Family Therapy in Santa Monica, CA
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Marcelle Little
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MPH, MA
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
My training is based on positive, psychodynamic, depth, and yoga psychology; mindfulness; somatic therapy; attachment theory; EMDR;
family therapy
; and, inherited
family
trauma.
Welcome! I take a holistic approach to therapy to meet you where you are, whatever that looks like. I know that there are different orientations in addition to each one of us having unique needs, coming from diverse cultures and life conditions. To honor you and your lived experience, I draw upon the clinical education and training that I have received; but most importantly, I utilize my intuition and my learning and witnessing of you to guide me. Through our connection it is my intention that you feel more integrated, authentic, and whole.

Laura Katz
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW TELEHEALTH CLIENTS. IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY. In the years that I have practiced therapy, what my clients want, above all else, is to feel relief - relief from anxiety, emptiness, or feelings of worthlessness. They want to break free from the endless cycles of pain in relationships, or from the debilitating fear of rejection amongst
family
and friends. My goal is to not only help you find that relief but also support you in discovering greater purpose and fulfillment.

Anna Major
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
11 Endorsed
Verified
11 Endorsed
Your past pain is real and it is common for that past pain to hurt in the present. You don't have to "just accept it". I have success working with clients experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, domestic abuse, maternal mental health issues,
family
discord, and also have extensive experience working with children, adolescents and families. My clients trust that I can help them over come whatever their challenges are. One of my passions is Prenatal Bonding and psychology, enhancing the bond between mother and child to improve birth outcomes and reduce difficulty in delivery.

Jacob Kajiwara
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am passionate about helping my clients explore the intersections of adoption, racial/ethnic identity, childhood trauma, confidence, and major life transitions. Throughout life, we continually revisit and re-negotiate our understanding of the experiences that have shaped us. It’s especially hard if you’ve been impacted by unique circumstances such as international/domestic adoption, multi-cultural
family
, or even just the experience of being a minority in America. I provide a warm and safe space that allows clients to explore their authentic self.

Rebekah Tayebi
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
If you are struggling alone, in relationships, or in
family
life, it can feel isolating and overwhelming.
I work with motivated, loving clients and with folks who are ready to heal from childhood wounding. My clients engage in self-study, discovering who they are and how to love and re-parent themselves. I work with teens, young adults, and families. I offer parent coaching to parents who want to learn how to effectively communicate and intervene with their children. My style is warm, curious, direct, and relationship focused. In the course of our work together, my clients learn skills that are accessible yet powerful. I've been in the field over eighteen years and feel lucky to support such incredible people on their healing path.
Waitlist for new clients

Elizabeth Schofield-Bickford
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Anxiety, depression, low self esteem, difficult
family
dynamics, peer relationships and school issues are worked on through art, sandplay, dreamwork, play and talk therapy.
I help facilitate the development of a conscious balance in your life. Loss, trauma, dysfunctional relationships, addiction, creative blocks and much more can keep you stuck and stall development. I work with adult clients to help them mine the unconscious and reveal the connection between this material and behaviors and patterns that obstruct vitality. This starts with the establishment of a sound trusting therapeutic relationship. From this foundation, I support and guide you in uncovering and recovering your own resources and strengths.

Elaine R. Gordon
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
Having the specialized knowledge base involved in reproductive medicine and contemporary
family
building gives me a unique edge in helping families live healthy lives.
I take pride as a psychologist in the area of personal growth when dealing with life's challenges. This involves meeting your needs and starting where you are now and going from there. I work collaboratively in order for you to get to a 'better' place. I have accumulated a wealth of experience helping others combat challenges of not being able to have children by traditional means. I worked with patients exploring 'good' solutions to this heart-rending process. My goal involves helping individuals deal with the normal and not so normal life challenges of depression, self-esteem, anxiety, relationships, children, parents, and more.

David Pavia
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I am a therapist with significant experience working with men through various stages of their life. I also have a strong background in substance abuse issues and
family
dynamics that impact our growth. My goal is to help you see opportunities to address the real issues in your life and help you make lasting changes for your personal growth and healthy relationships.

Hannah Ayers
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, CCTP
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I utilize a depth approach rooted in Internal
Family
Systems supported with mindfulness, self-compassion and accountability.
Do you feel like your past prevents you from enjoying your present and looking forward to your future? Do you find yourself repeating patterns of behavior that no longer serve you? Do you struggle to maintain meaningful and stable relationships? If yes, perhaps it’s time to take a deep breath and look inward. By exploring the wounds from your past, you can find empathy and understanding. You can be free. “Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.” – Peter A. Levine

Rachel Goldstein
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MS, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I invite you to a free video consultation to see if I am a good fit for your
family
.
It can be heartbreaking to be the parent of a child who is struggling. It feels like other parents don’t have to work as hard as you do. There are tears, tantrums, and challenges at school. They seem to worry about things that other children don’t even notice. You’re feeling exhausted and like no one has the answers. Finding the right person to support you means trusting someone with your child’s wellbeing. It can be scary to reach out to a therapist. You want to make sure that you find someone who can connect to your child and work with you to help you understand what’s going on with them.

My LA Therapy
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, CNTS
Verified
Verified
Our primary specializations are anxiety, couples, codependency, narcissism, depression, young adults, and
family therapy
.
To experience our deepest recesses of joy and peace, we must first have the courage to face our fears. That’s why our therapists use a wide range of research-proven therapy techniques to help transform anxiety, depression, and loneliness into joy, freedom, and connectedness. Whatever your situation, our goal is to help you find clarity, purpose, and strength. Through the therapy process, we will help you cultivate an unshakeable resiliency that you carry into every challenge you face. The purpose of our therapy practice is to help you become free from the grip of anxiety, depression, addiction, and hurtful relationships.

Jackson Varady
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
Building Emotional Resilience is key towards achieving a balanced life. You may be a parent dealing with the challenge of a defiant child, or a spouse suffering with a critical or distant partner. Perhaps you're a high-powered professional grappling with the demands of career and
family
, or a sensitive teenager navigating the precarious path towards young adulthood. In either case, whether it's relationship issues, difficult feelings, worrying thoughts, unwanted behaviors, or even just searching for answers to some of life's biggest questions, I can provide guidance, support, and wisdom towards realizing obtainable solutions.

Melissa Morales
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Are you struggling with
family
conflict, difficult life transitions, or stress and anxiety? I am passionate about creating a safe, warm, and culturally humble environment for individuals and couples to explore their unique life shaping experiences and be their authentic selves. As a first-generation Mexican-American, I understand the need to develop effective communication skills to work through intergenerational conflicts and acculturation differences in order to build healthy relationships and improve
family
dynamics. Through support, empowerment, and the development of greater insight, meaningful change is possible.

Megan Eshaghian
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified
Verified
I am passionate about helping couples overcome challenges, whether they be unresolved wounds,
family
dynamics, or core issues, so that they can live a successful life together.
All couples will experience problems that will bring stress onto their relationship, which can cause pain, disconnect, anger, stagnation, anxiety, and/or depression. This can manifest in many forms and range in severity-up to the point where it feels like things are falling apart. Many couples feel they have completely “lost the spark” and struggle to find continued meaning and purpose in their relationship. At a certain point comes the realization that enough is enough, it is time to get powerful support that actually works.

Elinor Jewett
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I offer relief from depression, anxiety, and life issues that feel overwhelming, intolerable and unmanageable. I can help you with with forming and growing relationships where you feel loved and comforted, not hurt, injured or criticized. We can address
family
conflict, power struggles and help build a life-long partnership with
family
members. I understand feeling lost, hopeless and can guide you on a discovery of your true purpose in life. Change is possible. Happiness is deserved and within our power. I utilize techniques based on current neurological research that shift brain and nervous system patterns .

Charles Scott Dewell
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Charles Dewell, M.A., LMFT I am a Licensed Marriage and
Family Therapist
who works with adult individuals and couples, helping them navigate their relationship, career and personal issues. My mission is to provide a safe refuge where my clients feel understood and encouraged to persevere through the ebb and flow of life's challenges.

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.

Tracy A. Pollack
Psychologist, PsyD, MSEd
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with many years of experience providing psychotherapy to adults, couples and families. I offer a warm, collaborative and confidential place where you will feel heard and understood while working together to identify issues of conflict and remove the obstacles that are getting in the way of your life. My specialties include eating disorders and body image issues, also self-injurious behaviors. My practice also focuses on women's issues such as those related to beginning a
family
, fertility challenges and perinatal and postpartum anxiety and depression. I am EMDR trained and incorporate as needed
Not accepting new clients

Helen Zielinski Landon
PhD
Verified
Verified
Many of my clients are new to the LA area, having moved here for work, school or a relationship . It can be nice to have someone besides your friends or
family
to talk to about personal struggles. Some of the things we might talk about are coping with life transition issues such as living in a new place, adjusting to life after college, finding and maintaining relationships, coping with the aftermath of childhood abuse, managing depression and anxiety, improving self care, and increasing self compassion. Let me help you to find balance and increase your coping skills in a safe, warm, non-judgmental and confidential space.

Ashlee Petersen
Drug & Alcohol Counselor, CADCI
Verified
Verified
My focus is to assist my clients with identifying purpose and passion in their lives. Sobriety can be a challenging road to walk however having a purpose in your life and additional motivation to grow and change can help to become the best version of yourself. After many years of struggling with my own personal addiction and successfully sustaining sobriety I became a believer in reinventing your life. I specialize in drug and alcohol counseling , wrap around Case Management support for the client and if need be the
family
. I utilize in person and remote support for the client and
family
.
See more therapy options for
Family Therapy
What do family therapists do?
A family therapist facilitates the process of understanding and improving how a family functions. The therapist will help family members develop empathy for one another. They’ll seek to understand existing patterns, misunderstandings, and conflicts that arise, in order to help the family arrive at a realistic, unified understanding and develop the coping skills they need to build stronger relationships.
How long does therapy for families take to work?
Therapy manifests differently in every family; a common time frame is 12 weekly sessions, but some families may see improvement after just a few weeks. Families should discuss their goals with the therapist at the beginning of the process and periodically revisit those goals to assess their progress together.
How can you encourage a family member to attend family therapy?
You can encourage family members to attend therapy by expressing with both love and concern the challenges you see and explaining how a therapist could help the family navigate those challenges together. An outside perspective can help everyone feel heard, get on the same page, and develop new skills. If family members are still hesitant, it may be helpful to emphasize that family therapy is short-term—it won’t last forever.
Is therapy for families effective?
Family therapy can significantly improve family dynamics and relationships. Research suggests that family therapy can help individuals understand their role in the family, communicate and solve problems together, reduce conflict and draw boundaries when necessary, and develop coping skills for stressors, major life changes, and mental or physical illnesses within the family.