Therapists in Hollywood, CA

Licensed in both California and Connecticut - Psychotherapist, Addiction Specialist and Life Coach. Living life to the fullest is an adventure. It takes courage to go forward, to harness the power within. This is where Psychotherapy and Life Coaching meet. This is an opportunity to help you make smart choices and assist you in finding a sense of peace and acceptance while you move forward in your life. I am available to help you reach your personal and professional goals. I have studied mindfulness and work with clients who want to know more about it and embrace it. I look forward to hearing from you.

My intention is to help clients experience healthy, fulfilling relationships with themselves and the people in their lives. I work to gain your trust & be your ally as you take on life's challenges. Our therapeutic collaboration is filled with empathy & compassion. Our work together will have respect, gentleness & consideration as you search for the meaningful, integrated life you deserve. It's your process, whether you're struggling to find your way back to the life you enjoy, or discovering a life you want to live. I work with individuals, couples, and families.

Asking someone for help is one of the most powerful decisions you can make, so I consider it a privilege to guide you along this path of self-discovery. I work with clients in a supportive, compassionate, and nurturing way; helping them identify strengths and define goals through a process of active listening, deep empathy, non-judgment and acceptance. I work in an eclectic yet integrative manner utilizing many different modalities depending upon the client's needs and what they would most benefit from. I draw from neuroscience, research, and best clinical practices to carefully determine the right approach for each client.

My goal as a therapist is to help you examine your lived experience in a safe and inspiring way. In addition to my clinical experience I provide an environment that can be humorous and fun as well as vulnerable and challenging. We will identify the desired and undesired aspects of your habits and beliefs and attend to them with compassion and accountability. I am an active therapist and will help you connect the patterns and themes present in your psyche, in addition to your past and present actions, so that you can experience your life with increased self-compassion and gratitude.

Most people I work with want similar things: to acquire insight into their lives, to identify the barriers that are holding them back and to develop the ability for change. My experience and training is in insight-oriented, relational psychotherapy and executive/career coaching. Whether you are grappling with anxiety, depression, past traumas, relationship problems, life transitions or finding a place in a culture that is not welcoming to you, I create a safe, confidential environment to explore the issues you are struggling with.

If you feel stuck by your past, if you worry about the future, if you second guess what steps to take in the present, help is available. Through a supportive and collaborative therapeutic relationship, it is possible to achieve a greater sense of emotional well-being, increased self-awareness, better intimate relationships and a more resilient state of emotional health. Using a modern and mindful approach to therapy, issues related to panic attacks, addictions, anxiety, depression and dysfunctional relationships are processed from a supportive, strengths-based position that helps facilitate insight and change.

Let's face it: Our world is incredibly chaotic right now. Our inability to control the circumstances can feel overwhelming at times. The good news is that when chaos arises, the opportunity for reflection and change becomes more urgent. My priority is to understand how your symptoms of anxiety and low self-esteem are affecting your relationships and overall sense of self. Once established, we can peel back the layers one by one and create some movement in your life and in your relationships.

I offer secure video/phone individual and couples therapy sessions. It is my belief that therapy is a two-way street. You get out of it what you put into it. If you apply yourself and your efforts are sincere, your chances of success and improvement are far greater. I view myself as a facilitator, at times, as a therapist. A conduit between you and your truths. And at times I see my role as being more assertive and providing guidance when need be. I also understand the need, at times, to provide my clients with more specific answers to questions that they might have regarding their mental health concerns.

With over twenty years experience in LGBTQ counseling, research, and teaching, I have a deep understanding of our community. Among LGBTQ individuals anxiety and depression may involve feelings of emptiness, relationship problems, interpersonal sensitivity, or addictions. The roots of these struggles can vary, but it helps to have a therapist who grasps the alienating impact of growing up in a world that disavows the core of who we are. I will help you address these issues, and others, through a deeper approach that can feel energizing, challenging, and even liberating.

I assist individuals & couples in learning to address their inner life through an approach that helps work with "unfinished family business" from childhood that shows up today as unstable/conflictual relationships, depression, anxiety, trauma, etc. I bring over 21 years of experience working with individuals of various self-identities who seek to address either short-term issues/conflicts or desire to work on a deeper level psychologically. I specialize in working with gays & lesbians, though my approach is ideal for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, who seek a more authentic lived experience.

What does "balance" and "safety" look like, feel like, and mean to you? I aim to provide a safe, healing space for clients, ensuring I take into account what "safe" and "balance" means to each individual in this current time and how that aligns with current needs, life events, and experiences. I predominantly work with the adolescent & young adult populations, addressing anxiety, relationship with food and body, personality traits/disorders, relationships, and life transitions. I am also passionate about exploring diet culture and the role of wellness culture in our lives.

Does it sometimes feel like you are struggling to just exist? As a Queer, Latina, AuDHD (Autistic/ADHD) therapist, I get it! Many spaces in this world are not designed for us, and sometimes even work against us. Your feelings of overwhelm and othered-ness are justified, but that shouldn't stop you from building the authentic life you deserve. Have you been labeled as weird, quirky, too sensitive/emotional, lazy, or overall just too much? Are you someone who does not fit the normative societal standards because of your sexual/romantic orientations, gender presentation, or for practicing consensual/ethical non-monogamy?

My passion and commitment is to assist individuals, couples, and families in their journey toward growth, healing, and fulfillment. I understand that reaching out for therapy can be a vulnerable and courageous decision. I want to assure you that I am here to create a safe and non-judgmental space where you can explore your concerns, emotions, and aspirations. Building trust is at the core of any therapeutic relationship, and I recognize its significance in fostering positive change. As your therapist, my approach is rooted in empathy, compassion, and genuine care. I value and respect the uniqueness of each individual.

You are welcome to positively change your life. Dr. Malika is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working with clients in the entire state of California. Dr. Malika offers a safe space of unconditional positive regard for you to totally be yourself, as you explore your thoughts and feelings. Dr. Malika has worked in the areas of child development, parenting, addiction treatment, couples therapy, premarital counseling, non-monogamous/Polyamory, LGBTQIA, foster-care/transitional aged youth issues, homelessness, issues pertaining to systemic racism, as well as joined alongside clients overcoming anxious and depressive symptoms.

Therapy is a unique process that facilitates the reconnection and restoration of your authentic self. The famed psychiatrist Carl Jung once wrote that we “walk in shoes too small," meaning we limit our own potential, whether we are conscious of it or not. In that sense, the work of therapy is to broaden ourselves and fully embody the potential that awaits each of us. We aim to aid your growth toward clarity and self-acceptance, and to help you shed that which no longer serves you, all within a safe, contained environment.

Early relationships shape the way the mind and brain develop from our young years into our adult lives. Our connections with caregivers induce neural circuit firings that persist throughout our lives, shaping how we think, feel, remember, and behave. When we are lucky enough to have secure attachment experiences in which we feel seen, safe, soothed, and secure—the “four S’s of attachment” that serve as the foundation for a healthy mind—these relational experiences stimulate the neuronal activation and growth of the integrative fibers of the brain.

I am most comfortable engaging clients who may have familiarity with overwhelming sensations about life, in general, or an inability to manage daily life, relationships, family, academic, and work experiences. I aim to establish and maintain rapport through effective working relationships, offering psychoeducation related to life transitions by setting attainable goals that build upon healthy inclusive, and supportive connections.

Starting with the initial consultation, I begin helping my clients clarify their goals for treatment, identify any potential obstacles to achieving those goals, and together we begin creating a treatment plan for success. My style is empathic, candid, and direct. I listen intently, but I also ask questions, I explore, I provide real, authentic feedback, and I use humor…I love to laugh!

Are you feeling isolated, or having difficulty connecting with others around you in a way that feels fulfilling and genuine? You may also feel like you're too much or not enough, and seek self-acceptance and freedom from judgement. You may also be an out-of-the-box thinker or a creative person who is struggling to feel accepted, loved, or trying to find your voice, your place, or your people in the world. You may be rethinking who and what you want in your life, including your family of origin. I can help you sort through what feels important to you.