Anita Castle, Marriage Counselor in Redondo Beach, 90278

Anita Castle, MA, MFTI

Profession(s):
Marriage & Family Therapy, Mental Health Counseling, Counseling
License Status:
I'm an intern under supervision
Primary License:
IMF - 54547

My Approach to Helping

Sometimes people have obstacles in their paths and they just need some help clearing the road. A therapist can be a sounding board to allow you to better understand your own thoughts, as well as an objective participant who can assist you in exploring how your relationships affect every aspect of your life. In addition to working towards your personal wellness goals, we'll also work on improving your relationships by learning and practicing communication skills. Like anything else worth doing, the more effort you put in, the better results you'll get.

My therapeutic orientation is Solution-Focused, which means we'll be looking at what's going on in your life right now and focusing on what you want to achieve. I see counseling as a joint effort between therapist and client, and I look forward to working with you to discover the happiness you deserve.

More Info About My Practice

As an intern I am able to provide a flexible fee scale to ensure mental health services are available to all who seek them.

Mis servicios son disponibles en espanol.

My View on the Purpose of Psychotherapy

Personal growth, wellness, acceptance, understanding, and the ability to communicate your needs to actually gets them met in a healthy way.

My Therapy Focus

My therapeutic orientation is Solution-Focused, which means I tend to work with clients on current roadblocks they're experiencing, with the exploration of the client's history and unconscious processes as a secondary focus.

On the Fence About Going to Therapy?

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. What do you have to lose by trying something different? What do you have to gain? Going to an intake session with a therapist does not mean you have to make a commitment; it's just to give you a taste of what it will be like. And you can always try someone different if it's not a good fit.

Had a Negative Therapy Experience?

I tell all my new clients that it's okay to try on several different therapists before you find one that "fits." I like to explore what went wrong in her previous experience and let her know that it is a sign of strength to leave a known (albeit uncomfortable) situation for an entirely unknown one.

What I Say to People Concerned about the Therapy Process

Therapists often use the metaphor of a "container." I tell a client that I am the container for her difficult and distressing feelings. She leaves those with me when she leaves my office and I keep the feelings safe and contained until she returns. This allows her to function - live her life, go to work, take care of her family, etc. - between sessions, knowing that her pain is contained somewhere safe, outside of herself. Once she feels certain she can handle experiencing those negative feelings between sessions without becoming overwhelmed, she learns how to be her own container. This is one of the main goals of therapy.

Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed

Going to therapy is one of the kindest things a person can do for herself. It does not mean you're weak because, actually, therapy is not easy. And guess what? Everyone has flaws; people who actually try to work on them are the bravest of all. I honestly believe everyone could benefit from therapy, it's just about having the courage to try it.

The Duration and Frequency of Therapy

Generally a client knows when s/he has attained the level of wellness and contentment at which they feel good. Sometimes I will point out when a client has made a considerable amount of progress and suggest that it may be time to start tapering off sessions, meaning meeting twice a month rather than every week. After that we taper down to once per month just for a check-in and maintenance. This may go on for quite some time, until the client feels ready to complete treatment.