Adoption Therapists in Solana Beach, CA

Hello my name is Ann Alsaadi. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California (LMFT) since 2007. I have conducted groups for Parenting, Anger Management, Domestic Violence, Sexual Offenses and Victims of Crime. I also worked in the foster care and adoption field through both the social work and mental health perspectives for many years. Through this I gained experience with working with several issues in regards to children, families, infertility, adoption issues and issues related to foster care from the perspectives of the foster children and youth, resource parents and birth families. 

I'm specialized in treating behavioral and mental health issues with individuals, couples, and families which arise from life transitions, conflicts in relationships, parenting, child/adolescence behavioral issues, and mental illnesses. I have extensive experience on treating trauma, grief, domestic violence, and communication. As a Licensed Advanced Drug and Alcohol Counselor (LAADC) I help individuals with their dual diagnosis. I am specialized in EMDR and hypnotherapy to facilitate change in perception. I'm certified in Gambling Disorder from the Office of Problem Gambling (CalGETS).

I specialize in two areas: (1) Reducing anxiety and depression in adults and children; (2) Reducing problem behaviors in children and teens. I have received advanced training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and use this training with many of my patients to gain a more in-depth understanding of issues that have lingered in a painful manner for many years.

I help individuals, children, families, and couples resolve problems by empowering them to self-regulate, overcome challenges, and create change. I have clinical experience treating trauma, depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, and relational distress. I utilize systemic, cognitive-behavioral, and strength-based therapies to uncover the factors reinforcing symptoms, develop alternative ways of processing, and enhance one's quality of life. I take great pride in helping clients through their healing journey. I recognize that each individual and problem is unique and formulate treatment plans accordingly.

My passion is for people and their relationships. Eastern thought teaches us that pain is inevitable, suffering is optional; life and relationships have the ability to create struggles in everyday life that creates pain, but it is through our attitudes, behaviors, and meaning that we place ourselves in situations where we create our own suffering. By helping people find the tools to cultivate their unique skills, I believe we can find the hope and fulfillment to overcome our suffering. My focus is on individuals and couples as they search for connection, intimacy, love and success.

I believe we all have a deep longing and capacity to be whole and connected to ourselves and others. NeuroScientists have validated this biological need for healthy connections as well as social researchers like Dr Brene Brown who are normalizing this desire in all of us to know and be known. My training goes beyond traditional talk therapy and encompasses Somatic and Neuroscientific practice that enables people to get to the root of their disconnection so that they can feel more alive and connected to themselves. Through the practice of integrating the mind, body, and spirit we become more whole and connected.

I can help because I have over 25 years of experience in psychology but more than twice that as a caring human being striving to find my own way. I've worked in psychiatric hospitals, in prisons and in private practice, with people with all kinds of psychological difficulties including depression, anxiety and Schizophrenia. Equally important than any experience I might bring to the therapy session, I bring compassion, empathy and an understanding that we're all just doing the best we can.

Seeking therapy is a wonderful gift to give your self! I will assist you in identifying unhealthy patterns that are obstacles to having a satisfying and productive life. Do you continually self-sabotage, repeat unhealthy relationship patterns or struggle with boundaries and self-worth? I believe the key is tapping into one's original self-love that may be long-buried or difficult to recognize. Let me help you be your best, authentic self.

I am a trauma-specialist working with a range of emotional and behavioral issues providing services that span from therapy for depression and grief counseling to parenting support, family counseling and beyond. I offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each of my clients individual needs. Working in a wide variety of settings has allowed me to cultivate my clinical skills and versatility in the following areas. Treatment specialization includes: Abuse & Trauma Recovery, EMDR (EMDRIA Certified), EMDR with Children & Adolescents, Registered Play Therapist, Therapy for Depression, Anxiety & Mood disorders, Grief & Loss Counseling, Blended Families & Divorce, Child Custody Evaluations, Parent Mediation, Co-parenting Facilitation & Reunification Therapy.

Finding a therapist can be daunting, but remember, you made it this far, and it takes courage and vulnerability to seek support. Whether it’s work-life balance, stress and burnout, fertility or trying to conceive struggles, pregnancy and postpartum stress, relationship concerns, family conflict, anxiety, self-esteem or other emotional health issues, you are not ALONE. Life can be difficult to navigate but I have hope that together we can achieve your goals, identify your strengths and get to a point where you are living authentically and fully. BILINGUAL: Spanish & English

Maybe you are missing the joy and peace in your life that you know you really need. You are struggling with trying to please everyone, and you end up exhausted and overwhelmed. You don't have the time and energy you desperately need for yourself. You replay awkward moments in your mind when you try to go to sleep at night. Then, you wake up feeling tired. If this sounds like your life, I want to help you shift from the patterns that keep you stuck, reconfigure how you are seeing the world and focus on what is most important to you!

You deserve a happy, healthy life. Life and relationships can be increasingly painful, yet it is difficult to reach out for help. The longer we put off getting help, the worse things can become. I am here to support your growth and help you make needed changes. It is possible to learn to stop life patterns that keep us in a cycle of unhappiness. I confront in a gentle way so that you can begin to learn how to change those patterns.

I specialize in child, adolescent, family, and adult therapy and assessments. My team of highly experienced clinicians and I provide evidence-based therapy, state-of-the art testing, in-school/in-home services, medical and psychiatric services, equine assisted psychotherapy, neurofeedback, and nutritional consults. With over 20 years of experience, we offer multiple treatment options to reduce symptoms, cope with stressors, resolve conflicts, and restore your daily life to health and wellness. We strive to provide exceptional and holistic collaborative care to educate, support, and empower individuals and families.

Every child is unique. To help children overcome social, emotional, behavioral, developmental, and/or academic challenges, we can't be preoccupied with simply signing labels. Rather, we need to identify a child's individual strengths as well as their weaknesses in order to design effective strategies that suit their needs. We work closely with parents, schools, and other professionals to establish a comprehensive picture of the whole child. It's from this highly individualized approach along with the collaboration with those that know the child/teen well, that we are able to create the most significant and dramatic change!

My practice is focused on relationship issues, improving communication, addiction counseling, men's issues, LGBTQ+ parenting, depression and anxiety. In therapy you will find a strength-based client centered approach, where your unique skills and values are used to help overcome the areas in which you are stuck. A genuine respect for each person leads to a safe therapeutic alliance through which growth, healing and connection occurs as we work towards accomplishing your goals.