Family Therapy in La Canada Flintridge, CA

In practice over 20 years, I continue to facilitate and support the fulfillment of desired changes in the clients I serve, while enjoying the process personally. I remain committed to the full exploration and integration of each client's unique personality characteristics. In working with individuals and couples, as well as children and adolescents and their families, I have great appreciation for the importance of addressing developmental milestones across the lifespan.Whether adolescent identity or women's role conflicts,the client's understanding of both developmental challenges and cultural context is central to lasting positive therapy outcomes.

I tend to lead with creativity, humor, and compassion in all the work I do. I am passionate about walking alongside those on the brave journey of counseling: seeing marriages and families thrive when it doesn’t seem possible, for the individual who feels so different, stuck or out of place, for the artist struggling with the industry pressures, and for the new mother in need of processing your beautiful and difficult role. I provide a space that is authentic and sacred, where growth can truly happen.

I'm a licensed psychologist specialized in treating children, teens, young adults and families. I utilize play therapy for children to help them improve their emotional or social functioning. The stress of parenting can often feel overwhelming. I offer effective parenting techniques to empower parents alleviate problematic behaviors and symptoms. Change, even positive change, can be quite stressful. Speaking to a therapist can ease adjusting to the new chapter in your life. Choosing a psychologist can be a difficult decision at times. Feel free to call me with your questions, so I can help you in your decision-making process.

I believe that therapy should be a truly collaborative and evidence based approach. My approach is genuine and warm. I believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship especially in working with kids, teens, parents and families. I have many years of experience working as a school based therapist and in inpatient adolescent treatment centers. I love providing support to parents and families when working with kids individually or in the context of family based treatment. My approach with kids emphasizes a neurorelational framework.

Dr. Nicolas Rafael Beliz is an LPS designated, licensed clinical psychologist at the Department of Mental Health School Threat Assessment Response Team. He currently responds to psychiatric crises in the community as well as provides psychological first aid during natural disasters and local tragedies in Los Angeles County, including the 2018 Woolsey Fire and the 2019 Saugus High School Shooting.

I enjoy working with people of all ages facing various kinds of transition. Each new phase of life brings somewhat predictable changes, and then there are other changes that cause us to adapt and grow in somewhat unpredictable ways. Whatever you're facing, my goal is to work with you to find unique strengths and creative solutions that allow you to thrive in the midst of change.

I help people who feel like their life is out of control and has come apart put the pieces back together. Life can be hard. You're struggling, moving through life wondering if this is it, if this is a good as it’s going to get. Its like someone or some thing picked up the snow globe of your life and shook it. Now all the pieces are flying around and everything feels overwhelming, uncertain. You don’t know how to put things back together again and are maybe not even sure you really want to. It can feel like you will never be happy again. Change is hard and often it's really shitty.

I believe that respecting and honoring the humanity in each person I see is of the utmost importance to therapy. People are humans first, not a diagnosis. I have a special interest in helping people around the topics of adoption, chronic pain/ illness, and an emphasis on couples work in addition to addressing anxiety and depression. In addition to private practice, I hold the position of Clinical Director for the Los Angeles Chapter of A Home Within—a non-profit that matches wonderful volunteer therapists with current or former foster youth for weekly psychotherapy sessions, for as long as it takes.

I wholeheartedly believe in the transformative power of therapy. My goal is to build trust & rapport and to help clients experience mental, emotional, behavioral growth and resilience in our work together. I genuinely want to know your story- past versions of yourself, who you are now and who you hope to be. I am a licensed clinical psychologist with 17+ years of experience providing therapy to adolescents, adults and families through individual and family therapy. I will help you develop and meet therapeutic goals, build a toolbox of coping skills and provide compassionate support each step of the way.

Is your relationship trapped in a pattern of anger, resentment and withdrawal? Are you tired of feeling like your worst version of yourself within your most precious relationship? There is a way out. Working together, we will uncover early painful experiences and the resulting coping behaviors that cause destruction in your relationships with others and with yourself. My hope is that our time together will restore you both to your best selves, allowing you and your partner come back to one another - not in the old way, but in a new way that offers long term connection and safety together.

On a daily basis we are faced with the choice to embrace our truth or to just live in autopilot blending into a routine of existence. That was me many years ago. Totally stuck, dissatisfied, angry, anxious and unhappy. I knew I had to take responsibility of my own wellbeing. There was a missing link between my day to day reality and the truth of who I was. Over the past 3 decades I have been using the same techniques that got me out of my stuck states to support my clients to live a life of choice and be fulfilled and happy.

We are a multi-specialty group of mental health professionals in a private practice setting. We are comprised of highly skilled and highly educated therapists. Our professionals are distinguished by their exceptional level of compassion and care. We are here to help you free yourself from the situations you feel stuck in and find your path to greater happiness and fulfillment.

Working with older children, adolescents, adults, and couples, I strive to help you understand how your early caregiving experiences are impacting your current wellbeing and interpersonal functioning. My goal is to create a secure relationship where you can feel understood and valued and better understand yourself through our work together. In working with young children and their caregivers, I hope to help parents understand how their own parenting impacts their identity as a caregiver as well as helping them understand their child’s needs and develop a deeper connection.

My goal as a psychologist is to help you realize your best possible self. I focus on helping people build skills and capabilities in order to live happy, meaningful and successful lives. In our fast paced, productivity obsessed culture, it's easy to get off track and one day wake up to realize you're not living the life you wanted. There are so many forces at work on us, including systemic oppressions and their effects (fear, anger, perfectionism, self-judgement, imposter syndrome, etc). Therapy can be a bolster and a support - a means to explore values and goals, reconnect with your best self and create the life you want.

Whether you are struggling with trauma, anxiety, or depression, going through a difficult life transition, having trouble with relationships, or simply want to leave behind some habits that are no longer serving you, participating in psychotherapy sessions can make all the difference in helping you achieve your wellness goals. I am certified in Trauma Focused CBT and the Positive Parenting Program. I specialize in providing all parents with the support they need. This may be in maternal mental health, or in managing challenging situations or behaviors. I also offer holistic practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and yoga.

In my practice I work with folks struggling with a variety of personal, interpersonal, and relational concerns.

I love what I do, and I deeply believe in the power of this work. I’ve seen it alter the lives of many, including my own life. My job is not to change people, but to offer people a space where change can take place. Together we will walk through the messiness and hardships of life to foster hope, insight, and lasting changes that heal.

Life losses its zeal when we become disconnected from ourselves, others, and our surroundings. It becomes even more difficult when there is a desire for change, but we just don’t know how to get what we desire most. Whether it be to learn how to smile again as we deal with our day-to-day activities, enjoy a simple walk without being bombarded with worries, deal with mishaps without going into a rage, or being able to talk to those that we love even after they wear on our nerves. That emotional burden, pain and/or fatigue can be sometimes too much to bear, whether someone be a teenager, young adult, elder adult, man, or women.

Have you watched your teen struggle with school, relationships or peers? Do you feel like you’re both walking on eggshells, trying not to blow up? This can be very painful. It’s common for teens to struggle navigating social pressure and feeling comfortable being their authentic self. Unfortunately, many teens learn to shut-down, get angry, or find various harmful means to escape. This can lead to depression & anxiety. When left untreated, it can create long-term struggles such as addiction and relationship stress, which is why I also work with adults and couples struggling with substance use or unhealthy relationship patterns.