Therapists in Santa Monica, CA

Darcy Manav
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, CYT
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
My therapeutic intention is to cultivate a collaborative space to foster personal growth, healing and self-awareness. You will feel supported each step of the way as we navigate emotional distress, negative beliefs, trauma, relationship problems, work stress or any other issues keeping you feeling lost, stuck or disconnected. We’ll explore tools to promote emotional resilience, process unresolved traumas and experience a more grounded and empowered sense of self. Because therapy is not a one size fits all experience, sessions and treatment goals are tailored to meet your specific needs and desires for positive growth and change.

Sherry Martyn
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
Are you struggling emotionally from a divorce or other challenging life transitions? Are you feeling like life just isn’t working for you? Whether you are experiencing deep loss, sadness, or other intrusive feelings, please know that therapy can help. It is my passion to assist people in working through the difficult times in their lives. Prior to becoming a psychologist, I worked for 16 years in Family Law & Mediation assisting clients through the divorce process. I offer individual psychotherapy, divorce support & recovery counseling, couples counseling, and divorce support groups. I would be honored to work with you.

Therapy + EMDR for Positive Change
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Would you like to experience a positive change in your life and in your relationships? I offer tools which will assist in the process of positive change. I am committed to helping you find greater wellness, clarity and joy. Whether you are looking for relief from suffering of symptoms of depression and anxiety, an enhanced relationship with yourself and others, greater self-awareness, the cultivation of your own voice and authentic self, or you want to move more fully in the direction of your vocational, athletic, or artistic dreams, therapy is a life-changing gift to give yourself.

Kayna Cassard
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Life throws us obstacles every day. Sometimes we are able to overcome them on our own. Other times however, it is harder to move through them without support. When life becomes overwhelming & there seems like nowhere else to turn, therapy can be a helpful option. To some, therapy seems scary, uncomfortable, strange, or even stigmatizing. But overall, it takes courage to seek help or to make a change. I have training, education, & experience working with a range of psychological issues including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, compulsive behaviors, & addiction.

Alexis Fahey
Marriage & Family Therapist, MMFT, LMFT
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
Feeling stuck? I am so glad you landed on my page. Today you are one step closer to a new you where you shift to feeling more empowered and on a positive path of growth and authenticity! As a person-centered therapist, my goal is to understand your life struggles and be a guide to help you in your path to self discovery. I am dedicated to being an empathetic witness to your healing and provide you a safe space for that to take place. My belief is that therapy can help the healing process, whether you are dealing with transition of life issues, trauma, depression, family issues, or just having a bad day.

Jori Adler
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT, EMDR
Verified
4 Endorsed
Verified
4 Endorsed
A Warm Welcome & Hello! Finding the right therapist involves that certain combo of chemistry & expertise. If you’re looking to expand your consciousness, you’re in the right place. What I do is more than talk therapy. It’s more holistic & innovative and blends elements from all the things that helped me personally - EMDR, Somatic Therapy, Eastern Philosophy, Spirituality.

Natalia Boucher
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
9 Endorsed
Verified
9 Endorsed
Welcome! The challenges of everyday living can seem overwhelming. Life at times presents us with struggles and setbacks, but sometimes the same problems will keep on recurring unless you make a change. Therapy can help you find the underlying causes of why you feel the way you do and finally move towards relief. I would be honored to work together with you on your journey of self-discovery, healing, and growth. My therapy style offers a safe, warm and compassionate environment while encouraging my clients to recognize their strengths and weaknesses within themselves.

Jane Alt
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I specialize in the treatment of trauma, addiction, eating disorders, mental health and relational issues. I provide a safe space for individuals to experience corrective experiences through a CBT approach. My goal is to help clients feel empowered through deep, challenging work. I am also extremely passionate about and experienced with family and couples therapy. I believe that therapy does not define an individual’s life, only alters it. I integrate complementary methodologies to offer a highly personalized approach uniquely tailored to each individual.

Neuro-Somatic Therapy - Parvin Naficy, Psy D.
MA, PsyD
Neurofeedback works best supported by Somatic Therapy. Parvin's multifaceted somatic approach with hand-on sacrocranial work and background in clinical psychology is a perfect preparation and compliment to Neurofeedback. The focus of her work is on facilitating a more balanced, wholesome state in the brain. With a new level of functioning, clients have a chance to develop new habits and accomplish new goals. Typical training sessions last 90 minutes. Sometimes shorter 50 minute sessions with only neurofeedback are warranted.

Denise Maratos
Pre-Licensed Professional, PhD, EdM
Verified
Verified
Do you need support finding your life’s purpose? Do you feel overwhelmed? Do you find it difficult to feel pain and face your shadows? While considering the whole person- heart, soul, mind and body, I trust that you enter therapy having the insight you need to navigate your distress. I use the term "depth emergence" to explain my orientation and approach. It stems from depth psychology, which emphasizes gaining access to the unconscious and bringing it into consciousness. While increasing awareness we derive meaning, evolve, and transform.

Ilona Varo
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MA
Verified
6 Endorsed
Verified
6 Endorsed
I believe in human resiliency. I have witnessed profound healing, strength and transformation in lives through the process of psychotherapy. With a therapeutic relationship; awareness, learning and renewal occur. Relationships failing? Body image issue? Feeling stuck, insecure, depressed or anxious? Therapy supports emotional intelligence so that we can face these challenges with new perspectives. Introspection & support are an important part of objectively looking at ourselves, our habits, relationships and lives. With these tools, healing conversations, insight and more, change is achieved.

Isobel Gardner
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFA, MA, LMFT, CMT-P
Verified
7 Endorsed
Verified
7 Endorsed
Is your mind often hi-jacked by disturbing thoughts? Do you feel overwhelmed by painful and difficult emotions? Are you having a hard time sleeping at night or focusing on work/studying or other important people or matters? Are you having difficulties communicating your needs and setting healthy boundaries? Sometimes life can seem overwhelmingly challenging and make us feel stuck and unable to move at all which can lead to addictive or other destructive behaviours. Do you want to change your situation but don't know how? Psychotherapy can be your resolve.

Tanya Gaum
Marriage & Family Therapist, MEd, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I believe clients are the experts on their own lives. I take a strength-based and person-centered approach to therapy, meaning that while I see myself as a consultant in peoples' journeys toward enhanced wellness, I work in a collaborative way that keeps the client's goals and priorities front and center. During our time together, I will listen to your story, offer reflections, and ask creative questions to gain clarity and discover the deeper and richer meanings within your narrative. Together, we will work to understand your pain and to mutually identify your strengths, resources, and desired future.

Margaret Chao
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
My background is in Health Psychology and I bring a Mind-Body perspective to my work. With any change comes growing pains, which is why I specialize in working with professionals navigating important life transitions including career decisions, romantic relationships, friendships, and adjustment to parenthood. Often individuals present questions on how they can feel more fulfilled or satisfied in life. Or how to grow in confidence, or become more grounded in oneself. Many look to find better ways to find meaning and fulfillment in our Modern, Technology-Focused culture.

Tracy King
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW, BCD
Verified
Verified
You've already tried it on your own. Maybe you've found partial solutions,but it does get discouraging finding yourself, or your relationship, repeating the same patterns over and over. Seeing a very experienced, sharp, interactive therapist means finding much quicker relief for problems related to relationships , depression, anxiety and panic, parenting, childhood, and life directions. Working with me means forming a solution-oriented partnership for real change. I have successfully done this work for many years, and help people on both long or short term issues. To meet your needs, I have evening & W/E appointments.

Kim White
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I work with women who want to identify and dismantle barriers to their growth in order to learn new ways of thinking, feeling, and healing. I support women who are challenging old thought patterns, and who are working to feel more confident and self assured in their decision making. I assist women in changing the patterns of interacting with friends, colleagues, intimate partners, and family members so they can feel authentic connection and satisfaction in relationships.

Paul J Chilkov
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
Verified
What would it look like to live your life optimally? What would be the character of your relationships, your career, your daily life? Within a caring and shame-free environment I will provide you with a safe place to share not only your troubles, but more importantly, your hopes dreams and wishes. I am well versed in issues surrounding open relationships and polyamory.
Linda Owen
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified
Verified
My goal is to help people find successful solutions to difficulties they are encountering. I believe that quality of life and relationships can be improved with intention, attention, and action.

Eri Nagai Ashlock
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I have joy, passion, and success working with minority, biracial, and 1st generation/immigrants who experience challenges adjusting to blended families and new/blended cultures. I help my clients identify reasonable solutions to current challenges and we collaborate to create coping skills that build resilience and allow you to thrive. My clients appreciate the gentle, warm, and supportive work we do together. They enjoy being seen, heard, and challenged to deepen self-awareness and overcome sadness, low self-esteem, shame, guilt, and anxiety.

Nicole Widmyer Perkins
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Are you feeling stuck, alone or uncertain in where you want to go in your life? Are you suffering from anxiety or depression? You have taken the first step toward improving the quality of your life. I can help you with the next step, which is to develop insight into your thoughts, feelings and behavioral patterns to help you make lasting changes to achieve greater satisfaction in your relationships and in your life.
See more therapy options for Santa Monica
How can I find a therapist in Santa Monica?
Search for nearby therapists or counselors by inputting your city, town, or suburb; or zip code; or a provider’s name into the search bar. From there, you can filter providers by the issues they treat, cost, insurance, gender, and other factors to find providers who are well-suited to your needs. To navigate between locations within the same country, enter a new city or zip code into the search bar.
Learn more about how to find a therapist.
Learn more about how to find a therapist.
Is online therapy a good option?
Therapy conducted online or over the phone can be just as effective as in-person therapy, as long as there is a strong alliance between the client and the therapist. To find a therapist who provides telehealth services to clients in your area, click “Online Therapy” on the directory homepage and search by your city or town or your zip code.
What’s the difference between a psychologist, a therapist, and a counselor?
Therapists, psychologists, and counselors are all licensed mental health professionals. In the United States, psychologists have earned a doctoral degree. The terms “therapist” and “counselor” are used somewhat interchangeably, but generally therapists offer longer-term, mental health care, while counselors offer shorter-term care that may focus on one domain, such as marriage, career, or academic challenges.
What type of therapist is right for me?
Clients should consider factors such as insurance coverage and their primary reason(s) for seeking therapy to determine the type of professional best suited to their needs. Someone struggling with mental health challenges such as depression or anxiety, for example, may wish to seek out a clinical psychologist, psychologist or therapist, while someone navigating career obstacles or marital upheaval may benefit from seeing a counselor who can offer short-term, targeted support.
Is everyone in the Psychology Today Therapy Directory a licensed therapist?
The Psychology Today directory lists providers who offer legitimate mental health services to the public, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors. Many have been licensed by the country or state where they practice; providers whose license or primary credential has been verified by Psychology Today are signified by a “Verified” symbol. Some clinicians or organizations provide services for which their state or country does not offer licenses, such as pastoral counseling. They may be selectively included without the “Verified” seal.
What type of therapy is right for me?
The type of therapy best suited to a particular individual depends on several factors, including their primary reason for seeking therapy, their preferred timeline (some therapy types last for a set number of sessions, while others are open-ended), and their personality and preferences—some may prefer a more structured approach. For many individuals, multiple types of therapy could provide a good fit.
Is online therapy cheaper than in-person therapy?
Many therapists charge the same amount for online therapy as they do for in-person therapy—though clients may still find this cost-effective if it cuts down on their transportation costs. Health insurance plans often offer equivalent coverage for online and in-person therapy; indeed, in many places, they are legally required to do so. Text-based or on-demand therapy apps may be cheaper than traditional one-on-one psychotherapy; however, the practice may be less effective and is not likely to be covered by insurance.