Culturally Sensitive Therapists in Sherman Oaks, CA

I am Gisoo Mohandesi, a licensed marriage and family therapist (License 108751), with over (10 years) of professional experience. As a professional, who is passionate about helping individuals, children, adolescents, and families, I believe that the way to help my clients cultivate well-being, is to understand them as human beings and not just their struggles.

Welcome! I'm glad you are here! My name is Dr. Lara Loest and I am a psychological associate working under the supervision of Dr. Inga Simonian. My ideal client is a trauma survivor who is aware, reflective, and wanting to go deeper within themselves. I have an extra special place in my heart for artists and other creatives. My training is trauma-informed and culturally sensitive.

Life is full of transitions and the focus of my practice is to help clients to cope with challenges and changes they encounter on their life’s journey. The challenges of adulthood affect people in tremendous ways and my job is to help you navigate the difficulties and find ways to manage and cope with various situations. I have over 20-year experience in mental health field in various settings and roles, working with various age groups and individuals from many backgrounds. My practice is culturally sensitive and open to individuals from many walks of life.

Are you struggling in your relationships with loved ones? Overwhelmed adjusting to life post-pandemic? Or confused and scared going through a major life transition? Talking with an empathic therapist can alleviate anxiety and depression caused by these stresses. In my 9 years of experience in mental health I have helped people with severe trauma, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem find a path to the life they wanted.

Your past does not define who you are, nor do your mistakes. Everyone deserves second chances at life and in treatment. I work extensively with children, teens, and families to treat a variety of disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar, autism, and ADHD to name a few. With over seven years of experience in the mental health field, my practice uses a tailored approach to meet each individual client's needs by utilizing a variety of therapeutic modalities including CBT, DBT, ACT, motivational interviewing, narrative therapy, positive psychology, client centered, and solution-focused techniques among others.

Dr. Robert Weiss LCSW, CSAT is Chief Clinical Officer of Seeking Integrity LLC, which provides residential and online treatment, education, and support for male sexual addicts and their families. Seeking Integrity also offers specialized residential treatment for men with sex/porn addiction/intimacy disorders or those with co-occurring sexual and substance abuse disorders. Expert holistic treatment provided in 14, 21 or 28 day length of stay. Separately: Online workgroups provide psychoeducation in a 6 week, 90 minutes per week format. Many free resources provided also.

I believe that respecting and honoring the humanity in each person I see is of the utmost importance to therapy. People are humans first, not a diagnosis. I have a special interest in helping people around the topics of adoption, chronic pain/ illness, and an emphasis on couples work in addition to addressing anxiety and depression. In addition to private practice, I hold the position of Clinical Director for the Los Angeles Chapter of A Home Within—a non-profit that matches wonderful volunteer therapists with current or former foster youth for weekly psychotherapy sessions, for as long as it takes.

80s, 90s & early 2000s, you were born and raised along with some of the greatest music of all time! Millennials are a unique generation remembering the simpler days yet "gotta hussle" in this age of online living. Stuck between opportunities and challenges, perfection and purpose, stability and striving for more. Catch yourself saying "Why is it so damn hard to just be me? I should know who I am by now. Is it mercury retrograde again? I am too grown not to have my shit together! I don't feel complete." You are probably going through some significant change in your life, taken on a new role, or society defining your existence. Yes?

Early childhood trauma leaves us feeling disconnected, unsafe, and anxious about how to thrive in our relationships and other areas of our life. You may be fed up by feeling constantly triggered in your relationships and struggle to manage anxious thoughts about if people are going to leave you. You feel constantly overwhelmed by everyday life and the thought of “slowing down,” doesn’t ever seem possible. The truth is you are ready to find a moment of reprieve and relief. You’re ready to enjoy your relationships and manage overwhelm in a more effective way. Most of all you are ready to face each day with a new sense of hope.

Why therapy? Why now? Many of the talents and qualities that make someone successful in one area of life can pose difficulties in others. Unique life circumstances are common in my practice, and I am familiar with the challenges entailed by unconventional lifestyles. Especially creative, musical, expressive, and artistic ones. Perhaps you are already aware of your need for a safe, non-judgmental environment in which to explore, repair, and heal from life’s challenges. However, you may not be certain, and that's not a problem.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) at Apex Group Therapy. I received my Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University. I have extensive experience working in Community-Based, Residential, and School Mental Health Settings. I have a passion for working with children, adolescents, young adults and families in assisting them in developing and utilizing the necessary coping skills to manage and care for themselves and feel empowered in their life choices while addressing systematic barriers and historical traumas.

I am a licensed psychotherapist with extensive experience working with teenagers, young adults, and families. Using an integrative therapeutic approach including CBT, DBT, trauma-informed, and other modalities, I treat a wide range of mental health issues, including Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, low self-esteem, and other issues. As a therapist, I am committed to providing a safe, caring, and accepting environment that encourages healing and growth.

No one is meant to walk this journey of life alone and unsupported. Seeking help is a strength and the first step toward creating a life that will provide you with meaning and purpose. I work in partnership with my clients toward the goal of facilitating overall well-being by tapping into each person's potential for personal insight and resiliency and guiding them in accessing the tools to cope with life's challenges. As the daughter of immigrants, a married mother of three children and part of the sandwich generation, I am personally familiar with life's many challenges and her to walk with you on your personal journey.

Whether this is your first time or the fifth time starting therapy, finding a relate-able and culturally affirming therapist is important for therapy to work. As a bilingual first generation Latinx therapist, I have a deep understanding of the challenges we face. I help heal generational trauma, teach concrete tools for coping with life’s challenges, and help you feel seen and heard. My specialties are relationship issues, break ups, self esteem issues, anxiety, and reconnecting with your body.

Therapy is a helpful resource for people who would like to improve their emotional health, relationships, self-esteem, coping skills, and overall well-being. My primary expertise is working with teens and young adults who have challenges related to mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, chronic pain, chronic illness, relational issues, and other stressors.

I am a trauma specialist who enjoys working with adults who are looking to do deep work and commonly come from complex trauma backgrounds. I am culturally competent and sensitive to your cultural/religious lived experience and self-identity. I pride myself in serving a diverse clientele and have extensive experience working closely with the Latino community. I frequently see people who are over-achievers working in demanding and high-pressured professional settings who are prone to burnout. I love supporting and helping clients face their traumas, improve their relationships and boundaries, and providing a safe space to be free.

Maybe you need a brain organizer, or a reality checker, or a reaction approver, or a crisis stabilizer, or an existential dread container. Maybe you need a partner and witness as you confront difficult experiences or mourn losses. Maybe you feel stuck and don't know why. Or you are struggling with the disruption and distress of anxiety or depression. Or feel ready to dive into personal exploration and growth. Whatever the reason you might be seeking therapy, you deserve to be heard and supported.

Reaching out to a therapist can be a difficult step to take. I know the profound pain that can come with dealing with mental health challenges, including addiction...yours, or as a family member affected by another person's addictive behaviors. I understand how traumatic growing up with an alcoholic/addicted or a dysfunctional parent can be, or being involved in an unhealthy relationship. These experiences can lead to devastating feelings - shame, abandonment, depression, anxiety, isolation, anger, and much more. I invite you to share your feelings in a safe and nonjudgmental space where you can feel understood & heard.

Encino West Psychological Services provides comprehensive psychological assessments for school-aged children experiencing challenges in an academic setting. As a parent with two children, I understand the anxiety that can come from dropping your children off at school every morning, knowing they will be out of your care for the next 6-8 hours. I have been advocating for the educational needs of children for many years and this journey has shed light on how important it is to know what a child or adolescent may be struggling with while at school.