Psychodynamic Therapists in Highland Park, Los Angeles, CA

I have experience providing treatment to a variety of populations and mental health issues. I have worked with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, panic attacks, trauma, substance abuse issues, life adjustments, and relational problems. As a bilingual therapist with over 15 years of experience, I believe that formulating a close working relationship with you is the most important aspect of treatment. I provide a safe space for you to be your true and authentic self without judgment. This offers you the opportunity to work towards being your best self to minimize or eliminate any current distress you are experiencing.

As a daughter of immigrant parents, a working mother, and a wife, I can see your resiliency and grit. With almost 15 years of working in this field, I have the skills to provide high-quality individual therapy sessions and develop comprehensive goals tailored to each client's unique needs. I have dedicated myself to improving the lives of individuals struggling with an array of mental health problems (i.e., depression, anxiety, childhood abuse, low self-esteem, etc.) and with a diverse set of backgrounds (i.e., undocumented Latinx individuals, military veterans, and families within the child welfare system).

I have worked in a wide range of settings, including college counseling, hospitals, and correctional settings, which has given me an appreciation for different cultures, perspectives, and lifestyles. These experiences have taught me that although we all have our struggles and make mistakes, we are each deserving of care and compassion. My hope is to help people feel understood, valued, and accepted, no matter their background or situation.

Welcome. You have started an important search. Finding the right therapist isn’t always easy, and I encourage you to listen to what feels right for you. My work starts with you and what you are looking to address. We will explore the contributing factors to what you want to work on and develop a deeper understanding of your psychological reality. First and foremost, I offer a safe and non-judgmental container for exploration. Nothing is too small or big for this work. My goal is to help you gain insights into your relational and habitual patterns in service of having more agency in your life and being able to feel free to be you.

Hi there! I'm Alexandra Rusu. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (125886) in California. I specialize in working with couples and individuals. My approach to therapy has always been meeting clients where they are. I pride myself on my non-judgmental approach and am here to listen to you deeply with compassion and patience. I often find myself working with people experiencing anxiety or depression due to various life circumstances. As well as couples looking for better relationships.

If you are reading this, then I imagine you have found yourself needing change. Perhaps you are exhausted by the daily anxiety that has you believe you are never safe, always questioning your place and relationships. Maybe you are finally ready to delve into past trauma, knowing it is time to dive into the unknown in the hopes to release its grip on your life. Relationship difficulties with family members or partners are at an all time high, and you find yourself needing support to learn how to communicate and be heard. Maybe you simply need a space to feel safe, supported, and learn how to breathe fully again.

I view the role of therapy as learning to look at yourself and the world through a lens of curiosity. We'll create a space where you can sit alongside your emotions as they surface, while tuning into the wisdom of your body in real time. It's through this process that stories are unearthed and we can begin the work of self-discovery, healing, and transformation.

As a therapist, I am warm and understanding. I prioritize our therapeutic relationship as I believe strongly that that is the biggest mechanism for change and growth. In sessions, I strike a balance between empathy, compassion, expertise, and accountability that my patients value. I hope to use therapeutic interventions to help patients develop skills to be able to achieve their goals and increase their feelings of self-esteem and confidence.

I am an insightful and engaging therapist who supports and motivates clients to become empowered in reaching their goals and being grounded in themselves. I deeply listen and ask questions to create an open, transparent, and non-judgmental environment. By growing up in an immigrant, bi-cultural family, I understand and accept different world views and perspectives. I want my clients to tune into their inner wisdom as everyone has the gifts within themselves to grow and build resiliency when facing life’s challenges.

You have the ability to live a self determined life, free from the pain of your past. No matter what challenges you are facing, growth, healing, and recovery are possible. My approach to therapy is collaborative, relationship driven, and rooted in helping you understand the way your attachment style and the different parts of your personality influence your relationships, habits, and patterns of behavior. We will work to bring context to your history, understand the ways you've learned to protect yourself, and support new ways for you to respond to old triggers and memories as we build your path to emotional freedom.

My clients are often survivors of trauma, women, and queer people that are curious about how their experiences have impacted them and come to me to help regulate their nervous systems and begin to accept and heal all parts of themselves. I enjoy working with relationship issues, gender, sexuality, identity, and helping folks restore wholeness after surviving traumatic and upsetting experiences, particularly narcissistic abuse or emotionally immature caregivers. In our work together, we will consider how your nervous system has been impacted by your life experiences and help you move into a space of deeper regulation and self love.

You’ve been used to playing small: treading lightly so that you don’t upset others. The very idea of identifying and speaking to what you truly feel, fills you with anxiety. Yet you long to feel more than just the familiar cycles of dread and guilt. You want to feel more joy, more creativity and fulfillment… I want more for you, too. Together, you and I will create a space for you to heal. A space to feel, talk about the hard stuff, reflect and learn…a space to come back to YOU.

You already possess the capacity for more harmony and balance in your life and relationships. I can help you build confidence around communicating your desires and trusting your instincts. And, help you feel more connected to yourself and those you love. Sometimes the obstacles that inhibit us are elusive - it feels difficult to identify what is getting in the way. Others may know the problem but don’t know how to change it. For over 12 years I've helped adults, teens, and couples who struggle with critical voices, toxic patterns, and co-dependency obtain the tools necessary for relief.

I have a warm, strength-based, and integrative style that allows my clients to be their full authentic selves in search of meeting their full potential. Clients often describe me as non-judgmental, empathetic, and collaborative in treating their identified goals.

Welcome. Are you struggling in your relationship? Do you feel alone, frustrated, or overwhelmed? Perhaps distance, criticism, or conflict have taken over and you no longer feel connected to yourself or your partner(s). You may worry that confusion, anger, grief, and loneliness are the new normal in your life. Perhaps you feel something special has been lost, and you want to find it again. Whether you are going through a major change like having a baby, recovering from a betrayal or loss, or simply facing the challenges of everyday life, you may find yourself longing for a feeling of wholehearted connection and belonging.

We all have the capacity for healing through self-discovery, self-awareness, and community building. I guide clients on a journey to authenticity in creative works and expression, fostering relationships with their "parts" and others, and exploring compassion and empathy for parts that are out of alignment with "self energy." With a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach, I create a safe, collaborative space to explore the inner self. As a warm, intuitive therapist, I'm here to witness your transformative journey.

I have experience working effectively with adults, young adults, and teenagers facing challenges such as depression, anxiety, phase-of-life issues, trauma, and grief. Additionally, I provide couples therapy to enhance relationships and communication skills. My specialization includes supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, racial minorities, Asian Americans, children of immigrants, individuals with autism, and their families.

I believe therapy has the potential to help align yourself more confidently to your own body, feelings, and spirit. I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation so we can chat and see if we are a good fit. Feeling unsupported along with lacking in confidence in your abilities can be heartbreaking. I believe it is essential to listen to the healthy part of you that knows there has to be something better than constant worry. There is! I deeply understand the hurt that comes with not being heard or seen.

The process of finding a therapist can often be a daunting first step, and it can be difficult to know who to trust and who can help. A good fit with a therapist includes a feeling of safety and a belief that your therapist has the ability to help you. Clients who find themselves at home in my practice are people who experience chronic depression or anxiety, individuals with a history of family wounding, individuals with relationship or identity issues, couples with difficulty resolving arguments, teens in crisis, and those feeling stuck or in transition.