Find a Therapist in South Pasadena, California.

Psychotherapy on it's own or in combination with medication services can have a profound positive impact on a person's livelihood. Often times, there are patterns and cycles in life that an individual might be unaware of. It is my job to learn about a person through talk therapy, and conceptualize and help bring awareness to these patterns and cycles. Awareness is the first step towards change.

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, and opening up to someone new can be awkward. That's completely normal! But here's the good news: therapy doesn't have to be a one-size-fits-all experience filled with judgment. I create a safe and supportive space where you can feel comfortable expressing yourself freely within a therapeutic environment. My approach is all about you. I don't believe in a cookie-cutter therapy plan. Instead, I use a variety of techniques to create a personalized roadmap that addresses your specific needs and goals. This might include exploring the root of your struggles, learning tools to manage negative thoughts, or even techniques that connect your mind and body.

Psychotherapy provides a supportive and steady space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors while uncovering the patterns that hold you back. My approach is both compassionate and practical, helping you gain insight, develop healthier coping strategies, and create meaningful change. Whether you are navigating stress, trauma, relationship challenges, or personal growth, therapy offers tools to build resilience, self-awareness, and clarity so you can move forward with confidence and purpose.

I enjoy working with adults and adolescents and specialize in the treatment of eating disorders, substance abuse, self-harm and other maladaptive behaviors (including underlying issues of anxiety, depression and trauma), which may be preventing my clients from living a life of inner peace and enjoying fulfilling connections with others. I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist through the California State Board of Psychology (PSY 27951).

Psychotherapy is not anything to be scared of, or intimidated about. Seeking out a therapist or being in therapy isn't an admission of weakness or some kind of character flaw. Therapy is a collaborative process and a partnership with someone who is trained in and experienced with facilitating personal growth. And in this process, you are in the driver's seat. Our minds and emotions and relationships involve complicated machinery just like our bodies do and in the same way a medical doctor helps you stay physically healthy, Psychotherapy is designed to help you be and stay mentally and socially strong, and continually in a position to take on life's many challenges as your best self.

I take a strengths based, humanistic, person centered focus toward psychotherapy. This allows us to approach your issues directly based on your experience with the issues you are facing. Beginning with your strengths, we will look at how you have managed the issues so far focusing on what has worked and expand on these options. At times you may be challenged and confronted with difficult yet realistic options for change. I work to provide positive feedback and encourage you to consider new techniques which may be just a little bit outside of your comfort zone. Through discussion in an open, honest, safe and supportive environment, we will work toward your growth toward your goals.

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.

My view of psychotherapy is a very personal one. My relationship with my clients is of utmost importance, because our work needs to feel safe, respectful, caring and effective. My clients and I decide together on goals for our work. The safety can allow my clients to explore parts of themselves and their histories that have shaped their views of self and views of others, including the meaning of life and their deepest fears and needs. Our work will respect who you are, what you have experienced, your fondest desires, and the blocks you have learned to set up for your protection and that perhaps no longer serve you. You may find that you no longer have to feel alone and untended.

I believe that everyone can benefit from psychotherapy. We live in a busy world and because of this, we often put our own needs aside to focus on others. However, we all have difficult periods in our lives, along with issues that cause frustration and therapy is used to heal those upsetting feelings and learn constructive ways to deal with them. This is accomplished by making changes to the parts of your life that aren’t working for you or are contributing to your issues. Some of the main benefits of therapy are the feelings of validation and understanding that you receive, the new perspectives that you gain on various issues, and the learned techniques to cope with life’s frustrations.

My clients often find me easy to talk to and say they feel comfortable with me, trusting quickly. This can make the psychotherapeutic process easier and more effective for my clients, especially if they are nervous or don’t know what to expect. Therapy with me can range from just talking casually with each other, leading to insights, increased self awareness, and processing through emotional issues, or it could be more intensive deeper therapy like EMDR.

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.

I have almost 20 years experience treating individuals and couples in psychotherapy. I find that finding a good match with your psychotherapist is of utmost importance. One needs to feel safe with the therapist and in the environment in order to feel more comfortable to share extremely personal and become emotionally vulnerable for the process to be more beneficial. I have treated individuals and couples of ethically diverse backgrounds, the LGBTQ community who have offered me the feedback of feeling surprisingly comfortable undertaking the psychotherapeutic process with me.

Psychotherapy gives us the opportunity to understand and change something that is negatively affecting our lives that we do not understand. Examples: Work success unobtainable! I am not liked at work! I Feel hoeless and helpless at times! Romance illudes me! Friendships are few or don't exist at all! I can't get intimate easily! Realtionships come and go! I always seeming pick the wrong people for partners! Its hard for me to set goals! I day dream a lot! In Psychotherapy we will explore the problems, understand the causes, how they are impacting our lives today. We will identify the areas we want to change, seek out solutions, set goals and work toward resolution.