Relational Therapists in Pasadena, CA

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and I have worked with individuals, children, adolescents, couples, and families. I believe that through collaborative work together, there is hope for changing behaviors, beliefs, and conflicts that are impeding you from having the quality of life you desire. I strive to provide an environment that is nurturing, open, and safe for you to process and grow, improving your life and level of functioning.

TELE-HEALTH AVAILABLE. Relational wellness is a harmony between how one relates to self, others, and the world. Let's work collaboratively to recognize your resources and grow your abilities and uniqueness. I offer openness, enthusiasm, and flexibility in my practice and I look forward to working together.

As a therapist, I am committed to empowering clients to live their best life, have meaningful and loving relationships, and most importantly, in the words of Virginia Satir, "help them have stars in their eyes and truly feel their own value." At times, as we move through the different stages of our life, we find ourselves stuck due to our unproductive internal dialogue of shame and guilt, the need to be perfect, and the daily attempts to be who the rest of the world wants us to be. This leads us to feeling broken and unable to love ourselves or truly connect with others.

Life can get really hard; the good news is that you do not have to go through the rough times alone. If you are experiencing difficulty in your relationships, finding it hard to communicate, connect and set boundaries, I can help. Relational issues and life transitions can often leave us feeling depressed, anxious, and extremely stressed. Together we can work towards setting healthy boundaries, communication skills, fulfilling relationships, and how to engage in self-care.

If you are encountering difficulties emotionally, in your relationships, or in your career, a safe and attuned therapeutic relationship can be transformative. My approach is relational, warm, and collaborative. I draw from attachment theory and evidence-based practices such as Eye Movement Desenitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy-informed therapy (DBT-informed), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as well as mindfulness-based interventions.

Therapy is a process of self-discovery that often entails delving into past relationships and trauma to uncover their affect on our relationships with ourselves, our families and the outside world. My work with children, adolescents, individuals, couples and families is designed to restore trust, joy & zest and to develop meaningful connections and skills to thrive-mindfulness, authenticity & inner strength. As a Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapist, I work with an attachment focused interpersonal neurobiological approach creating a safe space to nurture individuals, couples and families in any orientation or socio-economic status.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in empowering and teaching adolescents, adults and families that recovering from an eating disorder is possible. Additionally, I help individuals and families affected by anxiety, depression, relationship dynamics, and other behavioral issues learn how to build on their strengths and to develop new tools and skills needed to improve their relationships and quality of life.

Many of us appear to be functioning well in life, but in reality feel like imposters, often stressed and unsatisfied in our lives and relationships. I foster the discovery of genuine peace and fulfillment through "undoing aloneness," helping clients embrace their best and worst selves, and unearthing a more self-compassionate and authentic way of being. My clients are typically individuals, seeking treatment for anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, and a wide variety of relational issues.

No matter your circumstance, whether you have been struggling life-long or just recently stuck in a rut, whether you are suffering from depression or anxiety, dissatisfied with your relationships, unsure how to help your child, crippled by past pain, or simply desiring to grow, there is hope for you. I strive to make the therapy room a warm and safe environment where you feel heard and understood, and where you can honestly and openly explore who you are and who you want to be. I will meet you where you are and walk with you toward growth and healing.

Let's do this! My ideal client is focused on growth and healing. Many of my clients have suffered from narcissistic and borderline abuse, are interested in building an ability to identify and set good boundaries, and improve their lives. I believe in the power of human resilience and our unstoppable inclination to grow towards wellness, health and balance. We can heal and grow, no matter what obstacles we face.

I specialize in working with couples who find themselves in high stress, high conflict situations and are committed to making their relationship work. I also specialize in working with men who want to be better fathers, husbands, and proud of the direction they are headed in life. I have advanced training in marital therapy, trauma recovery and existential meaning making. I am highly relational, process oriented, and committed to growth.

In my practice, I specialize in working with adults and teenagers navigating anxiety and/or depression. I also have extensive background working with neurodivergent (ADHD and Autism Spectrum) people and individuals who have been impacted by trauma. I believe in the power of insight and authenticity, meaning that the more we learn about ourselves and our relationships, the more we are able to take agency in our lives to live the kind of life we want to live. I value creating a safe, open, and authentic space in the therapy room.

Where trauma and oppressive systems fragment and disconnect, this work offers a reminder and an invitation back to our inherent fullness. In our sessions together, you can get raw, vulnerable, and foster deeper intimacy, connection, compassion, understanding and knowledge of yourself. Together, we will co-create a brave space and collaborate in the healing work. You creating a pleasurable life is a key component to you living your most fulfilled life. This courageous choice to seek your healing is about us both being present to bear witness to the growth and creation of you.

I help people with diverse cultural backgrounds to solidify healthy personal identities, locate themselves within larger communal identities, identify their values, needs, and preferences, and to communicate these in healthy and culturally sensitive ways so that they can live personally meaningful and satisfying lives, while still honoring their parents, families, and cultures. I also help clients with other concerns, including stress, anxiety, depression, career concerns, work-life balance, life transitions, cross-cultural adaptation, and intercultural relationships.

In our work together, I will aim to help you feel understood as we explore the life difficulties you have faced, and currently face. I emphasize empathy in my work, and provide a safe environment in which to help you process your painful experiences and understand how they may be influencing your current struggles. Unprocessed emotional pain is commonly at the core of the symptoms we experience; yet it is often dismissed or suppressed. We will process your feelings and experiences to help make sense out of them and reduce your symptoms.

I hold the sacredness of authenticity, humaning alongside other humans. I focus on working with women, particularly women of color, to show up to the brutal, sweaty, and liberating work of tending to your life while challenging oppressive systems that want humans to stay small. Together, we examine trauma and pain with self-compassion, address avoidance, build vocabulary around emotions to expand your knowing, and work together to enrich relational bonds. I would love to hold space for you! I am licensed and available to work with residents of California and Washington.

Welcome, I'm glad you're here. I specialize in working with anxiety, relationship issues, and couples. If you're here because you feel anxious, I'd like to name that there's plenty to be anxious about in the modern world! I focus on helping you develop skills to regulate when anxiety feels overwhelming, and on parsing out what's in or out of our control. If you're in a relationship, maybe you're tired of getting stuck in what feels like the same fight again and again. Using EFT, I love helping couples understand each other on a deeper level, and break out of feeling stuck.

Trudy is a compassionate and dedicated therapist with over a decade experience in the field of mental health and family counseling. Her unwavering commitment to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life's challenges has made her a respected professional within the therapeutic community. With a deep understanding of the human experience, Trudy specializes in working with diverse populations dealing with a range of issues.

I enjoy working with adults to help them develop understanding and perspective to deal more effectively with the issues, dilemmas and stressors of modern life including anxiety, depression, chemical dependency, and the unresolved issues of traumas and grief.