Find a Therapist in Pacoima, CA

Have you had to keep up the facade of having everything together while privately struggling with anxiety, self-doubt, or the pressure to keep going? Perhaps you find yourself caught in cycles of overthinking, perfectionism, or putting others’ needs ahead of your own. When these patterns begin to affect your relationships, mood, or daily life, therapy can offer a space to understand them and develop more effective ways to respond. My approach combines warmth and collaboration with the structure of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). I help you explore how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors influence one another, including patterns that may unintentionally reinforce distress. Together, we can work on recognizing unhelpful thinking, developing more balanced perspectives, and making behavioral changes that support your goals. Our work begins with understanding your concerns, personal history, strengths, and priorities. From there, we establish meaningful goals and build practical skills for managing anxiety, regulating emotions, communicating clearly, and setting healthy boundaries. Between sessions, we may use strategies such as thought tracking, coping exercises, or practicing new responses to difficult situations. We will regularly review what is helping and adjust our work to your needs. I believe effective therapy offers both understanding and direction. You can expect a supportive, thoughtful space where your experiences are respected and we work together toward meaningful change.

I work with highly insightful women and members of the LGBTQ+ community who, despite their best efforts, feel stuck. Often admired for their competence and charisma, it may not be apparent they've overcome early trauma, abandonment, or emotional neglect. They struggle privately with overthinking and intense feelings like guilt, shame, jealousy, and anger. Dynamics with romantic partners, family members, colleagues, or friends are painful and confusing, resulting in conflict or anxiety. Coping mechanisms like perfectionism, control, avoidance, and people-pleasing provide a false sense of safety while actually sabotaging intimacy and inner-peace. Intelligent and introspective, my clients know there's more to life than survival—they're committed to self-actualization. I specialize in synthesizing advanced, evidence-based interventions with depth-oriented, trauma-focused, and attachment-informed care. By strategically blending behavioral, cognitive, experiential, and relational modalities, I'm able to effectively target the specific problems my clients face, facilitating both immediate, practical improvements and sustained, profound growth. I practice flexibly and tailor treatment for the individual needs of each of my clients. How I work with you will depend on what works for you. We might start by addressing your most urgent problems, decreasing your symptoms, and learning coping skills, then naturally progress to practicing mindful awareness, regulating your nervous syste, safely experiencing emotions, and finding spiritual fulfillment. Over time, my clients develop a more secure sense of self, a deeper trust in their intuition, and greater self-compassion. They learn to communicate their needs clearly, set and maintain boundaries, and build healthy relationships. They increase their capacity to feel difficult emotions and make room for painful experiences without being consumed by them. In the safety of our relationship, my clients heal the wounds of the past, integrate the protective and vulnerable aspects of themselves, and build a future aligned with who they really are.

Hi! I'm glad you're here. Navigating the ups and downs of pregnancy, postpartum, or challenges like infertility can feel overwhelming and deeply personal. I’m here to walk with you every step of the way, offering support and understanding as you go through this journey. I find great fulfillment in walking alongside people as they navigate the many stages of life. My particular passion lies in supporting women as they experience the trials and triumphs of pregnancy, postpartum, and child-rearing. I also partner with women who are facing the heartache of infertility, miscarriage, and child loss.. When I was pregnant with my daughter a few years ago, I had the typical dream that I would move into motherhood smoothly and adjust to all the changes easily. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way. I was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) throughout my pregnancy and suffered from intense Postpartum Depression and Anxiety. After working through my own healing journey, I realized that no parent should have to walk through these challenges alone. My goal is to provide you with a safe and supportive space where healing and growth can flourish. I am committed to meeting you with empowerment, encouragement, support, and empathy as you share your story. Anna McDonald is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist under the supervision Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Rebecca Johnson, LMFT 99028

My name is Christina, and I am a therapist offering trauma, relationship dynamics, identity exploration, nervous system regulation, and holistic healing. My ideal clients are artists, outsiders, freaks, queer folks, spiritually curious humans, metaphysicians, and people who don’t quite fit into conventional boxes. Many come to me struggling with trauma, anxiety, unhealthy relationship patterns, identity exploration, burnout, grief, emotional overwhelm, or feeling disconnected from themselves. I help clients better understand their inner world, regulate their nervous systems, heal old wounds, build healthier relationships, and reconnect with their authenticity, pleasure, creativity, and emotional freedom through an integrative, personalized approach. My specialties are trauma, relationship dynamics, identity exploration, nervous system regulation, and holistic healing. I offer integrative approaches blending eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), internal family systems (IFS), somatic therapy, mindfulness, spirituality, and relational empathy to help clients heal deeply, reconnect with themselves, and uncover their true selves. My history working with EMDR, somatic embodiment, inner child healing, shadow work, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and parts work has been extensive, profound, and sometimes hilarious. Over the years, I have supported individuals navigating addiction, codependency, complex posttraumatic stress (PTSD), and religious trauma, helping clients process painful experiences, reconnect with themselves, and create healthier patterns. I’m so stoked to meet you. My sessions are always very safe and often filled with humor, curiosity, play, expression, and wonder. I know it can be hard to ask for help, and scrolling through therapist directories can be confusing. But you found my page for some reason. Either I’m a hard yes or a hard no. Either way, I’m glad you found me.

In these stressful times of uncertainly and loss, it can feel overwhelming and hard navigate all of life's responsibilities. It can be especially challenging if you're already in the midst of a life transition. Whether you just had a new baby, recently got married or divorced, are experiencing conflict within your relationship, went through a traumatic event, such as a sexual assault, medical crisis or death, or just want to gain a better understanding of yourself and your place in the world, I can offer support and expertise. Collaboration, awareness, and transformation are key components to my therapy practice. I work hard to build trust, safety and comfort, respecting each client's individuality. My training in attachment theory, somatic interventions and neurobiology will help to aid our work and heal the wounds of relationships and traumas while building healthy coping skills. We will work mindfully, integrating our bodies, breath and physical selves whenever possible, aiming to deepen the mind and body connection. Reaching out to a new therapist can often feel anxiety provoking. That first phone call or email is the hardest part! I aim to make the process as comfortable as possible, while making sure we're a good fit. I offer a free phone consultation to help with the transition.

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.

I understand that life happens to all of us. You can feel overwhelmed by unexpected situations, unfortunate losses and unendurable psychological pains. Seeking help means that you are ready to work and bring your life into a healthier balance. Through our work together, I can help you navigate through troubling patterns that may have formed as a result of responding to these difficult life occurrences. Please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. Good luck with your search! I'm a certified psychoanalyst, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oklahoma and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California. Currently offering Telehealth services for both states. Please note that I can offer a super bill as needed for out of network benefits for your insurance company.

People who have worked with me say, "You're called a shrink, but our work together makes me feel expanded, clearer and empowered. I am now able to think differently about myself, my life and my relationships and, as a result, I can see my part in what's happened in my past and I have the chance to transform how I act and live in the future." I've been so excited and so gratified over my 25 years of practice to see how many people I've been able to help profoundly. People who work with me say they feel heard and understood, often for the first time. Even more importantly, our work together allows you to have access to your own wisdom - the source of real answers - and then to act in accordance with your authentic values. As a result, you can not only find usable solutions to long-standing problems, but also experience greater self-confidence (where you used to experience frequent self-doubt). I see each of us humans as whole and complete but many who enter my office for the first time are feeling very different from that. I hold on to that point of view as I help you to see "behind your back," where useful clues exist, and to show you how the meaning you are attributing to events impacts your experience of living. By expanding the ways you think, you can worry less and become more effective at dissolving your unwanted beliefs (or mis-beliefs), your undesirable habits and your pattern of getting upset repeatedly over the same things. I aim to get you to think and then feel and act unstuck from what you've created. The bottom line: you will function better and feel more productive and happier. This approach will allow you to reclaim elements of your health, vitality and even your youthfulness. Significantly, I've seen these shifts become permanent, time and again, as individuals, couples and families discover they are capable of transforming relationships and long-standing destructive patterns. The latest research validates that this type of therapy results not only in feeling better and functioning better, but in literal changes to the brain. Your life can actually become easier, making decisions can become less burdensome and yes, even your dreams can turn into probabilities.

Danielle Matthew, LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist whose lifelong mission is to treat and support bully victims and their families, aid schools and health and wellness professionals, and educate others about the bullying epidemic. Danielle has worked as a clinician in the field for over 25 years with children and adolescents in various environments including day treatment programs, residential facilities, and outpatient services. She has supervised a therapeutic one-on-one behavioral program, facilitated therapy groups and conducted clinical authorizations for an insurance provider. Danielle has additionally conducted group and individual therapy with adults. In 2014 as Danielle became concerned by an increase in patients suffering from bullying, she conducted research which concluded that while there are many bullying prevention programs, there are few programs in Los Angeles that address the crisis point of bullying to help children and adolescents heal. In response, Danielle developed The Empowerment Space Bullying Therapy Program to ensure that there is crucial support available to empower children and their parents with skills to address bullying and create stronger, more positive support systems for children. Danielle educates schools, medical professionals and the community about the bullying epidemic. She has authored Amazon Parenting Best-Seller, The Empowered Child: How to Help Your Child Cope, Communicate, and Conquer Bullying, and has been featured in Huffington Post, TODAY.com, and has appeared on Fox, ABC and CBS Morning Shows and Mom Talk Radio.

No matter what you’ve been through, no matter what you currently face, there is hope. I know what it’s like to feel stuck. I know how it feels to be overwhelmed with fear, anger, anxiety and sadness. I know the burden of carrying pain and grief from the past. I know, because I’ve been there, too. And I know what it’s like to overcome, heal, and rise up. You deserve a life worth living, full of joy and free from distress. You deserve a space to become your best self. And I want to help you get there. In my practice I will help you identify the limiting beliefs and traumas that keep you from the fulfillment and freedom you could be experiencing. I take a Psychodynamic approach to help you assess and shift your core beliefs and overall perception of self. I also utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Narrative Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Investing in therapy, on its deepest level, is an investment in yourself. I hope to support you in your journey by identifying your strengths and resources so you can live a life far beyond the quality you've expected. The fit between you and your therapist is everything. If you are interested in meeting me and starting your therapy journey, contact me today. I look forward to meeting you.

Hello, my name is Dr. Arthur Chou. I am a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist who specializes in supporting teens who are struggling with attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma, or other mental health concerns. They may feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, or unsure how to handle big emotions or life changes. Their goals are finding balance, building healthy coping skills, and improving connections with family and friends. Most of all, they want to be able to go back to just focusing on being a teen. My philosophy is to take a holistic approach that goes beyond symptoms to understand the whole teenager. I consider psychological, environmental, and biological factors, using the least medication necessary while supporting therapy and other tools. My goal is to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care that promotes growth. I understand how challenging it can be for teens and their families to navigate mental health or substance use issues, but there is a lot of reason to have hope. As part of the Evolve Adolescent Behavioral Health network, I am continually inspired by the resilience and potential of teenagers to grow and heal. Together, we can forge a path toward lasting change.

Finding a therapist can feel overwhelming. Not only are there many different types of psychotherapy based on different theories, but often therapists aren’t great at explaining what it is they do or how talk therapy works. I see individuals as unique and complex. My focus is on creating a strong, supportive relationship where the deeply personal, unsayable things can be spoken, heard, and accepted without judgment. Together, we will explore how daily external pressures and feelings of self-blame, self-criticism, fear, or sadness, as well as loss and past trauma, may be affecting your ability to move forward. Psychiatrist, therapist, and writer Irvin Yalom has spoken of “creating a new therapy for each patient,” meaning that it’s important not to have preconceived notions or make assumptions about what each person needs. Another way of saying this is that rather than fitting the patient to the therapy, the therapist needs to understand and adapt to the patient. We live in a time of information overload, with very little real attention devoted to our inner lives. Despite the ubiquity of the “wellness” industry, it seems that many of us are more stressed than ever. I use a psychodynamic, existential approach that is creative and flexible, and goes beyond jargon. I aim to help guide my clients away from looping thoughts, internal conflicts, negative self-talk, and tangled emotions, and toward greater self-compassion and clarity so they can move forward and express themselves authentically. I also enjoy helping clients work through creative blocks. Previously, I worked on numerous feature film and television productions, and I can offer a unique perspective on navigating the difficult terrain of the entertainment industry. I also work with many couples who are struggling to connect. I look forward to hearing from you!