Therapists in Westlake Village, CA

Hello! My name is Karen Barbi and I am a licensed psychologist. I offer a variety of support. Feel free to read on or contact me directly! In Psychotherapy, my goal is to help you lean into your values, learn new tools, and make systematic changes that will help you reach your personalized, achievable goals! While managing current stressors and building positive habits, I take a CBT and solution-focused approach that helps you move forward. Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluations are a passion of mine. My intent is to help you understand the underpinnings of your (or your child’s) struggles, identify strengths, and build a road map.

Let's face it...life happens! We try our best to make the environment around us as comfortable as possible for ourselves, and many times we succeed. Then, there are those times when we just feel stuck and frustrated, perhaps even discouraged. Often, if we stay in those 'stuck' places for too long, we end up feeling depressed, anxious, stressed, angry, insecure, vulnerable, unmotivated, or just plain moody. It almost feels like there's some hidden knowledge that could unlock that 'stuck' feeling and let us get back to, or begin, feeling motivated and confident about the direction of our lives.

In two decades of practice, I have worked with people of all ages: children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. I use an integrative approach to maximize the happiness of my client, including cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy with children and teens, and mindfulness. I help clients draw from their own strengths to take action to achieve their goals. I help couples find strategies to improve communication, restore intimacy to their relationship, and resolve conflicts before they escalate. I help individual clients restore balance in their lives to deal with anxiety and depression.

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.

We all have moments of difficulty in our lives. Sometimes these difficulties are due to unexpected life circumstances or life transitions and some difficulties are caused by underlining mental health challenges or disorders. Engaging in therapy is one tool that a person can use to assist with working through and managing these difficulties.

Do you ever feel like you're drifting apart from yourself and those around you? Are your own needs consistently relegated to the bottom of your never-ending to-do list? Do you often ponder whether life should feel more fulfilling and joyful? In today's turbulent world, it's not uncommon to experience feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, and uncertainty, especially when it comes to managing the complexities of relationships, careers, and everyday life. The tendency to neglect self-care and push aside personal needs can result in long-term repercussions for both your mental and physical well-being.

My focus is on deepening my patients' understanding of their own behaviors, improving their communication and coping skills, increasing confidence and self-image, and moving toward a healthier and more satisfying level of functioning. I am fluent in both English and Farsi.

Family life has it's challenges, but with the right tools, families can help each other through anything! I work with individuals, couples and families to be the strongest and healthiest they can be.

Dr. Mangat views therapy as a powerful tool to help people solve problems, feel empowered in their search for increasing insight and awareness, reduce emotional suffering and bring about real and lasting change. She has clinical expertise in addictions and co-occurring disorders like PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, Depression and Anxiety Disorders. Whether you are struggling with emotional distress, addictive behaviors or relationship problems she will, first, work collaboratively with you to precisely define the problem and then set goals moving towards growth and change. She is skillful in different modes and theories of therapy and will precisely tailor therapy to your specific needs.

My therapeutic approach stems from the belief that at some point in our lives, we all could benefit from speaking to a professional to help us navigate through whatever issues are holding us back. For some, the desire to seek support happens early in life and for others it happens later. Whether issues stem from life changes, mental health disorders, or external stressors, I believe now is always the right time to start working towards a greater understanding of yourself and your needs. Through working in collaboration with my clients, I hope to help them heal and become the best version of themselves that they've ever known.

The weight of the world on top of your own internal struggles can feel overwhelming and simply terrifying; leaving you with stress, anxiety, depression even fear. These feelings become more present as you enter into adulthood, leading you to question your true identity and who you are called to be. The different transitions life has to offer may leave you feeling stuck, almost drowning in negative emotion. You might be crying for help on the inside, yet it becomes so difficult to express this need on the outside. Now is the time to truly get that support and guidance you've been desiring!

"I want to get you excited about who you are, what you are, what you have, and what can still be for you. I want to inspire you to see that you can go far beyond where you are right now.......V.Satir". Conflict and inner turmoil can be overwhelming, making you feel confused, scared, and unable to move. After understanding and exploring your thoughts/feelings, I can best help you make decisions and take action. With support, encouragement, and in a comfortable environment, you can work through your conflict/issues and get what you want for yourself.

My professional voyage has traversed healthcare, the realm of workers' compensation, and the corridors of education, all of which have endowed me with a rich tapestry of skills. I’m Kathryn Gutierrez, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, educator, and artist specializing in the art of healing. I focus on patients who grapple with the weight of chronic pain, dance with the shadows of anxiety and depression, and bear the scars of trauma. I typically treat adults, who often have a physical injury followed by a sequela of chronic pain. Additionally I treat patients who are struggling with anxiety and depression.

Please send an email to set up initial phone consult or appointment. Do you find yourself struggling in relationships? Do you find yourself repeating patterns? Are you unsure of how to manage and cope with discomfort? Are you ready to make a change? Seeking help and acknowledging your difficulties is the first step in healing. Therapy is a valuable space to begin the self-exploration process as well as to learn ways to create a healthy more meaningful life. I take an action oriented interactive approach to identify goals and implement change.

My goal as a psychotherapist is to provide you with a genuine, warm, caring experience where your thoughts and feelings can be held and mended over time. Sharing the negatives of one's life and self can be such a debilitating experience. Whether you just need a listening ear or a more directive approach, I am honored to be a witness and participant in whatever modality you feel works for you. Working with adults and children over the years has changed my belief of pain and trauma. If you are ready to take that leap and trust in me, I would be honored to accompany your healing journey.

Couples and Marriage Counseling: Do you remember what it was like to be in love with a vision of spending your life together as a couple? What went wrong? Where is the love, and what happened to your vision? If you are tired of feeling like you are living with a roommate, are longing to communicate with your partner, and want to renew the passion, there is a way to heal your relationship and enjoy a deeper and more intimate bond. Patricia specializes in helping couples find happiness in their relationship by offering concrete steps that can be implemented immediately.

Is your child experiencing problems at school, difficulty making or keeping friends, tantrums, constant worrying or nightmares? I have a passion for working with children and families, and I'm here to help. There is so much pressure today to be a "perfect" parent, and admitting that you need support can be difficult. My goal is to create a safe space for you and your child to work together to problem-solve and get through challenging times.

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..

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.