Brandy Engler, PsyDDr. 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. 
Amy Kaufman, LMFT
Amy Kaufman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 88869) who approaches therapy from a creative and strength-based perspective. She specializes in anxiety, depression, dual diagnosis/substance abuse, eating disorders, and identity issues. Amy works with adults, couples and teens. Amy's treatment approach blends person-centered with feminist and narrative therapies, always leaving room for laughter. A native Angeleno, Amy graduated from Pitzer College with a BA in sociology, and received her MS in psychology from Cal State Long Beach. She is consistently humbled and amazed by the resilience and determination of her clients. 
Rachel Shimoni Simons, MFT Rachel Shimoni- Simons specializes in issues related to past trauma, self esteem, life transitions including marriage and parenting, post partum depression and post partum anxiety, pregnancy loss, and generalized anxiety and mood disorders. Rachel firmly believes in taking a collaborative strength based approach with clients and empowering them to identify solutions. While drawing from experiential, cognitive behavioral, and post-modern theories, Rachel believes in tailoring therapy to each individual client's strengths and challenges. Rachel is a certified facilitator of both the Parent Project program and the Nurturing Parenting program. Rachel received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University's Graduate School of Education and Psychology, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. 
Grenda David, LMFT, MBA
After spending twenty years climbing the ladder to become a corporate CEO, I found myself disillusioned and in deep questioning about what this life is all about. My search propelled me toward working with children who had been abandoned in the streets of India, and ultimately a personal calling to become a therapist. My life’s journey inspires my work. Growing up in an alcoholic family, I’ve healed my own addictive patterns with food and maintain a fifteen year weight loss of more than 100 pounds. I’ve successfully navigated divorce and co/step-parenting, and enjoy working with couples/families who want to do the same. I work with couples struggling with low libido and have years of experience working with male sexual dysfunction at southern California's largest urology clinic. I have advanced training in trauma with the Los Angeles Institute and Society of Psychoanalytic Studies. I have served as President of two non-profit boards and in executive leadership positions for non-profits, universities and healthcare companies. 
Marise Lariviere, LMFT, ATR
Marise is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). She graduated in Art Therapy from Notre Dame de Namur University in San Francisco, CA in 2011 with subsequent internship and clinical training at the University of Southern California. Passionate about creating a warm and compassionate atmosphere for her clients, she is committed to help them rediscover “joie de vivre” following personal suffering and learn to live an authentic, purposeful and fulfilling life. She speaks French and English fluently and is well versed in both cultures. Marise specializes in depression, anxiety, trauma recovery, relationships issues, life transitions, and psychological side effects of chronic medical conditions. More specifically, trained in neuropsychology, she developed a distinctive expertise working with people suffering from significant physical symptoms associated to emotional stress and trauma often referred as somatic, dissociative, conversion, or functional neurologic disorders. She uses a variety of individualized therapeutic strategies based on a somatic and experiential person-centered approach such as mindfulness, creative art, focusing, internal family system, and trauma-informed interventions among others. Her client-focused process facilitates self-discovery and provides a beneficial means toward positive growth and healing. 
Virginia Gilbert, LMFTVirginia is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC 49578) and has been seeing clients for 14 years. She 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 is currently writing a book about transcending divorce. 
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 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. 
Stephanie Sandoval, AMFT
Stephanie Sandoval is an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT 106449) who provides individualized and integrative therapy for adults and adolescents. She specializes in anxiety, depression, grief and loss, sex therapy, sex addiction, emotional management, self-esteem, eating disorders, social anxiety, trauma and PTSD, and self-expression and creativity.
Her treatment approach with clients is unique and collaborative, blending in elements from different techniques and tailoring their treatment according to each individual’s needs. Stephanie is experienced at incorporating psychodynamic, client-centered, humanistic, gestalt, existential, cognitive and dialectical behavior, and mindfulness-based approaches. Stephanie is accepting, empathic, and compassionate. She will meet you wherever you’re at in life and provide a safe, therapeutic environment for health, healing, and recovery. Stephanie is supervised by Brandy Engler. |
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Sarah Goldberg, MFT
Sarah Goldberg is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 47032) specializing in individual and couples therapy working with artists, creatives, teens, trauma, and addictions. She maintains a private practice in Los Angeles, CA. With over 10 years experience as a marriage and family therapist, and as a graduate of Antioch University Los Angeles, and California Institute of The Arts, she is currently serving as private practitioner working with a broad spectrum of clients. Among her areas of expertise are anxiety issues, depression, creativity blocks, addictions, sex and relationship issues and love and sex addiction. Sarah is an interactive, solution-focused therapist. She integrates complementary methodologies and techniques to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each client. With compassion and understanding, she works with each individual to help them build on their strengths and attain the personal growth they are committed to accomplishing. 
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). 
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. 
Zoe Kahn, LCSW
Zoe Kahn is a licensed social worker and graduate of Smith College. Her therapeutic style is grounded in meditation and mindfulness practices with a focus on goal setting in order to make desired changes in your life. Therapy will build on your strengths and eliminate the patterns that are no longer useful to you. Zoe specializes in relationships, life purpose, creativity, anxiety, addiction and depression using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Relational Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy as needed. Erika Nanes, LMFT Erika Nanes is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 101565) who works with adults and couples. She strives to create a warm, accepting atmosphere in which people can reconnect to their strengths. She has trained in several different therapy approaches, including narrative and solution-focused therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, and relational Gestalt, which emphasizes the relationship between the therapist and the client to improve insight into relational behaviors and thoughts. Generally, her sessions involve gentle curiosity about present-moment experience and how that experience has been shaped by messages from other people and the wider culture. While she especially enjoys helping people with creative and academic anxiety, midlife challenges and other life/identity transitions, issues with dating and relationships, and recovery from trauma, she welcomes the opportunity to work with a variety of people and concerns. Before returning to school for her M.S. in counseling (California State University, Fullerton), Erika earned an MFA in poetry and a Ph.D. in English and American literature. Her many years of experience teaching writing on the college level has given her a special interest in the challenges faced by writers, graduate and undergraduate students, and faculty. She has also worked with both students and clients from many different cultural and economic backgrounds and feels that therapy can, and should, help to create a more just and compassionate society. Julie Hwang, PsyD
Dr. Hwang is a psychologist and a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT 53226, PSY license pending). Dr. Hwang specializes in relationships, depression, anxietyand post traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Hwang uses solution focused and narrative therapy to help clients achieve their goals. She is collaborative, compassionate, flexible, and open minded. 
George Walczak, LMFT
I am an LMFT (93992) specializing in individual therapy, couples therapy, therapy for creatives, and for those struggling with anxiety, addiction, complex trauma, relational issues, spiritual bypassing, and grief. Before becoming a licensed therapist, I worked in the entertainment business for many years. My involvement in the industry has given me a unique perspective on the specific psychological challenges faced by creatives in the industry. I meet my clients where they are and strongly believe in the healing power of the therapeutic relationship. I approach therapy predominantly from a present-centered, mindfulness approach but always within the larger context of a psychodynamic/attachment perspective. My therapeutic style is grounded in meditation and mindfulness practices with a focus on helping each client dismantle their habituated, reactive patterns. For those interested in a Buddhist inflected therapy, I bring a deep bench of experience in working at the intersection of western psychotherapy and eastern practices of awakening. 
Peter Balderas, LMFT
Peter is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (37765) with over 18 years’ experience. Peter has expertise in addressing issues ranging from depression, anxiety, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, bipolar disorder, relationship issues, self-esteem, and coming out. In his work with clients, Peter utilizes a client-centered, Gestalt approach that allows the client to gain increased self-awareness that will lead to change. He also employs a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy approach that heightens the client’s role in actively participating in setting goals and tracking progress, so that the client learns long-term, healthy coping strategies they can use after therapy ends. Additionally, Peter utilizes Mindfulness techniques to help clients learn to become more present-focused—to truly be more aware and awake in an increasingly distracted world. Peter works with his clients to collaboratively figure out what’s working for the client, what isn’t, and how to help get the client on the road to better mental and emotional fitness. Peter received his Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin and his Master’s degree in Counseling from Arizona State University. He is a member of the Lesbian and Gay Psychotherapy Association of Southern California as well as the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. 
Sam Zia, LMFT
Sam Zia (LMFT 106352) is a Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in sex therapy, anxiety, depression, as well as working with survivors of abuse. Sam creates a safe environment, to allow for a free expression of feelings, without fear of judgment. Sam’s treatment approach includes elements of CBT, Narrative therapy, Psychodynamic, and Family systems. Sam graduated in 2011 from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, with an MA in Clinical Psychology, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy. Sam is AASECT-trained, and is an active member in the sex positive community. Sam also hosted Playboy Radio’s The Couch on Sirius/XM, helping anonymous guests address their sex/relationship issues. |
