Parenting Therapists in Santa Monica, CA

Welcome! I know that life can sometimes get messy and stressful. Maybe you’re feeling anxious or depressed, struggling with relationships, work, parenting, aging, a fast-changing world, or just want to talk to someone who’ll listen and be there for you. Change can be hard and humbling before you get to where you want to go. If you’d like to become a happier, more fulfilled you, please schedule a free consultation by going to my website, www.dansussmanphd.com, send me an email, or give me a call. I'm here to help.

People come in with a desire to feel better, less stressed; resulting in successfully and confidently improving personal and professional relationships. Customized sessions help individuals achieve their goals- like attracting healthier romantic relationships, making better career or life choices, affair repair, clarity in parenting challenges or managing ADHD. Practical tools all based on my extensive professional training in holistic health, natural nutrition, body-mind therapies, meditation, etc.-specifically to support individuals, couples, and families.

I’ve worked with adolescents, young adults, and adults from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and in a variety of settings. I see many people dealing with stress, anxiety and depression, and I specialize in life transitions and adjustment, including experiences such as adjusting to a new job, beginning college, becoming a new parent or transitioning to more than one child in the family, and family structural changes like separation & divorce. I also specialize in both academic research and clinical work on the role of fathers in the family and issues that fathers face.

My experience as a licensed therapist, nurse and midwife, has provided me the unique perspective and understanding of the needs of the Whole Individual and how thoughts and beliefs impact us physically, emotionally and psychologically. My intention is to support and guide clients as they explore and resolve their challenges. Together, we can work through feelings of confusion, insecurity and fear associated with significant individual and relationship transitions, crisis events and medical and emotional challenges. Online therapy is available with office sessions in the future.

I believe in giving it to you straight wrapped with warmth and love. I believe we all have the power to make change but sometimes need a little help along the way. I provide individual, couples and family therapy to children, adolescents and adults. I have an array of experience from working to outpatient mental health clinics where I supervised psychology and social work interns to consulting at local schools to coordinating clinical programs. In addition I also enjoy weaving eastern and western philosophies into my practice.

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.

I work with Adults of all ages, from 18 to the end of life. I have extensive experience treating couples and families, and have special skills around family adjustment to health crises. I like to work with parents of teens and parents of newborns as well as couples considering children and even coping with aging parents. I work with many individual adults facing normal life stressors as well as more significant issues such as chronic anxiety, and depression.I see Spanish speaking individuals and couples. I have worked with many families of Veterans and other patients with traumatic injuries of all kinds.

In my 30+ years of experience, I have tried to create a non-judgmental environment of openness and collaboration with my clients. I have found that most people are looking for understanding, clarification and a path to hope and healing.

Change is possible. With over 25+ years of experience, I have successfully worked with individuals, adolescents, couples, and families to reduce anxiety, depression, and overall conflict, whether it be at home or work. As little as 3-5 sessions, my clients have reported that they have higher self-esteem and greater confidence in all areas of their lives. High stress can hit you during times of change: birth, separation, divorce, or death of a loved one. I will help guide you through this difficult time. Each client's therapy is individualized, collaborative, and strength-based. I offer a 2-hour deep intensive couples therapy.

My psychotherapeutic approach is based upon the trusting, supportive, and challenging relationships that I build with my clients. I am committed to truly understanding each unique individual as they gain greater emotional awareness, confidence, and self-acceptance.

My focus is with men’s issues around masculinity, purpose, codependency, anger, self-esteem, parenting and relationships. I aim to provide a safe space for support, collaboration, and guidance on how to improve your relationship with yourself, because I believe that all of our relationships—whether it be with a partner, family, friends, work, sex, drugs, your phone, food, etc.—are a reflection of our relationship with ourselves. A deeper connection with yourself is a requirement for improving your relationship with others and building a more meaningful life.

If you feel like nothing makes you happy, no one understands you, and reaching your true potential is an impossible task, I’m here to help. I will give my absolute best so that we together can solve your dilemmas—however small or encompassing. I am an English and Farsi bilingual California-licensed therapist with eight years of extensive professional experience. I have a Doctorate (PsyD) in Marriage and Family Therapy.

I believe each of us is unique. Therefore, in my practice as a licensed clinical psychologist my initial goal is to get to know you so we can, in collaboration, find the best strategies to help you live your life in the way that is most satisfying to you. As a cognitive behavior therapist, it is my goal to be the guide, along with you, to reach your goals by looking at any maladaptive habits, thoughts, or behaviors you have developed that brought you in to therapy.

Dr. Anna Selena Cho, was born in Los Angeles and has personal experience living bi-culturally. Dr. Cho was traditionally trained in visual arts in her early developmental years and eventually obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Southern California, M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy at Phillips Graduate University, and her Doctorate in Applied Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Cho has developed programs with organizations wanting to further expand their learning standards towards socio-emotional integration.

My desire is to help you live a full life, to listen openly and without bias and to understand you outside of your problems; to help you see that you have strengths and resources that will help you get through this difficult time or the challenges you face. My goal is to help you feel hopeful again. As a couple's therapist, (I also am a collaborative divorce therapist, mediator, coach, and parent coordinator) my goal is to help the couple heal or learn how to move forward in a positive manner. I am passionate about women's issues, including peri- and post-partum, loss, infertility, and grief and work with military and their families

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.

Hi! I’m Jen, a professional educational, behavioral and mindfulness specialist with over 22 years of experience working with thousands of children and families all over the world. I know how much you love your child and how isolating, overwhelming and stressful it can be to be a parent in today’s world. I’m here to remind you that you are capable of having the beautiful, connected, and loving family you have always dreamed of!

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with an extensive background in anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction. I provide therapy for individuals and couples in a safe, judgment-free environment. I've helped many people overcome obstacles to satisfaction in life. My clients have found this work leads to transformation and empowerment. In addition to talk therapy, I have experience providing treatment in different modalities, including Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Somatic/Body awareness work.

How does "therapy" work? Psychotherapy works by helping you look at feelings, thoughts and behavior in situations which you find problematic. It helps you to learn more effective ways in dealing with those situations. Psychotherapy is a collaborative effort. You and I will identify your goals -- what you want to have happen, and agree on how you'll know when you're making progress. I will talk to you about the length of time it may take to help you see changes. Progress, and change, can happen.