Therapists for Teens in Santa Monica, CA

Hello! My name is Bella Dutra and I specialize in working with individual’s dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, and issues stemming from ADHD. I work with children, adolescents, and adults as well as couples and families. I also have extensive experience working with individuals with social anxiety and ASD. I strive to provide clients with a safe, compassionate, judgement-free space in which we work together to understand one's unique goals and deeper rooted needs. I welcome all my clients to show up as they are, my job being to meet you there and help you move forward.

Psychotherapist, private practice, adult, child and family psychotherapy, child custody mediation, co-parenting counseling, couples counseling, reunification counseling, stress reduction, and mindfulness meditation. Other areas of specialization include anxiety, depression, addiction, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and career counseling. I offer both in person and remote sessions.

Often times, feelings of anxiety, depression, and fear can leave us paralyzed and unable to achieve our goals and find real fulfillment. I believe that through therapy and the relationship created in the therapeutic process, people can confront and overcome the feelings that may be keeping them from fully realizing their potential. As a therapist my goal is to create a safe, nurturing, non-judgmental environment in which you can explore feelings, resolve painful issues from the past and present, improve relationships and achieve fulfillment.

I love the opportunity to help my clients discover and live more fulfilling lives based on their unique goals and values. Before starting therapy, my clients tend to feel overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, panic, anger, and hopelessness. My encouraging and positive style has helped many to move through these feelings in order to build the types of relationships, balance, and achievements they have always wanted. I enjoy working with young adults, adults, couples, and parents of young children.

It is so tough when we feel we are only surviving and not truly living. We may want to completely live our fullest lives, yet struggle with it when we are not feeling deserving, worthy, or heard. Feeling different and having experienced trauma does not have to guide our lives. I want to encourage you on your journey of learning how to be your best self, which includes providing self-compassion and challenge to overcome. We all have an underlying need for connection and remaining authentic to who we are is vital. I believe that everyone is capable of change and getting their power back. I want to help you get there.

Anxiety Experts has offices in Santa Monica, Goleta, Montecito and Ventura, as well as virtual outpatient and Virtual Intensive Outpatient (VIOP) Treatment. Our team is specialized in treating anxiety, panic, social phobia, school refusal, OCD, PTSD, BDD, and disordered eating. These problems rob one's sense of freedom, confidence and self-worth. We treat these issues with a type of CBT called Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), and Medical Nutrition Therapy from a Registered Dietician as appropriate. We have helped hundreds of adults and kids master their fears; research shows in-person and live video to be equally effective!

As a therapist, I specialize in working with individuals and couples who have experienced trauma, including those who have suffered from narcissistic abuse, as well as those who are struggling with relationship issues. My approach is grounded in trauma-informed care, meaning that I prioritize creating a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment for my clients to explore and process their experiences. Additionally, I incorporate attachment theory to help clients understand and heal from attachment wounds. I also offer co-parenting classes to assist parents in navigating the challenges of raising children in separated families.

Utilizing EMDR & other approaches, I work with individuals who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and those going through life transitions looking for change. Because healing and growth occur interpersonally, therapy can be an impactful addition to one's life during difficult and challenging times. If you're feeling overwhelmed by emotions or stress, or feel like you're current life is being impacted by past events, there is absolutely hope out there. Many of the leading brain-body therapies now available are targeted for these types of experiences.

Society often projects certain beliefs onto individuals, which can lead us to feel disconnected from ourselves and others. We can find ourselves lost in the sea of expectations how we should or should not act, feel, love, do, pursue, or be. This can develop into debilitating symptoms of never feeling good enough or always striving for perfection that does not exist. We are all human. We all deserve to be heard, seen and to be a little messy. Your emotions, thoughts, dreams are not a burden. This is your space. Your time.

"Being listened to." That is the experience of being at the Saturday Center: intensely, deeply, actively, empathically listened to; seen, heard and understood. For over 30 years we have provided this type of counseling and psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and families. TSC is committed to dynamic psychotherapy and to providing treatment based on need rather than economics. The Center is staffed by advanced psychological interns, psychological assistants and marriage & family therapist interns who are supervised by a group of experienced, licensed private practitioners dedicated to the practice and teaching of psychotherapy.

I love working with children, adolescents and young women who have "behavioral problems," "worry too much," have "big emotions," or struggle socially. My clients typically experience more of the world and feel the world more deeply than others. While this can be scary and lead to challenging behaviors, over time, a big heart is a super-power. Parents who come to my office often wonder: a) "will this help?" b) "will you understand my child?" and "c) if you understand my kid, will you then judge me?" My answers are a) "yes. It can even be fun" b) "that's my main goal" c) "never."

I am a licensed clinical social worker that treats children, adolescents, and young adults. I am passionate about helping individuals explore their emotions, increase their ability to cope with challenges, and understand their own patterns of thinking and behavior. I use warmth, humor, and compassion to connect with clients, providing them with a safe-space to explore their feelings. My therapeutic approach includes elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness techniques, and expressive play to help clients reach their goals.

I provide a safe environment and compassionate, non-judgmental counseling to help you explore the personal and relationship challenges you are facing and begin working toward lasting solutions. Whether you are looking for personal growth, relationship healing or overall support, I can help you to more clearly understand why you are struggling and what steps you can take to feel more confident and in control of your life. When you develop new coping skills, you give yourself the resources and confidence you need to effectively manage challenges rather than giving into unhealthy compulsions and negative self-talk.

Perhaps you find that the time has come to seek support for your current struggles—and that you want to begin psychotherapy.

Embrace life. Laugh again. Restore joy. Often we struggle in silence believing change is not possible. Those around you tell to get over it, move on or even stop talking about it. However, talking to the right person can be transformational. Through therapy, you will be able to regain those parts of your self that have been lost or neglected, creating change that will make a difference in your life.

Our group is dedicated to providing the best therapeutic experience for our patients. We treat each patient differently based on their unique situation and circumstances, while remaining empathetic, non-judgmental and professional.

I assist athletes and high performers in undoing the stressors, traumas, past pains causing mental illness symptoms like depression, performance anxiety, apathy, insomnia and a performance decline. I use Alpha Imprinting technique to allow for athletes to reset their nervous system from past hurts, pains, injuries, traumas and stressors so they can regain and expand on their peak performance abilities. Alpha Imprinting also desensitizes your nervous system on the sensory or unconscious level from any potential of worst-case scenarios in life and in sports so you can maintain flow "alpha" brain wave state while performing.

As a marriage and family therapist, I believe that with a strong therapeutic relationship and using the treatment modalities that best fit your needs you can overcome your struggles and live life to its fullest potential. I am experienced in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy as well as Psychodynamic, Mindfulness and Client-Oriented therapeutic techniques to assist individuals, children, couples, or families to improve their ability to manage stress, depressive symptoms and anxiety, cope with emotional difficulties, relapse prevention issues, develop insight and improve their communications.

Life can be really hard and oftentimes we need additional support. I love working with individuals through life's transitions and challenges. A belief and dedication to growth, resilience, and well-being, I prioritize trauma-informed care and social justice in my practice. I emphasize authenticity and genuine connections by integrating empathy, creativity, and humor into sessions using Gestalt Therapy. Whether guiding teens or adults through various life’s transitions or focusing on improving a client’s mental well-being, my approach remains culturally conscious and sensitive to individual experiences in the broader societal context