Therapists in Westlake Village, CA

My specialty is working with all types of relationships that are stressed. I believe in exploring what I call "clashing vulnerabilities." We all have triggers, and when they are present, there really is no one listening. We all need to be heard. I also work with grief and with aging.

Finding a therapist can be challenging, a sea of faces and similar profiles. I encourage you to make some calls and talk with multiple therapists. You will know when it is a good fit. If you call me, I will offer you an experienced and grounded presence, a commitment to walking with you on your journey, and compassion, empathy and curiosity to find healing and acceptance. Therapy can be a transformational experience in a safe and collaborative space. There are many tools that we both have and can use to create insight and connection and I look forward to accessing the tools with you.

Life can be unpredictable and feel out of our control. The day-to-day stress, exhaustion, and relationship difficulties can be overwhelming and hold us back without us even realizing it. Our therapeutic collaboration will help you learn how to react, cope, and move forward, no matter what the circumstance! Every person is different and deserves to develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their potential, and their personal desires. My eclectic approach combines psychodynamic, CBT, and DBT skill techniques with an individualized approach for each client.

Do you struggle with obsessive and intrusive thoughts? Do you feel unsure of the future? Do you feel hopeless or lost in your day-to-day life, unsure how to move forward? I can help you process your emotions and find new meaning in your life. Change can be hard, and you do not have to do it alone. I am passionate about helping people reach their fullest potential and thrive. I know life can sometimes be a bumpy ride, and I am here as a fellow traveler to guide you on this journey. I believe all people have the internal wisdom necessary to overcome challenges, and the right, supportive environment can make all the difference.

Feeling detached, unmotivated, or overwhelmed by life’s hurdles? Whether grappling with grief, struggling in relationships, or enduring emotional setbacks, you deserve a compassionate guide who truly understands the complexity of your journey.

I offer support to individuals, children, and families who are trying to overcome some challenge in their lives. Whether it be an individual trying to overcome depression or anxiety, or a traumatic event; a parent wanting to find ways to deal with a struggle their child is having; a teen or young adult dealing with the difficulties of life transitions or destructive behaviors; my background, clinical training and experience can provide both support, as well as clinically effective solutions to help you achieve the goals you would like to achieve in therapy.

You will be in an environment where you will be heard, seen and nurtured to see your challenges, not as obstacles, but rather, as an invitation to see things differently. We will examine, explore and reframe, leading you with greater ease to make new choices, which can enhance your self-esteem, functioning and relationships. You will be given tools to gain perspective, insight, self-compassion, and greater emotional regulation. You will be given the opportunity to use art therapy, a tool which requires no skill, but only willingness, to add a profound new level of insight to your talk therapy.

Sam is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has enjoyed working with adolescents, adults, couples and families over the past 10+ years. Sam is passionate about working with the LGBTQ+ community, adolescents, adults, high-achievers, and male mental-health, utilizing strength-based, cognitive behavioral therapy, and humanistic approaches to counseling. Over the years, Sam has gained experience in various roles, including peer counseling, youth crisis-counseling, community mental health, intensive treatment, sex education, case-management, family, couples, group, and individual therapy.

Are you needing more support understanding yourself, your relationships, and your emotional world? I believe that understanding ourselves with compassion is an essential part of the process of growth and change. As a therapist, I specialize in working with people seeking recovery from eating disorders and other difficulties related to food and body image. I also help clients working through anxiety, depression, and grief.

Are you wishing you had more peace with food, your body, yourself, and those people who are important in your life? If you're struggling, I can help. We will work together collaboratively to help you discover who you are at your core, heal what hurts, and engage genuinely with your true self, your relationships and your life. Deep conversation, deep listening, and deep connection for your healing and transformation. Let me help you discover your most authentic self and the joy that comes along with that. Together we can work on lasting change.

Sometimes we find ourselves in challenging, painful, or difficult situations that can leave us overwhelmed, hopeless, or stuck, preventing us from living the fulfilling life we are meant to live. You feel a sense of anxiety or dread that you can’t shake. You don’t feel supported by your partner. You are confronting emotional challenges that come with aging & life transitions. You are at your wit's end and don’t know where to turn. I'm here to tell you there is hope, you are not alone. I believe each person possesses unique strengths. Together we will highlight those strengths and work through the obstacles that inhibit you.

As we face uncertainty in our lives now more than ever, it is essential that we learn tools to help us capture internal peace, despite external circumstances. I recognize the true power that curiosity and a listening ear can have in honoring our life experiences while tapping into our inner strengths and resources. I assist children, adolescents, and young adults in navigating life transitions, stress, depression and anxiety from an atmosphere of compassion and acceptance. I guide parents in finding a deeper understanding of their child’s behavior - allowing them to truly “see” their child while helping them cope with big feelings.

I am a Board Certified & Licensed Clinician (CA & OR) that takes a holistic approach to treatment. I assist adolescents, adults, and couples in achieving psychological and interpersonal health and wellness by fostering a safe and trusting space where they can explore, process, and move through life's difficulties. I understand that each of us have unique strengths, challenges, identities, and life experiences. I work with each client to tailor treatment to their individual needs so they can reach their personal and relational goals, address concerns impacting their well-being, and move towards personal growth and healing.

I Wendy De Augustine, L.M.F.T., MA., am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and have a MA in Art Therapy. I specialize in individual, couple, group and family therapy. My areas of focus include art therapy, narrative therapy and working with children, adolescents and adults. I received a 62-unit Masters of Arts degree in Psychology with a major in Marriage and Family Therapy/Art Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute. I work extensively with depressed teens and adults, utlizing different techniques through a Narrative and Post Modern lens to provide what is most helpful to my clients.

Do you feel like you need to be perfect? Like you are required to be the best version of yourself at all times? Now more than ever people struggle with how to feel close to others and how to feel good about themselves. I believe in understanding how our past informs the present and empowering people to develop tools and insight to rewrite their narratives. Together, we will explore the roots of pain, identify healthy/unhealthy patterns, and develop effective coping strategies to liberate you from this pressure. Our collaboration focuses on developing more self-love, connection and fulfillment.

I bring the core values of respect, empowerment, and empathy to my clinical work. With over 11 years of experience in women's issues; including domestic violence, life transitions, grief/loss, depression and anxiety. I have gained experience working with a wide range of clinical issues and my client population has been diverse in terms of cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds. Clients have included families, couples, children, teens, individual adults, several groups, and mandated clients.

You feel isolated. You don't recognize yourself after this loss. People are telling you things that are more hurtful than helpful. You are not who you were before your loss but you still aren't sure who you are now, or who you will become. You miss your loved one and want to tell others the story of how they died, how important they were to you, and how much this sadness impacts your life but you feel like they don't want to truly listen. You may even take care of others by not talking about your grief when that's all you actually want to do.

My focus is to assist individuals, couples, and families in understanding how their thoughts affect their feelings and behavior. By using this approach, problems in every-day living (including but not limited to depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder [especially in adults and adolescents] eating disorders, post-partum concerns, couple conflict, and teen/family problems) are addressed and resources are mobilized to provide effective change. Also, in an effort to strengthen marriage and families, I have created a comprehensive pre-marital program and effective parenting course.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."Lao-Tsu Each day brings opportunity to improve & create change in your life and relationships no matter how hopeless things seem. Relationships can be complicated, confusing, sometimes hurtful. I help you sort it out as you move toward healthier relationships with your children, partner, spouse, co-worker, others. The focus is on solutions and life change. Everyday IS a new beginning. Dr. Plotkin has 25+ years experience working with families, and adults. Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology.