Therapists in Kern County, CA
Denisse Silva
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MS, AMFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Bakersfield, CA 93309 (Online Only)
¡Hola! I'm Denisse and reconnecting to my Latinx culture, ancestors, roots, and motherland in this last year has been an core part of my development as a psychotherapist and the inspiration in creating Ancestral Therapy, a relational, non-pathologizing, liberation centered, and culturally affirming therapeutic lens for first gen, children of immigrants, bicultural identifying folk, and black or brown bodies who need more than just talk therapy but want to reclaim their power, break cycles of generational trauma, access the innate wisdom of their body, and process the impact of colonization and systemic oppression onto their people.
¡Hola! I'm Denisse and reconnecting to my Latinx culture, ancestors, roots, and motherland in this last year has been an core part of my development as a psychotherapist and the inspiration in creating Ancestral Therapy, a relational, non-pathologizing, liberation centered, and culturally affirming therapeutic lens for first gen, children of immigrants, bicultural identifying folk, and black or brown bodies who need more than just talk therapy but want to reclaim their power, break cycles of generational trauma, access the innate wisdom of their body, and process the impact of colonization and systemic oppression onto their people.
Online Therapists
Carol Waisman
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, PhD, LCSW
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Los Angeles, CA 90066
I have taught graduate level "Substance Abuse Diagnosis and Treatment" and am trained in hypnotherapy and gestalt therapy which I find particularly helpful in working with clients.
Are you uncomfortable in social situations, or experiencing conflict in important relationships? Do you struggle with unwanted habits? My practice is dedicated to assisting you to resolve emotional and behavioral issues that interfere with optimal functioning. By acquiring tools to help manage your moods and feelings, you can loosen compulsive patterns and achieve greater self-acceptance. I work collaboratively with my clients and strive to develop a partnership that begins with listening.
I have taught graduate level "Substance Abuse Diagnosis and Treatment" and am trained in hypnotherapy and gestalt therapy which I find particularly helpful in working with clients.
Are you uncomfortable in social situations, or experiencing conflict in important relationships? Do you struggle with unwanted habits? My practice is dedicated to assisting you to resolve emotional and behavioral issues that interfere with optimal functioning. By acquiring tools to help manage your moods and feelings, you can loosen compulsive patterns and achieve greater self-acceptance. I work collaboratively with my clients and strive to develop a partnership that begins with listening.
Gabrielle Bodzin
Associate Clinical Social Worker, MSW, ASW
Verified Verified
Los Angeles, CA 90034 (Online Only)
I am formally trained in Gestalt, have 400 hrs of yoga training, and offer a modality called Generative Trance.
Becoming the adults and/or partners we want to be is often a transformational and evolutionary process. I support couples with building security, & women and men who are eager to gain deeper self-understanding and reparent themselves, who want to heal from wounds of past relationships and their upbringing, and ultimately live more free. I often work with spiritually inclined folks who are in the self-discovery process and offer existential support, exploring our role in the web of existence and the meaning of being here. I also support folks in the healing process with chronic illness, trauma, binge eating, anxiety, & grief.
I am formally trained in Gestalt, have 400 hrs of yoga training, and offer a modality called Generative Trance.
Becoming the adults and/or partners we want to be is often a transformational and evolutionary process. I support couples with building security, & women and men who are eager to gain deeper self-understanding and reparent themselves, who want to heal from wounds of past relationships and their upbringing, and ultimately live more free. I often work with spiritually inclined folks who are in the self-discovery process and offer existential support, exploring our role in the web of existence and the meaning of being here. I also support folks in the healing process with chronic illness, trauma, binge eating, anxiety, & grief.
Channing Dane
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Woodland Hills, CA 91364 (Online Only)
I work from an Attachment and Family Systems perspective with aspects of Gestalt, CBT, and Dr.
I am passionate about creating a sex positive, nonjudgmental environment for those with a wide range of presentations from mood disorders, gender identity, sexual expression, to relational or intimacy troubles. I strive to be informed and affirming to diverse populations and welcome sex workers, gender non-binary folx, non-monogamous people, and Kink or lifestyle persons.
I work from an Attachment and Family Systems perspective with aspects of Gestalt, CBT, and Dr.
I am passionate about creating a sex positive, nonjudgmental environment for those with a wide range of presentations from mood disorders, gender identity, sexual expression, to relational or intimacy troubles. I strive to be informed and affirming to diverse populations and welcome sex workers, gender non-binary folx, non-monogamous people, and Kink or lifestyle persons.
Georgea Robin Muschel
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Santa Monica, CA 90401
I have additional training in Gestalt Therapy, Stress Management, CBT/DBT and EMDR.
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.
I have additional training in Gestalt Therapy, Stress Management, CBT/DBT and EMDR.
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.
Shana Bujake
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified Verified
3 Endorsed
Santa Monica, CA 90402
Through a combination of therapeutic approaches, including EMDR, Mindfulness, CBT, Gestalt, and The Gottman Method, I work collaboratively with clients to develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses their specific needs and goals.
As a therapist, I specialize in working with individuals and couples who have experienced trauma, including those who have suffered from narcissistic abuse, as well as those who are struggling with relationship issues. My approach is grounded in trauma-informed care, meaning that I prioritize creating a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment for my clients to explore and process their experiences. Additionally, I incorporate attachment theory to help clients understand and heal from attachment wounds. I also offer co-parenting classes to assist parents in navigating the challenges of raising children in separated families.
Through a combination of therapeutic approaches, including EMDR, Mindfulness, CBT, Gestalt, and The Gottman Method, I work collaboratively with clients to develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses their specific needs and goals.
As a therapist, I specialize in working with individuals and couples who have experienced trauma, including those who have suffered from narcissistic abuse, as well as those who are struggling with relationship issues. My approach is grounded in trauma-informed care, meaning that I prioritize creating a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment for my clients to explore and process their experiences. Additionally, I incorporate attachment theory to help clients understand and heal from attachment wounds. I also offer co-parenting classes to assist parents in navigating the challenges of raising children in separated families.
Rae C Hipolito
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, MFT
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Santa Monica, CA 90401 (Online Only)
Create joy and inner calm in your life. My role is to guide you in coming back to your wholeness. I am passionate about helping you heal your wounded parts. This wounding may show up as depression, anxiety, or PTSD in adulthood. My approach is heart-based; it is a fusion of experiential, somatic/body-oriented (releasing emotional pain which is stored in our bodies), gestalt, cognitive behavioral, EMDR, hypnosis, and internal family systems approaches. I don't focus on analyzing nor intellectualizing your past. We visit the past to let go of any pain or heal trauma.
Create joy and inner calm in your life. My role is to guide you in coming back to your wholeness. I am passionate about helping you heal your wounded parts. This wounding may show up as depression, anxiety, or PTSD in adulthood. My approach is heart-based; it is a fusion of experiential, somatic/body-oriented (releasing emotional pain which is stored in our bodies), gestalt, cognitive behavioral, EMDR, hypnosis, and internal family systems approaches. I don't focus on analyzing nor intellectualizing your past. We visit the past to let go of any pain or heal trauma.
Damon Holzum
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MA
Verified Verified
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Damon Holzum, LCSW. I bring a fresh, passionate and compassionate approach to your concerns and engage with you as someone desiring a powerful, nurturing, and solutions focused experience. My focus is an integrative approach blending CBT, experiential, Gestalt, and narrative therapies to assist you and your significant other or family to thrive within your environment and understand your thoughts and feelings to be the best you. I engage with all genres of individuals and focus on sex-positive therapy, polyamory, alternative sexual practices and the destigmatization of all things sexual and intimate within your relationships.
Damon Holzum, LCSW. I bring a fresh, passionate and compassionate approach to your concerns and engage with you as someone desiring a powerful, nurturing, and solutions focused experience. My focus is an integrative approach blending CBT, experiential, Gestalt, and narrative therapies to assist you and your significant other or family to thrive within your environment and understand your thoughts and feelings to be the best you. I engage with all genres of individuals and focus on sex-positive therapy, polyamory, alternative sexual practices and the destigmatization of all things sexual and intimate within your relationships.
Sarah Peace
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPCC, LMHC
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Los Angeles, CA 90048
I have specialized training in ecotherapy & psychedelic-assisted therapy, Gestalt therapy, and transgender affirming therapy.
I believe there is opportunity for healing within the suffering we experience. Psychotherapy can be a way to turn directly toward what is happening for you and engage with how it impacts you. It is in this looking that growth and change happens, using awareness in the present moment as a way to help you understand and release the pains of the past, fears of the future, and limiting old beliefs. Together, we can support you to discover, reconnect to, use and understand your own skills and strengths. I love working with adults from diverse backgrounds who are wanting to make a change in their lives, communities, and our world.
I have specialized training in ecotherapy & psychedelic-assisted therapy, Gestalt therapy, and transgender affirming therapy.
I believe there is opportunity for healing within the suffering we experience. Psychotherapy can be a way to turn directly toward what is happening for you and engage with how it impacts you. It is in this looking that growth and change happens, using awareness in the present moment as a way to help you understand and release the pains of the past, fears of the future, and limiting old beliefs. Together, we can support you to discover, reconnect to, use and understand your own skills and strengths. I love working with adults from diverse backgrounds who are wanting to make a change in their lives, communities, and our world.
Megan E. Hanson
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified Verified
Los Angeles, CA 90027
My approach is informed by Relational Gestalt therapy and other social and developmental theories to help identify the complex factors that influence your thoughts, emotions and behaviors.
Seeking therapy can feel daunting. Even when we know something has to change, it can feel more comfortable to stick with old habits. Clients are often surprised to hear me say - we keep "bad" habits for good reasons. We develop predictable patterns to feel safe when we lack outside supports to help us feel grounded, connected, accomplished, or hopeful. I support clients to increase their awareness of their own patterns, perceptions, reactions, learned behaviors, and true desires, so they have more choice in how they respond to people and situations and can take steps to build better relationships and more fulfilling lives.
My approach is informed by Relational Gestalt therapy and other social and developmental theories to help identify the complex factors that influence your thoughts, emotions and behaviors.
Seeking therapy can feel daunting. Even when we know something has to change, it can feel more comfortable to stick with old habits. Clients are often surprised to hear me say - we keep "bad" habits for good reasons. We develop predictable patterns to feel safe when we lack outside supports to help us feel grounded, connected, accomplished, or hopeful. I support clients to increase their awareness of their own patterns, perceptions, reactions, learned behaviors, and true desires, so they have more choice in how they respond to people and situations and can take steps to build better relationships and more fulfilling lives.
Krista R. Page
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Hawthorne, CA 90251 (Online Only)
I love being a therapist because I believe healing is a human right and belongs to us all. I am trauma-informed, spiritually grounded and value the complexity of culture, identity and systemic injustice in how that affects individual and community mental health. I am trained in Relational Gestalt theory and integrate many other theories as there is not a cookie-cut treatment plan for anyone. Your journey is unique and I want to honor it. I am very inspired by the concept of "each one teach one." I enjoy sharing everything I've learned, delivered with warmth and humor, and then fostering your leadership to create a ripple effect.
I love being a therapist because I believe healing is a human right and belongs to us all. I am trauma-informed, spiritually grounded and value the complexity of culture, identity and systemic injustice in how that affects individual and community mental health. I am trained in Relational Gestalt theory and integrate many other theories as there is not a cookie-cut treatment plan for anyone. Your journey is unique and I want to honor it. I am very inspired by the concept of "each one teach one." I enjoy sharing everything I've learned, delivered with warmth and humor, and then fostering your leadership to create a ripple effect.
Ella Danielle Marie Lauser
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, LPCC
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Have you ever felt like no one truly understands what you’re going through? Are you seeking to change how you feel and see yourself and are unsure how to move forward? Do you worry about burdening your friends or family with your struggles and feel you are holding so much on your own? Becoming the adult you want to be is hard when you constantly compare yourself to what others have achieved. We are not meant to navigate all of these growing pains alone. I can help you through first loves and first jobs while figuring out who you are, separate from who you thought or were told you should be, while also learning how to enjoy the good.
Have you ever felt like no one truly understands what you’re going through? Are you seeking to change how you feel and see yourself and are unsure how to move forward? Do you worry about burdening your friends or family with your struggles and feel you are holding so much on your own? Becoming the adult you want to be is hard when you constantly compare yourself to what others have achieved. We are not meant to navigate all of these growing pains alone. I can help you through first loves and first jobs while figuring out who you are, separate from who you thought or were told you should be, while also learning how to enjoy the good.
Sepideh Hakimzadeh
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
5 Endorsed
Pasadena, CA 91101
Sometimes we reach a point in our lives where we recognize that the way we've been living is not supportive of the type of life we want to create. Be it struggling with depression, anxiety, life-transition, parenting, relationships, pregnancy, or postpartum, we all need extra support to change, grow, and heal. I help you release old patterns and work through uncomfortable emotions to create more space in your life. By developing a healthier relationship with yourself you will be able to create healthier relationships with others. Together we create resources and tools that will support you as you embody new patterns and choices.
Sometimes we reach a point in our lives where we recognize that the way we've been living is not supportive of the type of life we want to create. Be it struggling with depression, anxiety, life-transition, parenting, relationships, pregnancy, or postpartum, we all need extra support to change, grow, and heal. I help you release old patterns and work through uncomfortable emotions to create more space in your life. By developing a healthier relationship with yourself you will be able to create healthier relationships with others. Together we create resources and tools that will support you as you embody new patterns and choices.
Anne-Marie Charest
Marriage & Family Therapist, PhD, LMFT
Verified Verified
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Is talk therapy just not working for you anymore? Feeling frustrated at the subtle gnawing pain that keeps haunting your soul? Is something in the way of your full potential and life purpose from blossoming? Is that unknown void hijacking your life and dreams? You seem to have tried it all with little to no success and you are just fed up? Feeling stuck, you question yourself, your life, or your capabilities. Drifting, no land in sight, you need a compass to guide you home to yourself. The good news, I’ve navigated this journey and understand it well. And I am here for you and to support you. Trust your intuition and reach out.
Is talk therapy just not working for you anymore? Feeling frustrated at the subtle gnawing pain that keeps haunting your soul? Is something in the way of your full potential and life purpose from blossoming? Is that unknown void hijacking your life and dreams? You seem to have tried it all with little to no success and you are just fed up? Feeling stuck, you question yourself, your life, or your capabilities. Drifting, no land in sight, you need a compass to guide you home to yourself. The good news, I’ve navigated this journey and understand it well. And I am here for you and to support you. Trust your intuition and reach out.
Daniel Lee Spach
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
As your therapist, I strive to empower you to overcome personal challenges, activate your inner resources, develop a deeper level of trust in your self and your inherent potential, and reclaim ownership of your life and purpose. I have an affinity for working with clients seeking to transform their lives and enhance their relationships with themselves, others, and the natural world. Improved emotional intelligence, mindful self-awareness, communication skills, trauma and grief processing---will support you in developing self-compassion, eliminating personal obstacles, coping with your daily life, and finding a more balanced, attuned, and connected way of being.
As your therapist, I strive to empower you to overcome personal challenges, activate your inner resources, develop a deeper level of trust in your self and your inherent potential, and reclaim ownership of your life and purpose. I have an affinity for working with clients seeking to transform their lives and enhance their relationships with themselves, others, and the natural world. Improved emotional intelligence, mindful self-awareness, communication skills, trauma and grief processing---will support you in developing self-compassion, eliminating personal obstacles, coping with your daily life, and finding a more balanced, attuned, and connected way of being.
Melanie Moir
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, LPCC, MA
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Ventura, CA 93002
Greetings! I use a depth psychotherapy, DBT, Humanistic, empathetic, Self-Psychology style of counseling to empower you to reach your desired emotional, psychological and spiritual growth/development. I treat individuals, families, youth, couples, adults and LGBTQ+. I often work with people of diverse backgrounds, offering sensitivity and understanding for the complexity of the human experience. Grief and loss, identity, anxiety, depression, personality and mood disorders, gender diversity and relational issues are just some of the areas in which I am skilled at holding space for you to grow at a pace that is most comfortable.
Greetings! I use a depth psychotherapy, DBT, Humanistic, empathetic, Self-Psychology style of counseling to empower you to reach your desired emotional, psychological and spiritual growth/development. I treat individuals, families, youth, couples, adults and LGBTQ+. I often work with people of diverse backgrounds, offering sensitivity and understanding for the complexity of the human experience. Grief and loss, identity, anxiety, depression, personality and mood disorders, gender diversity and relational issues are just some of the areas in which I am skilled at holding space for you to grow at a pace that is most comfortable.
Hebe Leine De Mare
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Los Angeles, CA 90045
I think parents are very important. Most parents raise their children the best way they can. Sometimes the best way your parent or parents raised you did not match your needs or your emotional personality. I believe each person is able to identify their needs when properly supported. My main focus when working with clients is to develop an understanding of their main strengths as well as areas that were not supported by their parents' parenting style. Our work together will focus on improving your overall understanding of your potentialities and will support your efforts at achieving them.
I think parents are very important. Most parents raise their children the best way they can. Sometimes the best way your parent or parents raised you did not match your needs or your emotional personality. I believe each person is able to identify their needs when properly supported. My main focus when working with clients is to develop an understanding of their main strengths as well as areas that were not supported by their parents' parenting style. Our work together will focus on improving your overall understanding of your potentialities and will support your efforts at achieving them.
Rochelle L Cook
MA, CHT
Verified Verified
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Using a combination of Spiritual Psychology & Clinical Hypnotherapy I help adults alleviate fear, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, PTSD, and addiction. I also work with childhood issues such as bed-wetting, sleeping, monsters, stress, fear, and study habits. My work is about uncovering the old stories you have that do not work anymore for you. These stories manifest in behavior that disturbs your peace. By using narrative therapy, reframing old stories, new positive ones emerge. I have authored a book and workbook, "The Soul's Coach-7 Paths to Healing Your Relationship" and "Supa Bunnee Go To Sleep." These books are available on Amazon.
Using a combination of Spiritual Psychology & Clinical Hypnotherapy I help adults alleviate fear, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, PTSD, and addiction. I also work with childhood issues such as bed-wetting, sleeping, monsters, stress, fear, and study habits. My work is about uncovering the old stories you have that do not work anymore for you. These stories manifest in behavior that disturbs your peace. By using narrative therapy, reframing old stories, new positive ones emerge. I have authored a book and workbook, "The Soul's Coach-7 Paths to Healing Your Relationship" and "Supa Bunnee Go To Sleep." These books are available on Amazon.
Jon Century
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified Verified
Los Angeles, CA 90034
What meaning are you making about your struggles? It seems that we are meaning-making creatures constantly trying to make sense of our experiences and what happens to us through a complex multilayered personalized lens of meaning-making. A lens affected by cultural, societal, religious & spiritual beliefs–to name a few–and it serves as our internal GPS navigating us, as best as we can, through our life’s many challenges. Our unique individual approach to meaning-making also becomes the breeding ground of the stories we create and articulate about our life. However, sometimes the Stories We Create Cause More Pain Than The Experience.
What meaning are you making about your struggles? It seems that we are meaning-making creatures constantly trying to make sense of our experiences and what happens to us through a complex multilayered personalized lens of meaning-making. A lens affected by cultural, societal, religious & spiritual beliefs–to name a few–and it serves as our internal GPS navigating us, as best as we can, through our life’s many challenges. Our unique individual approach to meaning-making also becomes the breeding ground of the stories we create and articulate about our life. However, sometimes the Stories We Create Cause More Pain Than The Experience.
Alyssa Bray
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Pasadena, CA 91101 (Online Only)
Sometimes when life throws us a curve ball, or when we are dealing with a more chronic, ongoing challenge, talking to a therapist can help us see our inner strengths and abilities which can help us successfully navigate through these challenging times. Talking to a therapist can also help us push ourselves to reach even greater personal goals.
Sometimes when life throws us a curve ball, or when we are dealing with a more chronic, ongoing challenge, talking to a therapist can help us see our inner strengths and abilities which can help us successfully navigate through these challenging times. Talking to a therapist can also help us push ourselves to reach even greater personal goals.
See more therapy options for Kern County
Gestalt Therapists
What is gestalt therapy?
Gestalt therapy is based on the idea that to address unresolved negative feelings, emotions must be not only discussed but also actively expressed in the present moment. The term is from a German word meaning “whole,” and gestalt therapists believe that people should be considered whole entities made up of mind, body, and emotions. Gestalt sessions are rooted in the notion that a client’s total self must be discovered, explored, and confronted, so that they can take greater responsibility for themselves and their behavior, learn to satisfy their own needs while still respecting the needs of others, and reconnect with feelings they might otherwise deny.
How does gestalt therapy work?
Gestalt therapy sessions do not just involve talking with a therapist. Clients may take part in role-playing, re-enactment, or artistic exercises like drawing and painting, with the goal of becoming more aware of negative thought patterns that limit happiness. One common gestalt exercise is “the empty chair,” in which a client sits across from an empty chair representing a partner, relative, boss, or a part of themselves—and, with the therapist’s encouragement, improvises a dialog with it. The intention is to bring the emotions raised by past conflicts into the present and work through them in the moment.
How long does gestalt therapy last?
As with most forms of talk therapy, there is no set duration or end point for gestalt 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. New patients should understand that it may take some time to become comfortable with gestalt exercises but once they do, they should expect sessions to extend for a number of months, typically spanning at least 12 sessions.
Does gestalt therapy work?
Gestalt therapy has generally been found to be as effective as other forms of talk therapy in helping people living with anxiety, depression, phobias, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders, as well as helping individuals reduce conflict in relationships. Gestalt techniques, on their own or in combination with other therapies, can also be effective in managing physical ailments including ulcerative colitis, migraines, and back spasms. It should be noted that some people may have trouble adapting to gestalt therapy’s lack of formal structure or to a therapist’s close observations of their body language and emotions; others may struggle to commit to techniques that feel unnatural, like the empty chair exercise.