Therapists in Santa Monica, CA

Welcome. If you’re here, likely something is going on in your life that you would like to change. Perhaps you’re overwhelmed, sad, anxious, tired, in pain, on edge, bingeing on a substance or the internet, or having sleep issues. Trouble communicating with loved ones? Disconnected rather than connected? Maybe you can’t quite put your finger on it, but life just isn’t what it was, what you thought it would be, or what you would like. Anger, sadness, anxiety, disappointment, worry all play a part in everyone’s life, but sometimes it increases to the point where it’s just too much to handle alone.

I specialize in treating highly gifted & highly sensitive people, relationship issues, family systems, anxiety, depression, individuation, compulsion, trauma, and dream work. I have seen the depths of pain and shame in the therapy room. I have compassion for your struggle and am ready to be your ally on the path of healing. The process of psychotherapy is a deeply personal, introspective undertaking. Together we will recognize the wounds, trauma, and disappointments that have befallen you and begin the process of remedy, integration, and repair. In this emotionally safe harbor you can press up against your edges and find compassion.

I work with individuals, couples and families to relieve depression, anxiety, conflict and address overwhelming life issues. I understand feeling lost and alone. We can guide you on a discovery of meaning and purpose. Happiness is deserved and within our power. I can help you form and grow relationships where you feel loved, comforted and seen. We can address family conflict, emotional distance and build a life-long partnership with children, parents and partners. I can support you with life transitions like employment changes and personal loss to reclaim your dreams. Every day matters. Change is constant and ours to direct.

I am a licensed psychotherapist with over 20 years experience working with adolescents, college students, adults of all ages and couples. My areas of specialization are: trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationships/dating, prenatal-postpartum (infants and mothers), ADHD, executive coaching, breakups and divorce, woman’s issues, addiction, LGBTIQ +, building self esteem and life transitions. I focus on helping people find relief from emotional distress to live healthy and fulfilling lives by developing coping tools and wisdom to address future challenges.

It takes courage to discover personal insight, to address current challenges, and/or to heal past wounds. And, we arrive to therapy for various reasons. Sometimes, we come as individuals, sometimes as a couple or a family. Together, we address your goals so that you can gain a better understanding of what may need to transform in order to live your best life-- whether it's a life transition, such as divorce or career change, the desire for different coping skills, addressing compulsions or addictions, experiencing loss and moving through the grief process, identifying a sense of purpose, or making sense of a traumatic experience.

The natural ebb & flow of life can at times make us feel disconnected, lost or confused. Therapy can facilitate in building self-awareness & help put the pieces back together. I would feel honored to be part of your healing journey. The suffering we experience can become a gift if we work through it. The foundation of my therapeutic approach is based on the idea that wisdom lives within all of us. My hope is to help you tap into & live from that place of connection to your own unique inner compass. I utilize mindfulness, somatic, narrative, CBT & family systems theoretical frameworks to help you create & lead a more fulfilling life.

I combine a unique and specialized form of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) based on Choice Theory with a Family Systems approach to treatment. I view maladaptive behavioral patterns as a result of inadequate or dysfunctional life choices. I assist my clients in recognizing these patterns of behavior and encourage them to draw realistic and practical solutions to the things that are hindering growth and happiness through the choices they make in life. I work collaboratively with my clients using a "here and now" problem-solving technique and develop a treatment plan that uses psychotherapy, exercise, nutrition, and social support networks.

As a therapist for 35 plus years I have experience working with individuals and couples with varied backgrounds, cultures and ages. Many years working with people in Recovery (12 step and alternatives friendly) . Hsp's (highly sensitive) , women and men in transition.. challenged by depression, anxiety and panic, people in creative fields corporate professionals, LGBT. My experience as a cancer survivor, adoptive parent, artist/writer, and meditator enhance my work. I work with mindfulness. stress management and CBT .Very experienced with loss, grief, extreme religion/ cult recovery . Advanced training Trauma Resiliency Model.

During this difficult time, you may need support. I care and want to help you through life's challenges. Therapy is beneficial whether you are seeking to address current or long-term issues. Your emotional health can improve. Therapy can positively transform the course of your life. I am a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in individual, family and couple’s therapy. I have a Ph.D. and master’s in psychology and a master’s in Alternative Dispute resolution. l work collaboratively and transparently to create real and lasting results. I keep up to date on the latest treatments relevant to our goals.

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.

I practice general psychology and works with clients who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, prenatal and postpartum issues, anger, parenting challenges, and couples issues. I also have a concentrated interest in the family of origin trauma.

Through my clinical/personal experience, I've learned how life transitions, intricate relationships, and unresolved trauma can trigger a range of internal and external reactions that stray from our core values. I firmly believe that when our nervous system responds to traumatic events, the resulting adaptive energy sometimes remains within the body, creating dysfunctional patterns that perpetuate emotional, somatic, and psychological distress, ultimately leaving us feeling stuck and isolated. We can work together to reestablish your emotional and physical well-being, laying the foundation for healthy relationships.

I use Internal Family Systems (IFS), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Post Induction Therapy (PIT) to get to the root of the problems keeping you stuck, isolated and in survival mode. I'll be the compassionate guide who tells you the truth and gives you a soft place to land. It takes so much courage to begin working toward the life and relationships you want most. You are worth the work!

I grew up in Lake Tahoe, CA, surrounded by the beauty of nature, which gave me a holistic view of health and a love for the outdoors. My journey initially led me to pursue a career in acting, but a transformative experience working with a Nutritionist and CBT Therapist ignited my passion for psychology. I completed my Bachelor's at NYU with a focus on Psychology, Narrative Writing, and Child and Adolescent Mental Health studies. Now, as a Therapist Trainee at the Center for Mental Health Excellence (CFMHE), I am committed to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life's challenges and foster meaningful connections.

Nobody goes unscathed in life, and II understand that sometimes we feel hopeless, alone or stuck in our lives. My style is down to earth, and I talk to you about what you want to focus on in therapy. I have been in practice for 27 years, my goal is to help you transform your life. I strive to create a safe place, where you can discover feelings and gain insight into your life. That is how you change your problematic behaviors and feel more at ease. Change is the one thing we can always depend on. I try to instill hope, help you grow and transform your sense of self and life.

I specialize in the treatment of couples and family therapy. I provide a safe space for individuals in a couple or family to share corrective experiences. I work with couples that want to understand each other better but are struggling to find common ground through effective communication. My goal is to improve relationships and resolve conflicts within the couples/family structure by working with all individuals that makeup that structure. I integrate complementary methodologies to offer a personalized approach tailored to each individual including: structural and strategic family therapy, emotionally focused therapy, and CBT.

Are you struggling to feel understood by your partner? Do you ever feel like you’re having the same argument over-and-over again, and wonder why it can’t be resolved? Has your relationship been affected by infidelity, betrayal, or addiction? Do you hope that you could feel more connected to your partner, but are unsure how to move past things that have happened between you? Now, more than ever, couples are feeling more and more disconnected. The stress of dual careers, the distraction of our online lives and social media, and the demands of parenthood, all contribute to this feeling of being alone in your relationship.

Do you want to feel more confident in your decisions? More calm and grounded in your body? More present in your everyday life? Have more meaningful and fulfilling relationships? We are all born with the resiliency to handle life's challenges, but we should not face them alone. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, a life transition, a traumatic experience, grief, and/or relationship difficulties, you deserve a supportive and compassionate other to walk alongside you. We will untangle the past, make sense of the present, and work towards what you desire in your future.

You have the answers you seek inside you, but something is in the way of you accessing your inner knowing. My job as a therapist is to help you reconnect and remember, and to offer you tools for working (and playing) with the fears and anxieties that make life more challenging than it needs to be.