Find a Therapist in Palmdale, California.

Abby provides comprehensive psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and families seeking deeper understanding, healing, and growth. Her integrative, trauma-informed approach blends psychodynamic, relational, and evidence-based modalities tailored to each client’s unique needs. Whether addressing anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, or life transitions, Abby creates a safe, collaborative space where clients can explore their experiences, strengthen emotional resilience, and develop lasting change. Her work is grounded in empathy, clinical expertise, and a deep respect for each person’s journey.

I specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is the most effective treatment for depression and anxiety. There are different subsets of CBT, therefore, depending on the diagnosis and symptoms, I will tailor the treatment to you. For example, many of the anxieties require "exposure" therapy, which will help you confront and cope with your fears in a controlled, safe and effective manner. It's all about coping skills, which is my job to provide to you. Many therapies do not provide this type of treatment, which is why many people still experience panic, phobias or OCD even when they've seen a therapist. It's important to find a therapist who specializes in CBT with exposure.

If you are anxious and feel sad, you probably would respond well to psychotherapy. It is often unwanted behaviors that prompt the search for a counselor. You can uncover the negative deeply held beliefs and feelings that are holding you back and influencing your behaviors. This is a freeing and healing process that can lead to well being and happiness that we all seek.

I am broadly trained in Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic therapy. As needed, I will utilize and borrow from various other approaches including ACT, CBT, and art therapy amongst others. I believe to create lasting change, it is necessary to discover the roots of the underlying problem. We will then create and utilize the tools required to bring about change.

The unconscious always wins. Often times we think we know why we do what we do---but we don't. The opportunity cost of not knowing can be huge. In my work I help clients get to the bottom of why they are doing what they are doing. When we have the insight, we can make new choices. Maybe you're dealing with a big decision in your career or relationships, maybe you struggle feeling confidence or self esteem. Whatever the case may be--I'm here to help.

The issue is not what happened to you, it’s the impact it had and how you are able to deal with it. Psychotherapy helps. It involves our talking together to address the problems you’re having in your life. We’ll see what works, what doesn’t, why not, what you’ve tried, and what other options there may be. We’ll look to understand how the difficulties came to be and what gets in the way of changing them. We’ll see what’s happening in your life now and how old patterns of thinking and behaving may interfere for you. We’ll explore other alternatives. I strongly believe people can change, and I see that happening in my office regularly. You’d be surprised how therapy can change your life.

My approach to psychotherapy is mostly relational. I take a family systems approach that addresses relationships in my clients' lives and improves their functioning for better health and happiness. Clients under my care learn how to unilaterally improve the functioning of a relationship through boundaries and self-confrontation. The result is individuals and relationships that thrive.

I believe that psychotherapy is helpful to help clients who are experiencing a wide variety of issues. I employ a blend of cognitive behavior therapy and psychodynamic therapy to help clients start feeling better quickly while giving them time and space to work on deeper issues. This approach can help you in making progress with anything from anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, self-esteem, panic, and more. My approach is collaborative, supportive, and direct. We will work together to determine your goals and tailor a plan to reach them. Let me help guide you towards feeling your best self.

Psychotherapy can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth. In our sessions together, I will provide a safe and non-judgmental space for you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Using evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, we will work to build self-esteem, reduce anxiety and worry, and strengthen your existing coping skills. I will also incorporate mindfulness and Eastern philosophy to help you connect with your inner self and find meaning and purpose in your life. Whether you're dealing with specific issues or just looking to improve your overall well-being, I am here to support you on your journey towards healing and growth.

Psychotherapy is a fun, engaging, and transformative process! As your therapist I will work closely with you to identify what is working in your life, as well as what is missing and what isn't working. We will identify your real, hidden and emergent dreams, and goals. I will hold you accountable to making the changes you desire real, and this will further assist you in becoming more of the person that you want to be. I have assisted countless individuals and couples in the process of self discovery, living your truth, and living an identity of your choice, not one ascribed to you.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a specialized form of therapy that focuses on a person's thoughts and beliefs, and how they influence a person's emotions and actions. As a client, you will learn how to identify distorted or unhelpful thinking patterns, recognize and change inaccurate beliefs, relate to others in more positive ways, and change behaviors accordingly. CBT's ability to help change a person's thinking to be more adaptive, effective, and healthy, while helping them change unhealthy behavior patterns, will lead to the alleviation of symptoms and an improved quality of life.

Having the desire to deeply experience, explore, and feel our emotions that are related to both present and past circumstances is at the core of the process. Unexamined feelings can often lead to negative feeling or experiences which their cause is not understand. The process of understanding one’s feelings and emotions allows us to grow. Psychotherapy can awaken us to discover the real reason we choose our behaviors.

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.