Therapists in Santa Monica, CA

I am a psychological trauma specialist who has spent over 25 years working with children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced child abuse, family violence, rape and assault, traumatic loss of loved ones, and the psychological effects of serious or severe medical problems or injuries. I offer individual, couples, and family therapy for these and other problems, including relationship issues and the problems associated with working in the entertainment industry. I work with clients who have experienced a single trauma as well as those who have experienced complex trauma. At this time, I am limiting my practice to traumatized adults.

You may be struggling in a situation that, for whatever reasons, is not improving as you had hoped it would. And now you might be experiencing unwanted emotions related to COVID-19; relationship struggles; parenting; marital difficulties; family conflict; a recent trauma; or something else that is painfully impacting you and one or more of your relationships. Are you losing sleep, feeling sad, anxious, depressed, confused, or feeling helpless right now? Feeling stuck? If so and you're here, you're probably tired of trying to figure all of this out by yourself. The good news is you don't have to be alone with all of this anymore.

I am an experienced and dedicated therapist and have been practicing psychotherapy for over 25 years. I specialize in working with individuals, adolescents, and couples - people struggling with depression, anxiety, relationship / communication issues, recovery issues, life transitions, women's issues, grief and loss, and recovery from trauma.

I find the best way for me to help people reach their goals is to work collaboratively and to build a therapeutic relationship based on trust, honesty, and openness. An individualized therapeutic approach is imperative for helping explore my clients’ unique life experiences. We work together utilizing an eclectic interactive approach that encourages feedback and collaboration to shape treatment to meet a client's individual needs. Together we formulate a plan to address achieving specific short-term goals aimed at improving daily life in addition to long term growth focusing on personal development.

The only constant is change, and therapy gives us the space and the tools to respond to it. I’m deeply passionate about supporting adolescents, individuals, and couples as they navigate life's twists and turns. Whether you're grappling with life transitions, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, or relationship issues, you deserve a dedicated space to feel understood and empowered to enact positive change in your life.

I strive to cultivate a trusting and honest relationship with my clients so that they feel fully seen. I have more than 10 years of experience working with families, individuals, children, and adolescents in various settings including schools, direct therapy, community mental health, non-profits, child welfare, and criminal justice. I provide clinical services to individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, high-stress work environments, and coping with life transitions.

As the global pandemic has shown us, sometimes life becomes overwhelming and uncontrollable. During these times it may be best to talk with someone outside of your community of family, friends or co-workers. A warm hearted professional to lend a moment of support and guidance. I share with clients in deciding how best to approach the issues, with the intent of addressing both the current distressing symptoms and long-standing patterns of behavior that are getting in the way of a thriving life. My practice is telehealth-based, and I accept direct pay (some prefer for privacy) as well as most PPO plans as an Out of Network provider.

I am a bilingual (English/Spanish) therapist with a License in Marriage and Family Therapy. I’ve been trained in a variety of therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Solution Focused Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and overall take a person-centered approach based on my client's goals. With my compassionate and proactive therapeutic approach, I will collaboratively create a treatment plan that will focus on enhancing the areas of your life you wish to work on and achieve your desired goals.

Stuck? So often the first thing my clients tell me is that they're feeling stuck. Maybe they're stuck in a relationship or a job or a way of thinking. Often they've worked hard on their own to improve their situation, but still, they feel stuck. In my practice, individuals, couples and families find ways to get unstuck and to move forward once again.

As an Asian woman who has straddled two cultures for many years, I have a deep understanding of the struggles Asian women and men face in relationships, family life, and the workplace. I also know that our unique cultural history and cultural norms can present so many obstacles to healing emotional injuries and finding emotional health. If you are feeling lonely and isolated, anxious and guilty, inadequate, overwhelmed, conflicted, or depressed, I understand. And I have the experience to help you find concrete, practical solutions to these emotional challenges, yielding timely results. I am fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and English.

Our sexuality is at the core of who we are as humans, and where we came from – it is our life force. It’s also at the core of our own identity. So many of us are searching for who we truly are. We’re so encapsulated in who we should be being for others, that we end up losing ourselves. This shows up most frequently in intimate relationships. Our desire for unconditional love from another supersedes our need for physical connection. Emotion trumps sexuality. And what goes on within our mind shuts down the abilities of our body. Are you feeling lost in your relationship? Do you desire more sexually?

I have been in clinical practice for over 35 years while also teaching and supervising future psychologists at UCLA. I believe that you deserve an experienced therapist with the knowledge and training to understand your problems and create a safe and trusting environment. Feeling understood with respect and dignity leads to a collaborative relationship in solving problems. My excellent experience and training in the most effective treatment approaches and ability to meet your unique needs helps empower you to make the personal changes in your relationships and emotional life that you want and deserve.

I specialize in working with clients who struggle with anxiety, postpartum disorders, and trauma. I am most aligned with Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and CBT, as well as other evidence-based therapies that support clients' progression from adversity to growth. A safe, collaborative therapy relationship is the foundation that allows clients to bravely try new ways of thinking and behaving. I work primarily with pregnant and postpartum women who have complex trauma histories.

Do you struggle with feelings of anxiety, depression, guilt or low self-esteem? Do you find yourself avoiding social engagements or so preoccupied with excessive worrying? Finding ways to navigate these difficult feelings can help you get back on track. I use a psychodynamic approach and CBT that focuses on uncovering patterns of behavior and ways of relating to ourselves and others that are often outside of our awareness. I also consider how our past impacts who we are today. Through acceptance and empathy, we will establish a trusting therapeutic relationship and work together toward your personal growth and self-discovery.

Dr. Anna Selena Cho, was born in Los Angeles and has personal experience living bi-culturally. Dr. Cho was traditionally trained in visual arts in her early developmental years and eventually obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Southern California, M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy at Phillips Graduate University, and her Doctorate in Applied Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Cho has developed programs with organizations wanting to further expand their learning standards towards socio-emotional integration.

What if both mental wellness and mental distress are experiences along a spectrum and this is part of what makes us human? You are not alone as we all travel these experiences that make up our mental health, both in times of flourishing and times of challenge. Reasons for seeking support vary, although daily distress in its subtle or obvious forms can create feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, depletion, or at times a sense of shut down. As our bodies respond to this distress it can result in feeling stuck, disconnected from self, disconnected from satisfying relationships with others, or a sense that things might never change.

Most people are struggling to adjust to COVID-19 life right now. Or, things have felt "off" for a while and quarantine has exacerbated some of your thoughts and feelings. Perhaps you feel confused and stressed about what the future will look like for you, your career, relationships, and life as a whole. You notice you’re unhappy, lonely, and stuck. Whether you are seeking therapy for a specific issue or to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, I am here to help.

If you're struggling to heal your relationship with your body or food, I'm here to help. I’m passionate about helping clients gain awareness of patterns that may be keeping them stuck in shame or anxiety and find ways to implement changes that are more in line with their goals. Together, we will explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and identify ways to adjust so you can live a balanced and fulfilling life. We will lean on your strengths and values to guide our work and find sustainable solutions that feel right for you.

My mission is to empower individuals, couples, and families that I work with. Helping you build meaningful connections to yourselves, others, and the world is part of that mission. I commend you for taking the first step today by searching for a new therapist. Today is the day you can begin your journey to self-empowerment and self-growth. I am a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor. I work with adults, couples, families, adolescents and children. My style of therapy is client-centered and humanistic, you and your needs are always the main priority.