Therapists in Santa Monica, CA

As a Black Man who is Queer, I became a therapist because I understand that all behavior serves a purpose– conscious & unconscious. I aspire to help folx understand their behavior and establish coping skills needed to live the lives they've always wanted. I believe that mental/emotional suffering is unnecessary and, when possible, should be avoided using healthy coping skills. I typically work with individuals and couples who span ethnic and cultural backgrounds, are new to therapy, have encountered past turbulent therapy experiences, and whose intersections of identities are not often represented in therapeutic settings.

Have you experienced a traumatic event that has left you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unable to move forward? Or maybe grew up in a home that left you struggling to feel safe or worthy of love? If so, I want you to know that you are not alone. Trauma can really shake up our lives, affecting our identity, relationships, work-life balance, and the ability to just feel comfortable in our own skin. Whether you have experienced a one-time traumatic event or a pattern of ongoing trauma, I am here to help. Together, we will explore your experiences and develop practical tools to help you overcome trauma and reclaim your life.

OFFERING VIRTUAL THERAPY. Do you feel inadequate when you are not in a relationship? Have you found yourself chasing after people who have rejected you and try desperately to change their minds. More than once, have you gotten involved with someone who is unable to commit—hoping they will change? Do you tend to take care of the needs of others before you take care of your own needs? You are not alone, and I can help you. I work with individuals, adults and couples experiencing complex life challenges.

My therapeutic approach is non-judgmental, empathetic, and assigning the occasional homework. I am here as your teammate to support you through the journey of discovery. Being in therapy is hard work but I will be with you every step of the way to support you through the obstacles you keep encountering in life.

I work with adults with new or worsening health conditions and their impact. My goal is to improve your quality of life through coping skills and symptom management with your health care team. I advocate for the understanding of the problem, the treatment options, and comfort requests. The treatment options that are best would be sensitive to and appropriate for your needs.

My deepest intention is to grow compassion and human connection. My greatest hope through our work together is for you to know you are whole and worthy of love and belonging. With over 20 years as a therapist, educator and mindfulness facilitator, I offer integrative psychotherapy, wellness coaching and group programs. My work is informed by mindfulness and compassion practices, the neuroscience of trauma and attachment, the work of Dr. Brene Brown and the mind-body connection.

I work primarily with adults who are wanting to manage symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and trauma. I will be with you on your path to discovery, recovery, and finding the person you would like to become. I approach therapy with a client-centered approach in order to create a safe, comfortable space for you to share and express yourself, and your vulnerabilities. We will explore healthy ways to process your trauma, regulate difficult emotions, and restore broken relationships. I believe the trust built between Client and Therapist is powerful, and necessary in order to help you through your healing journey.

Let go of anxiety, work related stress, and unhealthy coping behaviors. Learn new skills for healthy peer cultivation, trustworthiness, and release anxiety related to traumatic events. This is the best time to cultivate sound skills for better life decisions including "moving on", forgiveness, and healing from trauma related events!

Together, we can make sense of the messiness of life. My treatment approach is strengths-based, authentic, holistic, collaborative & highly customized to each client. In sessions, you can expect to be equipped with practical tools, observations, insights and nurturing containment. You can expect an honest, connected relationship where both laughter and tears are welcomed. Our work will allow you to build on your innate resiliency. Connecting with a professional therapist can shed light on what may need to shift in order to heal and align with the healthiest version of you.

My dedication to my clients comes from a well deep with purpose. I enjoy working with clients in the age range of 30-55 who are experiencing burnout and may feel emotionally and physically exhausted due to prolonged stress, demanding responsibilities, or dissatisfaction in various aspects of their lives. Going through a midlife crisis due to life transitions such as divorce, grief and loss or trauma, you might be questioning life choices, and seeking meaning or change in your personal or professional spheres. These situations can benefit from self-reflection, professional support and guidance.

Life today can be overwhelming, chaotic and confusing. The demands and pressures of everyday life can cause anxiety, self-doubt and sadness, which prevents you from living life to its fullest. Often, we repeat the same patterns we have learned from childhood. These feelings can cause distress and can impact our functioning as well as impair our relationships with ourselves and others.

Is fear blocking you from moving forward with your dreams and preventing you from reaching your full potential? Do you keep repeating the same patterns because of the shadows created by your past traumas? Does your life seem unmanageable and you do not know who to turn to?

Welcome! You are likely here looking for a change in your life, whether it be small or large. I strive to facilitate a safe and nonjudgemental space that encourages exploration and growth. I feel it is important to understand barriers before taking that next step towards sustainable change. My goal for all of my clients is to assist them in better understanding themselves and gaining insight into patterns of behavior. I feel privileged to do this work and believe finding a therapist that is a good fit is key.

Two Chairs was founded in 2017 with a mission to build a world where everyone has access to exceptional mental healthcare. We're creating a better experience for both patients and clinicians by starting with an in-depth, research-backed matching process to ensure the ideal patient-therapist fit, offering hybrid care that gives patients and clinicians flexibility between in-person and virtual sessions, and measuring outcomes to ensure patients get better faster.

Are you struggling with life's curve balls, which are negatively impacting your moods, motivation, stress level, which then affect your relationships, work, school, dreams and goals? As I join you on your therapeutic journey, I will help you navigate life's curve balls and challenging times through "connecting your life dots" (past, present and future) and by learning healthy coping skills and strategies to apply. My biggest goal for you will be to guide you on how to build your "solid sense of self," so you can live a life that is authenic and emotionally fulfilling.

Through establishing a genuine therapeutic connection in a compassionate environment we can collaboratively unpack difficulties and challenges you may be experiencing and look at possibilities towards overcoming these towards living a more manageable and satisfying life. I utilize various methods and approaches towards this end and work with a diverse population of children, adolescents, teenagers, adults, elders, couples, families and groups. I treat a wide variety of issues with ease in a present and nonjudgmental manner.

It is not uncommon to struggle with the relationships in our lives. Balancing the stressors of a personal life while being in a relationship or family system can be difficult. For my couples and families, it is my hope to offer a space where you can process the dynamics at play. I invite you to take a stance of curiosity, self-reflection, and complexity as we examine the significant factors of your lives. I know the frustration of having much love for our important people but struggling to get along or “coexist.”

I am a bilingual (Spanish) licensed psychotherapist who specializes in working with adolescents, young adults, and young children and their parents. I work collaboratively with my clients to help them understand the root of their symptoms and suffering so they can move forward in building the life and relationships they envision for themselves. Incorporating mindfulness and acceptance, I work to help individuals change relationships with painful thoughts and difficult emotions so they can fully engage in what is meaningful to them.

Do you need support finding your life’s purpose? Do you feel overwhelmed? Do you find it difficult to feel pain and face your shadows? While considering the whole person- heart, soul, mind and body, I trust that you enter therapy having the insight you need to navigate your distress. I use the term "depth emergence" to explain my orientation and approach. It stems from depth psychology, which emphasizes gaining access to the unconscious and bringing it into consciousness. While increasing awareness we derive meaning, evolve, and transform.