Women's Issues Therapists in Laguna Niguel, CA

My practice focus is on building, healing and developing strong personal and intimate relationships - which are truly the cornerstone of psychological, physical, and spiritual health. My specialty is working with couples and giving them the skills necessary to maintain a successful relationship. I also have a strong interest in women's issues ; especially in the development of improved SELF-ESTEEM though all of their transitions in life. While I am especially interested in helping women, I also have a bulk of experience in helping men through their relationship and proffessional difficulties. I offer unique interactive communication that promotes positive change.

I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist specializing in individual, couples, and group therapy, focusing on postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, grief & loss, and infertility. I maintain a private practice in Aliso Viejo, CA. I have a non-judgmental and compassionate, yet direct, approach. I specialize in women's issues , mood disorders, personality disorders, and grief & loss. I will provide you with emotional support and coping skills. We all have the strength within us to move toward a healthier, happier, and more fulfilled life, but we need the tools to get there.

I provide psychotherapy for adults and adolescents in a warm, respectful environment. My primary goal is to guide you to a stronger sense of self and a place where you can feel at peace with yourself and those around you. I specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma, women's issues , stress management, loss/grief, relationship issues (divorce/separation), effective parenting, and substance abuse recovery.

My name is Marlene Gomez, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Starting therapy can be daunting and overwhelming, you may be struggling with emotions that you are not able to name and express. My goal as your therapist is to create a safe space where you can explore your inner thoughts and feelings, their origins, and find ways to cope with and express your emotions.

Life can be overwhelming at times and it's easy to lose sight of what matters to us. Reaching out for guidance is the first courageous step towards healing and emotional well-being. I am very familiar with the pain of silent suffering I endured, to get to the point of considering reaching out for help and I truly honor the courage it takes to embark on this journey of self-discovery. I believe in coming alongside my clients in their path of healing and resilience while recognizing each client's unique experience through a collaborative, respectful and empathic approach. Together, we will work on helping you identify your strengths,

Are you tired of "being sick and tired"? Do you need to break unhealthy habits? It is time to take control. Deal with the issues that cause you to feel depressed, anxious, angry and stuck in unhealthy relationships. Stop blaming others, beating yourself up and sabotaging yourself. Stop feeling guilty and recalling mistakes you have made. Love yourself and be the best person you can be. Improve your self-confidence, your self -esteem and your relationships. It is time for you to decide " What do you want to do with your life"? You can be transformed and re-newed.

Does any of this sound familiar? - You feel overwhelmed by emotion at times and struggle with self-regulating. Your mind is constantly turning, trying to figure out the what-ifs of life. You're sensitive to the world around you and the energy of others. You feel disconnected from your body and hold tension when you are stressed. You are trying to figure out who you are and what makes you happy. Turning inward is an act of strength and you deserve support. I support teens, young adults, and adult women with creating a new relationship with the self through a holistic lens using self-compassion and somatic practices.

I approach my clients with a warm and open heart. It is important to have a safe space to discuss sensitive issues without judgment. I provide therapy services to clients who are struggling with many different life stressors. I am here to offer you support whether it be for a few sessions to work on a specific topic, or you are looking for longer term support. I have a flexible schedule offering online video sessions and will do my best to work with your specific needs, whether that be weekly, biweekly, or monthly sessions.

Life brings painful experiences that can pull us away from becoming who we were intended to be. Whatever the source of your pain, there is grace, comfort, and healing for you. I believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship to heal, and in the courage of my clients as they pursue wholeness. I am passionate about creating a safe space for my clients to explore the problems that keep them from being intimately connected with themselves and the people they love. I use a whole person approach; trying to be attentive to the synergy of body, mind, and spirit in the client's experience.

My goal as a therapist is to assist you on your journey of self-awareness and personal discovery. I like to take a here-and-now approach during therapy and I also believe that understanding your present and being able to be fully aware of your thoughts and actions in the moment will help unlock and uncover unresolved issues from your past. I strongly believe in the concept of subjective reality. I enjoy working with a wide variety of clientele and have a special interest in working with adolescent and young adult females, and individuals and couples in areas of sexual intimacy.

THE Motherload: what I call the mental load of motherhood. This is what is consuming your thoughts day and night. You are the person responsible for keeping your family’s lives together. There is a never-ending to do list that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and burnt-out. You want to be the happy, engaged parent but often feel irritated and angry. There's no time for self-care and “me time” is going to the bathroom without a kid hanging onto your leg. You are struggling to find any joy in parenthood and yearn for a break. On top of it all you feel like a failure for not being able to handle it all and guilty for feeling this way.

**ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS** Like many moms, you wear numerous hats in your life, and trying to manage them all successfully can be emotionally exhausting. Too often, you tell yourself that you ARE FAILING; failing at being a mom, failing at being a partner, failing at being a friend, failing at being an employee or student, etc etc...leaving you feeling helpless, hopeless, anxious, and depressed. One voice tells you that you CAN do this while the louder voice tells you that you CAN'T, so you isolate in the silence of shame and put on a brave face hoping to make it through the day. You want to feel better, but you're unsure how.

Welcome! You might be here because you need some support in your life, some guidance, navigation, focus, or just someone to talk with. We face demands of work, family, marriage, and relationships daily. Add in financial, personal, and societal pressures to the mix, and life can definitely get overwhelming. Well, you took the first step to taking care of you by seeking help and support. It takes courage to take that first step, and I am so glad you did.

As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, I am passionate about helping individuals, couples, and families build stronger, healthier relationships. With a warm and empathetic approach, I work collaboratively with my clients to address a wide range of issues, from communication problems and conflicts to anxiety, depression, and trauma. With a deep understanding of the unique dynamics that exist in families and couples, I use evidence-based therapies to help my clients build stronger connections, improve communication, and develop the skills they need to overcome challenges and thrive in their relationships.

If you are here, you might be thinking of making some changes in your life. Whether that means breaking out of problematic patterns, having better relationships, or living a more fulfilled life, I am here to walk with you through that journey. I work with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, grief/loss, family issues, intergenerational conflict, life transitions, and more. My special interests include working with folks struggling with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and achievement addiction, as well as spiritual and cultural issues.