Addiction Therapists in Highland Park, CA

Whether you were embarking on motherhood, a new career, a new phase of life, or a relationship, you began the journey filled with anticipation and joy. However, life has brought on some unexpected twists and turns, leaving you feeling out of control and disappointed. The inner critic inside you is taking over, leaving you stuck in an endless cycle of self-blame and self-doubt, feeling helpless and hopeless about how to move forward.

For over thirteen years, I've been seeing clients (both individuals and couples) and my goal has always been to help them achieve meaningful change, whether in getting through a difficult current situation or wanting to break old patterns that keep them from living a more fulfilling life. Some challenges I've helped people overcome include anxiety, depression, relationship issues, feeling stuck in a rut, grief, hopelessness, self-esteem issues, and work-related stress. Exploring these issues with a warm, welcoming, and non-judgmental therapist can really help.

I think of therapy as a creative and collaborative process that allows for a deeper, more integrated sense of oneself to emerge over time. I work with clients to help them better understand and navigate their experiences so that they can feel more authentic and aligned as they move through the world. I see myself as a helper and guide as clients build understanding of how to release old patterns and experience new things.

Being human isn’t easy. It can be awkward, scary, beautiful, exciting, and completely bewildering. Seeking help for your humanness is brave. Therapy can provide a safe environment to challenge lifelong patterns, address old wounds and traumas, and develop a deeper understanding of yourself. It can also help undo old wiring and unhelpful narratives so that you can create better habits, communication skills, and behaviors. Through a relational, direct, and compassionate approach, I treat individuals, couples, and families who want to find more joy, create better relationships, "update their software," and live more authentically.

Are you creative, a perfectionist, or do you work in a high-stress position? On paper, things look good.  But on the inside, it’s a different story. Many high-achievers and creatives can get lost in survival mode, straying far from our basic requirements and deep desires.  This can be caused by many things including unconscious unmet needs, cultural norms, or old wounds.  Fortunately, there is a safe and gentle way out.  I help people reconnect their minds, bodies, and emotions. Over time, my clients become skilled at trusting others, being proactive, and aligning with an authentic version of themselves.

Therapy is a dynamic and improvisational collaborative process. I believe in the boundless generativity of “yes, and” and that being a person is deeply absurd and profoundly sacred in equal measure. My approach is inquisitive and creative. I work from a depth perspective, which means I am attentive to both unconscious forces and conscious patterns that may be creating unnecessary roadblocks to a more fulfilled life.

It is in our nature to live our lives through stories. Often our stories can become overshadowed by the effects of problems in our lives. Trauma, anxiety, depression and difficult life transitions may have taken you away from what you value most, leaving you feeling overwhelmed, stuck or disconnected. My goal is to honor all parts of your story, providing a compassionate space for you to heal and re-claim your own agency in your life.

We meet you where you're at and build on your resilience. We welcome you and invite you to start on your self care. We value diversity and acceptance; we work with all faiths, LBGTQ+, and all backgrounds.

I believe in building a strong therapeutic relationship. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma etc., are not easy to go through alone and that is why I am here. Building a strong foundation helps my clients understand that they in fact are not alone, and we can work together to help relieve these symptoms.

You’ve always considered yourself someone who works well under pressure. Stress was never an obstacle – in fact, it motivated you to be better. You were unstoppable and could handle any challenge that came your way. But lately, something has changed. Now, you find yourself unable to shrug off concerns like you have in the past. You lay in bed at night, restless, mind racing. You’re tired and unfocused at work, making mistakes you’ve never made before. You’ve long sacrificed your personal relationships in favor of professional advancement. But now you’re wondering what any of that was for. You know something has to change, but how?

Self-exploration is probably the most challenging but highly rewarding journey you can take in your life. The narrative you hold about yourself is based on your lived experiences. It's a combination of controlled and uncontrolled events. It's often the uncontrolled events/experiences in your life that take a gripping hold, disempower you, frighten you and disable your ability to function. Getting control of your circumstances is truly liberating. Reaching that freedom of choice takes courage, perseverance, resilience and grit. Let’s access all of those strengths within you and get started.