Teen Therapists in Circle Area, Long Beach, CA

I'd like to help... Your Relationship Within Yourself and With Others. I believe your mind and body work together; that you can create your own happiness by how you choose to respond to your feelings, and act towards yourselves and the world around you. If you are ready for change in your life, or would like to explore new ways of thinking and living your life, my Cognitive-Behavioral, Solution Focused, and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy approaches may help. My goals for you are to receive new insight/tools that you can use to help create a better, happier life.

I find it beautiful when people are unapologetically who they are! I believe that our scars and deepest fears have a way in shaping us to be exactly who we are meant to be in this life, and on our journey to self-fulfillment. I hope to help you navigate life so that you find happiness in who you are. I'll meet you with gratitude for the opportunity, and trust that together we can work through the aspects of your life that hinder your ability to feel happy. Reiki III Master energy healer. Sou originalmente do Brasil, e ofereço sessōes de terapia em português.

I am a psychotherapist committed to providing culturally appropriate mental health services for the BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and Spanish-speaking community. My work focuses on helping adults struggling with depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance use/abuse, trauma, and attachment disorders. I also work with youth (16-25 years old) with prodromal schizophrenia. Mental wellness is not often talked about, dealt with or even addressed at all, particularly in BIPOC communities. If you are struggling with any of this, I'm here to help.

There is nothing wrong with the way your brain works. You're going to hate this, but the key to thriving as a neurodivergent person is practicing self-compassion and giving yourself permission to do things the way you need to. I don't blame you for trying to "fix" yourself - many well-intentioned therapists get a lot of things wrong about neurodiversity, so of course you would be confused. Sometimes you feel so smart and capable but other times you feel like you’re falling behind, and you might wonder if you even deserve to feel better.

Are you ready for an outside the box approach? Do you want to move beyond your fears, your limiting beliefs and your emotional conditioning to be unapologetically YOU? Vulnerability can be really hard, and I will hold space for you to practice. As a holistic Therapist, we work together as a team and take a deep dive to uncover what's blocking your joy. I work somatically connecting you to your body, noticing your thoughts and navigating the head/heart connection. I have a deep passion for our spiritual self and know it's the pathway to inner peace. We will also laugh along the way as laughter is medicine that heals.

Stop punishing yourself for being human. It's ok to be strange, to have FOMO, to not have things figured out, or to have existential dread. You are still allowed to buy latte's and enjoy life. You do not have to prove your goodness, to defend your choices, or to earn happiness. If you're seeking therapy, there is a chance that life experiences have knocked you off course. And part of you is probably saying "it's not that bad." That's not for us to say! If things can be better for you, we'll make them better.

If you are sick of having the same fight on repeat, staying up all night, alternating between doom-scrolling, online shopping, and planning imaginary trips, and you've run out of people you can turn to (because your religious/conservative/disconnected family is not an option, and you're too shy to keep telling your friends the same sob story) - I'm your therapist! OK, but if you need a therapist who won't flinch, who will go at the pace of the slowest part of you, and will listen and actually believe you: I'm your therapist! AND, if it's important to you that I am a WOC and openly queer...I'm your therapist!

Seeking a safe space to share your thoughts without judgment? Trying to figure out how to adjust or what step to take next? Perhaps you are having thoughts and emotions that are getting in the way of your relationships or your job? I can support you in improving yourself, your relationships, or in achieving emotional strength. I am a bilingual (English & Spanish) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist experience in helping individuals and families better their relationship by improving their communication and conflict resolution skills.

Does it seem like your family is in chaos? Are you frustrated by ongoing emotional and behavioral issues that seem to be invading your relationships? Has every conversation turned into a confrontation? Do you feel like your child and your spouse are not listening to you? Are they withdrawn and defensive? Are you frustrated because you have tried everything in your power to make things better - and nothing seems to work? You deserve a fulfilling, satisfying and enjoyable life. Don't give up hope. I can help you get there. Together we can improve the relationships within your family.

My name is Vanessa Heffington and I have been working as a clinician across several settings for the last 7 years. I received my Bachelor's degree from Chico State in 2010 and went on to complete my Graduate degree in Counseling at Sacramento State in 2015. I also completed a continuing education program in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) through the Florida Institute of Technology in 2017. Since 2014, I have worked in ABA, a private practice, community-based mental health, and education-based behavior intervention and mental health counseling.

I have particular experience and interest in the areas of LGBTQ+ community and identity, grief, cptsd/complex trauma/dissociation recovery, dreams, the role of art and writing in healing, ecopsychology, and spirituality. I have particular experience working with queer and trans youth, women recovering from religious abuse, and with folks who identify as ethically non monogamous andor kinky.

Whether your child is struggling with Anxiety, ADD/ADHD symptoms, Anger Management, Self-Harm, Depression, Obsessive-Compulsive behaviors, Trouble in school, Experienced abuse or neglect, Life transitions such as parent’s divorce, Difficulty adjusting to a new environment, Loss of a loved one, Behavioral problems at school or home, Lack of social skills and interactions, Illegal drug use, Emotional or psychological problems, it is important that you know they don’t have to be alone in this journey.

Perhaps you are feeling anxious, sad, or “stuck.” You may be struggling with a transition, such as becoming a new parent, starting a new job, coping with a loss, or adapting to life after a difficult medical diagnosis. Or, perhaps you find yourself overwhelmed by fear and negative feelings for no apparent reason at all. If any of this sounds familiar to you, residual, unprocessed feelings from the past may be holding you back from living the life you desire. At Onward Healing, we specialize in using EMDR therapy to help you heal the wounds of your past, to enrich your experience of the present, and to clear a path onward.

Sometimes life becomes challenging. We get sad, depressed, overwhelmed, and often we can’t seem to get back to our “old self.” Sometimes we just need someone to talk through our feelings with no judgement. Therapy is a great way to navigate through these feelings and experiences and I look forward to working through it with you.

It is possible to unlearn the messages that no longer serve you, and to work towards the life you want to build. Healing starts with validation of your lived experiences. Often, harmful messages about our race, gender, sexuality and ability can impact our self-perception, sense of safety and connection to others. We can work together to name, unlearn, and navigate through these messages, so you can live life authentically and joyfully.

We often spend time trying to control life's problems through food, perfectionism, rigid boundaries, or people pleasing, but these efforts then cause even more pain and disappointment. I will be honest- healing is not a comfortable process, because it pushes us to be vulnerable, authentic, and curious about our habits and motives. Once you embrace the process, though, there is a joyous experience in self-liberation! Whether through eating disorder recovery, trauma processing, or exploring your identity, I would be honored to be a guide and support in your healing process.