Family Therapy in 91107

People seek therapy with me for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it is about something specific like a relationship problem, eating disorder, parenting issue, or many other human dilemmas. At other times it is because of general feelings of depression, anxiety, difficulty concentrating or dissatisfaction at work or in their relationships. We can talk on the phone to determine what you need and then I will work closely with you to determine the best course of therapy.

I’ve worked with many backgrounds, but have particular strengths in working with men on relating to themselves, and working with women on relating to men; all while creating work/life/relationship balance in the bustle of Los Angeles.

With over 30 years of pastoral and professional counseling background, I offer an experienced and empathic approach to couples and individuals who are dealing with relational or personal challenges. Common issues that I work with include anxiety, unprocessed family of origin experiences, sexual trauma, addictions, infidelity, spiritual direction, and reconciliation. My intention as a therapist is to listen, to love and to learn my client's life story, with the hope of engaging individuals and couples into the reality of fulfilling futures, transformative change, and authentic, healthy relationships.

My name is Pamela Coleman, and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 24 years of experience in the mental health field. My approach to therapy is client-entered, and my focus areas are adults of all ages, adolescents, couples, and families. My overall approach is eclectic, but I hold an attachment theory-based perspective. I am trauma-informed and trauma-responsive. My focus has been on clients that have experienced differing levels of trauma and, as a result, are having difficulty functioning in some area(s) of their life. This may be demonstrated as anxiety, avoidance, depression, or many other ways.

Often, when we are hurting, we don't know why. We think it might be work, or problems at home. It might be money, or worries about health. These vague, nameless feelings are sometimes softened just by feeling understood. Feeling better in the world, sometimes, is achieved by feeling deeper connections to others, feeling responded to rather than ignored, and just simply feeling that who you are is important to another human being. I believe that being seen, recognized, and having explanations that make sense, can improve your life, both on a deeper level, and on a day to day basis.

Do you find patterns repeating in your life? Different faces but same feelings, same dynamics emerging? Maybe you leave a work situation where you aren't feeling heard, only to see the same thing happening in your friendships? Ready to transform the beliefs keeping you stuck in repeating cycles, rather than just changing the face or the circumstance? Break the chains in the chain reactions you've been experiencing and liberate your life. Return to the dignity of choice in your life by changing the beliefs that inform the way you make choices.

Often when faced with pain we seek out quick fixes to give us relief only to have the pain return. I want to help you find lasting relief by understanding where your pain is originating. I help people make sense of unexplainable anxiety, depression, and unwanted behaviors to create the life and relationships they want. I am passionate about helping people become more emotionally, relationally, and spiritually whole through the nurturing environment that is therapy.

Are you feeling anxious or stressed and find it hard to get out of your head? Do you feel consumed with worry? Perhaps you feel stuck in a sad place from a past loss or a present difficulty or feel little hope for the future. These feelings can cause us to isolate and feel misunderstood by others. Many times, people feel beaten down by the world and end up turning their experiences inward, feeding a harsh self-critic who makes us doubt or judge ourselves, taking us away from the power of our inner resources. When we feel disconnected to ourselves, it is harder to build trust to connect to others and the larger world.

By moving toward patience, kindness, and grace for one’s self, we can challenge the places in our lives that have promoted trauma, dis-ease, and a host of mental, physical, & spiritual compromise. By sitting inside of life’s questions, with a practice of curiosity and self-compassion, we can gain clarity for how to move toward balance & harmony. My practice seeks to support adults with childhood trauma, parents & the child-parent relationship, as well as pregnant and new mothers & new parents. With empathy, humor, & compassionate challenging, I work to support you toward your definition of progress.

Are you feeling stuck? Maybe you feel stuck in the past or present. Maybe it's hard to feel hopeful about the future. It's easy to become trapped in painful memories and negative experiences. A negative experience could be one life changing event or many smaller events that accumulate over time. I specialize in treating people who have experienced trauma. Trauma takes many forms but always takes a toll. Trauma can make you feel overwhelmed, insecure, and hopeless. Trauma can make you forget who you used to be.

I'm Jay Orlin, a licensed Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 45 years of experience. I work with adults and couples struggling with relationship issues, grief, anxiety, and stress. I understand the complexities of the corporate workplace very well. I am completely comfortable working with almost any lifestyle or sexual orientation. I rely a lot on my intuition and our connection to co-discover with you what will best contribute to your healing. I bring 100% of myself to the sessions and will go the extra mile to help if I can.

I offer a judgment free environment to explore your concerns, troubles, dreams, and questions. We will be on this journey together: I particularly like working with anxiety, stress, and career challenges. I also enjoy processing through spiritual questions and angst. Together, we will identify, clarify, and process emotions and ideas that are causing you discomfort. Just as importantly, we'll set goals together so you can effectively understand the progress you've made.

Our passion is supporting parents to teach them how to dissolve tantrums, manage their impulses and help their children follow instructions quickly and happily? We teach the principles of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and PC-CARE, two protocols researched at UC Davis Children's Hospital that are both nurturing and effective. Parent learn a set of play therapy skills and behavior therapy skills that can bring warmth and peace back to the home. Foster, adoptive and LGBTQ+ families are welcomed and celebrated.

However you may have arrived here, I hope you consider this your invitation to enter a process of healing, renewed hope, and self-becoming. In therapy, we bring a sense of liberation to your emotions, experiences, and identity, and grow toward a sense of confidence to make the changes you desire. It’s my passion to see and understand my client’s experiences and to tend to your goals through an affirming, collaborative, and caring process.

As a Clinical Psychologist, I believe that a collaborative therapeutic relationship that incorporates all aspects of the client's life is key. I view therapy as a journey of self-discovery, and personal growth. I view my role as a facilitator of change, and it is my goal to assist client's in becoming their own facilitators of their personal change. I believe my strengths include an ability to build a strong rapport that helps client to feel empowered to meet their desired goals.

You are not alone. At any given time, you may find it difficult to make sense of where you are in life or in your relationships. You may feel weighed down in a cycle that’s taking over your daily activities and interactions. The fact is, your struggle is real and relatable. So, the question is, where would you be if you weren’t experiencing this issue?

Good News! It's never to late to restore your relationship with your child, partner, and/or family member. What matters most in raising children? Relationship matters most. If you are feeling overwhelmed, worried and stressed due to your difficulties in parenting your child then working on attachment with your child is the answer. Working on attachment is also the answer in working through your relationship problems with your partner.

Our team at Teen Translation, Inc., is expert on adolescent development, using treatment modalities that align with the teen’s developmental tasks. We love to “get preventative” by 1) joining with the adolescent to create a healthy identity and narrative, 2) connecting the teen to the family, drawing upon their greatest resource - you!, and 3) empowering the family to put the bumpers around adolescent exploration, while creating space for the teen to fall down, get back up, and discover their own capability and resiliency. There are a few factors, which I call the “fab five,” that contribute to adolescent behavior:

I've been in practice over thirty years, dividing my time between my private office ( where i've mostly seen adults) and CHLA Mental Health Clinic where I specialized in adolescents and where I served as one of the training directors for many years. For the last five years, I've devoted my time exclusively to my private practice where I use a range of treatment models ( individual/conjoint/family) and enjoy working with a diverse clientele in terms of presenting problems, age, gender and sexual orientation.