As a Narrative Therapist and Couples Counselor, I draw on my background in the arts to help clients achieve creative and empowering change. I have decades of experience helping couples, individuals, and families live new fulfilling life stories.

Whether your concern is job stress, a relationship in crisis, or a mental health issue, you deserve quality care from a seasoned professional. My experience ranges from psychiatric hospitals and outpatient treatment centers, to independent practice. I am trained in a variety of scientifically validated treatment approaches, and I always treat you with compassion and respect. Listening carefully to your description of your situation, we'll collaborate on a plan for change and recovery. I take a pragmatic approach, teaching you along the way, so that you fully understand what we are doing. Sometimes I'll recommend some reading, to speed up the process of change and healing. Or I may give you homework assignments so that the time between sessions is productive. You will find that I am active in the process, not merely nodding my head. If you are suffering debilitating symptoms, I may suggest we get some medication from your doctor to make the process easier. But I recommend medications only as a last resort, and more often suggest a range of non-pharmaceutical interventions that have been shown in research to be effective. Nutrition, exercise, sleep schedules, mindful awareness, as well as a variety of supplements all can offer benefits. If we are working in a couples counseling frame, I'll help you get reconnected without worry as to "who is to blame". Whether the conflict is over money, in-laws, sexual intimacy, or the kids, know that these issues are all opportunities for growth and happiness. Disruptions in our primary relationship are perfectly normal, and not to be a source of guilt. If your concern is substance abuse or addictive behavior, know that there is no reason for shame here. It's all a matter of getting educated on the nature of the problem, and learning about how to make the change. We'll build a treatment plan that allows you to find your best self, and come back to being that wonderful person you were meant to be. Feel free to come in for a single session just to see what you think. Let's get to work!

You have the power to change your life. We all have moments when we struggle with periods of difficult transitions, relationship conflict and loss. At times we become overwhelmed with feelings of sadness, worry and confusion, not knowing where to turn for answers. We get disconnected from our authentic self and lose touch with our life's meaning and purpose. I believe we all have an inner wisdom that we sometimes lose track of. Together we can work to identify obstacles and formulate strategies to help you unlock your full potential, pursue your goals, and make the changes you are seeking. I will help you sort through your thoughts and feelings so you can rediscover your power and reclaim your life. My practice is dedicated to listening carefully to my clients' concerns and offering insight with compassion and understanding. I provide a warm, empathetic and non-judgmental space I am not the kind of therapist that sits passively and nods. I listen intently to what you have to say and help you make sense of what life has thrown at you. I am active, honest and real. My clients can count on me for an authentic relationship. My goal is to provide you with the experience of working through your challenges with the support, understanding, and perspective of another person who has your best interest at heart as you find your own answers.

IF YOU WANT THINGS TO BE DIFFERENT, YOU HAVE TO DO THEM DIFFERENTLY! Life has a flow. When the flow is blocked, we suffer. Suffering takes form in many ways and affects every aspect of our lives. Trauma, adverse life events and sudden tragic circumstances all contribute to suffering. The manifestations appear as drug and alcohol dependence, depression, and anxiety. The consequences can be physical in nature, such as chronic pain and stress, mental in nature, such as isolation and fear, and spiritual in nature, when all hope seems lost. My approach is to help you unblock the natural flow of your life. Regain balance and empowerment in the areas of romance, finance, sex and spirituality. Combining EMDR and Mindfulness therapies, I can help you find your FLOW: Fulfillment, Liberation, Ownership and Well-Being. You can choose a better way to live. You can live the life you choose. Now is as good a time as any!

If you're feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, trauma, relationship stress, or major life transitions, therapy can provide a space to slow down, gain clarity, and begin making meaningful changes. Therapy is collaborative and culturally responsive, grounded in creating a safe and affirming space where you can explore your experiences without judgment. Informed by principles of liberation psychology and social justice, we explore not only individual experiences, but also how culture, identity, and systemic factors influence mental health. Therapy can be a place to process trauma, challenge internalized messages, and reconnect with your genuine self.

I’m passionate about helping clients navigate difficult experiences and find a deeper sense of self. I work with people moving through relationship issues, life transitions, grief, relational trauma, creative blocks, spirituality, and spiritual exploration. I specialize in working with the LGBTQ+ community. I support queer, lesbian, bi, and trans-identifying adults and adolescents in individual, couples and group settings, focusing on issues ranging from identity, gender exploration, sexuality and relationships to resilience. I’m passionate about continuing the process of decolonizing mental health therapy and my work is affirmative and grounded in a queer, social justice lens. My published research explores creativity as a tool to foster posttraumatic growth. With my background in the arts, I’m attuned to the unique challenges faced by creative individuals and partnerships. Clients come to me for support with creative blocks, navigating industry challenges, financial insecurity and refining their creative voice. I engage with clients through empathy, humor, and creativity to foster a supportive, collaborative environment. In our work together, my approach with each individual and relationship is unique and I draw from multiple therapeutic methods to offer support that is holistic and deeply personalized.

Are you overwhelmed? Does it feel like something is holding you back from achieving your goals? Are you struggling with persistent negative thoughts or self-doubt? Together we can work to help equip you with the necessary tools for you to face and overcome your challenges. Whether you're struggling with trauma and PTSD, intimacy issues, overcoming addiction, or grief, it is important that you know you don't have to be alone in this journey. I have the experience to help you achieve your goals, overcome these struggles, and live a more fulfilling and meaningful life. Through my somatic therapy training, I can teach you the capacity to heal from complex traumas, family historical behavioral patterns, sexual trauma or PTSD. By learning how your physical symptoms relate to your emotional experiences, from the fight or flight (neuro-sympathetic) nervous system, a person can heal not only emotionally but physically. Know you have taken an important first step. With warmth and empathy, I can help you overcome your struggles. I will provide a safe and nurturing space for you that allows you to express yourself free of judgement and find your true voice. Together, we can discover the inner peace and joy, we all seek.

Welcome to my profile. My name is Dana Fogel-Stark and I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist specializing in the treatment of Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder and CoupleRelational Issues. I have been licensed as a psychotherapist for over 20 years and in full time private practice in the heart of Calabasas. My therapeutic approach is eclectic focused on both helping clients gain insight and awareness as to the origin and cause of their struggles as well as helping clients gain the tools and coping mechanisms needed to overcome their challenges. I believe that therapy is most effective when the therapeutic approach is tailored to the specific presenting issues that the client is facing. I create a personalized treatment approach with every new client based on their specific needs. I use Evidenced Based Therapy to treat obsessive worries and ruminations, physical manifestation of anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety, and struggles with perfectionismperformance anxiety. My passion for using CBT is that I get to witness significant improvement with clients in a short period of time. In addition to CBT I also use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Response Prevention as well as teaching emotional intelligence in my work with clients. I look forward to working with you. Feel free to visit my website at Growwiththerapy.com

Why do we pick partners who can't meet important needs, even when we deeply love them at first? Why don't our partners understand us? Why don't they love us more or better? We imagine that if we meet the perfect partner, we'll love them forever. They'll perfectly understand us, always knowing how to help and support us. Why can't we find that person? Why is the partner we have so annoying? People struggle with these questions whether they are single, partnered, married, or divorced and considering trying it all again. To answer these questions, it's important to look at our own growth process, as well as our partner's growth process. Self-awareness is key to change. I'm a certified Jungian analyst. I work work with couples and individuals to navigate issues centering around forming and maintaining intimate relationships.

You've probably already done some work on yourself. Maybe years of it. You can see your patterns clearly, you know where they came from, and you can even predict them before they happen. But somehow that hasn't been enough. The old response still shows up anyway. That's usually where people find me. Not at the start of figuring things out, but stuck a little further down the road, frustrated that understanding something hasn't actually changed it. I work with individuals and couples around anxiety, trauma, identity, and the relationship patterns that keep repeating without anyone choosing them. I draw on somatic therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), narrative work, and attachment theory, mostly because I've found that real change usually needs more than talking things through. It needs the body to catch up, and it often means looking honestly at the stories you were handed about who you're supposed to be. None of this requires having the right words ready when you walk in. We'll find them as we go.