionable steps to spark real change inside and outside the therapy room if intrusive worries or repetitive behaviors are overwhelming you. If Anxiety is taking up time and energy from your life, or if sleepless nights are disrupting your days, please reach out for specialized help.
Needing more than just “talk therapy” or a “safe space”? Perhaps you like your general therapist, but still haven't received specific tools and guidance needed to address ANXIETY or OCD. I hope to provide clear insight and actionable steps to spark real change inside and outside the therapy room if intrusive worries or repetitive behaviors are overwhelming you. If Anxiety is taking up time and energy from your life, or if sleepless nights are disrupting your days, please reach out for specialized help.
As we all have heard, "Life is a journey." Therefore, as with any "road trip," once in a while we may need to stop, check our path, and refuel before continuing onward. As a practicing clinical psychologist, I am committed to working with my clients to help them explore a variety of life paths and detours in order for them to reach their destinations and achieve subjectively important, and oftentimes difficult to achieve goals.
As we all have heard, "Life is a journey." Therefore, as with any "road trip," once in a while we may need to stop, check our path, and refuel before continuing onward. As a practicing clinical psychologist, I am committed to working with my clients to help them explore a variety of life paths and detours in order for them to reach their destinations and achieve subjectively important, and oftentimes difficult to achieve goals.
See more therapy options for Calabasas Hills
Nearby Psychodynamic Therapists Searches for Calabasas Hills
- Agoura
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- Malibu
- Newbury Park
- Oak Park
- Simi Valley
- Thousand Oaks
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Psychodynamic Therapists
Is psychodynamic therapy evidence-based?
Studies have found psychodynamic therapy to be effective in treating conditions like social anxiety, eating disorders, chronic pain, some personality disorders, and depression; indeed, some studies have found it to be just as effective as CBT or medication. What’s more, several studies have found that the benefits of psychodynamic therapy tend to endure—even grow—long after treatment has ended.
How long does psychodynamic therapy last?
Unlike CBT and other more structured forms of therapy, psychodynamic therapy tends to be open-ended and may not be limited to a set number of sessions. It is common for clients to be in therapy for a year or longer and to see their therapist one to three times a week, though the exact schedule and timeline may vary depending on a client’s challenges and progress. However, brief psychodynamic therapy is available, which tends to be more goal-oriented and typically unfolds over 16 to 30 sessions.
Does psychodynamic therapy work?
Research finds that psychodynamic therapy can help someone manage or reduce symptoms of diagnosable mental health conditions like depression or anxiety. The modality may also offer a range of benefits that are harder to measure but just as valuable—such as increased self-worth or healthier relationships. While no therapy type will work for everyone, research and anecdotal evidence suggest that psychodynamic therapy can be highly effective.
What are the limitations of psychodynamic therapy?
Some meta-analyses have concluded that there is little evidence to suggest that psychodynamic therapy can effectively treat certain mental health conditions such as PTSD, OCD, or psychosis, though it is sometimes used to do so. More broadly, the open-ended, free-association structure of psychodynamic therapy may be frustrating for clients who prefer a more structured, time-limited, or goal-oriented approach.