Photo of Julie Wensel, MA, AMFT, CTP, Marriage & Family Therapist Associate
Julie Wensel
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT, CTP
Verified Verified
4 Endorsed
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Hi, my name is Julie, I support individuals and couples who may struggle with trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, and stress. Your needs and struggles are unique and I believe you have the resilience to heal and live a meaningful life. My job is to remind you of your strengths, explore what may be holding you back, give you tools to self-regulate, and insight into yourself. I use a gentle and straightforward approach to help you reconnect, understand your inner world, and feel more empowered in your decisions. My goal is for you to process and overcome the obstacles that pull you back in a supportive and collaborative environment.
Hi, my name is Julie, I support individuals and couples who may struggle with trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, and stress. Your needs and struggles are unique and I believe you have the resilience to heal and live a meaningful life. My job is to remind you of your strengths, explore what may be holding you back, give you tools to self-regulate, and insight into yourself. I use a gentle and straightforward approach to help you reconnect, understand your inner world, and feel more empowered in your decisions. My goal is for you to process and overcome the obstacles that pull you back in a supportive and collaborative environment.
(424) 772-0048 View (424) 772-0048
Photo of Brenda Perry, MA, AMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist Associate
Brenda Perry
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified Verified
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
My approach to therapy is based on developing a deep emotional connection with the people in our lives, improving self-esteem, accessing inner resources to cope with difficulties and learning to have compassion for ourselves and others. Although therapy can be very helpful when we are going through a difficult time in our lives, it is also an important self-care practice. Just like we attend yoga or the gym to take care of our bodies, taking care of our emotional and mental health is just as important. For me, wellness needs to be holistic, both body and mind need to be treated to truly achieve inner peace and fulfillment.
My approach to therapy is based on developing a deep emotional connection with the people in our lives, improving self-esteem, accessing inner resources to cope with difficulties and learning to have compassion for ourselves and others. Although therapy can be very helpful when we are going through a difficult time in our lives, it is also an important self-care practice. Just like we attend yoga or the gym to take care of our bodies, taking care of our emotional and mental health is just as important. For me, wellness needs to be holistic, both body and mind need to be treated to truly achieve inner peace and fulfillment.
(424) 301-8996 View (424) 301-8996
Photo of Ruth Houston Barrett, PhD, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Ruth Houston Barrett
Marriage & Family Therapist, PhD, LMFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
With care, knowledge, and passion, I help my clients achieve the meaningful changes they seek. From the first session, my clients say they feel lighter, happier, and empowered for change. I balance warmth and empathy with extensive education, experience, expertise. Focusing on solutions, strengths, and evidence-based tools, we take concrete steps to enrich lives and relationships, blending therapeutic modalities for conscious-unconscious mind, mindfulness, meaning.
With care, knowledge, and passion, I help my clients achieve the meaningful changes they seek. From the first session, my clients say they feel lighter, happier, and empowered for change. I balance warmth and empathy with extensive education, experience, expertise. Focusing on solutions, strengths, and evidence-based tools, we take concrete steps to enrich lives and relationships, blending therapeutic modalities for conscious-unconscious mind, mindfulness, meaning.
(310) 879-5173 View (310) 879-5173
Photo of Cheryl Susanne Bentley, MA, AMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist Associate
Cheryl Susanne Bentley
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified Verified
7 Endorsed
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
You're smart, creative, & you have big aspirations but nothing seems to be measuring up. Maybe you're sick of your job or your relationships leave something to be desired. Perhaps the inner-critic is relentless or you compare yourself to others feeling like you're not enough. Your relationship with food or self-esteem is messy & the self-help books have only gotten you so far. You can't pin down what's wrong & why things aren'tworking anymore. Or maybe you find yourself in an unfulfilling partnership. Your relationship is a mess. You want deeper connection, intimacy, & more fun with your person! The dream of a team feels far away.
You're smart, creative, & you have big aspirations but nothing seems to be measuring up. Maybe you're sick of your job or your relationships leave something to be desired. Perhaps the inner-critic is relentless or you compare yourself to others feeling like you're not enough. Your relationship with food or self-esteem is messy & the self-help books have only gotten you so far. You can't pin down what's wrong & why things aren'tworking anymore. Or maybe you find yourself in an unfulfilling partnership. Your relationship is a mess. You want deeper connection, intimacy, & more fun with your person! The dream of a team feels far away.
(323) 379-0734 View (323) 379-0734
Photo of Teresa Louise Sullivan, Marriage & Family Therapist
Teresa Louise Sullivan
Marriage & Family Therapist
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Hello. If you are reading this introduction then I know you may be feeling anxious, sad, angry, fearful, isolated and I also know that you are tired of feeling this way. Today you have taken the first step in healing yourself. As a licensed Marriage and Family therapist, a member of a healing profession, I offer you my services. We would begin by exploring and understanding the experiences that have shaped the person you are today. During this process, we will uncover the sources of your current symptoms and behaviors.
Hello. If you are reading this introduction then I know you may be feeling anxious, sad, angry, fearful, isolated and I also know that you are tired of feeling this way. Today you have taken the first step in healing yourself. As a licensed Marriage and Family therapist, a member of a healing profession, I offer you my services. We would begin by exploring and understanding the experiences that have shaped the person you are today. During this process, we will uncover the sources of your current symptoms and behaviors.
(424) 254-0982 View (424) 254-0982
Photo of Crystal Quarry, PsyD, MA, Psychologist
Crystal Quarry
Psychologist, PsyD, MA
Verified Verified
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
One of the most important aspects in therapy is for patients to feel heard, respected, and understood. Given that each individual is unique, and no one issue is ever the same among different people, my approach is integrative and tailored to meet the needs of the person, not the "problem". I strive to create a compassionate, non-judgemental environment for patients to learn, grow, explore, challenge, and to live the life they want to be living. I specialize in working with adults - individual, couples, and family - with anxiety, depression, PTSD/trauma, relationship problems, substance abuse, ADD/ADHD, and LGBTQ issues.
One of the most important aspects in therapy is for patients to feel heard, respected, and understood. Given that each individual is unique, and no one issue is ever the same among different people, my approach is integrative and tailored to meet the needs of the person, not the "problem". I strive to create a compassionate, non-judgemental environment for patients to learn, grow, explore, challenge, and to live the life they want to be living. I specialize in working with adults - individual, couples, and family - with anxiety, depression, PTSD/trauma, relationship problems, substance abuse, ADD/ADHD, and LGBTQ issues.
(424) 216-5575 View (424) 216-5575
Photo of Melody Moore, PhD , Psychologist
Melody Moore
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
I deeply value the trust that my clients offer me, our work, and themselves by showing up to therapy to find meaning, deeper integration and understanding of their life experience. I work with folks who crave more meaningful relationships or purposeful careers or seek more ease and calm overall. I'm grateful to have been in practice for 20 years, and during that time have come to appreciate the unique and personal journey for each of us to endeavor to find wholeness, contentment, and joy. I'm empathetic, kind, and also truthful. I'm here to guide you to the answers that best serve you, not to give advice or pass judgment.
I deeply value the trust that my clients offer me, our work, and themselves by showing up to therapy to find meaning, deeper integration and understanding of their life experience. I work with folks who crave more meaningful relationships or purposeful careers or seek more ease and calm overall. I'm grateful to have been in practice for 20 years, and during that time have come to appreciate the unique and personal journey for each of us to endeavor to find wholeness, contentment, and joy. I'm empathetic, kind, and also truthful. I'm here to guide you to the answers that best serve you, not to give advice or pass judgment.
(424) 372-8142 View (424) 372-8142
Feminist Therapists

How does feminist therapy work?

Feminist therapy sessions are not only personal but often cultural or political in nature, as the approach is based on the belief that people are affected by, and often struggle with, cultural and societal norms and biases, and need to move beyond those external pressures or stressors to tap their own confidence and engage more fully in their own identity. Sessions may therefore include discussions of sexism, diversity, and gender issues and talk of steps toward greater empowerment for patients who believe they have been silenced and seek to raise their voices.

What are examples of feminist therapy techniques?

Along with traditional talk therapy and analysis, a feminist therapist may employ techniques such as role-playing and assertiveness training to help clients build their self-esteem so that they feel they can act freely, and not based on cultural expectations or gender roles dictated by others. A feminist therapist may also engage in bibliotherapy, offering suggested readings on gender identity or social power inequities as they work toward viewing mental-health concerns through a broad cultural lens before focusing on how they affect the individual. Somatic therapy techniques, with an emphasis on body awareness, self-compassion, and mindfulness practices are also often part of feminist therapist practice.

How long does feminist therapy last?

As with most forms of talk therapy, there is no set duration or end point for feminist therapy; people who believe that they are making progress typically continue until they feel they’ve addressed the issues that had been holding them back. It may take some time to become comfortable discussing personal issues, but once a client feels they can do so, they could expect therapy to last for a number of months, typically including at least 12 sessions.

Does feminist therapy work?

As a relatively recent therapeutic technique, there is not yet a body of evidence proving the efficacy of feminist therapy. However, the approach is based on proven core principles of talk therapy, with a particular emphasis on developing a therapeutic relationship based on equality and authentic connection between therapist and client and discovering and building on clients’ personal strengths to help them gain a greater sense of personal power and agency.