Psychoanalytic Therapists in Pasadena, CA

"The pain is there; when you close one door on it, it knocks to come in somewhere else..." (Dr. Irvin D. Yalom). The process of psychotherapy is uncovering the pain, either developmental, situation specific or just existential, and working through it within the bounds of a trusting, accepting and empathetic therapeutic relationship. Throughout the process, I will help you uncover and become comfortable with your authentic self, while bringing into the consciousness some of the themes and motives that have unconsciously ruled your life and became a part of who you are.

Have you ever experienced not being able to make sense of your feelings or your behavior? Do you feel like you are stuck and you don't know how to move on?  Whether you are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, and/or identity issues, I am equipped to walk along side you in this progressive journey.  I utilize  psychoanalytic, CBT, EMDR and trauma informed to treat a wide variety of emotional issues. What does that mean? My goal through therapy is to improve your self awareness so that you would have a clear understanding of your current behavior, which might have been caused unconsciously by past experiences.

I am committed to respecting you wherever you are in the journey of life, and to help you grow and become a creative and empowered individual. My practice focuses on understanding the deep relational dynamics that are on the way of people moving forward and living a meaningful life. I am trained Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and certified in EMDR. I use these approaches to treat symptoms of Anxiety Disorders, Depression, PTSD. I also work with developmental trauma and sexual trauma.

We all want to become, be, and remain adults able to enjoy times of great happiness and grow from times of stress, difficulty, and sadness. This is not an easy process and requires learning from feeling, thinking about, and experiencing the ups and downs of our lives, understanding what our experiences mean, where they come from, and what we can do to make changes in our lives. In this process we know that we can experience anxiety, depression, stress, tension, and many other things that require professional help in order to maintain our footing and keep moving forward in our lives.

Let me help you be as successful in your relationships as you are in other areas of your life. This is one of the greatest challenges we will ever face - to achieve intimacy and have self-understanding. I sincerely believe (and see!) the effectiveness of therapy and I love guiding you from trauma to transformation! I appreciate how hard it may be to seek counseling, and, I greatly respect my clients' willingness to sort through the difficulties in their lives in order to develop better insight and achieve the skills to create long-lasting change.

When we find ourselves feeling burdened or "blocked", or when a certain satisfaction in life seems out of reach, it is often difficult to understand why things aren't clearer to us, or why we can't simply make the changes we want. The truth is, for all of us there is much that goes on in our psyches which eludes our awareness, but which nonetheless informs how we think, how we feel, and even how we act. So the question becomes, how can we open a window into those pockets of our inner world which somehow keep us stymied.

Hello there. I'm glad you're here, Helper/Caregiver, who has a difficult time finding time for yourself and accepting your own needs. I'm glad you're here, Millennial, who is navigating "adulting" and relationships. I'm glad you're here, Creative, who sees the world poetically but struggles with self doubt. This is the place for you if it's all just too exhausting, depressing, lonely, and stressful, and you need help discovering or rediscovering you- your joy, your hope, your spark.

Are you feeling stuck, or not quite sure how to move things forward? This feeling can apply to relationship, career, or just a general life experience. Are you struggling with a loss or a meaningful life transition? The decision to begin treatment is a gesture of courage and hope. Together, we will explore your concerns, and look for ways to navigate any obstacles or self-defeating patterns getting in the way of reaching life fulfillment and fuller potential. We work toward a more open, creative and authentic self experience-- self with self, self in relationship, self in the community/world.

I specialize in working with people who want more love and peacefulness in their lives. I have had post masters level training doing depth work in psychoanalysis. I have been in practice for over 20 years. We will work together for a better understanding of your unconscious inner world and how it affects your life. Close and intimate relationships with others are possible and a basic human need that are yearned for and people deserve. I can help with opening your heart and opening your mind in many new and powerful ways.

My goal is to create a safe, collaborative environment for us to explore your strengths and challenges together. Our work together will be strengths based to support you through the challenges and goals that you bring to therapy. I work with children (5+), teens, and adults who are dealing with a variety of mental health issues.

Life can be extremely challenging. In response, we develop coping mechanisms that work in the moment, but that ultimately hinder our ability to connect with ourselves and others in a healthy way. With my clients, we identify destructive/productive learned behaviors. We practice new ways of interacting and work through past and present struggles, regaining the ability to feel calm, love, and joy! Some of the issues I treat are anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, addiction, and narcissism (stemming from trauma). I work with adults and couples in various stages of life (marriage, new parents, divorce, midlife, etc.).

Are you depressed or anxious and struggling. You may feel alone and unseen. Psychotherapy and the resultant therapeutic relationship can be a safe place for self exploration and finding new ways to get support and connection. We deal with the underlying reasons, trauma, self esteem early childhood treatment. Relationships may be suffering, work maybe suffering, let’s work together for change and relief.

As a clinical psychologist with 15 years of practice, I use my training and experience to provide guidance to people struggling with a variety of relational, emotional, and behavioral concerns. Trained in psychodynamic/psychoanalytic psychotherapy, I provide both short-term problem-focused treatment as well as more long-term intensive therapy, depending on your needs.

I've been in private practice for several years and in the field for over 20 years, working with adults, adolescents and children who have had relational issues, depression, anxiety and a number of other mental health issues. I believe most of us go through periods in our lives when things get to be too much and our functioning is affected. I help my clients to determine what the root issues are and to address them as effectively as possible by working with their strengths in order to increase insight and make behavioral changes that will alleviate the problems.

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.

Whether you're exploring gender or sexual identity for the first time, or have been out for 20 years, having a therapist that can relate to your experiences is vital. You may feel as though you didn't get the handbook of "how to human," or believe that there must be a secret ingredient that you've somehow been missing in order to feel better. It can be frustrating to feel as though you've tried everything just to be heard. If you've been taught to mask or hide your true self in order to survive in a world that constantly tells you that you shouldn't exist, it can be transformative to be seen and held as you are.

Book with me now by clicking on my website! - Hi there! My name is Knar Kaakejian and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker of Middle Eastern and Armenian descent. My approach to therapy is all about being person-centered and helping you prioritize your personal growth. I mostly enjoy a psychoanalytic style of therapy and focusing on client strength and empowerment. So let's work together to enhance your quality of life!

Kathy Scott has a warmth and vitality, which foster a sense of trust and safety, and she has an especially strong ability to connect with and understand her clients. Her training in EMDR and psychoanalytic therapy effectively support her work-- helping heal abuse and trauma of all kinds. Because of her own personal experience, she has compassion and a heart for women who are widowed and experiencing deep losses. As a result, Kathy works well with women in transition, divorce, parenting issues, single-parenting, step-parenting, blended families, "empty nest" difficulties, and parent-caregiver concerns.

I believe deeply in the transformative potential and enduring nature of psychotherapy. When we're feeling stuck, confused or alone, therapy can help us to untangle our emotions, clarify our struggles, and better understand ourselves and others - ultimately forming inroads to real and lasting change. I am a compassionate and collaborative therapist: I establish a safe, non-judgmental space where our mutual exploration of your relationships, family history, career, sexuality, or whatever is troubling you currently - as well as aspects of our therapeutic relationship - will open pathways to new awareness and opportunities for welcome change, growth and healing.