Paul Felipe Estopier, MA, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

I'm interested in your life story thus far. As your therapy journey begins, it's helpful to consider being open-minded to get the most out of each session. I've found honesty and vulnerability lay the foundation to building a new freedom. Yes, I realize this is challenging, so let's take our time (baby steps) and see where the current of this journey takes us. Therapy does require commitment which will benefit you. With your permission, I find it important to consider our pasts (family & personal relationships). What experiences (negative or positive) have we learned from these relationships; as individuals and couples, are there any resulting effects on our communication skills, thoughts & behaviors, strengths & weaknesses. In therapy sessions, let's explore and discover any underlying issues. Negative life experiences can have long-term emotional effects which many fail to realize. We can address and process various forms of trauma & abuse and their effects on us (e.g., maladaptive behaviors, depression, and anxiety). Many of us walk around with heavy baggage from past abuse and trauma(s). Now that you're here, let's begin to unload all that baggage weight. Working with people of various ages and ethnicities is an honor. There's nothing more rewarding than being able to witness positive results and healthy outcomes for my clients. With my guidance and support, it's important that my clients know they do most of the work. For many, this is the first time for new experiences in a session: validation, new awareness, empathy, compassion, self-introspection, having a voice, self-care, experiencing emotional reactions, addressing pain and looking at life through a new lens. These are all part of the healing process and assist in strengthening resilience. I've worked with adolescents, adults, older adults in individual, couples and group therapy settings.

I am seeing clients via ZOOM andor phone sessions.

Welcome to psychotherapy for you first-timers and those returning. Please don't feel apprehensive, it's quite the opposite. As the process begins, try and view this as a journey. If you would like to discuss any concerns as a new client in therapy, I will be more than happy to address them. *Please note that mental health is just as important as physical health. It's important to build trust and rapport between the client (you) and therapist (me). I would like to know why and how you've come to therapy and what your expectations are (after all, this is your time, at your expense). A therapy session is a safe, caring, respectful, non-judgmental environment. Confidentiality is held to the highest regard and will be discussed and reviewed. I do not delve deep in the beginning of our time together; it's important for you to be aware that when then this does occur, disclosure will arise organically & naturally. Not all clients come to therapy with deep issues, it's not a requirement. I find sometimes in life we can become stuck, depressed, and confused in regard to a wide array of life experiences. There are therapy techniques I will assist you with to make healthier choices and in order to bring forth awareness of the connection between our thoughts and behaviors.

I'm an affable and empathetic person whose priority in session is to be present for you. I'm a Los Angeles native born to teenage parents, raised by a single mother and absent father. I was a latch-key child, eldest of three. I'm the first in my family to attend college and obtain a Masters Degree. I was raised in a culturally mixed family which raised my awareness of diversity and lack thereof within society. I've faced many personal challenges that I'm fortunate to have overcome. Generational trauma, cycles of dysfunction in family history played a major role in my life. What eased the pain is the understanding and story behind it. There are many steps to this process, therefore, patience is a virtue.