Gottman Method Therapists in Pasadena, CA

Melissa strongly believes in a multi-disciplinary, holistic approach to patient care. She is dedicated to creating a safe and judgment-free environment, as well as helping individuals find peace and heal their inner child and past traumas. She is available for couples, family, and individual therapy.

Welcome. I work primarily with couples and couples who are parents. Parenting and marriage play significant roles in our lives and they got harder during Covid. New parents especially are coping with topics that their relatives and friends with older children may have a hard time relating to. I am here to help new parents and couples navigate this transition time as individuals, partners, and parents. I rely heavily on attachment theory, Gottman method techniques for couples and raising emotionally intelligent children, and mindfulness.

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.

Life can be challenging and certainly has its ups and downs, it is my passion to come alongside individuals during difficult times and strive to meet you where you are, providing support and encouragement to overcome the challenges in life. I strive to assist clients to gain awareness, understanding and control over their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Through exploration, self reflection and insight I work with clients and provide the space that is necessary to process past traumas in a safe manner and allow clients to heal in a healthy way.

Sometimes we feel lost, angry, or sad about our romantic relationships. I have been using the Gottman Method for couples therapy for 7+ years. This method is based on extensive research on what tools "master couples" use to have successful relationships.

Please, call me JJ. Let's find ways to create stability in your relationships. I have completed the Level 3 Practicum Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and specialize in working with couples to rebuild the bridges of communication. I am able to work with infidelity and trauma that may have occurred in relationships. When working with individuals I can help you discover the tools you need to work through life's challenges. I believe there is a way to heal trauma, both past and present, through building a strong trusting therapeutic relationship.

I believe that you are the expert of your own life. You don't need someone to tell you what to do, and I won't be that person. I will collaborate with you, explore past experiences that have shaped who you are today, and figure out what's keeping you from living the life you want. This isn't always an easy process. It takes courage and hard work, but the rewards are great. I provide an environment that is curious, empathetic, supportive, and down to Earth. I'll help you discover your strengths and become more in-tune with your emotions. You can do this!

There are a lot of very good reasons to seek therapy, and a lot of empathetic and skillful clinicians providing those services. The therapists on this site come from many different backgrounds, colleges, and theoretical orientations, but the one thing we can all agree on is that we want you to find the best therapist for you and your particular needs. If you think that therapist might be me, I invite you to book a free consultation so we can see if we're a good fit to work together, or if I could refer you to one of my trusted colleagues.

I offer Telehealth and teletherapy sessions. You deserve to be happy and my goal is to get you there. Together we can explore the issues at hand and develop a plan that allows you to move forward, confidently. Do you feel like life has become unmanageable? Are you unsure of the next step? Do you feel like you and your partner are more like roommates who are annoyed with one another instead of romantic partners?

Do you struggle with anxiety and depression due to your childhood trauma? Are you having problems with your partner or family members due to life transition issues? Are you experiencing increased stress, fears, and doubts around the future? I believe that we all have the capacity to heal our emotional wounds and create meaningful changes. My goal as a therapist is to offer you a safe place in which you can process insights, concerns, and emotions associated with trauma.

I enjoy working with couples of all backgrounds. I am trained in the best 2 therapeutic modalities in the world to help couples connect with each other. I use Emotionally Focused Therapy and the Gottman Method to help support couples obtain the best connection possible. I also support individuals better understand their lives using EFT-I.

**NOT ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS AT THIS TIME** You and your partner have drifted apart. Lives are busy and there's no time to have those heart-to-heart talks. You're missing intimacy and sex is nonexistent. Tension and conflict have become more present than they once were. Neither of you are ready to give up, but you both know your relationship won't last if it continues on this trajectory. Your relationship is worth saving and you're both ready for change. If this sounds like you, the time is now. Let's get started.

Are you feeling lonely, hurt, or hopeless in your relationship? Do you and your partner live like roommates? Are you having the same fights over and over? Or, are you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed by your physical and emotional challenges and changes? Are you uncertain or scared about what the future holds? Is your profession caring for others making you return home feeling exhausted and burned out? Are you ready to restore healthy connections in your relationships with your partner, your work, and yourself?

I work to provide a supportive and client-centered space for individuals to share their experiences. Reaching out to a therapist can be a difficult experience and it is important to me that my clients feel comfortable and safe. I am genuinely passionate about building a healthy, nurturing, and interactive relationship with clients, which will help foster growth and change. I earned my BA from the UCLA and my Masters in Social Work from USC. I am currently providing psychotherapy both in-person and via telehealth.

I offer support and guidance to my clients as they grow and discover new ways of being. I meet you with a Client-Centered Approach that puts your needs and goals first. I do not see people as broken, like a machine, but as organically growing and adapting to our environment. Drawing from Mindfulness, Neuroscience, and Art Therapy, I have an abundance of tools to assist you in coping, adjusting, and changing your situation. I am very focused on being of service and supporting you in finding your state of wellbeing that persists no matter the circumstances of your life. Telehealth therapy available. For more see: MonicaMayall.com

I help couples overcome communication gridlock, manage conflict, and deepen their connection. I also provide EMDR for individuals who are experiencing symptoms of trauma, depression, and anxiety.

You’re not a big fan of yourself. You are your own worst critic and get in your own way. Relationships feel unbalanced and you give a lot more than you get back. Boundaries…what boundaries? You wake up feeling unfulfilled, uninspired, less than. You’re totally exhausted from feeling this way. Whether it's people pleasing, perfectionism, looking to the outside to fill the inside, feeling unloveable; it's all about building the relationship you have with yourself, which is the foundation for everything. This is my superpower as a therapist. I will help you realize your value, appreciate your uniqueness and become a fan of yourself.

Are you looking to solve the problem you have been having within your family? I am here to help you get the support you’ve been looking for to improve your relationships. Help with the fights at home about homework. Help getting your child to do what they are told the first time. Help with a transition to a new stage of life. I've always gravitated towards working with youth and young adults with the highest needs because that is where I have seen I've been most effective as a therapist.