Therapists in 90048

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) specializing in LGBTQ-affirmative individual and group therapy. For the past seven years I have worked in both individual and community mental health, immersing myself in the unique ways anxiety, depression, and histories of trauma impact LGBTQ+ individuals across a spectrum of intersecting identities. My goal as a therapist is to create a safe, joyful, and collaborative space for clients to identify and deepen their existing strengths, as well as build new skills.

Embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth with me as your guide. I offer a safe space to explore your challenges and uncover practical solutions without judgment. Together, we'll cultivate effective communication skills to enhance your relationships and empower you to be heard and understood. I'll encourage you to embrace courage and step outside your comfort zone, guiding you towards personal transformation and relational harmony.

Psychotherapy helps to regulate your feelings, make better choices, and to remove the obstacles to your goals. As a licensed psychotherapist and Professor at Pepperdine and Antioch Universities, I work with individuals, couples, and families from diverse cultural backgrounds dealing with emotional difficulties, relationship problems and various psychological conditions.

I work with people from all walks of life, including LGBTQIA+ and individuals from the global majority who experience marginalization. My approach is sex and body positive, and always (and in all ways) respectful of the intersectionality of identities. I have a particular interest in working with artists and survivors of sexual trauma, single or partnered, who want to (re)connect with their sense of desire, sexual agency, and sensual vitality.

Unlike psychiatry where medication is prescribed to prevent your feelings from being experienced, my practice is designed to make sense and make use of the sensations we are receiving from ourselves. Professionally bringing our attention to psychological symptoms puts us in direct contact with the core of our conflict(s) and sets forth a personal resolution.

Sometimes, our relationship to others, and ourselves, has lost its footing. We may even find ourselves feeling disconnected and overwhelmed by difficult emotions. Though we often push through life’s challenges alone, the truth is, we don’t have to. In our time together, I hope to collaborate with you in identifying the patterns, thoughts, and feelings that may be blocking you from a happy relationship to yourself and others, even if it feels beyond words at this time. I believe an environment of warmth, curiosity, and creativity can help us heal in ways we may have never thought possible.

I believe that no matter how stuck we feel in life the key to freedom and wellbeing always lies inside us. As an IFS-certified therapist for over 12 years, I have helped many clients find inner peace and fulfillment by recognizing tendencies and patterns that stand in their path to healing. A core IFS belief is that even our most dreaded habits and patterns are protective mechanisms that we have developed unconsciously to remain safe from more hurt and suffering. What makes IFS a powerful modality is that it is not based on pathology or diagnosis but on understanding that our internal system is organized around protection and safety

The clients who come to see me are adults of all ages whose lives are diminished by depression or anxiety, whether lingering or overwhelming. Such feelings make it difficult to focus on tasks or leave the house. Some clients struggle with unsupportive family members or relationship partners; others cannot shake off the impact of trauma they suffered as children or adults. Often I see young people who want to be Independent Adults, but feel they’ve lost their way, cannot find stable relationships, or establish boundaries with parents or roommates. My older adults are coping with aging; but they desire social connection and purpose.

Seeking help and healing is a courageous task. So glad you landed here! I work with individuals undergoing a variety of challenges. A few of the areas I specialize in are trauma (and all symptoms that stem from this), LGBTQIA+ difficulties/discrimination/identity, religious abuse, neurodivergence (ADHD/Autism/etc.), and fertility/postpartum/parenting. I also offer psychological assessments, which give an abundance of helpful information about personality, behaviors, self-understanding, and conflict management styles.

I enjoy working with couples, adults, and teenagers. I frequently find myself doing trauma work with clients, exploring issues related to family dynamics, ethical non-monogamy, self-doubt, anxiety, depression, motivation and self-actualization, gender identity, and sex positivity. I work with a lot of artists, creative individuals, neurodiverse folks, gender expansive folks, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Are you anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop and can’t let yourself feel at ease? Maybe relationships feel fragile, so you overextend yourself so as not to disappoint others. If you struggle to ask for what you want/need, I can help you change these deeply ingrained patterns. In therapy we will focus on building a trusting relationship so we can explore the underlying causes for your emotional suffering, which are often unconscious. Common issues I work with are anxiety, self-esteem, perfectionism, relationship difficulties, codependency, grief, trauma, and depression. Relief is possible and you don't have do this alone!

The ability to be reflective and resilient is a predictor of emotional well being and health over a person’s life span. For over 29 years I have worked with adults, adolescents and children. My goal is to help clients, of all ages, respond to the complexity of emotional life, including trauma, developmental conflicts, life transitions, relational difficulties and symptoms of anxiety and depression. I am also passionate about working with adolescents, young adults and families: bringing healing and growth to relationships. I am licensed in California and New York.

Do you work in a highly competitive industry like entertainment or tech? Feel a constant need to perform well and prove your worth? You may be looking for a therapist who understands the stress and anxiety that comes with the constant comparison, self-doubt, and pressure to excel that you experience. In spite of your achievements, you may battle some depression and low self esteem. If you are similar to other high achievers I treat, you may also be grappling with people-pleasing, self-criticism, or confusion about your identity and self-worth. Trauma from childhood or other losses may make it even harder to feel good in your skin.

Are you interested in exploring personal relationships, identities, or sexual issues from an open-minded and culturally sensitive perspective? Do you have past sexual traumas, toxic relationships, or codependency patterns that you would like to discuss in an objective and nonjudgemental space? When you allocate time to speak freely about these issues, you empower yourself to navigate any negative patterns or relationship dynamics from a place of curiosity instead of criticism. We will collaborate on the best way to unpack and understand your story from a growth mindset that is sustainable + strength-based.

I work with couples, groups, and individuals. Do you isolate, feel misunderstood, or have difficult connecting to others? Have you been told you are "too sensitive" or "too intense"? Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you try - you can't catch a break? Do you want to hide parts of yourself? Do you want to build more connection in your relationships? Do you find you and your partner continuing to argue about the same things? You are not alone. Often times our old wounds and experiences get in the way of living.

I hope I can be of help to you. Please call me so we can decide together if I am the right person for you.

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.

I'm a licensed clinical psychologist who places greatest value in establishing an empathic, warm, & respectful environment (while modeling firm, healthy boundaries) for clients & their families. Over the last 7 years I've treated adults, children, teens, couples, families, & groups in a private practice setting. My strength-based, collaborative approach drawing on numerous techniques (CBT, DBT, Fam Systems, etc.) helps clients get the most from therapy & allows tailoring our work to your needs. When beneficial and appropriate, I work to foster a "team approach," encouraging good communication w/other members of a client's daily life (i.e. other practitioners/physicians, family, teachers, etc.).

I recognize seeking support can be daunting, but you don't have to face your life challenges alone. I am committed to helping individuals from marginalized communities who are seeking therapy to get help with anxiety, depression, identity exploration, or trauma-related experiences. I provide a safe and non-judgmental space to explore what might be coming up for you in these areas. Together we will work to develop resilience, a stronger self-esteem, healthier relationships, personal agency, insight, and strong coping skills.