Find a Therapist in Laguna Woods, California.

Today we want so much from life and from love. Finally we have tools to help us grow out of issues that keep us stuck! Tools can be used to release buried feelings that keep us wound up, anxious and too compulsive (or addictive) to really connect and feel nourished. Using tools helps us regain our center and overcome the wounds from our childhood that hold us back. Depression, anxiety and old anger can restrict our capacity to really live a full life. Tools give us a way to have healthy boundaries, to manage our moods better, to be more sensual and passionate and to make life feel like an adventure, not a endurance test! We don't have to be perfect but we can reach our potential!

If you are seeking a change in your life...If your problems are so great and you need help...I may be able to help. I say "may" because change is a direct result of your own strong desire and commitment. Exploring YOU- whats working in your life and what is not- is the first step toward change. In therapy, we will examine past and present dysfunctional relationships. We will also explore those relationships that are healthy, functional, and joyful. I will help you examine unresolved conflicts and their symptoms, challenge existing beliefs, and work toward understanding the relationships of past and the impact they have on your present behavior.

I provide more in-depth psychoanalytic psychotherapy, which deals with unconscious motivations, defenses and projections. I look at early attachment and how our difficulties in early relationships contribute to psychopathology and problems in our present relationships. With my approach, you will benefit from a lasting, more internal shift in uncomfortable and painful feelings as a result of a new and more positive, safe relationship experience within the therapeutic setting.

Psychotherapy is the use of psychological methods to help a person change behavior and overcome problems in a positive manner. Its aim is to help people understand the thoughts behind feeling anxious or depressed and addressing these thinking patterns. Psychotherapy will help you change behaviors and habits that are limiting you, to experiencing your fullest potential.

I always tell my clients that I am an "Old School Psychotherapist." This means that I believe that the way we are raised, our parents, and our families create who we are as adults. This means that I do a deep dive with every single client. I learn about you. I learn about your past, your history, and your family relationships. We form a bond and this connection allows us to be a true team for your mental health. If you are looking for a long-term therapist, you are in the right place! Long-term therapy allows for long-term results. You come to therapy to learn about yourself and see your mood improve, and you will get there much faster with a therapist who is truly on your side. I am here.

I work with an entire person--the mind, emotions, body, spirit, relationships. I offer an alternative approach to traditional psychotherapy because sometimes we are stuck beyond our thoughts. I believe we are often stuck beyond how we think about something, but by how our body holds and remembers the experiences. After all, we feel the anxiety in our chest, shoulders or stomach. When we are depressed, we struggle to move, sleep, concentrate etc. I work to remove the block from wherever it is stuck. My clients come to me after years of ineffective therapy. They are looking for more than talking about their struggles or identifying how they think about them in favor of a change in living.

Psychotherapy is a general term for treating mental health problems by talking with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health provider. During psychotherapy, you learn about your condition and your moods, feelings, thoughts and behaviors. Psychotherapy helps you learn how to take control of your life and respond to challenging situations with healthy coping skills.

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a way to help people with a broad variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties. Psychotherapy can help eliminate or control troubling symptoms so a person can function better and can increase well-being and healing. Problems helped by psychotherapy include difficulties in coping with daily life; the impact of trauma, medical illness or loss, like the death of a loved one; and specific mental disorders, like depression or anxiety. There are several different types of psychotherapy and some types may work better with certain problems or issues.

My approach to psychotherapy is very customized. Every individual comes with their own beliefs, values, and family of origin. Because of this, one size does not fit all. I am very careful to take the time to learn my clients and their needs. I help my clients walk toward the directions they desire. I come to you with over 35 years of experience in helping others to heal. Whether it is addiction, abuse, grief, relationship struggles, or stress, I can help. I look forward to assisting you with your life challenges.

I have 20 years of diverse professional experiences and extensive training. I am a published writer, lecturer and passionate about my field. I specialize working with Individual Adults and Teens. My style is conversational, and I strive for a collaborative and compassionate practice with my clients. Though, I am trained in a variety of therapies, I primarily work in narrative and psychodynamic theory. Additionally, I may draw upon other similar or complimentary theoretical approaches to create a highly personalized treatment plan based on your needs and goals.

My approach to therapy is grounded in the belief that by uncovering the source of our problems, we can work together to heal and find a sense of confidence and clarity. I provide unique and tailored psychoanalytic therapies to help my clients make sense of their lives and better understand the source of their issues. When the source is identified, a path to wellness can be established. My goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment, free of judgment and pressure, where my clients can look into their emotions, experiences, and behaviors to gain insight and clarity. I believe that understanding our emotions is the key to unlocking our potential and finding relief and healing.

In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, we look at the underlying concept, which is that your thoughts and feelings play a fundamental role in your behavior. For example, if you spend a lot of time thinking about plane crashes, runway accidents, and other air disasters, you may find yourself avoiding air travel. The goal of cognitive behavior therapy is to teach you that while you cannot control every aspect of the world around you, you can take control of how you interpret and deal with things in your environment.

Over the past 30 years I have developed proficiency in a range of approaches to help people overcome dysfunctional patterns of behavior, emotions/physiological reactions, thinking, and in their relationships with others. Out of this experience I have developed my own approach to psychotherapy which integrates all of the styles I have learned. Now, I don't do a one size fits all approach. Instead I work with each person that comes to me to construct their own individualized treatment that usually pulls from several different approaches.