Relational Therapists in Pasadena, CA

When you’re experiencing the full chaos of living, it can be hard to find ways to meaningfully show up for yourself. As an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, my goal is to open a space for you to pause, take a breath, and feel understood as you connect with who you are and where you are in the moment. I work across the lifespan with children (ages 5+), adolescents, and adults looking for a safe and nurturing environment to explore their multifaceted identities, relationships, and past/current/future lived experiences.

Are you struggling with anxiety or sadness related to painful relational patterns? Do you feel that you are constantly striving for "better" and "more" in most aspects of your life, but often feel unworthy or not enough? Do you find that people pleasing depletes you and leaves you feeling burnt out? Many of these patterns are examples of relational coping styles that we adopted in early childhood as a way of dealing with our family systems. These coping skills were helpful when we were children, but usually become frustrating stuck points in adulthood.

I have extensive training in a variety of evidence-based practices, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution-Focused, Psychodynamic therapy, attachment-based therapy, and relational therapy. I have had many years of experience working with people struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, domestic violence, mood disorders, ADHD, postpartum depression/anxiety, issues related to infertility, interpersonal relational challenges, panic disorders, immigration challenges, parenting challenges, insomnia, trans-related challenges

While trauma, chronic stress, and hardship can have a huge toll on our mood and functioning, they also provide a unique opportunity for exponential growth and building long-term resilience. Whether it is working through obstacles that often hold us back or detangling old patterns that keep us “stuck”, I work with clients at their own pace to create a compassionate space for self-understanding, healing, and meaningful change. My goal is to empower my clients to discover and live out the best versions of themselves as they define it.

Thoughts, feelings and actions are all energetically connected. Conscious insight into all three of these is essential for changing patterns that no longer serve you. I provide support, tools and insight to help you find the resources within yourself and your life to help you deal with loss/grief, shift relationship patterns, heal personal struggles, and alleviate depression and anxiety. A good therapeutic connection can provide a different experience and perspective, and help you heal and thrive in your life. You do not need to be a prisoner of your past. You can transform your present and create your future.

To be human can mean that joy and pain, love and despair, connection and loneliness, energy and apathy, all occur within the same internal space. When that space becomes overwhelmed with pain, shame, or fear, we can feel as though we’re running on fumes - burned-out, disconnected, feeling stuck or paralyzed. Thoughts and emotions affect the way we move through life; and consciously or not, past emotional and relational wounds affect how we approach the present and future. Therapy can be a powerful aid in healing wounds and nurturing joy, connection, meaning, and new ways of being.

Healing is possible. No matter who you are, or what happened to you, you deserve to feel safe and at home in your body. You can create a life that is worth living.

I like working with Adults and Couples and use RLT (Relational Life Therapy) tools to help you find healthier ways to communicate. In addition, becoming aware of how your family of origin formed you can help provide self-understanding. My goal is to help you cultivate healthy relationships that will support you in the ups and downs of life. We all experience stressors and are juggling many demands that drain or overwhelm us. As a therapist I take an active and practical approach to guide you in finding the tools that help you grow in your path forward.

Seeking individuals eager to explore their inner worlds, willing to engage in transformative work through diverse psychological practices. Ideal clients are open-minded, ready to delve into emotional, cognitive, and relational growth, and curious about harnessing their strengths for personal development and healing. Whether you're navigating life's challenges, seeking deeper self-understanding, or aspiring for a fulfilling life, our journey together can provide the insight and tools you need.

Are you experiencing relationship issues with your partner or family members? I’m passionate about helping people have healthier relationships within themselves and with others. I work with couples and families who are stuck in conflict, seeking better communication, healing from past wounds, bridging cultural gaps, or adjusting to life transitions. I also provide individual therapy to support those affected by relational issues. We can work on managing anxiety, processing trauma, overcoming people-pleasing habits, improving emotional regulation, working through codependency, and embarking on a journey of healing and well-being.

My clients often begin therapy feeling lost, confused, stuck, or overwhelmed. Some are dealing with distress from a recent event, while others are hoping to address difficulties they've been struggling with for a long time. Maybe you're in difficult relationships or job situations. You might feel uncertain of who you are or what you really want. Maybe your day-to-day just feels like too much, and you want to make changes to reduce stress and feel more purpose and joy. Whatever the case may be, I'm glad you're seeking help. I'd be honored to listen to your struggles and help you find the path towards a more free and fulfilling life.

My clients are high-functioning adults and couples who privately struggle with injured self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and resentment in their relationships. When, as children, we experience mistreatment or dysfunctional family dynamics, our nervous system gets impaired - making it harder for us to feel good about ourselves and harder to have fulfilling relationships. My job is to help your nervous system heal from the burdensome hurts of childhood injustices, so we can reduce any chronic feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, and dissatisfaction. My work aims to promote emotional healing and relational transformation for my clients.

I provide therapy to people across the lifespan, from young children to older adults, as well as couples and families. While the methods may change depending on age and circumstance the goals are often similar: to feel understood, to connect, and to grow. I work in a respectful, collaborative and creative way to explore the parts of self that might be contributing to feelings of stagnation and being stuck. I was previously licensed as an Educational and Child Psychologist in the UK and I have extensive experience in schools, working with children, parents and faculty to support student growth and wellbeing.

My clients are often survivors of trauma, women, and queer people that are curious about how their experiences have impacted them and come to me to help regulate their nervous systems and begin to accept and heal all parts of themselves. I enjoy working with relationship issues, gender, sexuality, identity, and helping folks restore wholeness after surviving traumatic and upsetting experiences, particularly narcissistic abuse or emotionally immature caregivers. In our work together, we will consider how your nervous system has been impacted by your life experiences and help you move into a space of deeper regulation and self love.

My practice has primarily derived from an education in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, emphasizing close attention to your developmental history, relational patterns, inhibiting defenses and the neglected power of your inner life. I understand the vulnerability it takes to open yourself up to a therapist, and I promise to join you with patience, strength, and hope on your path to self-understanding. With collaborative and creative intention, I can help you widen your point of view, increase your tolerance for complex emotions, integrate fragmented parts of yourself, and discover the uncharted material within you.

However you may have arrived here, I hope you find this as your invitation to enter a process of healing, renewed hope, and self-becoming. In therapy, we bring a sense of liberation to your emotions, experiences, and identity, and grow toward a sense of confidence to make the changes you desire. Together, we explore and understand your experiences and to tend to your goals through an affirming, collaborative, and caring process.

Nobody’s childhood dream was to grow up and feel overwhelmed, alone, stuck or unworthy. I aim to help individuals heal from trauma-related issues such as anxiety, depression, and relationship/family issues. If you find yourself living without a navigation system to understand emotional terrain or trauma that impacts your well-being; you are not alone. All of us go through rough patches in our lives. My approach is specific to meet your unique needs in a safe and non-judgemental space.

When we experience pain, we often seek comfort & stability in ways that bring immediate relief. But, those tactics don't always serve long-term healing, and they may even lead to other problems in life and relationships. These can be tricky cycles to exit, but with curiosity, it’s possible to build self-knowledge that empowers change. As a specialist in trauma recovery, functional coping, and relational/sexual healing, I believe that building awareness is essential to wellness. If you’re curious to discover more about your patterns and the barriers you’ve experienced along the way, now is a great time to begin a therapy process.

Are you feeling the need for change but unsure of how to navigate the journey? Life has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way, whether it's personal concerns, workplace difficulties or the twists and turns of life itself. If you're grappling with stress and the burdens of filling multiple roles you've arrived at the right place. I understand that wanting change is one thing, but knowing where to begin can be another challenge entirely. Rest assured, I'm here to guide you every step of the way. My commitment to enhancing your quality of life, easing your distress , and providing clarity in diagnosis is unwavering.