Elders (65+) Therapists in West Central, Pasadena, CA

**Accepting ADHD & Autism Testing clients at this time. 2-3 month waiting list.*** I am a licensed clinical psychologist and wellness curator with over 10-years of experience providing psychological and neuropsychological testing for teens and young adults. I understand the nuances and overlap between mental health disorders and various aspects of neurodiversity, and am skilled at differential diagnosis. I provide professional assessment for ADHD and Autism, as well as accommodations testing for young adults struggling with learning differences.

I have worked as a clinical psychologist for over 40 years, specializing in psychodynamic and interpersonal insight therapy, primarily with young, mature, and older adults. Philosophically, I believe anyone can overcome obstacles to living a good life with the assistance of an experienced psychotherapist in the context of a supportive and empathic therapeutic relationship. I enjoy working with people who are highly motivated to take an honest look at themselves, their history and relationships, and who seriously want to make changes in their lives.

I believe that every day gives us the opportunity to approach our difficulties in a new way if we are open to the experience of change. When people come to see me they are usually in some kind of emotional pain, whether that be stemming from a recent trauma, loss, life transition or relationship struggle. Talking about it helps. My personal approach combines warmth, acceptance and respect with skill and dedication to understanding my clients’ unique needs.

Maria Favela-Castro, is a bilingual Spanish-speaking, Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, supervised by Dr. Clara Aparicio, Psy.D. PSY28302. Ms. Favela-Castro received her Master degree from National University in Counseling Psychology and her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, San Bernardino in Sociology. For the last 10years, Ms. Favela-Castro has gained experience in non-profit agencies assisting children, women, and their families.

My focus is to help individuals and families heal from anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship/family issues. As the therapeutic area of concern is introduced, we can begin to work together in developing empowerment of self as we set up together healthy and achievable goals. I aim to establish include compassion, good communication and trust. In our relationship then I will work alongside you to develop your own coping tools. My approach is a person-centered (positive type) direction to further your strengths and resilience which is tailored towards your specific goals and needs.

The dominant culture tells us that speeding up and maximizing convenience will lead to happiness, yet many of us feel more isolated, confused, ashamed and less alive to possibility than ever. The right collaborative relationship with a therapist can offer a path away from fleeting illusions and toward the cultivation of true fulfillment and joy. We can’t alter the past but we can transform our relationship to it. Work begins w/ sharing feelings in a safe space so they become bearable, allowing us to see the dynamics giving rise to them and deepen insight about what needs to change.

What's wrong with me? I should have this figured out by now! But no matter what you tell yourself, you can't break free from the stress that's draining you. It pulls your energy in every direction, never caring that there’s only one of you. Meanwhile, your mind is radio-fixed on what could go wrong if you make a mistake, your anxiety growing. You need a break. Time to spend with those you love, where you can catch your breath. Peace to make confident decisions, finally getting ahead at work. The ability to turn down the background noise of your mind, embracing both rest and accomplishment. But how do you get from here to there?

Author and psychologist Alice Miller once wrote, “Consciously experiencing our legitimate emotions is liberating. Repressed emotion can be resolved as soon as it is felt, understood, and recognized as legitimate.” Dr. Miller’s words capture my work as a psychotherapist. It is my hope to help my patients legitimately experience their complex emotional worlds in order to cultivate a rich and meaningful life. Although this is no easy task, I offer my partnership on this journey toward relief and healing, both internally and interpersonally.

Navigating through life's challenges can be difficult and at times family and friends may not provide the support you are looking for. You are not alone. I believe I can help make a difference in your current situation regardless of your background or stage in life. My goal is to create a place where you can be and explore your most authentic self. Much of therapy starts with discussing challenges and current issues. However, my approach focuses on and utilizing your strengths. If we can determine what your strengths are, together we can enhance them and use them to help overcome life's current obstacles and challenges.

When we think of art, we typically think of paintings, films, and music. But what about living life? Ancient Greek philosophers believed that living life is an art. They also thought that, with practice, we can learn to be better artists. I believe that to live well, to navigate the challenges and struggles of life in a way that is authentic to who we are and who we want to be, would be nothing short of creating a masterpiece. Just like there is no one right way to create art, there is no one right way to live life. I believe therapy is a collaborative process that aims to create art through the life we live.

Asking for help is not always easy. Whether you are trying to navigate a difficult relationship, deepen an existing one, or if you find yourself in a place where you feel "stuck", we can work to equip you with tools to help your particular situation. The majority of my clients say therapy helped them increase their self-awareness and communication skills, reduce stress, have less anxiety, and have an increased ability to deal emotions. I specialize in work with individuals and couples around anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. I also specialize in group therapy and currently have openings my Thursday evening group at 6pm.

Do you want to make changes in your life? Do you want to make healthy choices that will enable you to reach your full potential? Psychotherapy provides a healing relationship - a second chance at discovering our capacity to grow, to love, to reflect and to change how we react to the world around us. Through the connection of the therapeutic relationship, one is able to transform patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Today you are one step closer to creating positive changes in your life. It would be an honor and a privilege to join you on this journey!

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.

Anxiety disorders affect nearly 1 in 5 Americans. The Grayson LA Center for the Treatment of Anxiety & OCD (LAOCD is here to help sufferers regain control of their lives. Our philosophy is to treat every sufferer as an individual. After an initial evaluation, therapy is customized to the client's needs. LAOCD is nationally recognized for providing cutting edge, state of the art CBT to sufferers. LAOCD is dedicated to helping anxiety sufferers through therapy, public education, community service and research. Our staff regularly presents at national conferences to educate clinicians and the public. Because sufferers need it, we offer free support groups.

In everyone's life, some heartache will happen. Some days, the things we do to cope with stress no longer work as well as they once did; other days, it may feel like everything is falling apart. No matter what your struggle is, we will work together to understand the source of your problems and develop practical strategies to reach your goals. In your first session, we will begin to answer the question, "What would help look like right now?" and help you cultivate and develop tools you may not even know you had within your reach.

I have had over 25 years of experience helping people deal with anxiety, depression and traumatic experiences. Creating a safe, trusting relationship is the basis of productive therapy and healing. I am an empathetic listener who uses a variety of approaches to help people reach their goals.

Do you find yourself having a difficult time coping with anxiety, depression, and trauma? Do you have a hard time communicating and setting boundaries with others? Life is full of obstacles and hardships that may be difficult to overcome without the right tools, resources, and, guidance leading to the manifestation of these symptoms. I specialize in working with adults, couples, and adolescents using a Psychodynamic approach to explore unconscious thoughts and behaviors. In doing this, we are able to collaboratively recognize old ineffective patterns and process unresolved feelings and trauma.

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.

We all want to become, be, and remain adults able to enjoy times of great happiness and grow from times of stress, difficulty, and sadness. This is not an easy process and requires learning from feeling, thinking about, and experiencing the ups and downs of our lives, understanding what our experiences mean, where they come from, and what we can do to make changes in our lives. In this process we know that we can experience anxiety, depression, stress, tension, and many other things that require professional help in order to maintain our footing and keep moving forward in our lives.