I believe that the first step towards change is acceptance; therefore, I strive to create a non-judgmental space, one that views many "symptoms" as coping mechanisms that made sense at some point but have outgrown whatever usefulness they once had. When we can view ourselves with compassion, we can then challenge ourselves to examine thought and behavior patterns that may be keeping us stuck and learn to move beyond them. An important part of this work is getting in touch with our core values an...
You and your life isn’t one note. You are multifaceted and the demands you face happen to be as well – particularly when you are a student. Currently, the sound-track of your life has moved away from the sounds of a harmonious symphony -or maybe from an upbeat pop song- to something more unnerving and stressful (like the alarm you use to wake up to in the morning or the background music in a horror film—building tension, bracing yourself from some known or unknown threat). It makes sense that li...
I have over 15 years experience of helping clients develop coping skills, learn problem solving and adaptive skills related to stress management, anxiety, depression, relationships, attachment, life transitions, grief and loss, trauma, domestic violence issues, family, parenting, co-parenting, divorce, separations, self-esteem or self-improvement, and personal growth. I believe in helping people find a mindful balance. My approach to my sessions are to ensure clients feel supported, heard, an...
I can’t change the world around you, but I can help you find your footing. Whether you want to feel comfortable in your own skin, struggle to set boundaries, get trapped in a cycle of people pleasing, or seek meaning and connection—therapy is a place to listen deeply to your inner wisdom and experience. Together, we can access the resources to understand who you are and make the changes you’ve been struggling to make. Using a mixture of depth psychotherapy and an evidence-based practice calle...
In helping people, I lean toward a strengths-based, attachment, and systems approach. I strongly believe that a significant change in one person can impact the entire system. I also believe that a holistic, mindfulness and cognitive approach coupled with behavioral changes is effective for many clients. Additionally, I interweave my trauma-informed background to support clients through their presenting concerns. It's my strong belief, however that each individual is a unique being. I thoroughly ...
I have a special interest in helping individuals who have experienced cultural transitions, war, immigration and trauma with years of experience helping families from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. I am multilingual and provided two years of live TV show in a local TV station in Orange County offering psychoeducation to Farsi speaking communities around the world to decrease stigma about mental illness and empower and inspire families and individuals to recognize mental illnes...
Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Perhaps you or a loved one is feeling depressed and anxious and you are not even sure why. Are you having a hard time finding satisfaction in your relationship or do you feel like the everyday stress of being a parent, working, going to school or trying to be there for everyone is too much to handle? Are you having difficulty achieving your goals? The collection of therapists at Positive Change Counseling Center are inclusive, compassionate, strength-...
I became a therapist after working for many years in business and finance. I was fortunate to then complete a master's and subsequently a doctoral program in Psychology. This professional and academic experience supports the therapy I've been providing for over a decade. By connecting academic theories with my clients' real-life situations and an empathic and thoughtful style, I seek to help clients understand themselves better while supporting their movement forward in positive directions. I...
Stella Nova Psychology, Inc. supports women, couples, and LGBTQIA+ folks' mental health so that they can succeed and thrive at school, work, and in their personal lives. We offer individual therapy and couples counseling online throughout California. Our clients are students and professionals seeking support for many common issues, like anxiety, stress, support around life transitions, depression, perfectionism, relationship challenges, trauma, and more. We're a QWOC-owned practice with a ma...
Having trained at the University of Notre Dame (Ph.D., M.A.), UC Berkeley (APA-accredited internship) and Stanford (post-doctoral fellowship), I bring rigorous scientific expertise into my clinical work with college students. In fact, I worked at the University Counseling Centers at all three of these schools and have continued to develop a specialized private practice that focuses almost exclusively on college students. I also teach for Pepperdine University in their Graduate School of Educati...
I have worked with people from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. I have training in many theoretical approaches and tend to work from an eclectic orientation. I believe in client-centered care, and enjoy supporting individuals through therapy. My primary goal always is to hear you and to understand your life from your perspective. I believe that with the appropriate therapeutic support, we can all become more skilled at navigating through difficult times, as well make effective and...
I am passionate about empowering individuals around their health and healing process. I help my clients using a holistic approach focusing on the importance and role of self-care. As a professional helper and healer, I have had the remarkable opportunity to be a witness to people’s stories and to guide their journeys. Over the last few years, my approach has evolved beyond exploring thoughts and feelings because those that seek mental health services want to feel better and not just manage their...
My focus is to help individuals work through their unresolved issues that may be interfering in their present lives, reduce negative emotions, identify and build on their strengths, increase insight/awareness of themselves, and develop positive coping skills they can use to successfully manage life stressors. There are times in our lives when we can benefit from having a therapist to help guide us through various life challenges. I approach my work with individuals by developing a therapeutic al...
My theoretical orientation can be described as eclectic, using techniques from various models of therapy as deemed appropriate with the current treatment and client. I utilize most from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as I assist clients in exploring and expressing thoughts, feelings/emotions, and behaviors in an attempt to identify maladaptive patterns contributing to distress. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing hi...
I can help you reduce anxiety, stress and the effects of grief and trauma as well as support you through a life transition to find greater meaning, purpose and passion in your life. My work is guided by a strengths-based approach, operating with the understanding that people are capable of initiating positive changes in their lives given the right environment and support. While the course of therapy depends on many variables, I am committed to working with care, efficiency, and an intensity that...
I work with my clients to create an open, trusting and safe environment where anything can be shared. My approach to therapy is to work collaboratively with clients to build a strong therapeutic alliance. In my practice, I use different therapeutic approaches depending on what works best for the client, including client-centered therapy (being congruent with the client, providing unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding), a biopsychosocial approach, and/or Solution Focused Thera...
With over 20 years of experience as a mental health practitioner and advocate in the field of social services, I bring a strength-based, solution-focused approach to my work, identifying achievable goals as we navigate your growth and healing together. I provide a supportive and compassionate space to address, explore, and process life's transitions and stressors, while building upon your resiliency. Therapy is an individualized journey and partnership between us. One in which I strive to ass...
I am a female immigrant psychologist who helps individuals experiencing self-doubt, anxiety, and stress to create room for joy, confidence, and wellness. I am very gentle in my approach, even when we work through painful and uncomfortable issues. It is important to me that I respect my clients’ pace in the journey. That’s why I actively look for feedback and adjust if needed. My clients usually seek me because of my cultural background, ability to connect beyond their preferred language, and ...
Do things feel off track and overwhelming this semester? Procrastination, imposter syndrome, lack of academic focus, feeling socially awkward, breakups, friend drama, existential fear of what comes after graduation, family conflict, relationship communication breakdown, feeling like everyone else has it together but you, roommate boundary issues, school/work/social out of balance? Yep, that sounds hard. Let's talk. While I do specialize in the treatment of anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, ...
I have specialized training in perinatal mental health, including a Perinatal Mental Health-Certificate. That means I can treat people who are pregnant and experiencing mental health changes as well as those who have anxiety, depression, or bipolar episodes after giving birth. I view therapy as a collaboration between client and therapist. I like to co-create an individualized treatment plan to help you reach your goals, whatever they may be. Typically, I draw from a variety of approaches, in...