Therapists in Playa Del Rey, CA

When you find yourself at a Crossroads in your life, it is often the best time to come into therapy to address the issues that are troubling you. I am adept at guiding you to explore the feelings and thoughts that are weighing on you, assisting you in gaining insight that can help you shift your perspective and make positive changes that can lead to the realization of your most deeply treasured goals. Together, we'll come to understand your experience of depression, anxiety/stress and/or conflict in life, and we'll develop ways of making your desired changes.

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are" (E.E. Cummings) It also takes courage to wade through this directory. And, courage to take the leap of faith to email, text, or call. So, I want you to know I am passionate about helping my clients grow and find out who you really are - and heal from what has kept you from yourself, and others. Becoming is the wondrous journey along the way. Think we may be a match? We may also be a match if you are highly sensitive, parenting a highly sensitive child, or navigating the world of adoption or later in life parenting.

Life Coaching: I use my 20+ years of experience to help plan and elevate my clients’ lives to the next level. I help clients focus on their present life, make adjustments (big or small), and help them move toward positive goals in their personal and professional life. Whether going through a major transitional phase, or just needing some motivation and encouragement, I serve as a professional mentor. I work by asking the right questions and by providing creative exercises to derive insights, develop action plans and provide feedback needed to help clients discover and make positive changes for greater happiness and success.

Everyone experiences challenges from time to time, but when the tough times are starting to outweigh the good times or you keep seeing the same patterns repeat over and over in your life, you may want to consider seeking help. I am here not to give you advice, but to help you learn to listen to and trust yourself deeply and fully so that you can live the kind of life you've always wanted.

My approach is that there is no one size fits all type of therapy. I treat each person like the unique human that they are and tailor my services to fit their needs. You might be someone who has been cruising along just fine in life. You get things done. You're surviving. But perhaps you sense something is off. Are you thriving? Is there space to live life in a more fulfilling way? Or maybe you've been struggling for a while. You've tried to help yourself in various ways. But nothing has helped long-term. No matter where you are at in your journey there is always room for growth and a little extra support from a helpful therapist..

Together, we can make sense of the messiness of life. My treatment approach is strengths-based, authentic, holistic, collaborative & highly customized to each client. In sessions, you can expect to be equipped with practical tools, observations, insights and nurturing containment. You can expect an honest, connected relationship where both laughter and tears are welcomed. Our work will allow you to build on your innate resiliency. Connecting with a professional therapist can shed light on what may need to shift in order to heal and align with the healthiest version of you.

I have over 30 years of experience in helping people of all ages with a variety of presenting problems, including depression, anxiety, severe and chronic mental illnesses, etc. I have extensive experience in work with trauma, addictions, and adults from dysfunctional families. I also work with people who have chronic and terminal illnesses and their families, and in accepting losses of all kinds. I welcome children, adolescents, adults and families to experience the benefits of therapy.

Currently Accepting New Clients, email nidia(at)nhernandezlcsw.com. I aim to support individuals dealing with personal and professional barriers impacting their well-being. In my clinical practice, I support issues such as depression, anxiety, anger management, emerging adulthood transitions, intergenerational trauma, past trauma histories, systemic oppression, and burnout. Some issues can impact our ability to reach our potential to live a fulfilling and enriching life. You are not alone, and together we can support your healing journey.

Sometimes when things go wrong, we don’t know exactly why. Problems at home or work, health issues, relationship struggles, and life transitions can all create a sense of deep disconnect. Being understood will often increase your personal satisfaction and improve your life on a deeper level. The ultimate goal of this work and my main interest is that you come to know yourself more deeply and live a more complete and satisfying life, thereby raising your level of functioning and returning to or discovering a life of gratification and vitality. I am a clinical psychologist with 35 years of experience, licensed in Calif. and Colorado.

It shows a lot of strength to seek support when needed. Therapy is there to provide you with the space to heal and grow. I value the therapeutic relationship and believe that forming a positive connection with your therapist is a vital part of successful treatment. I offer a safe, compassionate, collaborative, and challenging space to support with improving quality of life and well-being. I have been trained to treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, and Depression. I have worked and treated various themes of OCD both in an intensive treatment center and in an outpatient setting.

When people come to me, they're often carrying the weight of their obsessions, worries, burnout, trauma, and stress. Through our work together, my clients feel more unburdened in their lives and in their relationships with others. They learn to let go of their unhelpful narratives and behavior patterns, while they grow a more accepting and compassionate perspective towards themselves. As a woman of color, I am sensitive to the ways that identity and mental health impact each other. I take an action-oriented and direct approach, motivating you to take positive steps both in and outside of the therapy session.

Life, especially nowadays, comes with a lot of unparalleled challenges, and I hope to provide support and compassion to encourage my clients to feel safe in expressing their current thoughts and feelings about their unique life circumstances. I aim to help my clients make more more satisfying life choices through increased insight into how their mind works. This will in turn help my clients better tackle life's challenges, especially surrounding life transitions, relationships, and family issues.

You are welcome to positively change your life. I am a licensed therapist who is passionate about joining with clients in a way that allows for true self-actualization, by providing genuine care and unconditional positive regard. I have experience with children, couples, families, individuals, teens, and older adult population. Relational interactions, working with couples, premarital counseling, and polyamory are areas that I am passionate about, as building a healthy foundation for marriage will reduce the risk of marital distress.

My clients are lovely people going through difficult things. Whether you are going through a break-up, loss, life transition or adjusting to the post-pandemic world, it can be a struggle to find your footing on your own. I have found that, in order to move forward with an empowered and clear mind, it is helpful to integrate the recent past into an evolving narrative that feels right for you. I offer a kind, nonjudgmental space where you can feel heard and find tools to quiet the noise, develop new perspectives and connect to your unique voice and path to self-fulfillment.

Many clients come to see me when they are feeling a great deal of life stress and anxiety. Nowadays, life can feel so demanding and overwhelming, often times causing anxiety and worries that start to impact our lives. Some of these stressors can also include life transitions - which we all go through and can be positive, however also feel intimidating and daunting. Together we work through this feelings, as well as by teaching and learning new coping tools, to help things start to feel more manageable and you feel more confident.

Many of us feel a longing for a more satisfying life but are unsure of how to get there, or feel stymied by anger, shame, anxiety, or grief.

As human beings, we tend to shy away from pain. In order to heal the pain, we must first acknowledge it. When we take a closer look at our pain, a number of emotions can emerge. In therapy, I will provide a safe space for you to experience emotions and memories that are hard to face alone. In session, clients often experience me as attentive, compassionate, and genuine. By exploring and asking questions about your experiences, I will help you create a strong sense of self-awareness that will help you navigate the difficulties of life more effectively.

Behind each difficult emotion or experience, lies a valuable lesson about who we are. In the midst of dealing with the overwhelm of life, our humanity is needing connection, compassion and acceptance. In the therapeutic space, I offer not only a "witnessing" of your humanity, but also a non judgmental look into how you came to be, so that feelings can be felt and not shut out. By inviting these "negative feelings" in, I allow people to be seen right where they are at. This compassionate approach rebuilds the relationship with yourself and gets to the root of change. Spanish & English speaking individuals, couples, families welcome!