Brandy Engler, PsyD

Dr. Brandy Engler (PSY 22512) is a clinical psychologist specializing in relationships and sexuality, addiction and anxiety. Dr. Engler is an active, engaged therapist who tailors therapy toward a client's unique needs. Therapy may include gestalt-relational, psychodynamic and cognitive-mindfulness based techniques.

Dr. Engler has published two books of essays on psychotherapy, The Women on My Couch and The Men on My Couch ( Berkley Books).

You can read reviews, interviews, commentary, and articles about Dr. Engler in: Men's Health, Women's Health, The Times of London, Cosmopolitan Magazine, The Good Men Project, New York Post, The Irish Examiner, Redbook, Whole Life Times, xojane, Men's Health, Glamour, Brides, Vanity Fair Italia, Women's Health, Buzzfeed, The Atlantic Magazine, Madame Figaro, The Huffington Post and O Magazine.

Sarah Mairesse, LMFT

Sarah is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist who's work is rooted in helping children and adults of all ages find the breakthroughs they need to discover a more balanced and peaceful life. Sarah has worked with clients to support healthy attachment and differentiation, guiding them to build awareness, insight and create opportunities for change, while recognizing maladaptive patterns and behaviors, which limit them to create a richer and healthier life for themselves and those around them.

Sarah uses a humanistic, client centered approach and works in collaboration with her clients to identify problems, explore issues interfering with their ability to feel fulfilled and supports solutions that will improve their over all well being.
Sarah is trained in EMDR therapy which uses bi lateral stimulation to help process uncomfortable memories, confront fears and replace distorted cognitions in their minds, which have kept them stuck and incapable to break free from their doubt, preventing them to find that more fulfilling job or relationship.

Claudia Narvaez-Meza, LCSW

Claudia is a bilingual Spanish speaking Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #83703) who has over ten years of experience working with individuals of all ages, couples, and families. Claudia specializes in trauma recovery, family systems and relationship issues, fertility concerns, substance abuse and recovery, sexual and gender identity, spirituality and spiritual resiliency, grief and loss, chronic illness, depression, anxiety, and migration and acculturation challenges.

Claudia was trained at the White Institute of Psychoanalysis and the Ackerman Institute for the Family. She takes a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment and is informed by Family Systems, Attachment Theory, CBT, Narrative, Psychodynamic, Spiritually Informed and Mindfulness Based practices. Claudia believes her purpose as a therapist is to listen with intuition, insight, and curiosity. She collaborates with the client in curating a space that nurtures self-resiliency, strength, and embraces complexity with renewed care and compassion.

Born in Nicaragua, raised in New York City, and LGBTQ+ affirming, Claudia has a unique understanding of the struggles of various populations. Much of her early work was in community mental health and social justice. Claudia provided counseling services and interventions to victims of family violence, before serving as a trauma clinician for children in foster care. Claudia completed The New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care - Foundations Program, where she offered spiritual care and counsel for the sick, dying and their families. She also worked with the Gender & Family Project, facilitating support groups for parents and caregivers of trans and gender non-conforming children and adolescents.

A published writer and poet, Claudia received her MFA from Brooklyn College and her MSW from New York University.

Virginia Gilbert, LMFT

Virginia is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC 49578) and has been seeing clients for 14 years. Although her preference is to help couples transcend their issues and attach in healthy ways, she also realizes that not every couple is meant to stay together. She also specializes in the treatment of divorce (especially high-conflict divorce), intimate partner betrayal, and sex and love addiction. For those of you who like knowing what treatment modalities your therapist uses, Virginia draws from narrative therapy, solution-focused, mindfulness, CBT, DBT, and trauma resiliency. Her work is informed by attachment theory (how our early attachment experiences shape our current relationships) and 12-step principles.

Other things you might want to know about Virginia: She graduated from Georgetown University with a B.A. in English, and Antioch University Los Angeles with an M.A. in Clinical Psychology. She did her clinical training at the Southern California Counseling Center, and worked for a year at the Center for Healthy Sex, where she treated people struggling with sexual compulsivity. Other treatment settings that Virginia has worked in includes an adolescent residential treatment facility and a drug rehab.

Lastly, Virginia is also a freelance writer and her book, Transcending High-Conflict Divorce: How To Disengage From Your Ex And Find Your Power, was published in 2019 and is available on Amazon.

Mayra Diaz, LMFT

Mayra Diaz is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 110966) specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy, attachment science, and mindfulness. Mayra aims to help clients understand and communicate their needs. She teaches the skills needed to change unhealthy relationship patterns. Mayra’s approach is direct and problem-solving while also giving clients a safe space to truly work through their challenges and promote positive change.

Mayra specializes in working with adults and couples. She has experience working with anxiety and mood disorders, trauma, and relationship issues and has post-license training in several evidence-based practices, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Seeking Safety, and Problem-Solving Therapy.

She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UC, Santa Barbara and her Master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University Northridge. Spanish-speaking/Multicultural-aware therapy.

Lauren Maher, AMFT

I am passionate about helping people reduce stress and anxiety in order to find a path towards happiness and healing. As an associate marriage and family therapist (AMFT 97668), I work collaboratively with my clients to define their needs and goals, and tailor an approach that works best for them. I work with clients who are experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, trauma/PTSD, and relationship issues, as well as those who are simply seeking greater self-awareness and insight. I believe in drawing upon my clients' inherent strengths and sense of resiliency. I am particularly interested in the link between the body and mind, and enjoy teaching my clients practical tools to help reduce stress and anxiety. I am trained in both EMDR and Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM).

In addition to my counseling work, I am a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and yoga instructor. Since 2001, I have taught yoga, mindfulness, and meditation in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, wellness centers, and a residential eating disorder facility. Prior to specializing in the wellness industry, I worked for many years as an actor in film and theatre. I have a great respect for the creative process and for unique issues that artists face while pursuing their dreams and goals.

I am supervised by clinical psychologist Brandy Engler (PSY 22512).

Michael Southerland, LMFT

Michael Southerland is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT 87924) who has been working with clients either in therapy or social services for the past 30 years.

Michael specializes in depression, anxiety, adult ADHD, couples, LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, rekindling the love that is overshadowed by poor patterns of communication, parenting issues, adoption transitions, HIV/AIDS, and phobias. Michael believes that the 3 principles of Rogerian therapy, unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathy are the key to establishing a good therapist-client relationship. Within that framework, he uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-focused Therapy, and Existential Therapy.

Michael graduated with his MS in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, where he completed his clinical training. He completed his internship in a Los Angeles community mental health agency and has been in private practice for 5 years. Michael is currently a PhD candidate at Walden University and will complete his PhD next year.

Erica Tumbaga, LCSW

Erica Tumbaga, LCSW (Lic #59554) is a Filipina-American clinical social worker dedicated to helping others be the best version of themselves despite life’s challenges. Erica’s specialties include sexual assault, domestic violence, substance abuse, pregnancy/post-partum, life purpose, stress management, anxiety, depression, trauma, coping with life limiting illness, grief/loss, cultural identity, LGBTQ, cancer, increasing self-esteem and assertiveness.

She has twenty years of experience working in the social services and social justice field. Erica approaches each client humanistically focusing on their strengths. All interventions are tailored to the needs of the client, often combining Gestalt, CBT, Existential, Eclectic, Family Systems, Narrative/Post Modern therapies. Erica earned her BA in Women’s Studies and Criminal Justice from California State University, Fullerton and her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University in the city of New York.

Dr. Julie Hwang, PsyD, LMFT

Dr. Julie Hwang is a licensed MFT (LMFT 53226) and a psychologist. She specializes with couples, anxiety, families, self-esteem, and codependency issues. She believes that happiness and well-being can be attained through the renewal of emotions to a more positive state. She finds that changing the patterns of negative thoughts, emotions, and belief systems often empowers the clients to seek alternative solutions. Dr. Hwang is flexible, compassionate, creative and emotionally focused in helping others.

Dr. Hwang has received her B.A. at University of California, Irvine and received her PsyD at California School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Hwang is member of CAMFT and AAMFT

Jillian Clark, LMFT

Jillian Clark is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Lic # 104385). Jillian specializes in working with both individuals and couples. Jillian uses CBT and other evidenced-based therapies for anxiety, depression, trauma and addiction. She also enjoys exploring identity, creativity and life transitions.

Jillian graduated from Pepperdine University.

Cara Westover, LMFT

Cara Westover is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California with more than seven years of experience treating mental health disorders including but not limited to: anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, grief and loss. She has worked at all levels of treatment including residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient as well as private practice.

Cara completed her masters in clinical psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy. Cara has completed additional training in Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Couples Therapy and Internal Family Systems. Cara also has extensive expertise in treating all eating disorders including but not limited to anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.

Cara emphasizes skill building to help promote personal strength and mastery. Her goal is to empower individuals toward overall healing and a transformed sense of self by developing confidence to use learned skills and maintain balance.

Lauren Marimon, ACSW

Lauren’s practice is grounded in her firm belief of the transformative power of therapy. She works with clients towards self-understanding, growth, and finding their path to their authentic self.

Lauren specializes in issues related to anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationships, maternal mental health, life transitions, work-life balance, self-esteem and identity. She has a special interest in working with women transitioning into motherhood and experiencing perinatal challenges including infertility, miscarriage, anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum depression and anxiety and has trained at the Seleni Institute in NYC.

Lauren’s style is empathetic, warm, intuitive, and non-judgmental. Her approach to therapy combines the use of psychodynamic, psychoanalytic, cognitive behavioral and mindfulness-based models. She works collaboratively with her clients to determine the best approach and feels the strength of the therapeutic relationship is central to the success of the therapy.

Gabrielle Ebert, ACSW

Gabrielle is an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW #72947) specializing in anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, self-esteem and eating disorders.

Gabrielle creates a safe, non-judgmental space for all of her clients. She believes that with the right therapeutic relationship everyone at any stage in his or her life can benefit from therapy. She feels therapy can be a great tool to help clients gain insight, heal, motivate change, and grow as a human being. She uses a strengths-based and person-centered approach, often drawing from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing techniques.

She received her BA in Film and Political Science from Colorado College and a Master’s in Social Work and Public Administration from USC.

Gabrielle is supervised by Carolyn Hersh, LCSW

Brooke Moore, LCSW

Brooke is a licensed clinical social worker with a particular interest in life transitions, struggles related to identity and creativity, women’s issues, grief and loss, depression, anxiety and trauma.

Brooke’s therapeutic style is calm, warm and empathetic. Central to her work is a core belief in peoples’ ability to draw-on and strengthen their resilience and capacity for change. Brooke works to cultivate a safe, relational, and transformative healing environment.

A practice rooted in social and racial justice values, Brooke has extensive experience working with a diverse client population with varying needs. She operates with a clear understanding that therapy is a collaborative process guided by a client’s personal story and lived experiences. Drawing primarily from psychodynamic, attachment, and mindfulness practices, Brooke works from a strengths-based perspective and is skilled at interweaving therapeutic approaches that work in harmony with clients’ personal goals for emotional health and alignment.

Brooke received her MA in Social Work from Smith College School for Social Work and received a BA in Ethnic Studies from University of California San Diego. In Fall 2019, she will begin a teacher training program in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction.

Layla Ashley, LMFT

Layla Ashley is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 40157) with 20 years of experience. Layla specializes in depression, anxiety, trauma, relationships/break-ups/dating, couples therapy, life-purpose, overcoming creative and sexual blocks, grief/loss, and building self-esteem/assertiveness. Layla also holds Certifications as a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Life Coach and Neuro-Linguistic Practitioner, and works on both conscious and unconscious levels to facilitate powerful, lasting change. She is grounded in evidence-based methods of changing core beliefs, undesirable habits, pain management, and sleep problems.

Layla’s personal mission is to help people explore the true self or ‘gold’ underneath the layers of conditioned experiences that shape our persona. Layla has extensive study in depth psychology and a background in theology and philosophy, and is fluent in working with symbols, archetypes, dreams, spirituality and meaning in one’s healing journey. Layla believes that a connection with a higher sense of purpose is key to core change and living a fulfilling life.

Lindsey Peters, LCSW

Lindsey Peters is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW 86539) who helps adult individuals manage issues related to anxiety, depression, sexual trauma, life transitions, spiritual development, and women’s issues. Her clinical background is in addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.

Using gentle encouragement and mindfulness-based techniques, Lindsey helps individuals process difficult emotions and implement meaningful behavioral change. She primarily uses the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, model when practicing psychotherapy. This approach helps a person strengthen their psychological flexibility - meaning, their ability to stay present and remain true to their values in the face of emotional challenges.

Lindsey provides inclusive psychotherapy services, taking a holistic approach from a culturally sensitive, feminist, and LGBTQIA+ affirmative perspective. She believes that there is space for both tears and laughter in the therapy room, welcoming all thoughts and feelings with a nonjudgmental attitude.

Angela Martin, LPCC

Angela is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and believes healing from life struggles, which happens through connection to us and connection to the people in our lives. We are all resilient and have the capability to feel peace and acceptance within and with our relationships.

Angela has worked in Chicago and Los Angeles with people who have eating disorders, depression, anxiety, trauma and bipolar disorders. With this experience, I have learned the value of practicing compassion while challenging you to look internally and lead a life that nurtures well-being, self-acceptance and self-compassion. I will approach you with a warm, non-judgmental stance and utilize the best therapeutic intervention that meets your needs. Also, a little humor in session goes a long way. You also don’t need to have a mental health disorder to seek therapy. Sometimes we just need someone to listen and need extra support through life transitions and challenges.

Angela received her M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. I have solid clinical experience in providing therapy to people from diverse backgrounds who struggle with various mental health concerns. Life is full of change and the unknown. Let’s work together to live your best life and feel good about who you are!

Noreen Qazi, LMFT

Noreen is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and relationships. She works through a cultural lens and is passionate about working with clients in various creative fields to help unlock their true potential and creativity.

Noreen believes in allowing the client to guide their therapy by working with where they are in their current process. At the same time, she works to challenge the client’s belief systems and unhealthy thought patterns and uses a collaborative approach to treatment to promote growth within each client. Her goal is to help each client gain new awareness, self-compassion, and change toward a more authentic self. Noreen combines methods from CBT, psychodynamic, attachment theory, trauma focused, and mindfulness modalities.

Tessa Gordon, LMFT

Tessa Gordon is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #113307), Registered Yoga and Mindful Movement instructor. She provides psychotherapy and eating disorder coaching services, and is particularly passionate about working with the specific challenges faced by teens and women living in the Los Angeles Area. Her specialty areas include disordered eating, body image, anxiety, life transitions, relationships, trauma, invisible illnesses/disabilities, chronic illness, perfectionism, shame, and navigating your 20’s and beyond. Tessa has extensive experience working in the field of eating disorders and supporting clients who are living with a complicated relationship with food and/or their bodies. Combining clinical and lived experience with a love of social justice, my passion to help others renegotiate their relationship to these problems is integrated into each part of my work.

Many of Tessa's clients describe her as the “anti-therapist,” which is a description she wears with pride. She brings enthusiasm, improvisation, imagination & creativity into each session. Her ability to think outside the box and ask questions that others may not enables her to develop creative solutions with clients to help untangle what many would consider to be complicated problems. Tessa believes in (and embraces) experimentation: the freedom to test things out and see how they fit, to explore the various facets of yourself, and to allow for complexities, contradictions, and messiness.

Tessa's approach is rooted in a desire for social change. She employs a critical feminist, anti-oppression, health at every size approach. Her therapeutic approach is grounded in Narrative theory, an evolving set of ideas and practices, which embrace a collaborative, non-pathologizing, culturally-sensitive, and respectful approach to working with people, families, and communities. This approach supports those who consult with me in developing self-understanding, establishing meaningful relationships with others, and navigating life-defining challenges.
Tessa graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Psychology from the University of Southern California and received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and Narrative/Postmodern Therapies from Phillips Graduate University.

Aaron Krikorian, LCSW

Aaron Krikorian is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW 82428) specializing in individual therapy for those struggling with anxiety, addiction, complex trauma, and relational issues. He tailors his therapy to the unique, individual needs of each client and believes strongly in using the therapeutic relationship as a tool to inspire reflection, growth, and insight. He approaches therapy predominantly from a psychodynamic perspective, but also incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness strategies with clients as needed.

Bailey Franklin, AMFT

My work centers on identifying and nurturing our untapped sources of power in order to break through doubts, fears and insecurities. Working together, we can use this new knowledge to break old patterns of feeling and thinking and strengthen your true self. In my work with LGBTQIA+ clients, this takes the form of addressing the often hidden trauma and wounds to the self inflicted by our families and society. Who and how we love deserves celebration, not just tolerance, and I am also Poly/Kink affirmative.

I believe that the best treatment is the one that works, and my therapeutic process integrates strength-based modalities that are tailored to the unique needs of each client. In addition to LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy, my training also includes Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples and Motivational Interviewing (MI) for clients who are struggling with substance use. I practice in both English and Spanish.

Stephanie Tuazon, LCSW

Stephanie Tuazon (she/they/siya) is a Pilipinx-American therapist seeking to create a healing environment and safe container for those looking to explore their identity, purpose, and authenticity. She specializes in working with womxn and people of color in creating space for their best and “least favorite” selves to bridge together. Whether their “least favorite” self-experienced sexual assault, trauma, stress, anxiety, depression, or otherwise. She helps Young Adults and Adults explore their healing through an individualized approach pulling from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Movement, Mindfulness, Electic, and Post-Modern.

Stephanie Tuazon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, dance instructor, and student of ancestral wisdom. She earned her Master of Social Welfare Degree from UCLA. She believes in this time of de-colonization; our mental health is vital to sustain the work we do.

Samantha Moss, LCSW

Samantha is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in depression, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, and addiction/substance abuse. Samantha has extensive experience working with relationship issues and maternal mental health issues including postpartum depression and adjustment to pregnancy and parenting.

Samantha utilizes an individualized and strengths-based approach incorporating techniques from cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness. Samantha works collaboratively with the client to identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors in order to improve overall mental health and life satisfaction. Samantha graduated from University of Southern California. She has worked in a variety of mental health settings in London and Los Angeles.

Elizabeth Corpstein, LMFT

Liz has a masters in clinical psychology and is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT 107616).

Liz works with adults and couples experiencing relationship issues, anxiety, chronic pain, trauma, and challenging life transitions. She offers a safe space to explore emotions along with tools to change negative thoughts and behaviors.
Liz has training in behavioral therapy (including CBT and DBT), mindfulness, attachment therapy, and emotionally focused couples therapy.

Mallory Garrett, LMFT

Mallory Garrett is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She earned her Master’s of Science in Counseling from California State University, Northridge and her Bachelor of Arts from UCLA in Comparative Literature.

Her goal as a therapist is to help you address areas of your life that are causing you distress, unhappiness or worry. She is person-centered, meaning she help you build on the strengths and motivations that you have to reach your goals for growth and happiness.

She believes in meeting you where you are and working in a collaborative way to help address issues that may be causing you distress. While she takes a problem-solving, relational approach to helping clients, she also believe in the benefits of supportive therapy as people navigate daily challenges. She implements an in-depth approach to counseling and comes from a modality that is sex-positive, Kink- positive and LGBTQ Affirming. She has experience working with a variety of issues like anxiety, stress, depression, coping skills, sexuality, self-esteem, family conflict, addiction, chronic illness, HIV, women's issues, and gender dysphoria. She is a Los Angeles native and when she isn’t working she enjoys traveling, crafting and going to the theater.

Sarah Tayebi, LCSW

Sarah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #63761) with over 10 years of experience. She specializes in women’s issues, life transitions, parenting concerns, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and family system concerns. Through her work, Sarah has developed a particular passion and expertise around trauma resiliency and recovery. Sarah deeply believes in the human capacity to heal, and she feels privileged to offer her clients a skill set to approach their own healing in their own time.

Sarah received her Master of Science degree from the University of Michigan School of Social Work with a specialization in Interpersonal Practice. Upon graduating, Sarah remained in Michigan and served adults with severe mental illness and addiction. In 2010, Sarah moved to Los Angeles and began serving children and youth, families, pregnant and parenting teens, and young adults transitioning out of the foster care system.

While Sarah’s interventions draw upon narrative, psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused, person-in-environment, and mindfulness strategies, she is primarily relationship-oriented. Connection and trust are the foundation to the therapeutic process, and Sarah provides a safe path to healing by ensuring her clients feel heard and understood.

Pear Wilson, LCSW

Pear is a licensed clinical social worker trained in relational, psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Endlessly curious about the human experience, she helps her patients cultivate an enlivened and more intimate relationship with self through thoughtful exploration and direct feedback.

With an insight-oriented approach, Pear specializes in treating adults experiencing anxiety and depression, life transitions, relationship issues, and mood imbalances and offers unique mind-body interventions tailored to the treatment involving yogic breath work and relaxation techniques

Pear received her Master's degree in Clinical Social Work from Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, Massachusetts and has provided therapy in a variety of treatment settings, including the outpatient psychiatry centers of Johns Hopkins and University of Pennsylvania, and the prestigious Wright Institute of Los Angeles. She has served as a clinical social worker with UCLA for over three years, working with people dealing with a wide range of mental health concerns, and currently maintains a private practice in Santa Monica.

Carolyn Hersh, LCSW

Carolyn is a licensed clinical social worker who works with adolescents and adults. Carolyn’s areas of specialty include working with those struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders and those struggling with their relationships to food, body, and self. Carolyn also has extensive background work with mood disorders, addiction, grief and other challenging life events.

Carolyn received her master’s in social work from Adelphi University in New York. Carolyn began practicing on the east coast and has worked in outpatient and residential settings. Recently, Carolyn relocated to Los Angeles.
Carolyn is a compassionate therapist who believes in meeting where the client is at and guiding them along their way through to their healing. Carolyn sees the therapeutic space as a collaborative space so that clients feel and gain that self of control and strength.

Carolyn draws upon CBT and motivational interviewing to help those who are struggling. Carolyn’s uses these skills to help clients reach within themselves to create long lasting solutions for their current struggles.

Skylar Ibarra, LCSW

Skylar Ibarra is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW88686), specializing in trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, parent-child relationships, academic difficulties, and peri-partum support. She works with children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples.

Skylar approaches her clients with respect and an open mind. She is certified in the Trauma Resilience Model (TRM), through the Trauma Research Institute, and uses a variety of modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and narrative therapy to meet the individual needs of her clients. Whether working with children or adults, individuals or families, she provides tools to build resiliency and healthy coping skills while exploring thought and behavior patterns that are holding her clients back from realizing their goals.

Skylar received her Masters in Social Welfare from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Policy, where she was also awarded the prestigious Bohnett Fellowship and gained a certificate in Global Health and Social Services.

Laura Castro, LMFT

Laura Castro is a LMFT who works with clients that are dealing with self-esteem issues, codependency, depression, anxiety and a history of trauma. Laura also works with clients who need support with parenting challenges. She works collaboratively with her clients to restore hope that it is possible to manage the challenges and stressors that get in the way of living the life they want to live. Laura takes the time to understand the patterns that can keep clients stuck and support them in deciding what they want to change and how they want to make those changes.

Laura's treatment approach consists of guiding her clients to have a better understanding of patterns within their relationships and beliefs about themselves that can create shame and suffering. She also places importance on developing necessary skills in order for my clients to gain a sense of mastery in coping with difficult emotions, thoughts and behaviors.

Laura graduated from Pepperdine University and has a background working with substance abuse, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. She is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the Nurturing Parenting curriculum.

Julianne Legon, LCSW

Julianne Legon is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW #60527) with over 20 years of experience working with individuals and families from diverse ages and ethnicity. Originally from NY, Julianne received her BA in psychology at The University of Michigan and her master’s in social work from Columbia University in New York City.

Julianne is passionate about the psychological well being of her clients. Julianne believes in relational psychodynamic therapy because relationships with others and with the self is essential to psychological and emotional well being for a fulfilling and happy life. She believes in building a trusting client-therapist relationship within a safe and confidential therapeutic milieu.

Sarah Knowlton, LMFT

Sarah strives to work with clients to create meaningful narratives about themselves that they experience as empowering and energizing. She uses a combination of modalities such as psychodynamic, attachment-based, existential, Buddhist, and mindfulness oriented interventions. She hopes to help clients work through family of origin issues, examine core beliefs and cognitive distortions, modify behaviors that have become maladaptive, and learn to live life on a daily basis with meaning, integrity, and creativity.

A graduate of Antioch University of Los Angeles, Sarah is in the process of becoming AASECT (American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists) certified, and balances her studies with her clinical work here and a private practice in Beverly Hills. She has specialized training and experience with issues related to addictions and compulsive behaviors as well as human sexuality and sexual health

Sarah works with couples and individuals, striving to suit each treatment intervention to the client’s unique needs and goals. She holds a special passion for helping clients recover their authentic sexual selves from a standpoint of sexual health, personal ethics, and pleasure.

Her first career was in the arts: She holds a Masters Degree from the Yale School of Drama. Sarah feels she has something valuable to offer people in creative fields, including understanding of the freelancing lifestyle and its stressors and the ability to welcome creativity into the therapeutic work.

Whitnii L. Patterson, LCSW

Whitnii L. Patterson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker skilled in providing individual therapy to those dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, and any unforeseen life circumstances that interfere with overall wellness.

Whitnii offers a warm for clients to process their thoughts and experiences in hopes of aspiring change and improving quality of life. She recognizes therapy as a personal journey where obstacles affecting overall well-being are addressed to promote self-awareness and growth.

Understanding that therapy is unique to every individual, Whitnii uses a variety of treatment modalities to support clients in achieving their therapeutic goals. Whitnii often draws from strengths-based perspective, task-centered practice (TCP), solution focused therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in her practice. Whitnii is also skilled at combining therapeutic approaches in order to foster empowerment, promote healing, and help clients identify solutions for change.