Charlene Underhill Miller, Psychotherapist in Malibu, 90265

Charlene Underhill Miller Ph.D.

Profession(s):
Psychotherapy, Marriage & Family Therapy, Counseling
License Status:
I'm a licensed professional.
Primary License:
LMFT - MFC 24690

My Approach to Helping

My associates and I provide psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and families.

I treat a wide range of issues such as relational problems, marital issues, self-sabotage, parenting challenges, and trauma. My doctoral work focused on how to help adults and children who have been affected by sexual abuse and trauma.

Theoretically, I enjoy working from what is called a psychodynamic perspective, working with people in a collaborative and insightful process. Problems are understood within a context of past interpersonal experiences which often help individuals gain understanding to their current situations. I am also prepared to help people who come with a basis of faith to effectively integrate their spiritual convictions and concerns with valuable psychological understandings.

More Info About My Practice

I am happy to help you bill your insurance company for reimbursement. A sliding scale is also available through my clinical intern.

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

1)Trauma: I believe that when essential trust and safety are broken or compromised in primary relationships, people have a very difficult time feeling vulnerable and connected in new relationships. The therapeutic relationship strives to create a safe place in which painful trauma can be explored, trust can be experienced, healing of difficult memories can begin, and healthier relationships can be formed. My doctoral dissertation explored the therapist's role in healing sexual trauma in a therapeutic setting. I have worked with, listened to, and learned from countless individuals, couples, and children who have been impacted by sexual trauma. I have applied the same therapeutic thinking to helping people address other traumas such as dog maulings, accidents, conflictual divorces, and domestic violence. 2)Marital Growth: Couples often feel a lack of emotional and sexual intimacy waning when they don't know how to communicate. I help couples enhance their intimacy with new communication strategies, establishing empathy for the other's history and by exploring how their sexual relationship can be enhanced. Outside my private practice, I teach graduate courses in marital and sexual therapy. 3)Parenting Challenges: I love helping parents understand their children in new ways and giving them helpful and simple tools to navigate the developmental milestones. Outside my private practice, I teach classes in the community on parenting issues.

My Role as a Therapist

I provide a safe and neutral enviornment in which an individual, couple or a family can discuss things that are keenly painful, challenging, and personal. I work collaboratively with the client to address crucial issues, themes and maladaptive coping mechanisms that are prevalent and repetitive. When these issues are understood and examined, we look at establishing healthier coping skills.