Therapists in Ventura, CA

Therapy doesn’t have to be a dreaded experience. With a kind heart and open mind, I strive to make therapy a comfortable place where you can explore the deepest insights about yourself with compassion and empathy. Therapy becomes an experience and journey about who YOU are and where YOU want to go. Is something standing in the way? Are you stuck in repetitive patterns or plagued by underlying issues? Whether you are suffering unbearable panic attacks, struggling with depression, or having difficulty with transitions, I'm here to help. Let's go beyond the surface and help YOU learn about YOU.

Are life's struggles and difficulties interfering or holding you back from being the person you want to be. If so, join me in seeking perspective and solutions to the obstacles in your life. Throughout my pre-license training and post licensure practice I have worked along side individuals who experienced anxiety, depression, and/or relationship difficulties, as well as victims of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. I specialize in helping those who struggle with addiction and/or anger issues, which often have undertones of anxiety, depression, or trauma sustaining the problem.

For 30 years I have had the honor of working with individuals, couples and families as they seek to grow emotionally. Every individual & their circumstances are unique. I have a gift for listening with compassion and deep understanding. In addition, I have excellent perception. My experience and knowledge can support you as you develop healthy life skills, heal & grow.

Sometimes, despite best intentions and attempts, making change is not successful. It can be hard to get to where you want to go: less depression or anxiety, better relationships with others, a healthier relationship with yourself, with food, with your body. Maybe the past keeps intruding upon the present, even though it seems like it should be resolved by now. Maybe you don’t feel quite like the best version of yourself and you don’t know why. I'm here to help you get reconnected to yourself, find the inner wisdom that I know exists within you. I don't know all the answers, but I know how to help you find your own answers.

I specialize in helping individuals and couples of all orientations, face challenges, improve relationships and move through changes. I provide support, tools, increased self awareness, and communication skills, to help you on your path to a positive and fulfilling future. I believe you are doing the best you can with the resources you have available. My job is helping you identify, uncover and utilize more resources, so that you are more effective at creating the life you want to live, and then living it. I am trained in EMDR for treating PTSD, grief and adverse childhood experiences.

I understand what it's like to live life ruled by devastating chronic pain and illness, crippling anxiety, and being so sensitive that you feel everything! I help people resolve chronic pain, anxiety and sadness, not just manage it. Connecting the dots to understand how your childhood (upbringing, trauma, stressful events, family) may be contributing to your mental distress today can be extremely eye opening and transformative. Healing and becoming a secure capable human is the goal and completely attainable! I view therapy as a collaboration and as a therapist I am an active participant and guide.

"I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become." ~ Carl Jung. Do you feel overwhelmed, have pain, grief, anxiety, depression, or unseen shadows that prevent you from healing or from choosing better decisions, relationships, and allowing yourself to matter in your own life? My experience and education can help people hungering for more purpose, fulfillment, and nurturing relationships instead of dissonance, exhaustion, and sacrifice, those who know what you were aiming for, but discovered you’re at the top of the wrong ladder. If you feel like you’re different or unseen, then I may be the psychotherapist you’ve sought.

I have been practicing in Ventura for over 25 years. I specialize in helping people work through difficult areas in their lives, which are often relationships; all sorts of relationships. While marriage can be the most challenging relationship anyone will ever experience, it can also be the most rewarding. I help people learn to communicate more effectively and overcome any barriers or traumas that may be interfering with their relationships. I will help you identify how to find more satisfaction in your life and your relationships and how to experience peace and happiness within yourself.

I am a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist with 15 yrs working with women, children and families. I work with new mothers or pregnant women who are struggling with changes in mood and functioning due to their changing bodies and hormones. I also work with school age children, young adults and women. I have a background in child development and enjoy working with little ones and their families to increase attachment, decrease behavioral issues and promote healthy development. I welcome parents to work with me around parenting concerns, life transitions, relationship difficulties and identity. Individual or family sessions available.

My practice is focused on psychological testing, assessment, & evaluation. In these areas, I have extensive experience working with the entire lifespan, from infancy to older adulthood. I offer all things assessment: neuropsychological, (dementia, traumatic brain injury, etc.) psychoeducational (learning disability, giftedness, etc.), developmental (autism, intellectual disability, etc.), workman's comp, fitness-for-duty, & more. PLEASE NOTE: I DO NOT OFFER THERAPY, COUNSELING, OR MEDICATION SERVICES. This is an assessment only practice.

The last year has been hard on almost all of us. Has trauma, loss or grief made it difficult to live the life you really want? How do you imagine your life changing or being more satisfying? My approach is respectful, encouraging and focused on growth. I'm trained in what are called "power therapies." EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and BSP (Brainspotting) have the potential to heal deeply, from within the brain and body, and create understanding and relief.

Seeking support is difficult for anyone. Whether it is for an individual, family, or there is support. Over 15 years experience working in a variety of environments. People just want to get some relief and feel supported when navigating difficult circumstances. I have several years working at the University level, Behavioral Health, schools, and in the private sector. My focus is private practice and there is support for whatever is going on in your life currently. I am a referral source for several local companies, doctor offices, schools, as well as a consultant for TV/Film, and professional athletes.

At times life can become overwhelming due to life transitions, relationship challenges, depression, or anxiety. I believe that life's struggles become more bearable when they can be held and explored in a safe therapeutic environment. My approach is warm and comprehensive, based in respect and genuine caring. In our work together, I will engage in an exploratory journey with you to gain insight into both your conscious and unconscious feelings and patterns. My hope is that through the therapeutic process you will find greater relief from suffering, allowing for healing and growth in your inner life and outer relationships.

Is your Peace being affected by the current events? Now is a good time to work through fears, old trauma, negative expectation and stress, so you can walk in Peace and Rest. Many Insurance companies are covering phone and video sessions. Call if you think this is a good option for you!

If you are suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, chronic illness, professional burnout, or other sources of chronic emotional dysregulation, I believe there is hope for you. If you have tried traditional talk therapy and felt like you didn't make much progress, you may benefit greatly from trauma specific treatment, or from a more practical, skills-based approach to therapy like Dialectical Behavior Therapy that is aimed at helping you to build the life that you want, to move toward your values, and to change the behaviors that may be getting in the way of your goals.

VIDEO THERAPY. As we move forward from the pandemic, COVID-19 and other issues have profoundly disrupted your life and routine. As you start getting back in the world, you are pulled in different directions and trying to figure out what the new normal is. You're surprised at how hard it is to pick up your life. You're wondering if you've changed or grown in some way. (OPTUM/ UNITED HEALTHCARE, MHN HEALTHNET, TRICARE WEST, PRIVATE PAY)

If you or someone you know, misuses alcohol or other drugs, don't wait and call for help today. With so many different options for treatment, it can be overwhelming and for some, it can even be paralyzing. If for whatever reason, I am unable to accommodate services, I will help you find the person or place that can.

Everybody can benefit from having an empathetic guide to support them through the ups and downs in their lives. Whether you’re experiencing deep depression, crippling anxiety, uncontrollable anger, or just a temporary challenge, I can help you to understand your feelings, and develop tools and skills to create the life you desire.

I offer psychotherapy, with a focus on managing difficulties and learning from life's struggles. Together we reach an understanding of what you're experiencing, and create solutions geared toward easing your discomfort. When we are receptive to the voice of the unconscious, through exploration of dreams and struggles, we can find inner wisdom to meet life's challenges.