Family Therapy in 90212

CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC #50718), Pepperdine Malibu MFT human sexuality professor, Western Region past president and past board of directors member for the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) with a Doctor of Human Sexuality degree (D.H.S.) from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality (IASHS). My philosophy is centered on empathetic, sex-positive support with a special emphasis on pleasure enhancement. People deserve erotic fulfillment within their relationships & a place to explore ways to live a more authentic & enjoyable sexual lifestyle free of guilt, shame, & self-judgment.

Many of us use ways we coped in the past and we find ourselves blocked in the present. Maybe old strategies which once worked for you no longer function well in the present. And you'd like to explore possible changes. Perhaps I can help. In my work, I seek, with you, to identify and connect past feelings and previous ways to adapt with your present. As you begin to know more about yourself and your feelings, increased understanding can lead to change.

I am passionate about helping individuals gain greater insight, self-awareness, and ultimately find their way toward healthy living. This can be done by exploring and understanding behavioral and relational patterns, as well as past experiences, while highlighting areas where changes can be made, resulting in more life-satisfaction. My experience is working with children, adolescents, adults who battle an array of mental health issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, challenging life transitions, relational issues, body image issues, maladaptive thought processes, and low self-esteem.

Since 1997, I have been treating clients with eating disorders, depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions & all associated issues. I am licensed in Florida, Texas, California & Hawaii. As well as a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. I have maintained private practices in FL, TX & CA. In addition, I worked at the Renfrew Center in Coconut Creek, FL & Los Angeles, CA and Cedar Springs Austin. It is my belief that an important piece of treatment & recovery is utilizing a multi-disciplinary treatment team to address the individual needs of each client.

You know something isn’t quite right in your life, but you don’t know what to do about it. Asking for help can be difficult, even scary sometimes. It takes courage to take the first step to make your life better. Therapy could be that step. Emotions are involuntary. We can’t help what we feel. We can work on understanding them and choosing how to behave based on that understanding. Psychotherapy helps you understand yourself and your emotions better—which gives you more control over yourself.

Given that I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst, one might deduce that I am very intelligent and really good at what I do. Of course, there are other possibilities like I'm a glutton for punishment or just another ordinary obsessive over-achiever. The point is that credentials and education are but one important factor that go into making a good psychotherapist. I strive to NOT make assumtions, but to listen, understand, respect, be sensitive yet objective and flexible, tailoring the treatment to the needs of my patient instead of the other way around.

I work mostly with relationship and sexual problems; mood disorders; and work problems. People's needs in psychotherapy differ. Some people need a safe place to explore their inner life. Others need direct advice. Most people need both and I try to provide both. People do well when they understand their current problems in relation to both their personality and the arc of their life - past, present, and where they can head. It also helps to understand the roles we take in our lives, wanted or unwanted, consciously and unconsciously, in response to social dynamics of race, gender and sexual preferences.

I have over 10 years of experience treating individuals in therapy as a collaborative process. My approach is to treat current issues with an in-depth understanding of the self. Identifying patterns and making the unconscious, conscious are the keys to improving relationships, increasing self-esteem and meeting life goals.

I have an holistic approach to mental health. As a trauma and resiliency trained LMFT, I incorporate a variety of interventions which address the mind, body, and emotions, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), TRM (Trauma Resiliency Model), somatic awareness, mindfulness, and meditation. In addition to helping people experience relief from trauma, I work with individuals, couples, and families who are struggling with anxiety or depression, looking to improve their relationships, process grief and loss, and cope more effectively with the challenges of caring for aging parents while raising children.

I believe that through real connection and authenticity, we can get to know ourselves in a deeper way in order to make lasting and impactful change. I have experience working with individuals, couples, and families from a variety of backgrounds, and extensive experience working with diverse populations. I have a particular interest in working with individuals struggling with relationships and intimacy, individuals navigating difficult family/parenting dynamics, individuals who feel they would like a richer and more meaningful connection to others, and those struggling to find acceptance of and confidence in their own humanity.

I specialize in helping individuals work through painful limitations to become more resilient, open-hearted, and self-understanding. My approach is empathetic and collaborative as a way to reach each person’s inherent strengths and develop greater emotional skills to navigate life’s challenges. Together, a therapeutic plan is designed that honors each individual’s emotional needs. My approach is creative, direct, and maintains caring engagement of each person's mind, body, and heart. In our work together, you'll learn how to effectively cope, establish boundaries, deepen relationships, and step into your truest self.

I believe successful therapy needs to begin with a trusting, compatible relationship between you and me. If we can establish this foundation for treatment then we can move forward to identify your strengths as a unique individual, and work to uncover and resolve the elements in your life that are preventing personal growth and a gratifying lifestyle. I provide an initial free phone consultation, and offer phone sessions. I work on a sliding scale, and am a provider for Medicare, Blue Shield, Magellan, and Humana. I am NOT a provider for Medi-Cal. I can also bill your insurance company excluding your co-pay.

An ideal client for my treatment mode would be someone who is either motivated for refinement of spirit, or would possess enough intelligence and wisdom to be able to gain enough insight into the nature of their condition so that they would embrace expert intervention with a degree of trust in harmony with adequate judgment into the need for treatment. He or she may engage in therapy alone, but where family history of emotional challenges exist, they would consider family therapy if all parties consent.

Do you struggle with your child’s BIG emotions that impact your ability to go anywhere? Do you feel exhausted by having to say ‘no’ to your little one on repeat? Do you wish that your relationship with your young child could be better? You’re not alone. Now more than ever, parents are feeling overwhelmed about how to make it through the early childhood years. We believe that there’s a way to build a better parent-child relationship. We’re here to offer evidence-based therapy services to help parents and their children thrive.

Dr. Francesca Libutti is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with specialized training in neuropsychology, behavioral medicine, and rehabilitation psychology. She has obtained experience working with diverse populations and presenting concerns, yet takes special interest in sport performance, grief/loss, and behavioral sleep medicine. Dr. Libutti typically utilizes humanistic, ACT, and CBT therapies.

Dr Levine is among the only 5% of all clinical psychologists who are Board Certified (ABPP). Following a Ph.D. degree at Hofstra University in NY, he completed a 2-year clinical fellowship in cognitive-behavioral therapy at Temple University Medical School in Philadelphia. Dr. Levine was appointed Chief Psychologist at Mt. Sinai South-Nassau Medical Center in NY & after moving to LA in 2012 he became a clinical psychologist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Levine worked as a psychologist on the hit TV series "Hoarders" & served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Behavior Therapy & Experimental Psychiatry.

COVID-19 has affected everyone mentally and emotionally, making it hard for many during this different and difficult time. I am currently taking in new clients via Telehealth. My specialties include: struggles with anxiety, depression, relational/marital issues, self-esteem, grief/loss and somatic experiencing. Therapy is an effective way to explore thoughts and feelings you may not be able to share and express with others.

I specialize on working with people who work under pressure and need to feel at their best. My goal is to help you improve the quality of your life, dramatically. I'll help you identify positive changes to reduce your anxiety, ease your stress, and gain more control in your life. You will achieve a higher quality of life in a non-judgmental space, you'll discover untapped strengths, and you will enhance your current capacity to cope with the difficulties of life.

Pacific MFT Network is a group of highly skilled, diverse, and well-trained therapists. Our mission is to empower you to live the life you want. We do so by creating supportive, caring, and non-judgmental relationships with our clients. We work to provide you with the best care possible and reduce obstacles to participation. Additional benefits to working with us include a unique concierge billing service and a wide range of scheduling options (all weekdays, weekends, day and evening appointments are available). We work with children, teens, and adults of all ages.