Therapists in Los Angeles, CA

Welcome! Therapy should be practical and approachable. As a relationship specialist, my collaborative focus is on the "why" of where you are. When we understand why, we can navigate the hurdles getting in your way with insight and healthy coping skills that are effective. You will not be alone in this; we will be working together on expanding awareness of your thoughts, feelings and ways that you engage with the world. This process opens up space for healthier, more intentional relationships that you can actually enjoy (including the one with yourself)! At the core of my practice is an authentic, warm and compassionate presence.

A mentor of mine once said, “No one ever sits you down as a kid and warns you that this whole being a human thing is intense. Most of the time we all walk around pretending like it’s not a big deal.” This lack of preparation creates a profound disconnection that negatively affects mental health. In psychotherapy, I aim to work collaboratively with my clients in order to help them reconnect to the moment to moment experience of their life and improve their overall wellbeing.

Let's face it- Whatever you are going through and whatever is bringing you to seek a therapist, it is probably not fun. Whether it is a break up, a divorce, a job loss, a death of a loved one, you have come to the right place. Seeking therapy and gaining self awareness can be life changing. Whether it is a current life crisis or the desire to change old ugly repetitive patterns, my style is nurturing, directive and fun. I work with you as a team getting to the core of the problem, and to help you move forward, hopefully with a fresh and new perspective.

Making a change takes an act of courage. Congratulations on deciding that you want something different. Whether it's difference in your relationship(s), in the way that you engage with yourself, or in your behaviors, thoughts, or emotions, I am excited to work with you as you move forward with the change that you want. I have committed to keeping up with evidence-based practice and constantly growing in multicultural humility to ensure that you can feel supported and valued and also can achieve the needed change to be your best self.

My goal as a therapist is to help you make positive and lasting changes in your life. You will find me engaged, competent, and collaborative. I have a good sense of humor, am compassionate but am also willing to ask you the difficult questions. I work with my clients to clarify their inner values and locate and develop inner strength and courage to make the changes they want to live more rich and fulfilling lives.

People come to therapy for a wide range of issues that can result in feeling stuck, overwhelmed or dejected. I aim to create a safe and respectful environment so each of my clients feel well-supported during vulnerable times. My style is collaborative and active, fostering a connection to client's unique skills and purposes that might appear out of reach. My process encourages the discovery of practices that promote self-awareness, confidence and better relationships. Addressing the dynamics of power, privilege and injustice are an integral part of the healing process, and I am committed to being an ally to those I serve.

As a biracial therapist, I offer a unique perspective to the therapeutic process, integrating diverse cultural understanding and experiences into my practice. My background enriches my ability to connect with clients from various cultural backgrounds, fostering a deeper sense of trust and understanding the therapeutic relationship. I specialize in working with children, young adults, and adults grappling with overwhelming anxiety, profound loss, or complex relationships.

I work with a variety of clients who struggle with depression, anxiety, addiction, and grief and loss, but I am particularly passionate about working with people who struggle with sex therapy and sexual dysfunction issues. As an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, I enjoy assisting people in enhancing their sexuality and sexual pleasure, and building self-confidence. I believe that my role as a therapist is to help clients rid themselves of shame and guilt, get in touch with pleasure and joy, and experience more fulfilling relationships.

I am a therapist in private practice, specializing in grief and loss, life-transitions, depression, anxiety and recovery from trauma. For more than 25 years, I have helped clients through critical moments of transition, working together to navigate what can feel like overwhelming pain. I have a unique ability to ask good questions, listen well and help you to create possibilities for healing, change and growth.

The concept of "self-improvement" can be empowering, but also intimidating. In a problem-saturated world, it can be easy to define ourselves as our problems, instead of looking at them as operating forces that can then be explored.   

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California since 2006. I was a registered psychologist, counselor, and family mediator in New Zealand before moving to the United States as a professor in marriage and family therapy at San Diego State University. I worked and trained in educational psychology before being immersed in narrative therapy, narrative mediation, and solution-focused therapy in the 1990s. I have worked a lot in schools with children and teens, addressed parenting challenges, helped blended families address unique crises that arise, help clients with separation and divorce.

I provide a warm and non-judgmental space to witness, hold, and seek understanding of your pain and grief as much as your joy and wonder. Together we will explore the many facets of your ever-evolving self, as well your relationships to the people and environments around you. I work with individuals, couples/partners, and families of all ages. I particularly enjoy working with teens and young adults who are navigating questions around identity, struggling to find a sense of belonging, or who are hoping to feel more at ease in their body and with their sense of self.

It takes courage to reach out for help, something we all need at various times in our lives. My work as a narrative therapist over the past 25+ years has been grounded in the assumption that every human being is inherently resourceful. Behind every one of life's challenges lies the possibility for change. A collaborative, respectful relationship of safety that nurtures these possibilities is what I offer to all clients who consult with me.

People often reach out to me because they are feeling stuck, either they have not progressed in therapy or they are looking for something more. If you are going through a difficult time, therapy can offer support, help you overcome obstacles and provide guidance to change your life for the better. I believe that within every individual lies the potential to live a happy, full life. I can help you align your actions with your values. I do what I do because I believe that the therapeutic process can bring about greater self-awareness and authentic, lasting change.

I like to be real with people. I find the best way to work with individuals and couples is to be present, ask the right questions, and give honest feedback. Whether you are coming to therapy for personal growth, a relationship or family issue, healing from loss, past trauma, or anything else, I want to explore who you are, how your life experiences have affected you and your relationships, ways in which those experiences keep replaying themselves, and how to get you out of the cycle. My approach is to provide a comfortable and real space to talk, explore and work on feeling better.

Whether it’s grieving a loss, sharing a trauma, opening up about intimacy, or breaking relational cycles, they’re part of your life and you deserve to share how you’ve experienced them. I value candid communication over formal rigidity, and so I welcome you to be your authentic self, please come as you are. I am collaborative and directive, not a clinician who will simply nod and vacant stare. Why? You deserve to be seen, heard, and supported in a way that meets your needs. I am an inclusive, culturally-competent, trauma-informed therapist who curates personalized care.

I love to help clients navigate uncertainty and instability. I specialize in sex therapy & anxiety. I work from a holistic and attachment -based approach on issues such as life transitions, grief & loss, sexual trauma, relationship and intimacy concerns (desire discrepancy) and sexual dysfunction. Due to my background working as a sexual assault advocate, my area of expertise is with clients who have experienced difficult or dysfunctional past sexual experiences and are looking to work toward integrating and reclaiming their sexual identities and pleasure in order to move toward healing and overall well- being.

It takes a lot of courage to seek therapy. You're at a crossroads. And you feel stuck. Perhaps you’re seeking relief from anxiety, depression, or addiction. Maybe you’re tired of living with shame about your sexuality or relationship needs. Maybe you’ve noticed that you keep repeating the same unproductive patterns in relationships or at work. Perhaps you’re feeling lost- unsure of who you really are and what you want in life. These are issues we can untangle and begin to understand in our work together.

Are you struggling with anxiety, self-criticism, and doubt? Traumas often leave us feeling like there is something wrong with us when there is not. Therapy can help address these difficult thoughts and feelings of shame in a supportive environment. In therapy, we can even learn to befriend ourselves. As a LMFT, I have experience supporting clients through issues related to trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and grief. I am passionate about the exploration of sex, sexuality and identity. I also specialize in working with individuals navigating illness including chronic pain, medical trauma, grief, and meaning making.