Emotionally Focused Therapists in Los Angeles, CA

Therapy changed my life. In fact, it led me to become a therapist. Professionally, I had reached a level of success as a business owner that kept me financially comfortable. Unfortunately, my "success" left me feeling depressed and anxious because I felt that I lacked purpose. I was lost in addictions and reckless behaviors which further galvanized my sadness and kept me feeling disconnected from how to make meaningful change. Therapy allowed me to become more connected with myself.

A loving relationship, a happy marriage, a home filled with love and trust, is what you will achieve through therapy, If you feel stuck, and you don't have a clue how to achieve a satisfying meaningful relationship with your partner, than I will give you the tools to make your relationship work! I will give you concrete, specific tasks to start the process of change, regardless of your coming with your partner or by yourself. You can achieve amazing results towards that relationship you have always hoped to have, you dont have to do it alone, help is just a phone call away.

I work with individuals and adolescents as well as couples, providing a safe space for an exploration of inner distress. Through an eclectic mix of theories, I have watched my clients move from depression, anxiety, addiction and other difficult patterns toward a newfound sense of peace and harmony. This doesn’t come without its own brand of sacrifice, it takes a lot of self-honesty, self-acceptance and courage.

Hi there, I'm Melissa! I am here to listen and to offer support. I focus on strengthening self-esteem through fostering self-compassion. Many people struggle with balancing the demands of life. You don't need to suffer alone. I practice with a person-centered approach and have extensive education in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy. I am trained in Attachment Theory and strive to create a secure and nurturing environment. I am kind and compassionate and offer guidance as I walk with you on your journey through life.

As a therapist specializing in mental health, addiction recovery, trauma, relationships, and family dynamics, I have been helping adults, adolescents, couples and families navigate the challenges of life for the past ten years of clinical experience. Drawing from my experience as an addiction counselor since 2015, 4 years as a therapist, my personal journey of recovery for 12 years, I have developed a unique and integrated therapeutic framework that empowers my clients to discover the root cause of their problems. As my client, I will guide you to your truth rather than trying to impose my ideas of what I think is best for you.

Because I've been blessed with life-changing mentors in my life, I can pass the sum of their wisdom on to you, along with my own. Therapy is a healing process that happens through our shared connection and your expanding awareness. It requires a safe place, where truth is expressed and pain is transformed. Typically we meet suffering with distractions, intoxication or denial. When we find a way to experience emotional sobriety, our relationships with ourselves and others can heal. Loss, trauma, emotional intoxication and shame are common issues that breed secondary problems. We’ll approach them with skill, compassion and courage.

Therapy is an opportunity for us to uncover a deeper understanding of ourselves so we can begin to find more ease and fulfillment in our day to day. It is about embracing that oftentimes there’s nothing to “fix”, and instead our task is to slow down, notice and then exercise self-compassion. I work with clients who are seeking a safe space to process in their own time recent and past trauma, challenging family and relationship dynamics, as well as clients who are exploring gender and sexual identity. I enjoy working with clients who this might be there first time seeking support from a therapist.

As a dedicated therapist specializing in grief and crisis support, I help individuals navigate loss, trauma, life transitions, depression, anxiety, interpersonal and relationship challenges, and managing intrusive thought patterns. My practice provides a compassionate space where you can express your feelings, process emotions, and develop coping strategies. With extensive experience and training, I offer support and guidance through life's most challenging moments. I am here to listen and work with you towards finding your path forward.

Are you feeling under-motivated, stuck in a career you don't want, in an emotionally draining relationship, and not feeling any zest for life? Are you a high performer who doesn’t know how to quiet your anxiety? Does the life you dream of seem very far from where you are today? Are your past traumas continuously affecting your present life? I can help you! If you are between the ages of 18 to 60 and have faced significant challenges, you need a therapist/coach who is passionate about his profession and uses the best, scientifically-backed methodologies to help you heal from the past, engage in your present, and reshape your future!

Therapy can be FUN, Exciting, and Healing (with hopefully some GOOD belly LAUGHS). I get back to everyone within 1-8 hours. You're hesitant since it's your first time in therapy. You feel empty, hopeless, and isolated. Every day is a struggle due to anxiety and depression. You have family trauma and cultural expectations that have left you shackled. I understand as I have dealt with those same issues too! I help people dealing with depression and anxiety by exploring other possibilities to cope and giving a safe space to fully express themselves honestly and authentically while gaining a sense of individuality.

Are you feeling overwhelmed and stressed? These can be symptoms of your life being impacted by past events. I specialize in the treatment of trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety and relationship issues. Together we will create a safe space where you can feel and be heard. As we explore and reprocess past traumas, we begin to lighten the emotional burden we’ve carried, and sense of relief is experienced. I utilize EMDR, CBT, mindfulness and other approaches to assist adolescents and adults with developing insight and feeling empowered to change behaviors and thoughts that no longer serve them.

The nature of my work as a psychoanalyst and psychotherapist is to strive for a safe and trusting environment during the time that is shared. Together we build the relationship as patient and clinician aim to maintain a valuable and private space for us to discuss any challenging issues they are experiencing, decreasing limits and without judgment. My orientation of choice is psychodynamic. I mainly focus from the psychoanalytic relational space.

My approach is centered on listening to you and understanding the experiences in your life that have brought you to this particular moment in time. We will work as a team, in partnership and collaboration, exploring your feelings, thoughts, fears, anxieties, and traumas. Our goal will be to identify and process these issues so that you will be able to move forward in your life.

I look forward to working with people interested in examining their past, present and future in hopes of finding greater meaning in, and understating of, all three of those aspects of their lives. Therapy can be scary, and is not without its risks, but I will provide a safe and non-judgmental container for the process. My passion is helping people interested in the examined life, and I bring much experience, both clinical and life experience, to this shared journey ahead.

You may be struggling in a situation that, for whatever reasons, is not improving as you had hoped it would. And now you might be experiencing unwanted emotions related to COVID-19; relationship struggles; parenting; marital difficulties; family conflict; a recent trauma; or something else that is painfully impacting you and one or more of your relationships. Are you losing sleep, feeling sad, anxious, depressed, confused, or feeling helpless right now? Feeling stuck? If so and you're here, you're probably tired of trying to figure all of this out by yourself. The good news is you don't have to be alone with all of this anymore.

Evolutionary psychology, neurobiology, Buddhist Psychology, Somatic or body-centered work and the emerging field of psychedelic therapy are profoundly changing our view of the human experience. We are learning that our individual selves are far less determined than they are emergent.

Welcome! Life is a balance of holding on and letting go. I believe therapy should be practical and actionable. My focus is on exploring the role your life experiences are playing in how you attach both to and away from yourself and others. You will not be alone in this; together we will work though what’s keeping life stuck and healing the pieces of you that are in need of your attention and care. I fully trust my clients’ truest selves, their inner wisdom, and their capacity to heal. Once the individuals in a couple are healing, transformation is natural.

Welcome! In my over 10 years of clinical practice I have worked with diverse populations in the outpatient, inpatient, community and private practice setting. I work to build a trusting, safe, empathic therapeutic relationship to assist you in meeting your treatment goals. My experience has been focused on helping clients with issues pertaining to anxiety, depression, major life changes, and stress management. Together we can work on building the skills, processing the past and developing coping mechanisms to help you in the future.

I approach psychotherapy as a co-creative alliance between client and therapist. I seek to create a safe, humorous and collaborative space for clients to explore their own ability to access greater insight, clarity and self-awareness. I gravitate towards humanistic, psychodynamic and in-depth psychology (Spiritual) approaches - while also tailoring each session to my client’s particular needs and strengths.