I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a doctoral degree in counseling psychology. I have been licensed for twenty-three years. My theoretical orientation is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT); however, I also draw on solution-focused and humanistic theories, as well as psychodynamic and holistic approaches in therapy. I work primarily with depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress (PTSD), and trauma.

Sometimes the hardest part is simply knowing where to begin. My goal is to provide an opportunity to slow down, gain clarity, and bring everything that's been weighing on you, without feeling like you have to have all the answers. We'll make sense of what you're experiencing, identify the patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and build on your strengths to create meaningful change. I enjoy working with women navigating anxiety, life transitions, relationship challenges, self-esteem, and maternal mental health, as well as couples looking to strengthen their relationship. I primarily use Narrative Therapy, which means I believe you are much more than the challenges you're facing. Together, we'll explore new perspectives and work toward a life that feels more aligned with your values, your relationships, and the person you want to become. Starting therapy can feel uncertain, but you don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out. My goal isn't to tell you what to do, but to have conversations that help you better understand yourself, what's shaped you, and where you'd like to go. If this resonates with you, I'd love to connect.

I believe therapy should be collaborative and client-directed. I work with my clients to create short and long-term goals based on their desires and needs. I know our history can contribute to our present, so I take time to explore my clients' family history and significant events from the past. Understanding patterns of behavior can be particularly helpful to break cycles of negative behavior. Most importantly, though, I love people and cherish relationships. We each have a need to connect with others, and healthy attachments to others can help us find meaning in our own lives. I aim to honor and strengthen my clients' relationships with children, parents, co-workers, significant others, and the people who cross their paths.

Asking for help is hard. Even searching this directory required the bravery of taking the first steps into an uncertain process that can be scary. Let me make it easier. I'd like to walk alongside you as you navigate that process, to serve as a guide while you discover the route toward your best self, or to work with you to help your struggling child. I offer an integrative approach centered on cognitive behavioral therapy with the goal of helping you to build the skills you need to improve and maintain your own mental health. I want nothing more than for my clients to not need me anymore and to feel confident and assured to exit therapy in control of their own lives. I serve adults, children, couples, and families. I have a special fondness for working with teens. Trauma recovery is an area of emphasis for me, and I have received advanced training in trauma therapies geared toward children and adolescents. Anxiety and OCD are other areas of focus for me. I began my mental health career as a suicide prevention counselor, and I am a certified domestic violence counselor, so I don't shy away from the most uncomfortable topics. Please reach out to me to learn how I can help you or your family.

I believe dynamic, lasting change happens when we look beyond surface-level symptoms and understand the deeper patterns driving our lives and relationships. Whether you are seeking therapy as an individual or with a partner, my approach is grounded in psychodynamic theory and relational depth. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California, I work with you to explore the underlying thoughts, emotional patterns, and past experiences that shape how you see yourself, manage stress, and connect with others. For Individuals: Life transitions, anxiety, or ongoing feelings of disconnect often stem from unconscious patterns developed over time. Rather than relying solely on quick-fix coping tools, we go deeper. I offer a collaborative, thoughtful space to help you develop authentic self-awareness, process unresolved emotional conflict, and cultivate a stronger, more resilient sense of self. For Couples: Relationships are complex, and even the strongest partnerships encounter communication breakdowns, trust erosion, or repeating cycles of conflict. My approach to couples therapy focuses on uncovering the relational dynamics and attachment needs underneath the argument. Rather than assigning blame, we work together to rebuild emotional safety, foster deep understanding, and create a renewed connection built on clarity and mutual respect.

Is your life in balance? I believe that by the time many people come to therapy they have tried a lot of different things to feel better and change what is creating discomfort and pain and yet life is still out of balance. Many years of experience have taught me that the combination of psychological insight and behavioral change are necessary to make a difference in the two most important areas of life: relationships and work. Without change we "understand" but repeat the same self-defeating behaviors over and over with very little sense of well-being. Family and friends can give support but a psychotherapist is trained, neutral and can say things to you which are hard to hear from others and help you explore aspects of your life which are uncomfortable for you. It would be great if it were really true that"I can say anything to my..fill in the blank.."but realistically often we can't and the broken part of life stays broken. I can help you repair the breaks by using what you know about yourself, what you learn and collaborating on solutions. I understand people holistically-how environmental, social, spiritual, physical, gender and cultural influences shape us. My training provides me with a unique "person in situation" orientation which combines understanding of a person's psychological processes with the world around them. You can have a more balanced and satisfying life.

Feeling sad, isolated, and anxious? Relief and solutions are within reach. I'll help you get in control of your situation, uncover the causes of your pain, and teach you effective ways to resolve past, present, and future problems. You'll be heard and listened to in a safe, warm environment, while receiving constructive feedback. You'll learn how to create happier relationships with the significant people in your life by addressing past losses and reevaluating expectations. You'll create and realize a vision for your life by setting and implementing goals via baby steps. I help people overcome anxiety attacks, depression, and losses. I help people develop effective parenting plans for children with or without special needs. I also coach individuals through divorce. I specialize in helping remarried couples with children develop a happy, united, and functional family unit. Get more information from my website; it houses a free monthly newsletter, books for families, answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and more.

Relationships can be a source of love, or can cause pain, longing, and consume your time and attention. You may be unsure about staying, have repeated conflicts, or feel you're not getting the love or respect you want. You may not know the cause of your problem, anxiety, or depression, or wonder where your passion went. Perhaps you don't have the focus or motivation to accomplish your goals or you feel like you're not living the life you were meant to live. For 30 years, individuals and couples have come to me with all sorts of problems, particularly around issues of codependency, intimacy, self-esteem, and abuse. I draw on extensive personal experience and advanced clinical training in using powerful healing techniques. Clients quickly see changes and develop concrete tools to manage emotions, conflict, and boundaries. They have less anxiety and take more risks, see their self-esteem grow, and they work toward fulfilling their goals. Couples improve communication, intimacy, and ability to cooperate. As a relationship and self-esteem expert, I wrote "Codependency for Dummies" and "Conquering Shame and Codependency: 8 Steps to Free Your True Self." My approach is intuitive and personal, unique to each individual or couple. I aim to improve self-awareness, self-esteem, boundaries, communication skills, and provide tools for change. Whatever the problem, you don't have to solve it alone. Therapy takes courage, but it validates you and your desire and ability to change. You will experience relief when you understand what's going on and take steps to enrich your life, relationships, and achieve your goals.

I am a human first and a therapist second. I help clients grow confidence and problem-solve by unpacking their resilience, leaning into curiosity and creativity to explore untapped potential. Using a strengths-based perspective, I approach each client as an individual and a partner in the therapeutic process, and I deeply believe in the capacity for growth and positive change. Using cognitive-behavioral techniques, psychodynamic principles, somatic interventions like polyvagal theory, and your lived experiences, I enjoy helping clients build healthier relationships with their personal and professional lives. Many of us have trauma or family situations that feel too overwhelming to address, wounds bandaged but unhealed. Perhaps you feel deluged by your parental, familial, or professional responsibilities. You may be a busy mother, an exhausted partner, or employed but unfulfilled. Through empathy, authenticity, and humor, I collaborate with clients to navigate difficult circumstances by exploring their past experiences and current motivations. SPECIALTIES Having worked in the entertainment industry for over 10 years, I understand the unique pressures and hierarchies shaping your world, and the costs to your personal life. As a woman in the entertainment industry, I became painfully aware of the toxicity and time constraints people in the business face. For this reason, I work Saturdays because I believe an unpredictable work schedule shouldn't be a barrier to accessing support. To better understand the nuances of attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), I've completed additional training specifically in adult ADHD to help clients learn how their brains function, and how to work with their brain instead of against it. Unmanaged ADHD can lead to depression, burnout, and exhaustion, but there are evidence-based treatments that can greatly reduce or eliminate these risks. As a working mother, I specialize in women's issues because I care deeply about the nuances of the female experience. Navigating the intersecting paths of career, motherhood, gender norms, and societal expectations can be tough. I specialize in managing the stress and anxiety that often come with trying to "do it all."

Trauma shows up in our lives in silent yet indelible ways. Whether it’s via dissociation, anger, self-isolation, or substances, we all have unique ways we learn to unconsciously protect ourselves, so that the past can never repeat; so that we can never be hurt in the same ways ever again. As such, the ghosts from our past continue to haunt us in invisible, unexpected ways. They are unfortunately too insidious to defeat by ourselves. Psychoanalytic therapy can help put these ghosts to rest once and for all. Let’s dream together of new possibilities for your future. I am licensed in CA, NY, NJ, and MA. I love what I do, and I am committed to the health and well-being of everyone I have the privilege of supporting in psychotherapy. I welcome you to reach out for a free consultation.

Hi, I'm Joey Sarcoz, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I provide counseling to adults, couples, and adolescents facing a wide range of personal challenges. In a comfortable office located in the heart of West Hollywood, I offer a personalized treatment plan to guide and support you with attaining the personal growth you are searching for. Drawing from a variety of theories and techniques, I will help you work through current and long-standing barriers that may be limiting you from reaching your true full potential.

It may very well be that our deepest longing and need is for connection. To be heard. To be understood. To be known in our deepest places. To learn to be more connected to the lost neglected parts of ourselves and those we care for. It isn't always an easy road. Perhaps even considering connection sounds intimidating or scary or dangerous. Often it entails letting go of destructive habits. Sometimes we just want to get unstuck. Sometimes, you and I will need to look at old patterns and create new ones. There may be moments of laughing, or crying, or facing hard truths. You may need to take a new path or forge a new future that is unknown. On the other side is the gold, or the jewel, or new life. Through hard work, you can create a more satisfying life, with less pain, less hurt, and less fear. You can live a more authentic life, being fully who you are. More able to love and be loved. More able to move through the world with ease. More forgiving of yourself and others. All along the way, I will be with you.