Choosing a therapist is not like choosing other medical professionals: there are some specific questions you must ask yourself. Do you feel comfortable in sharing your life with the therapist? Do you feel heard and understood by the therapist? Do you trust the therapist? These are questions a person should ask before deciding who to trust with their life story.

I find that it's important to meet in person to determine if we could make progress together, and I encourage you to ask the above questions of yourself as you speak to me, or any other licensed therapist.

Some of the areas we treat are:

• Addictions and Compulsions
• Aggression and Violence
• Aging and Geriatric Issues
• Anxiety
• Blended Family Issues
• Breakup
• Depression
• LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) Issues
• Polyamory / Nonmonogamous Relationships

Adlerian Psychology / Psychotherapy

Adlerian therapy is a positive psychodynamic treatment based on the beliefs of Alfred Adler, a former collaborator of Sigmund Freud. It is a short-term, goal-oriented, and positive psychodynamic therapy. Many of Adler's studies centered on sentiments of inadequacy vs superiority, discouragement, and a sense of belonging in one's community and society at large. Feelings of inferiority, according to Adler, can lead to neurotic behavior, but they can also be used as motivation to achieve greater achievement in the correct circumstances. Adlerian treatment emphasizes on the growth of an individual's individuality while also acknowledging and appreciating humanity's interconnectedness.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)

The fundamental purpose of MET is to assist people in overcoming their ambivalence or resistance to changing their behavior. By boosting awareness of a problem, altering any self-defeating ideas about the situation, and building confidence in one's potential to change, MET focuses on increasing intrinsic motivation. Rather of recognizing a problem and advising a client what to do about it, the therapist encourages the client to create self-motivating statements that demonstrate a clear awareness of the situation and a commitment to change.

Although MET can be used on its own, it is most commonly utilized in conjunction with other types of therapy. This type of therapy can also be used as a form of pretreatment to help a person become more motivated to begin a more particular type of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. MET can also be used in conjunction with another type of therapy to reaffirm a person's desire to change.

Narrative Therapy

Narrative Therapy is a type of therapy that involves self-reflective writing (or speaking) in order to objectively evaluate the problems or events in our lives (the narratives we tell ourselves).

This  process allows us to see difficulties outside of ourselves, which encourages a level of self-awareness that is typically lacking when we are dealing with personal issues. David Epston and Michael White, New Zealand-based therapists, created the model in 1980 because they believed it was vital for people to see themselves as independent from their problems.

Narrative therapy does not focus on blame, and it is used to make life's challenges more manageable. However, once an individual begins to unwind and become honest about the stories they've been telling themselves, it's a process that can hold them very accountable for the future. This method acknowledges the client as an expert, as well as a responsible and important part of how their future will unfold. As a result, narrative therapy is unconcerned with diagnoses, and the therapist's role is limited to guiding the individual through the healing process.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

De Shazer and Berg developed Solution-Focused Therapy at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was born out of De Shazer and Berg's observation that clients would frequently speak about their problems and issues, seemingly oblivious to their own inner resources for overcoming these issues and focusing on the future.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), sometimes known as Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), is a type of psychotherapy or counseling that focuses on finding solutions to problems. Rather of focusing on the problem, as more typical talking treatments do, this type of therapy focuses on finding solutions to problems or challenges, as well as recognizing a person's resources and abilities.

SFBT instead focuses on the issue in the here and now, and how to go forward with a solution for it, rather than studying how the issue formed or interpretations of it, why it is there, and what it truly means for the person.

Monday-Friday: 8:00am-7:00 pm

Saturday and Sunday: By appointment only

We understand the need for accessiblity when dealing with mental health issues. If your concern is non-emergent, please fill out our contact form and a member of our staff will be in contact soon. For current patients, if you have an immediate need, please call (805) 888-9254 someone will immediately be in touch. 

The offering of therapy and counseling services via video conferencing is known as teletherapy. Teletherapy is gradually gaining popularity among customers, particularly during the pandemic. We can now provide high-quality treatments to customers from the comfort of their own homes thanks to teletherapy. This may alleviate some of the apprehension people have about seeking help from a counselor, while also ensuring the safety of both the counselor and the patient. 

We've also been able to improve access to care thanks to teletherapy. You won't have to worry about being stuck in traffic or driving great distances to obtain the help you need. Teletherapy is a good option if you live in a small town or can't find a nearby provider who is covered by your insurance. Though we are based in Ojai, CA, telehealth allows us to connect with patients in other areas.