Therapy

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Relationship Counseling

Therapy for improving your relationship.

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Discernment Counseling

Your marriage is a mess, but is divorce the only option?

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Divorce and Post Divorce Therapy

Divorce is happening or has happened. Now what?

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Therapy Has Come a Long Way Since Freud’s Couch

Two people sitting on a couch having a conversation. One person wearing a black blazer with striped pants, hands gesturing, and a white cup on their lap. The other person holding a white mug, with curly hair visible.

Maybe you’ve seen therapy on TV and it seems like a mystery that involves laying on a stranger’s couch in a dark wood-paneled room and crying. You picture me sitting stiffly across from you in my three-piece suit muttering “I see” and “how does that make you feel?” 

That’s not what’s going to happen. 

First off, you know how you feel, that’s why you’re here. I know how to help you: it’s that simple. We may talk about the big things you thought you weren’t ready to talk about; we may talk about the guy who cut you off in traffic today. In session, you’re in control. You are directing the conversation, but I will help guide you on the path we need to traverse to get where you want to be. There may be tears, but there will be laughter. We can figure this out, together. The whole point of therapy is that you are not alone.

 “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.”

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Since you know now what therapy is not going to be, let's talk about what it actually looks like…

First off, my office isn’t some dark, stuffy, Victorian relic filled with Freudian textbooks. My office is bright and cheerful: filled with plants, a fish tank, and even a fireplace, though given our balmy southern California climate, I don’t light it most days- and while I do have a couch, it's for sitting. 

Our first session will consist of getting to know each other and going over the paperwork that I’ll have sent to you before we meet. Our sessions are conversations, not interrogations and you decide what we discuss. I’m not here to judge you, I’m here to help you. There is a path forward to the life you want to live. Your life may be in pieces now, but together, we can reconstruct it in a way that moves you forward toward the life you want. That is what therapy is all about: mapping this new territory with the help of a trained, caring professional. 

Therapy reconnects us with the discarded pieces of ourselves, becoming more whole, more truly ourselves in the process. In our sessions, we’ll focus on identifying where the difficulties come from, the root causes, and on changing thoughts, patterns and behaviors to better serve your goals. We’ll work together to rebuild your sense of self, self-worth and value. You will learn skills to better navigate the new waters of your changed life. Skills to help you rebuild your connection to family and friends. Techniques to help smooth interactions with your ex. Tools to help you help your children adjust to their new lives as children of divorce, and keys to help you unshackle yourself from the weight of guilt.  

I use a blend of therapeutic techniques, tailored to what works best for each person. My style is intuitive, informed by lots of training and decades of experience with different therapeutic styles. Sessions with me are full of laughter and often swearing. My goal is that you leave sessions with me feeling better than when you came in. Now, that’s not always going to happen: therapy can be painful, it’s lots of work, but it’s worth it. You will feel better for going through it, and doing that hard work. You are growing, and growth hurts, but the bigger, better, happier you cannot fit in the life you have now. 

All sessions are 55 minutes, though longer, intensive sessions are available. We can meet in person, at my office, or virtually, through video or phone.  In the beginning, I recommend we meet once a week for the first few weeks to keep up the momentum we see in session. We can adjust that up or down at any time, depending on how you feel and your progress. Sessions are $275/hr. Payment is collected at the end of your session. I take cash, credit card, check, Venmo and Zelle.

Call Now: 626-675-4674
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Therapy Options

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Online Therapy

From the comfort of your home or office

Anywhere in California

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In Person

In my office in Pasadena, California.

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My Office

Therapy room with a dark sofa, a blanket, a lamp, potted plants, artwork on the wall, a glass door, and sunlight coming through the window.
Therapy room with large windows and sliding glass door leading outside. There are various potted plants, wall art, butterfly decorations, and furniture, including a chair with a pink blanket and a side table with a lamp.
A therapy room with a wooden wall unit, a mountain and ocean wave painting above a fireplace, and potted plants on the white tiled hearth.
Interior of a therapy room with a wooden side table, a blue and black patterned lamp, various small decorative items, and a colorful plant with large green and pink leaves; a large window and a door with glass panels revealing a sunny outdoor scene.
Interior view of a cozy room with a wooden desk, purple swivel chair, and a large potted plant near the glass sliding door, which shows a yard outside. The wall behind the desk has a forest-themed picture and butterfly decorations. A vintage clock, s
Therapy room corner with a white bookshelf filled with books, a potted plant, a red candle, and decorative items, next to a dark fireplace and a wall decorated with landscape artwork.
A cozy waiting room with two brown leather sofas, a side table with a lamp, potted plants, and abstract artwork on the walls. The room has a large window with blinds and a carpeted floor.