Teletherapy for Westlake Village, CA

Many of us don’t realize how negative events from our childhood affect the quality of our lives. You wake up most days feeling worthless, angry, fearful, anxious, insecure, and sad. These feelings negatively affect your behavior … you are unmotivated, impulsive, reactive, and take too many risks. These behaviors are negatively affecting every aspect of your life. Bills are piling up, you go from one job to the next, one relationship to the next, and may even be abusing drugs and alcohol. I treat symptoms of childhood developmental trauma/complex PTSD, (i.,e., anxiety, depression, and dissociative disorders).

My approach to psychotherapy is collaborative, empathetic and unique to each individual's personal needs. I believe the most important component of therapy is establishing a genuine, trusting connection. I strive to create a therapeutic environment in which the clients feel respected, supported and understood in order to actively explore deep personal issues and experiment with new ways of thinking and behaving about their present and future. During our process, we will explore emotions and relationships that impact your life. Together we will clarify the development of thoughts and feelings and understand how they shape us.

My approach to therapy focuses on healing, connection, and emotional insight to allow individuals, couples, and families to reach their goals and improve their lives. We will work together to tailor your treatment so that whatever may be affecting you can be worked through in a safe, comfortable space. I utilize different treatment modalities like EMDR, Emotionally Focused Therapy and TRM to bring you the best treatment for your personalized needs. Some of my specialty areas include grief & loss, PTSD, couples and family therapy, depression, and anxiety.

Do roadblocks get in the way of living the life you want? Do you and your partner argue over the same issues leaving you feeling disconnected and lonely? Do difficult memories and experiences leave you feeling stuck? Is your teen struggling with behavior, school or relationships? If you answered 'yes' to any of these, I can help. Deciding to seek therapy is not easy - it takes courage! Whether it's yourself, your relationship or your teen struggling, you deserve to feel happy & successful. I can help you get your life/relationships back on track. My clients experience me as a warm, skillful and compassionate therapist. You will too.

Does the distance between you feel unbearable at times? Perhaps you can't find the will or the courage to draw near your partner. Resentment and distrust may have widened the gap. Though reactive fights stand in the way of the tenderness you need, your heartfelt friendship could be just below the surface. Hoping it will get better, we wait to get help, while patterns reinforce distance and a negative view of each other. We become less willing to reveal ourselves or seek comfort and friendship from our most important person. You both really deserve your measure of happiness.

I have helped numerous couples, individuals & families find happiness, harmony, and coping strategies to life challenges. I use John Gottman's (research based) approach and EFT to help couples understand their strengths & areas that need improvement. By taking an online assessment couples save time & money & I can quickly assess areas of focus & recomend interventions. To help clients with anxiety/depression I challenge distorted beliefs and maladaptive behaviors using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This approach along with other interventions encourages clients to go out of their comfort zone & reduce problamatic symptoms.

I am an experienced Marriage And Family Therapist with a demonstrated history of working in the professional training & coaching industry. Skilled in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Group Therapy, Family Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, EMDR, Flash and Emotional Intelligence.

Do you feel as though your anxiety and depression are unmanageable? How about feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or helplessness like you’ve hit rock bottom and are struggling to find hope for tomorrow? Once we start to unravel the details of our past and trauma we give ourselves the ability to process feelings that we have long suppressed. I aim to collaborate with you and provide tools to decrease the challenging feelings you are currently facing and achieve a more integrated and balanced sense of self, leading to emotional healing and personal growth.

Your relationship has gotten to a place where you’re both unhappy. All the responsibilities have piled up since having kids and you hardly have meaningful conversations let alone have fun together anymore. You’re tired of the constant bickering and the resentment you have built up over time. You’re wondering.. is this.. it? You’ve worked so hard to build a family and a life together but you’re finding that most of the time you’re exhausted, angry, and feel really alone. Perhaps, there is also some old stuff related to how you grew up that is coming up again as well. You just want to fight less and feel close to your partner again.

I provide support to develop healthier relationships, manage and reduce stress and anxiety, and improve self-esteem by connecting more deeply with your true nature. When life experiences and relationships seem complicated, or more difficult than you would like them to be, I can work with you to gain clarity and connection with what's most true for you. The work involves being present with and understanding the feelings, beliefs, thoughts, and bodily sensations that influence your experience and perspectives. I'll guide you to be curious, look within and be with your truth.

I am Cheri McDonald Ph.D., LMFT, PATP, a creative visionary with a passion for healing individuals, families, and communities. Drawing from my 35-year private psychotherapy practice at A Place To Turn, I've cultivated wisdom and knowledge that form the foundation of my Holistic Integral Training (HIT). This modality leads to profound, long-lasting healing in the mind, body, and spirit. I stand as a holistic leader and mentor in the mental health realm. With the transformation of the world today and the increasing need to provide healing for the most complex times, I have founded Alternative Place 2 Turn, LLC..

At A Place to Turn, we understand that your journey to well-being is unique, and our approach to holistic healing is tailored to meet your individual needs. Our ideal client is someone seeking not just relief from symptoms but a comprehensive transformation that encompasses physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Their goal is beyond symptom relief but a profound sense of balance, purpose, and vitality. Our clients desire a holistic approach seeking the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. A Place to Turn becomes the refuge where their needs for deep healing, personal growth, and a renewed sense of purpose converge.

Maybe you are feeling tangled up in unwanted habits, behaviors, or ways of thinking. You might be feeling unsatisfied with the way these things seem to have shaped your life. The weight of carrying this thing around has become exhausting and you are looking for a place to set it down, leave it, and move on with your life free from this burden.

After a history and intake is completed clients would be involved in a self assessment which would be broken down into weekly goals and treatment. If probation or court is mandated we can completed the number of hours as indicated. If consultation is a Voluntary basis "completion" is based on feedback of the individual.

Fuck! Is this as good as it gets? I know the “happily ever after” thing is a bit of a fairy tale, but I never imagined that in marrying the person of my dreams I would one day be dreaming for someone/something more. Sex has become an obligation… a transaction to keep the peace. The desire for passion is imprisoned in my dreams and fantasies… it is not present in my relationship from either of us. We could keep going like this, raise our kids, take vacations once a year… I’m sure things will be fine! But is it bad to say…I want more than FINE! I want fucking Fantastic! This was a chat I had with a client during a recent consult call.

My focus is to assist individuals, couples, and families in understanding how their thoughts affect their feelings and behavior. By using this approach, problems in every-day living (including but not limited to depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder [especially in adults and adolescents] eating disorders, post-partum concerns, couple conflict, and teen/family problems) are addressed and resources are mobilized to provide effective change. Also, in an effort to strengthen marriage and families, I have created a comprehensive pre-marital program and effective parenting course.

If you are looking for a change from talk therapy to help you achieve your goals, please contact me. I specialize in use of Brain Based Therapies and offer Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, EMDR, Brainspotting and EEG informed Neurofeedback. Brain-based therapies are one of the fastest-growing areas in psychological health and combine the strength of brain-based, somatic and talk therapies into a powerful healing process. Together we can accelerate the ability for your brain to activate its own natural healing.

EVENING APPTS. I chose a PhD in Clinical Psychology in order to help individuals suffering with the emotional pain and upheaval that life's ups and downs can bring. I enjoy a close working relationship and collaborative trust based connection with my patients, which brings the reward of personal growth and stimulates the healing process. With more than 28 years in the mental health profession, and 25+ years in private practice, I continue working to expand my education and experience to include a wide variety of psychotherapeutical skill sets.

Finding a therapist can be challenging, a sea of faces and similar profiles. I encourage you to make some calls and talk with multiple therapists. You will know when it is a good fit. If you call me, I will offer you an experienced and grounded presence, a commitment to walking with you on your journey, and compassion, empathy and curiosity to find healing and acceptance. Therapy can be a transformational experience in a safe and collaborative space. There are many tools that we both have and can use to create insight and connection and I look forward to accessing the tools with you.