Narcissistic Personality (NPD) Therapists in San Jose, CA

Hi! Thanks for considering me as your therapist. Whether you are struggling with a past trauma or current relationship, I have more than 30 years of helping people learn to live the best life possible. Areas of expertise: cult recovery (religious, other); ACA, PTSD, addictions, and narcissistic relationships, grief and loss. All of us hit speed bumps -- sometimes mountains -- that keep us from moving forward. Our beliefs about how life works can block happiness. We can't always change what's happening, but we can change our perception of it. I work exclusively online. See my web site: www.beaarmstrong.com

I specialize in treating survivors of narcissistic abuse, relationship issues, anxiety and depression. I am also very interested in what it means and how to become, a fully functioning human being, emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. In this world that has been accelerating at a pace beyond our expectations and sometimes our ability to cope,how do we find peace, happiness and fulfillment, or at least the absence of anxiety and depression? Locked within our own personal stories lie the answer to these questions. Whatever "pathology" you present with can be turned into a "path" toward healing.

Please note that I work only with clients in California at this time. Often, when we connect with therapists, we present with clear issues we want to address. Other times, we could be struggling to interpret how a life event may be affecting us. When I work with a client, I like to know and understand that person deeply, including where they feel they are now in life, and how is it they got here, to this point. We will delve into moments in your earlier life that you believe may hold some importance, some current relevance, what I term the echo of our pasts. It is this exploration that makes therapy both enlightening and releasing.

We all feel lost from time to time, but there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve been through my own therapy as a young adult when I was stuck in a bout of anxiety and panic attacks due to childhood trauma. Throughout my years of working with traumatized individuals, I learned first-hand about how childhood trauma can have a strong impact on adulthood. I can help you address unresolved trauma, in order for you to find passion, connection, and purpose in your life.

I believe in a compassionate approach to psychotherapy that combines valid and reliable assessments with a warm, focused attention to your emotional needs. As a clinical psychologist I can offer these objective measures of your cognitive abilities and personality traits, as well as ongoing weekly sessions tailored to provide you with active listening, understanding, and creative feedback. Working with adolescents and young adults are a particular focus of my practice.

Welcome to my practice. I have been in practice since 2007 and have been featured on ABC, NBC, and KCAL as an expert psychologist. I work primarily with men who have hit “rock bottom” and would like help getting up. These men are often in crisis when we first meet. The issues I address are typically related to unhealthy sexual behaviors, infidelity, financial recklessness, gambling, drugs/alcohol, dishonesty/lying, and relational conflicts. My therapy approach is a combination of psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, and the 12-Step recovery model. I also share insight from my own painful but redemptive recovery journey.

Are anxiety and stress keeping you from living your life to your fullest potential? Are you feeling stress weighing on you internally or causing you to feel exhausted and hopeless? Together we will explore ways to grow, further develop self-acceptance and unearth traumatic experiences and daily stressors that are hindering you from achieving this potential. I will be available to provide an unbiased listening ear and warm spirit as you reimagine the life you want for yourself. In this safe and accepting environment, we will develop an action plan to better manage your unique symptoms and your life.

Is anxiety, depression, or trauma holding you back from being your true self? Do you feel stuck in managing difficult life transitions? Now, every little thing becomes super overwhelming. Those negative experiences reopen old wounds and cause new ones. You tried burying your pain hoping it would go away. You feel lonely and tormented. You feel exhausted, stressed, and angry all the time. You wonder how much more you can take. You are unsure of who or where to turn for help. In the midst of this painful journey, you do not have to go through it alone.

Has trauma, anxiety, or depression interfered with the potential to become the best version of yourself? We often feel defined by traumatic or emotionally difficult experiences then often leave us feeling stuck in place rather than moving forward towards our goals. I’m here to provide a safe, affirming space for you to develop an understanding of yourself to overcome past experiences or fears that define you. Our work together will be met with unconditional acceptance, creative approaches, and the utmost compassion.

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, “Why is this happening? Is it always going to be like this? What can I do?” Do you feel anxious, sad or misunderstood more often than not? Maybe life seems easier and better for everyone around you. Maybe you're surrounded by people, but you feel alone. Your relationships feel like a struggle to maintain. Conflict and discomfort seem like the norm, not the exception. Sometimes it seems like it will never get better and no one understands.

I work primarily with adults who are wanting to manage symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and trauma. I will be with you on your path to discovery, recovery, and finding the person you would like to become. I approach therapy with a client-centered approach in order to create a safe, comfortable space for you to share and express yourself, and your vulnerabilities. We will explore healthy ways to process your trauma, regulate difficult emotions, and restore broken relationships. I believe the trust built between Client and Therapist is powerful, and necessary in order to help you through your healing journey.

——Currently accepting new clients—— Working with me is easy. We’ll have a conversation, but one that puts you into deeper touch with yourself: your thoughts, your feelings, your goals, your unhealed wounds. Together, we’ll talk about these and we’ll figure out what in your life is limiting you from feeling as good as you can. Then we’ll walk through the steps of healing and overcoming them.

Are you hurting? At some point in our lives, we all hurt. Everyone hits obstacles in life from time to time and sometimes those problems seem unsolvable. Here is the good news, there is help. I specialize in couples, families and individuals who are either in the midst of a major change, or in need of one! I work with: high-conflict couples, couples making a serious commitment or dissolving a long-term relationship, new parents, families in conflict, people with anxiety, depression, fears, low self-esteem as well as grief and bereavement related issues. I am a straightforward therapist and like to help to get issues resolved.

When our children's hearts have been broken, our hearts break, too. Parents often struggle with knowing how to care for a hurting child. The child's behaviors can be challenging. A parent's own unhealed wounds get triggered. Then, there's the parenting guilt! It can be overwhelming. We understand and we are here to help.

High school can be stressful, especially for students navigating the clash between different cultures. The high peer-pressures affect mental health, leading to sleep disturbances, anxiety, and even depression. Unfortunately, even some students resort to suicide. Tense parent-child relationships hinder communication. High-achieving students may suffer a sudden decline in grades due to psychological issues. Internet and gaming addictions further complicate matters. Many students feel lost and burdened with self-blame, while parents struggle to help their children cope with their emotions effectively.

Welcome! I’m Lesa Pascali and I am committed to connecting with individuals, couples and families through individualized therapy and to helping them to discover/rediscover the harmony, meaning and wellness within their lives. After 23 years in law enforcement and 18 years doing therapy, I have dealt with a variety of situations. I’ve worked with individuals, couples and families, veterans, ex-offenders, children, teens and neurologically imbalanced individuals. I use a variety of therapies including RLT therapy, CBT & Solution Focused therapy and am a Certified Relational Life couples therapist.

Two Chairs was founded in 2017 with a mission to build a world where everyone has access to exceptional mental healthcare. We're creating a better experience for both patients and clinicians by starting with an in-depth, research-backed matching process to ensure the ideal patient-therapist fit, offering hybrid care that gives patients and clinicians flexibility between in-person and virtual sessions, and measuring outcomes to ensure patients get better faster.

Ease, change and joy are accessible. I know you can emerge from distress. I have seen radical growth-- again and again. My therapeutic approach is designed for each person's individual internal world. I design each session using a variety of active and engaged interventions, like EMDR, IFS, and expressive arts. We work to uncover the hurt parts that have taken over your life. The “stuck-ness” seems to dissipate. In an atmosphere of love and total acceptance, I use proven interventions to bring awareness and internal movement.

Are you struggling with anxiety and trauma and turning towards unhealthy coping mechanisms in an attempt to manage your emotions? Now is a trying time for almost everyone, and if you have a trauma background what's coming up in the current environment may be reminiscent of the stress, isolation, and fear induced by early childhood experiences. You don't have to handle this alone, and with clinically tested techniques to regulate the mind and body, it's possible to shift from a place of disempowerment to strength.