Bipolar Disorder Therapists in Santa Monica, CA

I take pride as a psychologist in the area of personal growth when dealing with life's challenges. This involves meeting your needs and starting where you are now and going from there. I work collaboratively in order for you to get to a 'better' place. I have accumulated a wealth of experience helping others combat challenges of not being able to have children by traditional means. I worked with patients exploring 'good' solutions to this heart-rending process. My goal involves helping individuals deal with the normal and not so normal life challenges of depression, self-esteem, anxiety, relationships, children, parents, and more.

Self-knowledge is a lifelong journey. The ideal client is one who has willingness to move inward toward deeper understanding. This most effectively occurs as we explore ourselves in relationship to others. The fit between you and your therapist is fundamental to this process. It is imperative for a client to feel safe and supported by their therapist in order to tolerate and receive the compassionate honesty and gentle confrontation, which are the keys to this transformative work. If you are willing and ready to confront your light and shadow, I welcome you to move inward, together. I provide psychotherapy and sex therapy.

I am happy you are here! Lotus flowers bloom after traversing through thick layers of mud. My goal is to help you understand blockages in your life holding you back from living an authentic and full life, help you make sense and create meaning from your experiences that propel you forward with purpose! My clients face anxiety/depression, life/career transitions, complex family/relationship dynamics, trauma related to dysfunctional dynamics present across family/professional/social/intimate relationships, families navigating divorce, individuals healing from narcissistic abuse, and parents looking to improve their parenting skills.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, dissatisfied, disengaged from your life and your relationships, or just feel like something is getting in the way of living the life you really want, therapy can help you understand why and learn skills to improve the situations causing you distress now. I use a psychoanalytic and collaborative relational approach to engage your curiosity about how early experiences, unconscious motivations, thoughts, or fears may contribute to your life today. Together, we will work to foster compassion for your struggles and motivation to create the life you desire.

The best gifts you can give are deeper relationships with yourself and others. When depression, anxiety, trauma or grief interfere with your life, your relationships may suffer both internally and externally. If your life seems chaotic or lacks meaning it can be daunting to deal with these on your own. The courage to ask for help and enter into a therapeutic relationship is a powerful first step. You are empowered to discover your essence and begin to find meaning and purpose in your life. I will work collaboratively with you to establish a trusting therapeutic relationship. This will allow you to trust your intuition and heal.

I'm Dr. Dean Leav, licensed psychologist and qualified medical evaluator (QME). I've been featured on ABC, NBC, KCAL, and other programs as an expert psychologist. I provide Evaluation Services, including (and not limited to): diagnostics (ADHD, Autism, Learning Dis.), cognitive/neuropsychological evaluations, workers' compensation (QME/AME), immigration-related evaluations, pre-adoption psychological evaluations, parenting/bonding assessments, drug & alcohol evaluations, pre-employment evaluations, and legal/forensics/criminal evaluations. These evaluations may be used to meet eligibility for certain services or accommodations.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family therapist with over 32 years experience helping clients through life transitions. I bring good judgment and experience to the challenges that accompany such transitions and personal crises. I am a problem-solver and specialize in periods of change so that you are at your best as you work to achieve your goals. If you are seeking supportive, safe and productive therapy for yourself or someone in your family, I am ready to meet, talk and help. My practice focuses on transitions facing adults, adolescents, and children, as well as working with families and teams.

When I begin a session with a new client, I want to present myself as a real person. I want to create a situation where the client feels comfortable being him/herself and communicating whatever is going on. I will observe closely, being as present as possible. I will listen carefully and respond when appropriate. I may ask questions or make interpretations about what we talk about, but most importantly I want the client to feel free to say whatever is on his/her mind. I want to establish a trusting relationship so we can begin to work on this person’s issues.

Life can get very complicated and challenging sometimes. My commitment to you is to provide a supportive place for us to collaboratively explore the challenges you are experiencing and the areas of your life you wish to change. If you are struggling to come to terms with your past, or feel as if something is preventing you from living the life you want, I invite you to explore this from a place of curiosity and without judgment. As a bilingual and bicultural therapist, I strive to support individuals, couples, and families who are experiencing difficult life events.

We collaborate to identify areas of “stuck-ness” to create actionable steps towards change, and process the emotions that come up along the way. We are not often taught how to tolerate discomfort, but I want to help you reshape those feelings into pathways towards growth, self-esteem and fulfillment. Using evidenced based techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family Systems Therapy, I hope to create a safe and goal-oriented environment with a strong emphasis on the client’s wellbeing and context.

I meet every day with people who are overcoming worry, depression, dissatisfaction and conflict to find greater joy, and fulfillment in their life. My specialties include working with depression/anxiety, OCD/ADD, personality disorders, and addiction. I also have expertise in working with the LGBTQQI community. My approach to psychotherapy is practical and interactive, providing the support and insight to help you resolve current issues and historical patterns. Through empathy and direct communication, I assist you in finding the solutions to life's adversities, challenges, and mental health.

In-person counseling in beautiful Santa Monica office with easy parking. Cigna, Optum, United Healthcare In-network provider of Buddhist, spiritual, existential, and narrative psychotherapy. I have 15 years of experience helping people find new solutions to old problems, improve their relationships, express themselves creatively, and lead meaningful lives.Individuals report that I am exceptionally skillful at quickly discerning core wounds and providing resources to help release traumas and treat the symptoms of depression and anxiety; couples report greater understanding, compassion, ease and intimacy (usually in 1 or 2 sessions).

As a psychotherapist I work from a compassionate and practical perspective. My work is holistic and includes a creative exploration of the client's life experience, building awareness and mindfulness, reconnecting to the cues the body gives, and reinforcing positive experiences. I help clients to identify undiscovered potential, create change, and work through a myriad of issues. These issues range from depression and anxiety to questions about where to go next in career and, "Why do I keep dating the wrong person?". Clients come to me to work through trauma, eating disorders, substance abuse, low self-esteem, loss of meaning, and relationship issues.

A necessary component of a rich and fulfilling life involves experiencing a full range of emotions. The pride of accomplishment, the sadness of loss, the security of trust and the pain when it is broken, the joy of love, and the disappointment of mistakes and missed opportunities all play an important role in our lives. We all deserve to appreciate our own successes and good fortunes, and to be able to grow through and from our misfortunes. We also all deserve help navigating through them. I began my career in the field in 2007 at an acute psychiatric hospital, primarily in the child/adolescent unit.

Welcome! My name is Hadley and I am a licensed therapist specializing in Jungian/depth psychology, Art Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Therapy. My work is deeply influenced by the teachings of Carl Jung, emphasizing the importance of uncovering unconscious patterns, integrating conflicting aspects of the self, and tapping into the wisdom of dreams and symbols. My approach is creative and collaborative; through it, clients can gain a deeper understanding of themselves, develop greater self-awareness, and cultivate a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

In short, I love my work. I get to help individuals grow and become more of who they are. As they are better able to cope with obstacles such as stress, anxiety, and depression, I watch them find greater fulfillment in their relationships, career/academics, and overall wellbeing. In my practice I treat a breadth of concerns ranging from psychiatric symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, eating disorders) to relationship issues, family issues, low self confidence, trauma, and grief.

My therapeutic style is grounded in the belief that authentic relationships are healing. I support people of various ethnic groups, sexual orientations and socioeconomic backgrounds to bring meaning to their lives, connect with their aliveness, and expand their sense of personal choice and freedom. My approach combines gestalt therapy, attachment theory and somatic experiencing. I am also trained in EMDR. For more than a decade I have been providing therapy to teens, adults and couples.

Is life becoming unmanageable? Looking for real answers? Seeking the best group of clinicians who accept your insurance? Welcome to WellPsyche Medical Group! WellPsyche providers are experts in Wellness and Mental Health. Our providers take a Thoughtful, Practical, and Caring approach to therapy and can help you balance your life. WellPsyche is also a leader in Telemedicine. Now you can visit with your provider from the privacy and convenience of your home or work.

I am committed to helping clients formulate and realize their goals for their lives and relationships based on the values that are important to them. Grounded in research and clinical experience, I view the therapeutic relationship as an active partnership through which I assist clients with better understanding themselves and the ways in which they relate to others and the world. From there, I work with clients to identify opportunities for change and to develop and implement new tools in line with their distinct objectives.