Attachment-based Therapists in West Central, Pasadena, CA

My life is spinning out of control. I don’t know what to do with myself. How will I ever cope? Will this ever end? If you have ever experienced these thoughts or something similar, you are not alone. Whether finding a new job or settling down with a partner, sometimes life feels like a never-ending struggle. How you maneuver through life’s difficult circumstances can be emotionally and physically challenging. For example, moving to another country, city, or town (as I did when I migrated from London England to California) or the dramatic changes one experiences at the loss of a loved one.

What a journey - to be in your shoes and find yourself here today! My goal is to help clients find healing and empowerment, and for them to reflect on their journeys for change. I specialize in working with young children, providing parent coaching to parents of children 0 to 8 years old, and working with young adults who are navigating the changes, stress, and excitement that early adulthood brings. Additionally, as a member of the Maternal Mental Health team, I am honored to provide support for pregnant people and new moms and parents going through these new and ever-changing periods in their lives.

For many of us, the challenges we face in our daily lives can be overwhelming, no matter what form they take. We find ourselves repeating the same unhealthy patterns, yet struggle to understand why. After a while we begin to lose trust in our judgement and grow distant from our intuition, finding it difficult to identify our own guiding voice. So we learn to cope through any means possible, which often emulate ways we have learned to protect ourselves. We find ways to run from the pain and our internal shame through substance use, unhealthy relationships, and other self-destructive behaviors.

As a therapist, I know how difficult it can be to juggle all that life expects of us while experiencing mental or emotional distress. Whether it’s unwanted anxious thoughts, healing from a past trauma, or feeling stuck in your relationships, you are not alone. I will provide you a warm and safe space, free of judgment, for us to uncover your truth and work toward giving you a more peaceful and fulfilling future.

My therapeutic approach mainly focuses on helping my clients identify their strengths to help alleviate anxiety, depression, and trauma. I am a firm believer that our childhood experiences contribute to our beliefs, behavioral patterns, and selecting a romantic partner. Therapy is a process! To allow ourselves to be intimate and vulnerable with someone about our experiences and trauma can be daunting. As a therapist, it is my goal to help validate, create a safe environment and help understand aspects of lived experiences.

You deserve to feel seen, heard and supported! We are all in a collective period of transition, and change naturally brings up feelings of anxiety and fear that can seem overwhelming and unmanageable. But you do not have to face these feelings alone. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; I provide a safe space to feel, process, and integrate these changes into your life. I believe that the body should always be apart of talk therapy, and I use a variety of Mindfulness practices to help my clients become embodied before exploring the root of their problems.

Accepting new clients! I am a non-judgmental, empathetic, client-centered therapist who works with individuals of all ages, couples, families, and groups. My hope is to create a space for you to feel truly safe and supported while having your multilayered experiences honored, validated, and understood. My approach to therapy is multi-disciplinary, combining psychodynamic techniques, attachment-based , and trauma-informed therapy. I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) & Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT).

I have over 12 years experience in the field of grief, loss and life transitions and have seen how disruptive it can be to individuals, partnerships and families. I have worked primarily with clients who have been impacted by a chronic health condition, those who have lost a loved one or are experiencing anxiety and depression due to a life transition. My approach is to make meaning of your losses, support you through your grief and identify strategies to help you feel grounded, connected and seen.

Life can be incredibly difficult at times and is further exacerbated by our present day sociopolitical context, historical trauma, colonization and our own self-perception. As a therapist, I have the privilege of supporting people to explore all the complexities of their individual experience and how this impacts all aspects of their lives and relationships. My clients are often working hard to better understand their own experience, actions, values and how to create more alignment within them in order to move towards their desired goals.

Are you stuck in the same old argument? Are you struggling with communication, boundaries, doubts, or infidelity? Does intimacy feel awkward, embarrassing, or boring? Are you or your loved ones repeating behaviors or relationships and wishing you could break the cycle? Sometimes, we get stuck, and change can feel impossible. That's where I come in. My job is to listen, help you understand root causes of your difficulties, break unwanted patterns, and teach you practical tools to help change your life. If you have the sense you're not reaching your potential for health, happiness, or success, it may be time to move toward a change.

Nobody’s childhood dream was to grow up and feel overwhelmed, alone, stuck or unworthy. I aim to help individuals heal from trauma-related issues such as anxiety, depression, and relationship/family issues. If you find yourself living without a navigation system to understand emotional terrain or trauma that impacts your well-being; you are not alone. All of us go through rough patches in our lives. My approach is specific to meet your unique needs in a safe and non-judgemental space.

Do you have a hard time saying no? Feel emotionally drained, insecure, or stuck in people-pleasing? Does conflict feel uncomfortable or scary? Do you fall into patterns in relationships, friendships, or work and wish you could break the cycle? Sometimes, it isn't obvious why we do the things we do, but we can sense we're not our most authentic or successful self. And even when we know the cause of our distress, changing our behavior can still be hard. That's where I come in. My job is to listen without judgment, pressure, or bias and help you examine the root causes of your challenges to create the change you want in your life.

Feeling alone in your grief, stress, or sadness is an overwhelming place to be. For many of us, facing a major loss or life transition without support can lead to feeling stuck or even hopeless. These emotions are normal if you live with a chronic illness or are the caregiver for someone with a chronic illness. It is natural to desire balance and moments of relief in your daily life, but you may find those difficult to create given the relentless task of managing the chronic medical condition.

Are you struggling to process depression, anxiety, relationship/family issues, and trauma? These emotional ruptures can cause major disruptions in our lives. The work to process these types of life events is multifaceted, and I can help you identify your feelings and potential relational patterns, build tolerance and acceptance around challenging ones, and set meaningful goals. In order to do so, I utilize various therapeutic approaches consisting of ACT, CBT, and Problem Solving Therapy and somatic interventions.

Life can feel overwhelming at times. You might be feeling worries and can't stop. You might have experienced recent or past trauma that's affecting your well-being. You could be experiencing a crisis, having difficulties with family, a partner, or friend. If you're feeling sad, anxious, or not like yourself, it's time to reach out. You might need someone that can really listen and guide you through your mental distress. I will teach you tools to sort through your thoughts, feelings, and find a healthy relationship with yourself. I will work with you to heal, cope, and achieve harmony.

If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, your past, your present, or your future, you don’t have to do it alone. A shift in perspective can profoundly affect how we feel and what we are able to do, or stop doing, in our lives. Talking with someone who is both objective and 100% on your side can help you see things from a new angle and move forward in new ways, with someone who cares standing behind you.

Looking for growth, skills, connection and empowerment during challenging times? Our compassionate and expert Institute team is dedicated to empowering girls, women, families, and gender expansive individuals through strength-based services. We offer therapy (individual, group and family), assessment, community education, and professional training. Our caring, experienced, and creative therapists work from various approaches to best meet the unique needs of our clients and their families. Our skill-building workshops and groups inspire children and teens to use their voices and build resilience and leadership.

Life definitely has its challenging moments. You don't have to face these challenges alone. Together we can help you develop a deeper understanding of the emotional stresses you are experiencing. Relationship problems, loss of a loved one, depression, anxiety, a medical crisis, career options closing, or lack of direction in life often leave people feeling overwhelmed. Therapy can create a clearer understanding of unresolved issues, help you develop a sense of meaning, broaden your life perspective, and move you forward to a more vibrant future.

My therapeutic style is primarily relational, meaning that I cultivate a warm atmosphere to discuss your current issues, and collaborate with you to deepen your curiosity about yourself, your difficulties, and ways to move forward. Therapy with me often includes learning about the brain/body connection and how this interplay impacts how we relate to ourselves and others. As human beings, we are wonderfully complex, and I value how therapy can be a space to integrate your understanding of the various social, cultural, sexual, spiritual, or neurodiverse aspects of your life and how they have shaped you as a "whole person."