Psychodynamic Therapists in California
Reaching out for help takes courage, and I want to make that first step easier. I work with adolescents, young adults, and adults who feel stuck, anxious, or hopeless. Some clients are teens struggling at school or at home. Others are young adults who feel left behind while everyone around them seems to move forward. Many are adults carrying anxiety or depression that has quietly shaped their lives for years. My approach is direct, warm, and grounded in what actually works. Therapy with me feels less like a clinical interview and more like a focused conversation with someone who is in your corner.
Reaching out for help takes courage, and I want to make that first step easier. I work with adolescents, young adults, and adults who feel stuck, anxious, or hopeless. Some clients are teens struggling at school or at home. Others are young adults who feel left behind while everyone around them seems to move forward. Many are adults carrying anxiety or depression that has quietly shaped their lives for years. My approach is direct, warm, and grounded in what actually works. Therapy with me feels less like a clinical interview and more like a focused conversation with someone who is in your corner.
Psychodynamic therapy, guided meditation, and shamanic modes of healing can help shift the way you think and feel.
In session you can take time to let your soul catch up with you--share what's on your mind, organize your thoughts, and listen to yourself. This is a gift you give yourself, stepping out of the demanding pace of our culture to turn inward. We will then combine insight-oriented therapy with energetic and expressive methods to access your inner therapist.
Psychodynamic therapy, guided meditation, and shamanic modes of healing can help shift the way you think and feel.
In session you can take time to let your soul catch up with you--share what's on your mind, organize your thoughts, and listen to yourself. This is a gift you give yourself, stepping out of the demanding pace of our culture to turn inward. We will then combine insight-oriented therapy with energetic and expressive methods to access your inner therapist.
I specialize in healing complex trauma/PTSD, childhood abuse, attachment & anxiety. Do you feel emotionally overwhelmed, stuck in patterns you can’t seem to change, or triggered in ways that don’t make sense? Do you find yourself gripped by anxiety, depression and worry, no matter what you do? Trauma and chronic stress can dysregulate your nervous system, leaving you feeling out of control, disconnected, and weighed down by shame. You deeply want to feel safe, grounded, and connected to yourself and others—but find yourself stuck in cycles that are hard to break. You’re ready for change, and I want to help you get there.
I specialize in healing complex trauma/PTSD, childhood abuse, attachment & anxiety. Do you feel emotionally overwhelmed, stuck in patterns you can’t seem to change, or triggered in ways that don’t make sense? Do you find yourself gripped by anxiety, depression and worry, no matter what you do? Trauma and chronic stress can dysregulate your nervous system, leaving you feeling out of control, disconnected, and weighed down by shame. You deeply want to feel safe, grounded, and connected to yourself and others—but find yourself stuck in cycles that are hard to break. You’re ready for change, and I want to help you get there.
My approach is mindfulness and strengths based, relational, trauma informed, psychodynamic, somatic, and culturally informed.
You really can have a life where you feel more connected, self assured, happier and at peace. You probably have been struggling for awhile and now you are ready to courageously face the difficulties that have kept you from living your best life. Your difficulties may stem from an unsatisfying relationship, unfulfilling job, or a history of trauma.
My approach is mindfulness and strengths based, relational, trauma informed, psychodynamic, somatic, and culturally informed.
You really can have a life where you feel more connected, self assured, happier and at peace. You probably have been struggling for awhile and now you are ready to courageously face the difficulties that have kept you from living your best life. Your difficulties may stem from an unsatisfying relationship, unfulfilling job, or a history of trauma.
Welcome. Searching for a therapist is a brave first step on the path to healing. If you find yourself not getting what you want out of work, relationships, and personal growth, therapy with me is an effective route to get what you want out of life. I am committed to helping people find more productive ways of overcoming obstacles and self-destructive patterns that interfere with living more satisfying lives. In addition to listening, I am interactive. Clients find me to be warm, empathic and easily approachable. I create a safe environment for my individuals clients, couples and groups.
Welcome. Searching for a therapist is a brave first step on the path to healing. If you find yourself not getting what you want out of work, relationships, and personal growth, therapy with me is an effective route to get what you want out of life. I am committed to helping people find more productive ways of overcoming obstacles and self-destructive patterns that interfere with living more satisfying lives. In addition to listening, I am interactive. Clients find me to be warm, empathic and easily approachable. I create a safe environment for my individuals clients, couples and groups.
Hello! As a registered drama therapist & somatic practitioner, I support queer creatives & nonconformists to find authenticity beyond the binary. I offer creative and liberation-centered support for caregiver burnout, developmental & intergen trauma, post traumatic & chronic stress. Through a non-pathologizing stance, I support folks to reclaim intuition, agency, & joy. I passionately support LGBTQ+, artists, & care-workers/givers through life transitions, navigating systemic traumas, relationship struggles, attachment healing, and finding belonging. We will practice releasing perfection & internalizations to honor authenticity.
Hello! As a registered drama therapist & somatic practitioner, I support queer creatives & nonconformists to find authenticity beyond the binary. I offer creative and liberation-centered support for caregiver burnout, developmental & intergen trauma, post traumatic & chronic stress. Through a non-pathologizing stance, I support folks to reclaim intuition, agency, & joy. I passionately support LGBTQ+, artists, & care-workers/givers through life transitions, navigating systemic traumas, relationship struggles, attachment healing, and finding belonging. We will practice releasing perfection & internalizations to honor authenticity.
I work with adults and teenagers who are looking to manage symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma. I will be with you on the journey of healing to discovery, recovery, and connection to your true self. I also specialize in working with individuals experiencing life transition issues such as career/academic concerns and relationship stress. I approach therapy with a person-centered mindset to create as comfortable and welcoming an environment as I can. I believe the trust built between you and a therapist is one of the more powerful tools we as clinicians can offer, and I hope to garner that trust in my own practice.
I work with adults and teenagers who are looking to manage symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma. I will be with you on the journey of healing to discovery, recovery, and connection to your true self. I also specialize in working with individuals experiencing life transition issues such as career/academic concerns and relationship stress. I approach therapy with a person-centered mindset to create as comfortable and welcoming an environment as I can. I believe the trust built between you and a therapist is one of the more powerful tools we as clinicians can offer, and I hope to garner that trust in my own practice.
Do you feel stuck in your relationships? Perhaps you’re struggling to communicate, feeling misunderstood, recovering from infidelity, or drifting apart through major life transitions. Negative cycles of conflict or emotional distance may be leaving you exhausted and desperate for a change. Creating healthy connection can be challenging, but you don’t have to face the task alone. My clients are diverse individuals, couples, and families seeking to build trust, increase intimacy, and ultimately thrive in their relationships.
Do you feel stuck in your relationships? Perhaps you’re struggling to communicate, feeling misunderstood, recovering from infidelity, or drifting apart through major life transitions. Negative cycles of conflict or emotional distance may be leaving you exhausted and desperate for a change. Creating healthy connection can be challenging, but you don’t have to face the task alone. My clients are diverse individuals, couples, and families seeking to build trust, increase intimacy, and ultimately thrive in their relationships.
I draw from psychodynamic therapy, CBT, mindfulness, and compassionate-based approaches.
You’ve been holding it together for everyone else, but under the surface, there’s anxiety, body shame, and an exhausting relationship with food. You’re tired of second-guessing yourself, stuck in cycles of stress and self-criticism. Maybe you don’t remember a time when things felt peaceful. You’re ready for relief, for confidence, for a life that’s not ruled by food or body worries. Most of all, you’re ready to feel at home in yourself.
I draw from psychodynamic therapy, CBT, mindfulness, and compassionate-based approaches.
You’ve been holding it together for everyone else, but under the surface, there’s anxiety, body shame, and an exhausting relationship with food. You’re tired of second-guessing yourself, stuck in cycles of stress and self-criticism. Maybe you don’t remember a time when things felt peaceful. You’re ready for relief, for confidence, for a life that’s not ruled by food or body worries. Most of all, you’re ready to feel at home in yourself.
I have been helping people for more than 30 years and am trained in EMDR, TEAM-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Gottman Couples Therapy, Guided Imagery/Hypnotherapy, and Psychodynamic Therapies.
If you are looking for a therapist who is highly experienced, professional, knowledgeable, warm and has a sense of humor, then I believe you will find those qualities in working with me. If you are experiencing depression or anxiety, if you are impacted by childhood trauma, or recent trauma, if you are caught in negative patterns in your life or in your relationships, psychotherapy is an effective way to help you create the change you are seeking. I have been in practice since 1993 and have helped many people feel happier, break out of old patterns, heal trauma and discover a sense of well-being.
I have been helping people for more than 30 years and am trained in EMDR, TEAM-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Gottman Couples Therapy, Guided Imagery/Hypnotherapy, and Psychodynamic Therapies.
If you are looking for a therapist who is highly experienced, professional, knowledgeable, warm and has a sense of humor, then I believe you will find those qualities in working with me. If you are experiencing depression or anxiety, if you are impacted by childhood trauma, or recent trauma, if you are caught in negative patterns in your life or in your relationships, psychotherapy is an effective way to help you create the change you are seeking. I have been in practice since 1993 and have helped many people feel happier, break out of old patterns, heal trauma and discover a sense of well-being.
Her therapeutic approach is a mixture of Humanistic, Psychodynamic, and CBT.
As a bilingual therapist (English/Spanish), Vanessa is passionate about providing culturally sensitive care. Her own cultural challenges growing up showed her that we do not have to go through difficult times on our own and that it is a strength to ask for help.
Her therapeutic approach is a mixture of Humanistic, Psychodynamic, and CBT.
As a bilingual therapist (English/Spanish), Vanessa is passionate about providing culturally sensitive care. Her own cultural challenges growing up showed her that we do not have to go through difficult times on our own and that it is a strength to ask for help.
We offer therapy for Pacific Mind Health patients who are also receiving care through our medication management program, providing a connected and supportive treatment experience. Yadimahara Alvarez is an associate clinical social worker who specializes in dissociative identity disorder (DID), anxiety, depression, and substance use. Within her practice, Yadimahara uses tools such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), problem-solving therapy (PST), and risk assessment.
We offer therapy for Pacific Mind Health patients who are also receiving care through our medication management program, providing a connected and supportive treatment experience. Yadimahara Alvarez is an associate clinical social worker who specializes in dissociative identity disorder (DID), anxiety, depression, and substance use. Within her practice, Yadimahara uses tools such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), problem-solving therapy (PST), and risk assessment.
We will work together to overcome any anxiety, depression, or stressful life changes such as marriage, death, pregnancy and postpartum issues. I will provide a safe, supportive and authentic environment that will help you work through these issues while encouraging growth, self acceptance and an overall improvement in the quality of your life. I find that using a combination of existential/depth work along with behavioral therapy provides long lasting benefits and true change.
We will work together to overcome any anxiety, depression, or stressful life changes such as marriage, death, pregnancy and postpartum issues. I will provide a safe, supportive and authentic environment that will help you work through these issues while encouraging growth, self acceptance and an overall improvement in the quality of your life. I find that using a combination of existential/depth work along with behavioral therapy provides long lasting benefits and true change.
I value supporting people who want to live more authentically across all areas of their lives. With compassion, I help clients gently explore and challenge patterns that may be keeping them stuck, creating space for meaningful growth and change. I work with both individuals and couples to deepen their understanding of boundaries and to build clearer, more confident communication. My approach is informed by EMDR and IFS Parts Work. EMDR is a well-researched modality that helps process trauma, shift long-held negative beliefs, and reduce the impact of distressing life experiences.
I value supporting people who want to live more authentically across all areas of their lives. With compassion, I help clients gently explore and challenge patterns that may be keeping them stuck, creating space for meaningful growth and change. I work with both individuals and couples to deepen their understanding of boundaries and to build clearer, more confident communication. My approach is informed by EMDR and IFS Parts Work. EMDR is a well-researched modality that helps process trauma, shift long-held negative beliefs, and reduce the impact of distressing life experiences.
Some modalities I use are EMDR, internal family systems, family systems with families, mindfulness, psychodynamic, and CBT.
My passion is to help you heal, whether that is with your partner, family, yourself or with the often harsh realities of life as a human being. For 20 years, I have been helping clients thrive in their relationships and lives, and I know first hand what it is to do the work of growing, after an early life filled with trauma, from a place of mere survival into a life of meaning, joy, love and fulfillment.
Some modalities I use are EMDR, internal family systems, family systems with families, mindfulness, psychodynamic, and CBT.
My passion is to help you heal, whether that is with your partner, family, yourself or with the often harsh realities of life as a human being. For 20 years, I have been helping clients thrive in their relationships and lives, and I know first hand what it is to do the work of growing, after an early life filled with trauma, from a place of mere survival into a life of meaning, joy, love and fulfillment.
When the passion of your relationship plateaus, what's next? When your relationship reaches milestones such as the birth or departure of children, are you struggling with the adjustment? How strong is the foundation of your friendship? Do you feel that your partner understands you in essential ways? Many couples imagine that conflict indicates relationship trouble especially when certain issues repeatedly surface with no forward movement. Research proves this need not be the case. Conflict in relationship is normal; it's how you manage conflict that matters. There are clear and learnable skills that will deepen your friendship and love.
When the passion of your relationship plateaus, what's next? When your relationship reaches milestones such as the birth or departure of children, are you struggling with the adjustment? How strong is the foundation of your friendship? Do you feel that your partner understands you in essential ways? Many couples imagine that conflict indicates relationship trouble especially when certain issues repeatedly surface with no forward movement. Research proves this need not be the case. Conflict in relationship is normal; it's how you manage conflict that matters. There are clear and learnable skills that will deepen your friendship and love.
Hi, my name is Keyla. I have over 14 years of experience helping individuals from diverse backgrounds improve their overall well-being. My background includes research, school-based therapy, community mental health, psychiatric social work, and medical social work as a Senior Clinical Social Worker at a Level 1 Trauma Center in one of the busiest hospitals in the nation. These experiences have shaped me into a compassionate, highly effective, and well-rounded therapist. My goal is to help you gain insight, recognize the bigger picture, and create a vision for the life you'd like to live.
Hi, my name is Keyla. I have over 14 years of experience helping individuals from diverse backgrounds improve their overall well-being. My background includes research, school-based therapy, community mental health, psychiatric social work, and medical social work as a Senior Clinical Social Worker at a Level 1 Trauma Center in one of the busiest hospitals in the nation. These experiences have shaped me into a compassionate, highly effective, and well-rounded therapist. My goal is to help you gain insight, recognize the bigger picture, and create a vision for the life you'd like to live.
I use a variety of theoretical approaches to support your unique needs and goals, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Art Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Mindfulness practices.
I believe healing begins with kindness—especially the kind we offer ourselves. In our work together, I’ll support you in reconnecting with your strengths, even those you might not fully see yet. My approach is grounded in compassion, curiosity, and the belief that we all have the capacity to grow when we feel truly seen and supported.
Whether you're navigating anxiety, life transitions, relationship challenges, or simply seeking to understand yourself better, I’ll meet you with warmth and acceptance. We'll create a space where you can explore your thoughts, emotions, and patterns at your own pace.
I use a variety of theoretical approaches to support your unique needs and goals, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Art Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Mindfulness practices.
I believe healing begins with kindness—especially the kind we offer ourselves. In our work together, I’ll support you in reconnecting with your strengths, even those you might not fully see yet. My approach is grounded in compassion, curiosity, and the belief that we all have the capacity to grow when we feel truly seen and supported.
Whether you're navigating anxiety, life transitions, relationship challenges, or simply seeking to understand yourself better, I’ll meet you with warmth and acceptance. We'll create a space where you can explore your thoughts, emotions, and patterns at your own pace.
An Ideal collaborative partnership is with an individual within the ages of 12-65 who are seeking support with a variety of struggles. They may feel persistently sad, exhausted, or unmotivated. Experience racing thoughts, excessive worry, and feelings of being constantly overwhelmed. Having difficulty focusing, staying organized, or managing time effectively. They might experience impulsivity, burnout, or frustration in navigating personal and professional responsibilities. As well as potentially struggling with communication, trust, or emotional connection in relationships.
An Ideal collaborative partnership is with an individual within the ages of 12-65 who are seeking support with a variety of struggles. They may feel persistently sad, exhausted, or unmotivated. Experience racing thoughts, excessive worry, and feelings of being constantly overwhelmed. Having difficulty focusing, staying organized, or managing time effectively. They might experience impulsivity, burnout, or frustration in navigating personal and professional responsibilities. As well as potentially struggling with communication, trust, or emotional connection in relationships.
Learn how to feel more connected to yourself, others and the world around you. Therapy provides all the elements of intimacy: honest communication, vulnerability and trust. Good therapy is challenging yet warm, providing both structure and empathy for your unique experience.
Learn how to feel more connected to yourself, others and the world around you. Therapy provides all the elements of intimacy: honest communication, vulnerability and trust. Good therapy is challenging yet warm, providing both structure and empathy for your unique experience.
