Therapists in West Hollywood, CA

If you are moving through a difficult transition or wanting to tend to the deeper psychological aspects of past traumatic situations or persistent addictions, my work can help you. My training is based in a psychoanalytic perspective coupled with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and a genuine appreciation for sexual, cultural, and spiritual diversity. A psychoanalytic view suggests that current problems may be sourced in unconscious patterns, often rooted in the past, that would benefit from attention and understanding. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy helps reduce addictive behaviors and anxiety through the practice of gentle self observation and present moment awareness.

The reasons why people choose to go to therapy are numerous. From recent life stressors to long-term struggles with addiction, anxiety or depression, therapy can be a way to increase adaptability, happiness, coping, and overall quality of life. For some, therapy is about treating an identified problem, while others focus on personal growth and general well-being. Either way, therapy can be an important catalyst for positive change.

Whether you are working on regulating emotions, improving relationships, making difficult decisions, changing patterns of behavior, and/or accepting yourself right where you are, our sessions will give you the space and perspective you need to determine the most effective next step.

It takes a lot of strength to honestly assess your current situation, to confront certain truths, and to commit to making needed changes in your life. If you are ready to start making those changes, you may be wondering what to expect in the therapeutic process. In a supportive alliance with you, and after you identify your goals, we will map out a strategy to address your concerns, work to increase your self-awareness, and focus on developing greater personal insight and behavioral change. The outcome depends largely on commitment while silencing the harsh internal critic that many people have.

It's stressful out there: Our day-to-day circumstances and the overall culture are dramatically shifting. The good news: You don't have to figure all this out alone. Solving emotional, relationship, social, or career challenges takes teamwork. I created The Mental Gym to help people like you increase their well-being. My 20+ year career has focused on strengthening my client's emotional resilience. Your reading this indicates you're ready to find solutions. Working together, we'll clarify goals, improve insight, and develop a solid action plan, so that you can confidently fulfill your potential - whatever the world throws at you.

Native to Los Angeles, Amanda was captivated from a young age by the stark discrepancies in mental health services available to marginalized communities compared to the surrounding populations living only just next door. Prolonged exposure further lead her awareness of a growing divide for which there seemed no clear solution. Frustrated by a lack of meaningful social impact, Amanda was driven to commit her life to seeking clinical solutions to broad societal issues.

Whether this is your first therapeutic rodeo or you need a tune-up and a fresh start, we will work together to help you reach your goals and create a a life that feels connected and aligned with your best self. If you struggle with eating, have an eating disorder, suspect you might have one; if you are struggling with anxiety, body image distress, depression, have endured trauma, or you just feel generally stuck, you can move towards recovery. Let's discover your path to a more peaceful and passionate life. Will it be fun? Sometimes. Will it be worth it? Yes, because you are.

I understand how difficult it is to feel anxious, sad, or depressed, and how those feelings can impact the relationships in your life. You do not have to face these challenges alone. My work as a therapist centers on providing empathy, understanding, and a safe place where you can openly express your thoughts and feelings. Together, we will process how the experiences and relationships in your life have affected your mood, your happiness, the way you communicate with others, and more importantly, the way you view yourself.

Healing from trauma, reclaiming power, growing from struggle and learning to work WITH emotions rather than AGAINST them are the goals I strive to support my clients in achieving. I want to help my clients move beyond simply not feeling so depressed, anxious, angry or manic. I want to help them transcend their pain, feel like they are fulfilling their purpose in life, are able to truly love themselves and are cultivating relationships that feed their soul. Narrative Therapy teaches my clients to transform the meaning of what they have been through and techniques from Existential Therapy help clients create or discover their purpose.

If you’re anything like me or my clients, you’re very aware that your stressful thoughts and emotions keep coming even though it seems like you’ve done everything to stop them. Maybe you’re overwhelmed and can’t relax, believing that you have to do everything by yourself (because what’s the point in asking for help), but then you’re hard on yourself for having needs! You likely know you want better relationships, to be more present, and not fly off the handle so easily, and you very much know that you want more from your life than how it is now. What you likely don’t know is how to make this vision of a life worth living a reality.

If you are experiencing or have experienced trauma, anxiety, low self-esteem, mood disorders, identity construction (gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation), and/or life-changing situations related to immigration, infidelity, separation, abuse, issues related to intimacy and sex, you may feel stuck in life. I know that these experiences are difficult to process or overcome, and may make you feel isolated, hopeless, or misunderstood. I can heIp you! I am interested in unconscious patterns, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that take over your life and relationships, and hold you back from living a more satisfying and fulfilling life.

The decision to start therapy is a powerful first step in addressing areas of your life you’d like to explore. With everything life brings, it’s understandable to feel stuck, experience anxiety, or feel overwhelmed. When these feelings arise, we might know something needs to change, but it can be difficult to know where to start. In our sessions together, I will provide a safe space where you feel seen, heard, and supported as you navigate life’s difficulties. Together, we will explore your past relationships, so to understand your present difficulties and create a meaningful and fulfilling life.

My focus includes helping individuals work through phases of grief/loss a parent or partner, as well as the effects on providers whose patients have died. I also treat those struggling with imposter syndrome who are entering the work force or have established careers, as well as individuals attempting to adjust to new cultures. Other areas of focus include relationship struggles, anxiety & feeling lost in life, phase of life transitions, as well as entertainment industry challenges. My clients end up feeling more empowered in life & secure in knowing that I am actively guiding them toward becoming the best versions of themselves.

Early on, Adam was intrigued by how we connect with ourselves and the world around us. His interests led him to explore a diverse range of cultures and beliefs. He received his masters degree in psychology, and further delved into meditation, sound healing, and other consciousness ideologies. Today, he uses a variety of those tools to help those around him. In an atmosphere free of judgement, Adam helps guide each individual through their journey to understand and love themselves more fully.

Working together, I help you overcome challenges, setbacks, barriers, and losses in life, to heal and thrive again. You can learn to overcome challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, OCD, ADHD, job stress, career planning, dating/relationship skills, sexual dysfunction, and substance issues, as well as building a better relationship with your partner. I am the most experienced gay men's specialist psychotherapist in the United States, with over 31 years experience. I'm also an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, adjunct Associate Professor at USC, clinical supervisor, and author. In-office, phone, &webcam sessions available.