Therapists in Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA

I believe in creating an open, safe, non-judgmental, and compassionate therapeutic environment that is informed by structure to help you make the changes necessary to build the life that you want. I also believe in an equally kind and direct stylistic approach, coupled with a strong emphasis on collaboration. In our work together, I will provide you with scientifically studied tools to help move you in the direction you wish to go. That is why I practice mindfulness-based 3rd wave cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT), primarily Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

For over 25 years, Dr. White has maintained a wide-ranging private practice that includes individuals, groups, couples, children and families. Her work draws on developmental and depth psychologies as well as family systems theory. Special interests include couples coping with infertility, parenting, and dreamwork. She often collaborates with colleague and husband Barry Michels--author, along with Dr. Phil Stutz, of the best-selling book The Tools. Parents seeking advice appreciate Dr. White's extensive background in child development. She helps children and families with issues that involve discipline, life transitions and loss such as divorce and death, and academic and social challenges.

Are you are looking to be challenged and face truths you were trying to avoid for years just to find that these truths keep reoccurring and the same mistake being repeated?. Are you facing issues that effect your relationships, career, happiness and quality of life? I provide a multicultural, confidential and non-judgmental environment where you can explore your thoughts, fears and feelings, mistakes and possibly make new choices next time you reach a crossroad in your life. Time is wasted much too often.

I view psychotherapy as a collaborative approach between the client and the therapist, where we work together on your therapeutic goals as well as help reach greater awareness and personal growth. I work with individuals, families, and couples with many presenting issues such as depression, anxiety, relational issues, and life transitions/challenges. My approach to therapy integrates aspects of psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness.

It can be hard growing up in Los Angeles and dealing with the intense pressure of school, family and friends. It's also hard trying to be an adult, working to establish one's self and feel comfortable in saying, "This is who I am, this is who I want to be." We all come through this process with different stories, experiences and perspective. I love to work with families and individuals on this journey. I have had over five years of experience working with families during their deepest moments of pain and confusion, joy and growth.

Do you sometimes have feelings of anxiety or sadness more often than you would like? Do you ever feel like you are trapped in a pattern of making poor choices in life, having no grasp of why you make these choices, and why you seem unable to choose differently? I believe that therapy is a means to illuminate your internal world, and explore what drives your thoughts and behavior. With a better understanding of where your thinking originates, you will gain a stronger foundation in which to challenge negative and/or distorted thoughts that may be holding you back.

Are you ready to make changes? Would you like to work on understanding yourself better? Together, we will explore how your past experiences are impacting your current thoughts, feelings and behaviors. You'll come away with a an understanding of what you might need to move forward from what might be holding you back. We will work together to learn skills and develop tools that will help you manage your life in a more adaptive and productive manner. Through a caring, compassionate, and holistic approach, you will find your way to being content and living a more meaningful and healthy life.

I enjoy working with individuals who are curious and introspective, who struggle with anxiety and want a deeper understanding of yourselves and how you impact those around you. I work with people who are overthinkers, who long for deeper connections but often get caught in circular patterns of repetitive and persistent thoughts that prevent you from being fully present in your relationships.

"Life is not what it's supposed to be. It's what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference." I am a Marriage Family Associate that specializes in relationship and intimacy issues, sex therapy, infidelity and sex and porn addiction . I work collaboratively with my clients to facilitate recognition of their strengths so they can actualize self-growth, meet therapy goals, find peace and develop healthy relationships.

The depth tradition holds that all healing begins with a call or a longing manifested through symptoms like depression, anxiety, discontent, pain, or illness. If we choose to accept the invitation of our symptoms and our pain, we may discover that they can be life's unique way of getting our attention ~ drawing us into a deeper engagement and collaboration with our authentic self. Symptoms invite us to consider what needs shifting, shedding, grieving, loving, embracing; what is true, meaningful, creative, and life affirming. I welcome the opportunity to assist you in your process of self discovery, growth and healing.

I've been guiding patients and couples toward emotional well-being for over 25 years. Kindness, compassion, and a capacity for deep listening allows for the co-creation of a secure therapeutic alliance, and an emotionally satisfying relationship. Together we'll identify interpersonal difficulties and negative emotional patterns. Building upon your unique individual history, we'll construct a coherent personal narrative that brings meaning and understanding to your life. This enriching relational process enables you to adapt to life's challenges, become emotionally resilient, and deeply connect with yourself and others.

There is a way out...of the suffering, of the loneliness and agony so hard to express to another person, and of the shame that you "ought" to be able to figure this out on your own. I think we are hard-wired to connect, and that lack of intimate connection is so much more complicated than meets the eye. In some ways, the higher the intelligence, the more difficult it can be to work oneself out of emotional knots. Just feeling like a trusting person actually "gets it" is half the battle. And believe it or not, corny as it sounds, the awful suffering one feels can be a bridge to a greater connection to humanity.

I really enjoy working with individuals and couples. I help clients become more aware of their body sensations and use that language to identify feelings and thoughts. This allows clients to connect with their full internal experience. Clients find this extremely helpful, especially those who have suffered traumatic incidents or long-term traumas. I am gentle and supportive in my work and use deep emotional exploration of past and present mixed with a body-based mindful approach to move clients toward healing. I am EFT informed when it comes to couples work. Couples find me grounding, fair, and supportive.

As a parenting coach and consultant, I attend to whatever needs the most pressing attention in your family. In addition to office meetings, I offer home and school visits to help determine the most expedient course of action to help your family navigate your current developmental challenge. These unique consultations are often short-term, and families may return for periodic visits to address new issues as they emerge. Consider me your parenting partner from birth until your children launch, and even beyond!

I'm very interested in helping people develop greater trust in themselves and, ultimately, greater hunger for life. I work with most feeling-based concerns including depression, anxiety, and trauma. Some of my further interests include loneliness, creative expression, and job dissatisfaction. I work primarily with adults but also work with children on a limited basis.

Fred Rogers said, “It’s the people we love the most who can make us feel the gladdest… and the maddest! Love and anger are such a puzzle! It’s hard for us, as adults, to understand and manage our angry feelings toward parents, spouses, and children, or to keep their anger toward us in perspective. It’s a different kind of anger from the kind we may feel toward strangers because it is so deeply intertwined with caring and attachment.” Does this statement resonate with you as it does with me? If so, you are not alone.

My practice is based on an integrative model that privileges contemporary relational theory and practice. I work with a range of issues with individual adults, couples and families, and have a particular interest in working with artists, writers, and intellectuals. When choosing a psychotherapist, it is important to find a good fit - someone you feel comfortable with. Psychotherapy is at best a healing and transformational journey that allows you to have healthier and more satisfying relationships with yourself and others. A good relationship with your therapist is the most important factor in a successful outcome.

I believe that the therapeutic relationship is a core part of engaging in healthy life changes. Change is very difficult for most people and sometimes all it takes is to talk about your struggles and have someone to listen and try to understand. My belief is that the therapy relationship can help the healing process no matter what it is you are dealing with. The first step towards having a happy life is a healthy mind.

I believe that with greater knowledge the potential for understanding and the capacity for change become possible. Through therapy, meaningful and lasting changes can occur related to improving relationships, making desired lifestyle or behavioral changes, and reducing symptoms of depression or anxiety, as well as personal growth. My practice is devoted toward working with clients to better understand why they behave and feel the way they do and to achieve their personal goals.