Therapists in La Canada Flintridge, CA

When you receive a Cancer diagnosis , no matter how treatable, your life changes. The cancer journey is both one of physical endurance as well as emotional challenges. Along with finding the proper medical treatment team it is important to find psychological support that will carry you through the many feelings of anxiety, fear, depression, sadness and loss in addition to feelings of building resilience and hope. I am a health psychologist experienced in working with oncology and palliative care patients. My focus is to partner with you and your family to manage emotional distress in your cancer journey.

I tend to lead with creativity, humor, and compassion in all the work I do. I am passionate about walking alongside those on the brave journey of counseling: seeing marriages and families thrive when it doesn’t seem possible, for the individual who feels so different, stuck or out of place, for the artist struggling with the industry pressures, and for the new mother in need of processing your beautiful and difficult role. I provide a space that is authentic and sacred, where growth can truly happen.

My goal as a psychologist is to help you realize your best possible self. I focus on helping people build skills and capabilities in order to live happy, meaningful and successful lives. In our fast paced, productivity obsessed culture, it's easy to get off track and one day wake up to realize you're not living the life you wanted. There are so many forces at work on us, including systemic oppressions and their effects (fear, anger, perfectionism, self-judgement, imposter syndrome, etc). Therapy can be a bolster and a support - a means to explore values and goals, reconnect with your best self and create the life you want.

Currently accepting tele-health clients. Are you overwhelmed? Are negative thoughts or feelings getting in your way? By instilling a sense of hope and activating positive change, I can help you address issues of anxiety, depression, loss, relationship dynamics, and academic/work related stress. Utilizing EMDR Therapy, we can work through past traumas and experiences to create pathways for well-being and fulfillment. Through a safe therapeutic setting, I use a strengths based approach to empower you to process negative thoughts and emotions, and tap into internal and external resources to maximize coping and thriving.

You deserve the chance to live a fulfilling life, free from symptoms and reminders of past events. I believe that healing from trauma and life’s stressors is possible. You are here because you are ready to do this brave healing work, and it’s time for a change. I work with adults and children experiencing trauma related issues, as well as anxious, depressive, or behavioral symptoms. I am also passionate about working with healthcare workers and others in helping roles to practice self care, and manage the unique difficulties of the helping professions.

I don't believe that struggling is weak or wrong, it allows us to grow into stronger and more capable people. I think that there are some experiences that hit us a little harder than others and have us needing some support along the way, everyone has conflict and difficulty in their lives at one time or another. I also believe that our emotional challenges can affect our physical experience through anxiety symptoms, chronic pain, exhaustion and difficulty sleeping as well as in other ways.

The decision to begin therapy is a courageous one. You may be coming to therapy because of a variety of reasons such as emotional distress, relationship issues, challenging life transitions, or feeling alone in navigating personal struggles. I believe the most important element of effective psychotherapy is the genuine relationship between the patient and therapist. My goal as a therapist is to provide a safe and supportive space where you can feel free to express your thoughts and feelings. Our goal together will be to work toward alleviating the stress, struggle or pain you may be going through.

Morgan Blackledge specializes in mindfulness-based treatment for addiction, trauma, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, LGBTQIA, motivation, and creative issues. Morgan has formal training in fine art, with a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. Additionally, Morgan has been trained in various forms of mindfulness meditation techniques and trained for his Marital Family Therapy (MFT) degree at a Buddhist university specializing in the incorporation of mindfulness and psychotherapy.

Is your relationship trapped in a pattern of anger, resentment and withdrawal? Are you tired of feeling like your worst version of yourself within your most precious relationship? There is a way out. Working together, we will uncover early painful experiences and the resulting coping behaviors that cause destruction in your relationships with others and with yourself. My hope is that our time together will restore you both to your best selves, allowing you and your partner come back to one another - not in the old way, but in a new way that offers long term connection and safety together.

Do you or your child ever feel overcome with worry? Do you feel that you worry more than others? Do you avoid situations that may make you anxious? Do you feel helpless and unable to stop your thoughts from spiraling over and over again about an upcoming event or situation? Do you find that it is hard to organize your thoughts when you are feeling anxious? Do you sometimes “snap” at others when they accidentally trigger your emotions? If so, you do not have to manage your anxiety alone.

My area of expertise revolves around high anxiety and panic. Having suffered in this area as a young adult, I have valuable subjective insight as well as objective knowledge. It is very rewarding for me to help my clients return to normal daily function, freeing themselves from the often debilitating effects of anxiety. I also specialize in older adolescents and young adults as they move from childhood to adulthood. This can be challenging for the entire family. I offer sessions to parents, helping them to better communicate with their children during this time of transition. Other areas of expertise are listed in my profile

My mission is to support and empower teens, individuals, couples and families towards greater peace and connection with themselves and others. Perhaps your past and current experiences of pain, difficulty, confusion and restlessness can be met with compassion, understanding and curiosity. It would be my honor and privilege to collaborate with and support you in your healing journey!

I believe the process of growth, healing and building healthy relationships begins with a therapeutic relationship that is safe and trusting with a well qualified and seasoned therapist. I have been in private practice for 30 years and I specialize in helping individuals and couples who find themselves stuck in cycles of depression and anxiety. I have been trained to treat disordered eating and I have expertise in healthy parenting practices that enable children to be strong, self determining and happy.

When adults and children alike build an understanding of their emotional worlds, they are better equipped to cope with life’s challenges. As your therapist, I will provide an empathic relationship in which we will explore the unique experiences and emotions, both past and present, that bring you to therapy today. Young clients may not yet be able to name their feelings, or have an awareness of what triggers challenging behaviors. Through Play Therapy, I will support your child to process feelings, increase emotional vocabulary, and develop positive coping skills. With older children, I often employ evidence-based CBT/Mindfulness.

In practice over 20 years, I continue to facilitate and support the fulfillment of desired changes in the clients I serve, while enjoying the process personally. I remain committed to the full exploration and integration of each client's unique personality characteristics. In working with individuals and couples, as well as children and adolescents and their families, I have great appreciation for the importance of addressing developmental milestones across the lifespan.Whether adolescent identity or women's role conflicts,the client's understanding of both developmental challenges and cultural context is central to lasting positive therapy outcomes.

Have you watched your teen struggle with school, relationships or peers? Do you feel like you’re both walking on eggshells, trying not to blow up? This can be very painful. It’s common for teens to struggle navigating social pressure and feeling comfortable being their authentic self. Unfortunately, many teens learn to shut-down, get angry, or find various harmful means to escape. This can lead to depression & anxiety. When left untreated, it can create long-term problems such as addiction and relationship stress, which is why I also work with adults and couples struggling with substance use or unhealthy relationship patterns.

Embracing help and your child's educational and developmental journey: You or your child might be feeling frustrated or overwhelmed with school, learning, lack of self-control or self-regulation. You might be wondering how to best help your child in his or her early years of development. If you have questions about how to work with your child's school in a collaborative way to best address your child's educational needs, we are here to partner with you and support your journey.

Counseling is a team effort. As the client, you are the expert on your life and history. We work with you to understand what you want and need in order to help you overcome life's roadblocks-large and small-that inhibit feelings of well-being, confidence and success. We provide a supportive environment where you can feel safe to discuss life's issues without judgment. Each person's situation is unique, and when you first call we will discuss what your needs are. The initial 15 minute phone consultation is free of charge. From there we will set up an in-office appointment.