In Person Therapists in Studio City, CA

“Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o-er wrought heart and bids it break.” Shakespeare: The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places. To be human is to suffer. What we do with that suffering is our choice to make. Psychotherapy has to do with suffering, healing, and a serious contemplation of the deepest things in a person. I hope to meet you where you are and move with you at your own pace and desire.

Do you often feel like no one understands you? Are you in a relationship where you are constantly trying to figure out what is going on? Are you confused as to why you feel unmotivated, have trouble sleeping, and aren't happy? I will help you feel less alone as well as guide you through a deeper understanding of what is happening for you. I am passionate about improving relationships, whether that's with friends, family or oneself. Most of us have a hard time identifying our emotions, or rely on feelings of happy, sad, mad to express ourselves. I will teach you how to recognize your emotions more accurately.

Some people find their minds weighted down with overthinking, replaying difficult conversations, worrying, and trapped in self-judgment and criticism. They're often finding fault in others, and can find it difficult to feel connected and at home in relationships, feeling alone even when next to someone they know. Friendships and marriages suffer, and families can drift apart. Efforts to try to fix things don't work, and they're left feeling helpless, not knowing which direction to go, hiding their true emotions from the people in their lives.

Life is full of various transitions, both expected and unexpected. One can feel pushed to deny or resist these inevitable changes or can begin to take steps to learn, adapt, and adjust to them. I believe everyone has inner strengths that can be awakened in challenging times and therapy can work as a catalyst for change. I have been privileged to journey with individuals who learned to envision their desired lives and to find ways to fulfill them. I have also journeyed with those managing seemingly insurmountable challenges, steadily guiding them toward finding peace in the midst of challenges and eventually overcoming them.

Kids in our communities today are stressed. Major social issues from racial and environmental injustice to economic precarity cast a daily shadow over their lives. The social dislocation and isolation of the pandemic has made a difficult situation worse. This situation has led to an epidemic of anxiety and depression among young people. More subtly it has also led to feelings of fragility and powerlessness even among kids who are “doing well”. Parents, themselves stressed out, overworked, and far from their families of origin want to help but don’t know how.

At its best, therapy provides a safe, supportive environment where you can be heard and valued for the unique person that you are. Having someone in your corner to help you process past hurts and pinpoint and remove barriers to authentic, happy living can be indispensable. I enjoy working with people from diverse backgrounds to identify areas for growth and healing. As someone who used to work in the corporate and entertainment worlds prior to becoming a therapist, I am sensitive to the challenges we face trying to lead balanced, healthy lives, and I welcome the opportunity to help you achieve greater insight and fulfillment.

Are you determined to find ways to overcome and alleviate your emotional pain and suffering? As your therapist, I am passionate and dedicated to help you navigate life obstacles and achieve personal and relational growth and healing. My sessions are customized to meet your unique needs and personal goals. With support, authenticity, and curiosity, I aim to create a warm and inviting space for you to openly explore your emotions and lived experiences. Together we can transform pain into beauty.

Asking for help from another person can be hard, but I see it as a sign of strength. Whether you have reached a point of crisis in your life or are simply looking for a safe space to explore your inner world, I want to help. You may be experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and relationship issues, or are feeling stuck and frustrated by painful patterns that keep repeating in your life. Perhaps the vulnerable parts that have been kept hidden in the dark are ready to come out into the light.

I have been practicing as a licensed psychotherapist since 1983. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and couples. I provide an understanding, caring and empathic environment to help you gain a better understanding of yourself and your circumstances. I utilize traditional “talk therapy,” which focuses on clarifying the nature of the problems. I help you to understand how your life-history contributes to your current situation, and to recognize and utilize your strengths in order to change negative patterns of thinking, behaving, and communicating.

My clients often feel stuck making life decisions and seek to understand how they may have allowed their past choices to limit the potential for growth. In treatment, we will collaboratively look at how our needs and feelings affect our decisions and work on finding new outcomes which will provide happiness anf fulfillment in ways that couldn't have been imagined.

Most people come to me when problems have become unbearable. They feel alone and stuck and powerless to do anything about it. They come in hoping I can tell them what they need to do to feel better. I provide support and guidance so that my patients do not have to bear their struggles alone. We work collaboratively to understand what is not working and why. We examine past patterns of experience to help us to understand current feelings and behaviors. By addressing the underlying issues that are creating problems, we can create lasting change and transformation.

My work focuses on relieving the pain of psychological trauma, finding and strengthening one's sense of self and enhancing personal relationships. I apply interventions that will maximize the quality of your life.

I specialize in helping people struggling with sexuality & relationships, grief/loss, and LGBTQ+ issues. That includes anyone who has grown up feeling unaccepted as their authentic self or experienced the loss of a loved one. I especially understand the deep impact of childhood trauma and how to approach healing. I believe healing begins with connection. Good therapy is a safe place where all parts of you are welcome! The trust we build together comes with an open invitation to explore the protected parts of yourself at your own pace.

When we live a life of reflection, we open ourselves to the rich depths of life's possibilities. We move away from the needless suffering of unresolved pain. I help my clients examine the intricacies of their minds and relationships in a warm, supportive, nonjudgmental environment. I help them make sense of their lives and their histories to understand how they impact their current challenges. Together we build a refuge where strengths are discovered and life becomes more joyful. My training is psychodynamic/psychoanalytic, however, my style always depends on the needs of my clients and the relationship we create.

My style of therapy is one that is both collaborative and supportive. I believe that all individuals have the capacity to make lasting changes in their lives. I help the individual tap into those abilities by challenging the conscious and unconscious barriers that can impede growth and change. Using psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral techniques, I provide a safe, nurturing environment where individuals can explore their challenges and unearth their full potential.

Find Your Center: Many of us today feel disconnected. Our days are filled with a steady stream of obligations and desires. We call that: ‘life.’ Directing our unique path in a proactive way can bring new meaning to our lives. Collaboratively, we'll find a path that leads to your truest self and to the person you want to become. Building Relationships: Cultivating intimacy with others requires developing intimacy with oneself. With compassion and guidance it is possible to learn to love oneself and, in turn, love others more deeply.

I've worked with adults who have ADHD for 15 years, and I've been one for my entire life. I believe that ADHD is a superpower, and that neurodivergent adults are some of the most creative, interesting, empathic, and thoughtful people in the world. But navigating our society with a brain that isn't built for it can be fraught, and can lead to anxiety, depression, and self-esteem challenges. I help clients to untangle this web, and build a life that works with their brain, rather than trying to squish their fabulous brains into a pre-established box.

Do you feel lost or tempted to despair? Do you feel as if you're not truly or deeply living? As if real and substantial change may not be possible for you? I believe your despair can give way to an unfolding realization of hope. You can be more than you are, better than you are, even transform your life as you know it. Your life can increasingly be marked by an enduring sense of inward peace that no one can take from you. If you're struggling with such core life issues, I believe I can help you.

I believe we are all equipped with the resources to navigate our way to fulfillment. Sometimes life's challenges overwhelm us and we need some extra support. Sometimes hurts from long ago arise and get in our way. I will guide you in uncovering your inner strengths by providing a safe environment where we will engage in meaningful conversations about your emotional life. By exploring areas of both dissatisfaction and contentment, and unraveling problematic ideas, we can alleviate your pain and work towards gratification.