Therapists in Santa Monica, CA

Maybe you're overwhelmed, maybe you feel nothing. Maybe you're lost. Maybe you're running in so, so many directions, the world has stopped making sense, and you're overusing screens or substances, and have stopped caring. I invite you to sit down with me. Let's work together to come back to peace, strength, sweeter awareness, and maybe even some joy. I work with students, artists, actors, writers, and other professionals including those in the tech, medical, and entertainment industries. I treat individuals navigating anxiety, depression, and mood disorders hoping to live with a lighter heart. I have a few areas of ongoing inquiry:

I’ve worked with adolescents, young adults, and adults from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and in a variety of settings. I see many people dealing with stress, anxiety and depression, and I specialize in life transitions and adjustment, including experiences such as adjusting to a new job, beginning college, becoming a new parent or transitioning to more than one child in the family, and family structural changes like separation & divorce. I also specialize in both academic research and clinical work on the role of fathers in the family and issues that fathers face.

Hi, I’m Itzel. I am a licensed psychotherapist in California and my native Costa Rica. I have completed Intensive Plus DBT training in addition to working at Clearview, a full DBT fidelity program. I obtained my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC) and have spent 20 years in health and safety leadership roles in corporate and academic environments. In addition to my training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, I have extensive training in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy and Solution-Driven Therapy,

As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I will collaborate with you in developing problem-solving skills to enhance the coping strategies that will help you deal with depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and other anxiety-producing experiences. I focus on understanding your symptoms within the context of your interpersonal relationships.

Do you feel like your past prevents you from enjoying your present and looking forward to your future? Do you find yourself repeating patterns of behavior that no longer serve you? Do you struggle to maintain meaningful and stable relationships? If yes, perhaps it’s time to take a deep breath and look inward. By exploring the wounds from your past, you can find empathy and understanding. You can be free. “Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.” – Peter A. Levine

I am interested in seeing anyone who needs help with major life transitions or who is in the midst of a life crisis. I also encourage people who are not in crisis but interested in improving the quality of their life and to enhance their overall well being. Besides being in private practice I have also worked in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings. I believe in using an eclectic approach, with a multitude of modalities, to help people, in a safe setting, clarify their issues, gain greater insight and assist them in finding their own solutions and coping skills. Most of my clients report feeling better in a short time.

Balance CBT is the name of my private practice. I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY27841) and an expert in the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders and related conditions. My primary focus is providing evidence-based or "known to work" treatments for anxiety-related problems. While I place very high value on research-driven treatments, I strongly believe that compassion, validation, and a powerful relationship are cornerstones to effective therapy. I am a member of the clinical faculty at UCLA and hold positions in the departments of psychiatry and psychology.

My dedication to my clients comes from a well deep with purpose. I enjoy working with clients in the age range of 30-55 who are experiencing burnout and may feel emotionally and physically exhausted due to prolonged stress, demanding responsibilities, or dissatisfaction in various aspects of their lives. Going through a midlife crisis due to life transitions such as divorce, grief and loss or trauma, you might be questioning life choices, and seeking meaning or change in your personal or professional spheres. These situations can benefit from self-reflection, professional support and guidance.

Hello, welcome to my personal profile. I specialize in the treatment of overcontrolled and undercontrolled emotional styles. I offer a blend of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Somatic Experiencing with spirituality interventions to help you get comfortable in your own skin. I believe that we are human animals that have lost the sense of our body's wisdom for various reasons. This work can support you in coming home to yourself, maybe for the first time. Building resilience in the body can remove pathology from experience, set the conditions for increased self-compassion and cultivate the ability to make wise choices. Email Only

Do you experience overwhelming thoughts and/or emotions? Do you experience inner-conflict and self doubt? Do you find yourself stuck in old patterns/behaviors and unsure of how to change them? For many these experiences can result in feeling frustrated, scared, hopeless and alone, often coping in self-damaging ways. These are normal responses to trauma and overwhelming/painful experiences. While I incorporate more traditional evidenced based modalities such as CBT, and DBT, I also recognize that emotions, implicit memories and trauma can get stuck in the body, which is why talk therapy alone often isn’t enough.

Relationships are problematic. You’re up late at night researching your partner’s behavior online – learning new terms like narcissist abuse, gaslighting, boundaries, and how to be happy. You fantasize this search will make your partner say, “Thank you for this enlightening information. Now I understand my alcoholic mother and chaotic childhood caused my behavior in relationships.” Realistically, you know that late-night research got you nowhere. You might think, “I will find a therapist and get to the roots of my personality, why I act the way I do, and work on myself.” Unfortunately, this is not likely to happen without a plan.

Being human is exciting and beautiful... and challenging! My work is grounded in respect and empathy for how individuals, couples, and families pave a path in life. Together we make change possible by bringing your unique, personal knowledge and experience into awareness, and then moving through the stuckness of painful trauma, unkind thoughts, or feelings of powerlessness before problems. Together we will work to reconnect you to the whole experience of being human: feeling emotions, attuning to thoughts and beliefs, creating healthy relationships, and recognizing your whole life story in its complexity of joy, sorrow, and growth.

Seeking help can be scary and exciting, and it takes a lot of bravery and courage to take the initial step. You may be feeling like you are depressed and anxious due to your trauma. I aim to meet you where you are mentally and emotionally and help you grow, learn skills, and adapt to new changes. We can work together to identify your goals and needs and address the emotional and behavioral challenges you experience.

Whether you are taking your first steps towards healing, seeking a new therapist, or needing solutions to improve difficult areas in your life, I am honored to support you on your healing and growth journey. As a therapist, I will be here to help you discover your own truths, needs, and a unique path toward a new way of being.

When problem patterns of behaviors are identified it may be the spark that can lead a person into therapy. Drug abuse, alcohol or other problematic behaviors may have been a way of coping with unmanaged issues but we realize that the original problems still exist and often become worse. Learn about your mental health concerns and addiction and you will learn about yourself. Making changes in our life begins by recognizing that changes need to occur. Working with the right therapist can help you learn and apply new and adaptive coping skills to identify and maintain a life worth living. HIPAA compliant Telehealth services available.

Elan Javanfard is a Psychotherapist (LMFT # 87054) who specializes in reintegrating the whole self, by utilizing present focused methods of discovery and coping. By using evidence-based theories and psychodynamic practices, Mr. Javanfard assists all clients alike to bridge the past and the future to create a more positive present. Mr. Javanfard is skilled in a variety of interventions ranging from distress tolerance to interpersonal effectiveness.

For over 15 years, Love Thyself Social Services Inc. has served the minority community through community outreach by providing the necessity of support to those who are neglected, underserved, and in need of psychosocial healing. By working to eliminate psychosocial barriers and support healing, we eagerly strive toward timely intervention for both the individual and family. We help individuals and families of all ethnicities and background to achieve mental stability and awareness of self. Now serving Teens, Couples, Individuals, Families.

I am a CSAT specializing in trauma and addiction as well as sexuality and intimacy issues. My unique style treats emotional discomfort and pain as avenues for self-discovery and personal growth. As a somatic therapist, I believe true healing comes from creating alignment between body, mind, and soul. As you more skilled at navigating your inner obstacles, you will rediscover your capacity to find balance and live a life that is healthy, joyful, and free. I emphasize insight, self-awareness, and empowerment to help you grow, learn about the meaning behind your symptoms, and lead a more gratifying life.

I help people navigate the big choices in life, confront issues like depression and anxiety, and face down bigger problems like addiction or unresolved trauma. Maybe you sense something isn’t quite right — your job, your marriage, your personal relationships and want to get “back on track.” Together we can face difficult choices, move through the stages of change, and help you recover a sense of personal integrity. I work with couples, individuals, and sometimes families to improve communication, explore values, and address underlying issues which may be a source of conflict.