Find a Therapist in Playa Del Rey, CA

I am trained in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). I help people who have experienced trauma heal from what happened and grow from it, too. I love working with teens, adults, parents, and couples. Our therapeutic relationship is the most important thing to me, and I work hard to create a space where clients can learn to trust. I am a Licensed Marriage and (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)) in California. I have also worked with individuals who need support as they move through life changes and transitions.

Hi, my name is Allison. I've been a therapist for thirty years, working with individuals and teens who have experienced trauma. I specialize in attachment, complex developmental trauma, and relationship challenges. I work with individuals who have been exposed to early or chronic trauma, violence, neglect, abandonment, and attachment disruptions. These experiences can create challenging or disabling behavioral patterns affecting the body, heart, and mind. Complex trauma related to grief, loss, neglect, abuse, and abandonment can make individuals or parents feel overwhelmed, easily triggered, and chronically anxious or depressed. Learning effective strategies to create a healing path for your life and journey is always possible. We cannot shame ourselves into change! Seeking help is one of the bravest things we can do for ourselves. Breaking the pattern of intergenerational trauma allows us to become who we were truly meant to be ... our most authentic self.

Stuck? There are lots of reasons people get stuck. You're busy! Maybe you've tried to figure things out on your own and keep hitting a wall. Maybe there are family or generational patterns you're working against. Perhaps you and your partner love each other but keep having the same fights over and over again. Maybe there are some intimacy issues that you can't quite fix. I know that unresolved personal or relationship issues create heartache for everyone involved, and being stuck in them is frustrating and overwhelming. It doesn't have to stay that way, though. Therapy helps! Fortunately, therapy can help tremendously in bringing peace, connection, and satisfaction back to your life. My approach to therapy is pragmatic and provides a) support and understanding, b) honest feedback about patterns in your life and relationships that aren't serving you, and c) concrete tools and strategies for change. Take the next step: Many people live way too long in painful situations even though help is available, but you don't have to do that. Click 'Book Now' to schedule a free phone consultation to discuss working together.

My approach to helping is authentic, direct, and deeply compassionate. I work from an evidence-based and relational framework, integrating cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, mentalization-based treatment, and interpersonal therapy. I tailor treatment to each client’s developmental stage, strengths, and goals, helping adolescents and adults build insight, strengthen emotional regulation, and develop resilience. At the core of my work is the belief that meaningful, lasting change happens within a safe, trusting, and collaborative therapeutic relationship where clients feel genuinely understood and supported.

VIDEO & PHONE $65+ SLIDING FEE. "I offer you over 30 years of experience in giving warm caring nonjudgmental guidance, offering direct insights into how you could improve the quality of your life. My goal is your happiness. My help is client centered. I want to empower you to be your own therapist and make great decisions. I'll show you new ways to discover your inner strength for getting the life you want. Please contact me now." Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Life Coach Phone Counselor Hypnotherapist Professional Speaker UCLA trained Sex Therapist Author of "Loving With Passion" Donald Etkes is a licensed marriage and family therapist, a phone counselor, professional speaker, hypnotherapist, life coach, and UCLA-trained sex therapist. The author of Loving With Passion: Your Guide to the Joy of Sexual Intimacy, Dr. Etkes holds a PhD in psychology. He has been in private practice in the Los Angeles, California, area for over 30 years. Originally trained as a sex therapist at UCLA, he is credentialed as a psychology instructor for community colleges. Donald has helped industry leaders, celebrities, and everyday people live more fulfilling and balanced lives. Dr. Etkes is a professional speaker whose speech topics include enhancing your life, the four keys to happiness, becoming a better lover, building successful relationships, increasing your success, and discovering sexual fulfillment. He trains other healing professionals to manage various success, relationship, sexuality, and addiction challenges. Dr. Etkes had a weekly TV show on The Learning Channel (TLC) in 2003. The program, entitled "Love U" ( Love University ) put engaged couples through various challenges to test their relationships. Couples received grades on the likelihood of a successful marriage at the end of each episode. Dr. Etkes is a lifetime member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. He is also a certified Sex Therapist trained at UCLA. Known as Dr. Don, he is an internationally recognized expert who has entertained, inspired, and excited radio and television audiences across the globe. His expertise has been published in outlets as diverse as The Washington Post and Cosmopolitan.

Feeling overwhelmed? Are you having difficulty with constant worry? Difficulty making decisions? Unable to cope with the pressures and stress of daily life? Are you relationships suffering because of your inability to cope with whatever is going on in your life? Do you feel that you are not living the life you envisioned for yourself and can't seem to figure out how to get there? Is something keeping you stuck? If you have answered yes to any of these I am here to help and support you. Life can be difficult but you do not need to feel alone in whatever situation you are in. I provide a safe space and work to start to change your relationship with yourself and examine thinking and behaviors that might be working against your goals. I utilize different modalities in session based on what your specific needs are. I also utilize mindfulness in my practice as a way of quieting the mind and getting to your authentic truth. I believe in helping people find their true voice, express difficult feelings in order to pass through discomfort and pain, and live an authentic life. I honor the process and will help you reduce any shame while promoting self-confidence and restore balance and calm.

Hello! I am here to help you overcome life's challenges and live a happier and more fulfilling life. My style is to work with you collaboratively to identify your goals and empower you to achieve them. I have helped clients decrease and overcome anxiety, depression, substance use, coming out, sexual identity and gender transitioning as well as improving relationships with romantic partners, family members and co-workers. Together, we can look at your life story and rewrite your narrative to increase your self-confidence, happiness, love and joy!

Therapy is an investment of time and energy towards self-awareness and transformation, creating balance and harmony, while instilling hope, and self-acceptance. In my work with individuals, the most common areas of focus involve relationship or self-esteem issues, depression, anxiety, abuse, or those with self-defeating behavioral patterns. Separation, divorce and child custody can be a painful process for parents as well as children. I offer a safe, supportive and nurturing environment to cope with these challenges together while seeking the appropriate tools unique to your situation to facilitate conflict resolution and positive co-parenting. I specialize in helping individuals andor family members who have developmental disabilities and feel powerless to overcome behavioral and social issues. I have 20 years of experience working with children and adults with high function autism in a facility setting. I understand the challenges and I can help. I utilize an eclectic therapeutic approach, drawing from a myriad of psychological therapies and modalities to create a unique client-centered design. As humans, we share many experiences, life events, traumas, challenges, and victories, yet we are all very exceptional individuals in need of understanding, empathy, respect, and acceptance.

I’m Desiree Gonzalez, and I believe deeply in your capacity to heal, grow, and move through life’s challenges with strength. My passion for therapy comes from witnessing the resilience people carry—even when they don’t always feel it themselves. I’m here to help you tap into that strength and create meaningful, lasting change. I earned my Master’s degree in clinical psychology from Vanguard University of Southern California, specializing in marriage and family therapy. Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals and couples through a wide range of experiences. These years have shaped me into a therapist who is not only clinically trained, but genuinely devoted to your well-being. In therapy, I prioritize warmth, empathy, and true understanding. I value meeting clients exactly where they are, creating a space where you can feel safe, supported, and seen. My goal is to help you navigate what feels overwhelming, discover new ways of coping, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that feel steady and strong. My work is grounded in evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), giving you practical tools to shift unhelpful patterns and care for yourself more fully. With couples, I use the Gottman Method to strengthen communication, rebuild connection, and honor each partner’s needs with compassion and clarity. I’m committed—not just to your growth, but to my own. Continually learning and evolving allows me to show up fully for you and offer therapy that feels meaningful, effective, and human. My ideal client is someone who is ready for change, open to reflection, and willing to try new ways of thinking and relating. If you’re ready to take that next step toward healing or reconnection, I’m here to walk with you and support you every step of the way.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, relationship stress, or the sense that you should be doing better than you are? You may be successful in some areas of your life yet still feel stuck, disconnected, frustrated, or unsure of what needs to change. Perhaps your relationship has become distant, your confidence has taken a hit, or anger, fear, shame, or self-doubt are getting in the way of the life and relationships you want. I work with individuals and couples, with a particular focus on helping men navigate the challenges that are often difficult to talk about openly. Men may struggle with relationship and intimacy issues, anger, anxiety, depression, confidence, career pressure, fatherhood, life transitions, or the expectation to always appear strong and have everything figured out. Therapy can provide a place to better understand these patterns without judgment and develop healthier ways of responding to yourself and the people who matter most. My approach is supportive, practical, and focused on helping you create meaningful change. Together, we work to understand what may be keeping you stuck, strengthen communication and emotional awareness, and close the gap between where you are and where you want to be. The goal is not simply to feel better in the moment, but to build greater confidence, connection, resilience, and a stronger sense of direction. I provide psychotherapy for individuals and couples in West Los Angeles, specializing in men’s issues, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, couples counseling, communication, trauma and PTSD, life transitions, career concerns, self-esteem, and anger management. I also facilitate a men’s process group focused on connection, accountability, relationships, personal growth, and navigating the unique pressures men face today. Reaching out for therapy can be a significant first step. I invite you to explore my profile and website to learn more about my approach. If you’re considering therapy or simply have questions about whether we might be a good fit, I welcome you to reach out.

The thought of entering counseling can be intimidating, especially if this is your first time setting foot in a therapist's office. That's why my passion for over 24 years has been to provide an environment where you can feel at ease in the process, be yourself, and work through your challenges in a safe and supportive place. My clients get my undivided attention as they share about their current challenges, disappointments, heartbreaks, and places where they feel stuck. Together, we uncover the obstacles and plan their next steps toward breakthrough. Along the journey, I offer practical, proactive ways to improve their current situation and find their joy in life again!

I believe therapy works best when you feel genuinely seen, heard, and accepted for who you are. As a therapist, I take a warm, collaborative, and strengths-based approach, working alongside you to better understand your experiences, build self-awareness, and create meaningful change. I draw from approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and relational therapy, while tailoring our work to your individual needs and goals. I aim to create a space where you can be honest, curious, and even a little messy as we work through whatever brings you to therapy. Whether you’re navigating a life transition, struggling with anxiety or self-esteem, processing grief or difficult experiences, or simply feeling stuck, I’m here to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself and move toward a life that feels more authentic and fulfilling.