Individual Therapy

It takes tremendous courage to seek therapy. I strive to understand on a fundamental level what challenges you are facing, what makes you uniquely you, and what will help you to make a change in the face of difficult circumstances. My hope is that you will feel understood, cared for, motivated, challenged, and inspired. I tend to work with adults who are struggling with grief and loss, depression, anxiety, relationship distress, maternal mental health issues, difficult family relationships or a life transition. My aim is to help my clients restore balance and increase hope for the future.  

Couples Therapy

Couples can endure a lot of distress and heartache before finally going to see a couples therapist. Many times in counseling I hear, "We've tried everything and nothing works." There can be anger, resentment, old wounds, injured trust, or a longing for a closeness that was at one time present.  Couples want to go from feeling hopeless to feeling hopeful. In order to provide the best possible care, I am trained in two different modalities of couples therapy: Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) and Relational Life Therapy (RLT).

Both approaches help couples create meaningful, lasting change by helping them understand and move beyond their painful patterns. EFT and RLT allow me to meet couples with both compassion and practical tools, helping them move from distress and disconnection toward greater understanding, honesty, connection, and intimacy.

I am a fully certified EFT therapist, having completed the 4-day EFT Externship, five weekends of Core Skills Training, and four years of supervision. I have met the rigorous certification requirements established by the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT). To learn more about EFT, visit www.iceeft.com.

I am also currently pursuing full certification in Relational Life Therapy (RLT), a comprehensive training process that includes at least two years of training, practicum, and supervision. To learn more about RLT, visit www.relationallifefoundation.org.

Grief and Loss

When I was in graduate school, I had to choose a practicum site. The topic that intimidated me the most was grief and loss so I picked just that. My site was OneLegacy in Los Angeles -- the nation's largest organ procurement organization (OPO). Under the supervision of a talented and passionate therapist, Michelle Post, LMFT, I learned how to do the incredibly transformative work of grief counseling. I interned at OneLegacy for two years. My specialty is in traumatic sudden loss, but I have worked with all manner of grief. 

Grief therapy can feel counterintuitive and messy at times.  Grief is not linear and can prompt every emotion -- sometimes all at once.  Grief therapy can be time set aside for healing, exploring, mourning, and being present with the memory of your loved one. I help my clients integrate the loss of their loved one into their life.  I meet each client without expectation, but with an open heart.

The drama of love is all about this hunger for safe emotional connection, a survival imperative we experience from the cradle to the grave. Loving connection is the only safety nature ever offers us.

- Sue Johnson