Therapists in South Pasadena, CA

It is hard to be a human! I provide a compassionate nurturing space for exploring life's inevitable stressors. I come to this work after a decade of teaching yoga and mindfulness practices to people interested in developing presence and a deeper connection to their bodies. In therapy, our trusting relationship becomes foundational for healing. I will deeply listen and offer feedback to your unique experiences, needs and goals. We will collaborate and develop coping strategies that tap into your resilience and grace.

I believe creating safety within a non-judgmental environment is crucial to begin the journey of self-exploration, recovery and healing. Each person has their own unique set of beliefs, experiences and needs. Working together, we identify the goals and direction of therapy. In my work with individuals and couples I use a feminist, empowerment-focused and collaborative approach. As a guide in my clients' journeys, I help clients face their challenges and find ways to move through them. I know the path can be difficult at times, and I look forward to working with those ready to explore those next steps.

I love working with individuals of all ages who are open-minded, willing and interested in cultivating a meaningful life. I recognize how challenging it can be to remain willing and curious when the world and life as we've known it continues to rapidly change. One of my primary goals is to support clients to feel more moments of contentment and safety so that they are able to imagine the possibilities in front of and ahead of them. It IS possible to feel better and suffer less; and for life to look and feel different than it does right now.

Looking for help with OCD, perfectionism or anxiety? You might feel that anxiety has taken charge of your life and that over-thinking, out of control worry or OCD rituals stop you from doing what you want to do. Reach out for evidence-based support to help you take back control of your life. I work with teens and adults on building the skills and confidence to finally manage anxiety and OCD symptoms.

Mark has 18 years of experience as a Licensed Therapist dedicated to supporting individuals and couples through difficult times. I can assess your situation systematically and come up with concrete plans to facilitate the changes you desire. That will include developing new skills to manage your emotions while developing more effective ways to communicate your wants and needs with others.

I specialize in working with children, teenagers, adults and families who may be experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, social-emotional challenges, and stressful life transitions. I am here to help you navigate in order to gain self-awareness, build confidence, and live a more connected and fulfilling life. I utilize various models including cognitive behavioral, strength-based, solution-focused, and mindfulness. I also specialize in the neurodivergent population and am most fulfilled and rewarded by providing my clients with the tools necessary to successfully navigate the world and engage in a meaningful and productive way.

All therapy sessions are held virtually. For more information visit Tana DeSouza.com. I Have been working in the community for over 20 years. My clients are individual adults and couples often experiencing depression, anxiety, work or life stress, and relationship challenges. I am LGBTQ+ affirming. As a therapist, I am very interactive, warm, nonjudgmental and confident in my abilities. I often say that the most courageous people I have ever met are the ones who walk through my office door. Asking for help in a time of need takes great strength and vulnerability. (You can find me on Instagram & TikTok @tanadoestherapy).

Do you feel overwhelmed by current challenges? Are you plagued with shame, guilt, resentment or fear related to the past? Anxiety and depression, destructive coping behaviors, and unresolvable intimacy issues all reflect something of our struggle to love and be loved. When our need for tools to manage the difficulties of life weren't adequately met in early childhood, disordered states and destructive patterns help us cope with unaddressed emotions. You don't need to continue suffering alone. I provide a supportive, collaborative, non-judgmental space for healing and growth.

Deciding to come into treatment is never an easy decision even when it feels necessary. I work from a psychoanalytic-psychotherapy approach meaning I'm most interested in what your experience is. What that means is that through careful listening and dialogue, I'll work with you to better identify and understand what may be behind painful symptoms like lack of impulse control, binge eating, depression that's so heavy you can't get out of bed, or the terrible grief that comes from losing a loved one.

You don't like your current state. You don't like your mood swings, you don't like your insecurity, you don't like that you feel stuck both physically and emotionally now in this pandemic. The world is changing so rapidly and everything is different. You know you're not the only one who's struggling and you want to be more positive, yet it still feels like you're the only one who’s out of place, left behind, and failing. You want to stop feeling this way, you want to change.

We are all a work-in-progress, capable of change at any age. I work with individuals who are: curious about making a life or career transition; needing support with parenting and family life; grappling with grief; craving accountability with goals; wanting tools for anxiety and depression; spiritual seekers; or individuals simply needing to untangle complicated feelings and talk it out. Each new day offers another opportunity to become who we want to be. You don't have to do it alone. Therapy can help with this process.

Accepting New Patients…..If you are finding yourself in need of a space to clear your head, explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are possibly limiting you, I encourage you to contact me. Together we can identify and begin to work through areas you would like to see positive change. Most importantly, I am committed to working with you to help increase a sense of purpose, engagement, and joy in life and work. In addition to the interpersonal realm, I worked in the corporate world for over twenty years and I bring insight into work-life balance, career progression, and work relationship challenges.

I believe that psychotherapy is a collaborative process, which occurs in a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship. My work with individuals is psychodynamic and insight-oriented, based on the idea that our sense of self is organized around the primary love relationships of early life, and that "mapping" these emotional experiences allows more freedom from self defeating behaviors and promotes the development of new choices. Integration and and processing early relationships can help one move towards a more conscious life in which you accept your past and are able to move towards a future of your own making.

You're a highly sensitive, creative, and empathic person who is ready to heal. You dream of an integrated life where your emotions, intuition, and spirit coexist. A life where healthy relationships flourish and the trauma of your past is finally laid to rest. You may feel exhausted by the pain of your childhood, old relationships, and even current circumstances. In turn, this has created a hunger for a safe space where you can show up as your full self. Welcome. You're home.

There are many pressures from society to perform a certain way, to achieve certain things by particular time frames, and to think like the group. But what if we don't? Does that mean we can't be a part of society? We all feel lonely and marooned on weirdo island sometimes. Truly understanding ourselves and how we want to live our lives can sometimes feel like a far-fetched fantasy. However, figuring out who we are isn't something that we have to do alone.

Hello! I take a warm and direct approach to therapy as we journey through examining your life. I believe that exploring our core beliefs, relationships, and inner drives can lead to deeper connections to life and to others. I believe you have strengths you haven’t yet recognized in yourself; I believe in your ability to feel grounded, more connected, at ease and whole.

I believe that, at the unconscious level, each of us has a deep understanding of what our unique purpose is (i.e. a true sense of Self). However, through conditioning, life circumstances, cultural/societal expectations, and many other variables, there has grown a great disconnect between the way we are and who we truly want to be. In a safe, supportive and collaborative environment, I will help you navigate through this process of deeper self-understanding and reconnection in order to live a healthier, happier and more fulfilling life.

So much can get in the way of our ability to receive and give love in healthy relationships. I enjoy working with people who are seeking healing from past wounds so that they can love themselves and others. I help people develop self-confidence and self-awareness that promotes creativity and deeper connectedness. If you’ve experienced trauma or if you struggle with negative beliefs about yourself, EMDR may be a helpful resource and is a specialty of mine. I am also certified as a Safe and Sound Protocol provider, which helps people experience a felt sense of safety and calm.

My approach is science-based, prevention-based, holistic-based, and wellness-based. I work closely with you in a person-driven fashion to figure out what really motivates you to create lasting change on the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual front.