Therapists serving clients in Culver City, CA

Welcome!  In the 6-8 weeks that we will work together, It is my goal to create a safe, warm and inviting space where the whole of you, mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual, can make full use of the therapeutic intent of our time together.  We keep an eye toward your better self, to help you find what makes you well and at ease, and from there, support management of your psychological challenges.  A healthy core self has a powerful impact on the capacity of the mind and body to organically heal.  We will establish a platform from which you can organize your experiences and get perspective.  Then we will reduce your remaining challenges into bite sized pieces that can be processed and digested more easily, moving you toward greater life involvement and satisfaction.   The work of therapy doesn't have to be "hard work."  It can be an awakening, an adventure, it can be ground breaking, transformative, enlivening or sometimes even, playful work. I have always had a Humanistic perspective and I have been deeply influenced by Attachment Theory and Buddhist Philosophy, but in the end, I chose to study Somatic Counseling Psychology at JFKU in the SF/Bay Area.  Studying the body oriented models of psychology and relevant neuroscience that informs the study of the body (brain and nervous system) in association with psychological concerns and disorders, has helped me make sense of my observations in people with complex PTSD.  Of all the styles of therapy I have learned, I most appreciate Process Oriented Psychology, Bodynamics, Hakomi, Somatic Experiencing, and DBT.  They are all powerful interventions that can be used together successfully to your benefit.  My specialty is developmental trauma, also known as Complex PTSD, born of early traumas or chronic neglect type injury which often results in symptoms such as: general anxiety, intrusive memories, vigilance, specific fears, exhaustion, high sensitivity, compulsivity, health concerns, body/sexuality issues, anorexia, avoidance, control, chronic pain, autoimmune illnesses and altered states. Symptoms of Anxiety and (stubborn) Depression can also benefit from this type of approach, because they are also often the result of early mental health injuries that could not be addressed at the time they were received. Some other areas that may not be listed in Betterhelp's categories that also benefit from this treatment style are: stress management, self care issues, codependence, identity, dissociative symptoms, environmental and food allergies, boundaries, sobriety challenges, mental health hygiene, gender norms/roles, personal growth, individuation, etc. I hope to be talking to you soon - Ezri ... PS - I have a private practice outside of Betterhelp.com and so my availability is limited. If my available slots cannot accommodate you, you are welcome to wait for an open slot, contact me to inquiry about alternate options or seek an appointment with another therapist. I want what is best for you and will do what I can to support your healing. PSS - Somatic Psychotherapy works best in-person, but we have video sessions here! So I only see clients in video sessions. At this time, BH would like me to do therapy over Messenger, but I would be breaching my ethics if I did that! I will Message for logistics and resource information. I would never want a client to misunderstand my meaning and thus, will never try to do therapy through written word. I made this decision to protect you - I am happy to help create the time, space and safety to meet by video. Also, we can just meet briefly by phone or video for you to decide if you are comfortable working with me. PSSS - The rules that govern my license require me to refer a client out if I believe I am not the best fit for them as a therapist. I want the best for anyone I have contact with and if I believe you will be better served by a different therapist, I have to make the referral. Having said that, it is one of the hardest and most serious decisions I have to make as a therapist and I do not make it lightly. May you find your way! Warmest regards, Ezri

Joe Whitcomb, Relationship Society's BondFire Project Therapy: I hail from the picturesque locales of Santa Monica and San Diego, California, and embarked on a unique journey that led me to Kyiv, Ukraine in June 2021. My original mission was to delve into the realm of trauma-informed mixed reality, with a particular focus on addressing trauma and relationships within the metaverse, primarily catering to military personnel, veterans, first responders, and trauma survivors. However, unforeseen circumstances such as the war have kept me engaged in trauma-informed humanitarian efforts. This endeavor is not just my profession but my profound passion. Currently, I find myself residing in the charming city of Nice, France. My expertise lies in offering trauma-informed relationship psychotherapy services, utilizing a range of modalities that transition seamlessly from virtual reality experiences and video or telehealth therapy. These techniques are designed to foster secure and supportive conversations, particularly in the context of couples and families dealing with Complex-PTS and PTS (Trauma). I have a penchant for working with couples, individuals, military personnel, veterans, first responders, and anyone who "Rage against the dying of the light" in the face of adversity. My therapeutic approach is marked by the integration of multidisciplinary theories, concepts, interventions, methods, and applications aimed at treating complex PTSD within the intricate dynamics of couples. I draw upon the best practices in PACT, Gottman Method, Imago Therapy, Real Life Therapy, Executive and Life Coaching, EMDR, and attachment-based Emotionally Focused Couple Trauma. My goal is to tailor these approaches to the unique needs and circumstances of each couple. I firmly believe that well-being is inherently social, and by offering couples a shared context, tools, resources, and evidence-based trauma-informed research, we can effectively target the barriers that hinder them from realizing their true desires and forging deeper connections. In the spirit of a Celtic saying, "We live in the shelter of each other," I recognize that no relationship is without its vulnerabilities. Partners must acknowledge these raw spots and engage in open, compassionate communication to draw closer to one another. Love, like a dance, involves tuning in, connecting, missteps, disconnection, repairs, and deeper connections. It's an ongoing process of meeting, parting, and finding one another anew, moment by moment and day by day. When partners in distress no longer view each other as emotional safe havens, conflicts take on a deeper significance—they are desperate pleas to restore the eroding connection and reignite emotional engagement. Learning to love and be loved entails attuning to our own emotions and those of our partners. This empowers us to express our needs openly, eliciting compassion and support, and creating a secure foundation upon which both partners can rely. Here Is What To Expect When You Work With Me This will give you a sense of my guiding beliefs and my approach to working with couples. What I Believe • Couples are seeking connection. We want to feel that connection with each other, that aliveness, that excitement, that sense of well being. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual connection. It is what we feel when we first come together with someone and “fall in love”. • Conflict is the motivating force for healing and growth in relationships. I believe the conflict couples experience after the “honeymoon period” of their relationship is actually necessary. Conflict points out where we don’t get our needs met. Unmet needs create a breakdown in connection, destroying passion and intimacy. Many couples don’t navigate this “power struggle” phase successfully and eventually break up or settle for a less than satisfying relationship. • Connection requires Safety and Passion. We want the emotional safety to be ourselves, to be open and honest, to feel accepted and understood. With this safety, comes deep connection. From this nurturing environment, passion can arise and be sustained. I mean sexual passion, of course, and also, emotional passion. The freedom to be spontaneous, to express who we are, to be intimate and excited by our lives is also a key desire. • Expressing and meeting your needs creates a healthy, passionate relationship. I will teach you to create the emotional safety which will allow you to recognize and express your needs consciously. From this place of safety and satisfied needs, a conscious, passionate relationship can develop. Get Results • You can learn how to connect again with your partner! You can share with each other on a deep, loving, meaningful level. You can feel heard and understood by your partner. You can learn to be more compassionate and empathic with them and they with you. • You can have a passionate, exciting sex life with your partner! You can spontaneously express your feelings towards your partner through your lovemaking. • You can feel good about yourself and your relationship again! You can know your needs, share them with your partner and together you can help each other to meet those needs! You can respect and cherish each other and treat each other and your relationship with that deep caring and nurturing. • You can recapture that playfulness, that innocence, that pure joy of being together that you once had! You can tap into and recreate those wonderful, idyllic moments you once shared and have them available to you once again! • You can reignite the passion of your relationship! You can remove the baggage that has weighed you down and be lifted into a new romance, a new love, a new depth that you have always wanted and you will be able to sustain it. What Working With Me Is Like • You’ll learn skills, tools and exercises to help your relationship. My ultimate task is to put myself out of a job. I want you to be able to be responsible for your relationship and have the skills to make it the best it can possibly be. • I’ll expect you to practice between sessions. The majority of the work takes place between our sessions. The results you receive will be in direct proportion to the work you put into this process. I’m committed to doing everything in my power to help you in your relationship. I expect the same from you. • I’ll shoot straight with you. I’m not afraid to speak my mind. I’m not afraid to take charge of our sessions. I won’t collude with you in the sustaining the unhealthy parts of your relationship. I’ll hold you accountable to your goals and our mutual agreements and for creating the relationship vision that you desire so strongly to create. • I’ll help “translate” between you and your partner. This is something I’ve had a great deal of practice at, and I’m really good at it. I can speak your language, whether intellectual or emotional, whether masculine or feminine, whether verbal or non-verbal. It’s one of my greatest gifts as a couples’ therapist. • My job is to keep you emotionally safe and secure while you do the work. I take that very seriously. Couples are generally not very comfortable with the process of beginning couples work. They are airing all of their issues in front of a total stranger. There can be a lot of finger pointing and blaming, criticizing and condemning. I don’t allow that. We’ll create a space where you can be honest AND kind and loving. Developing intimacy requires the freedom to be open and vulnerable, which requires safety. • We’ll laugh and have fun. This is serious work, and needs to be balanced with a sense of humor. I’m professional, yet relaxed and easy-going. I’m flexible, creative and out-of-the-box. I’ll do my best to set you at ease and have you be as comfortable as you can be through this challenging, yet rewarding process. The Bottom Line I believe that I can help you to have a better relationship, that is more passionate, more intimate, more romantic, more sensual. BIOGRAPHY:  Qualifications & Experience I have been counseling and training informally for 25 years and formally for 20 years. I served in my church as a marriage and family ministry leader, educator and mentor for 20 years and as a professional, licensed marriage and family therapist for 15 years. I did my training for a B.S. in psychology with an emphasis in neuropsychology with University of Maryland, B.S. in Organizational Management with University of Phoenix, Masters in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy with Pepperdine University, and all but dissertation for Doctorate in Psychology in Marriage and Family Therapy with The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. My clinical practicum and internship was with La Vie Christian Counseling in Pasadena and Santa Monica, and Turning Point Christian Counseling in Pasadena. I also trained in Christian Counseling with Gary Smalley, Henry Cloud and John Townsend, and Emerson Eggerichs for Christian Marriage and Relationship Therapy. My other training and certifications include: Certificate in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy Gottman Level I and II Certified Gottman Educator Certified in EMDR Certified in PTSD and Trauma Therapy Certified in Couples Intensives with Smalley Institute Certified and trained in Dynamic Marriage Certified and trained in Love and Respect Couples Intensives with Emerson Eggerichs Certified and trained in Cloud and Townsend Certified as a facilitator and trainer in SYMBIS (Save Your Marriage Before It Starts) with Les and Leslie Parrot Certified and trained as a Facilitator and Trainer for Prepare and Enrich Certified in Christian Marriage, Couples and Relationship Intensives with Sharon Morris May

I am a Licensed Independent Social Worker in the state of Ohio with a Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Louisville and four-years post graduate professional experience. After graduating with my master's, I began working in community mental health as a level three treatment specialist and coordinating care between physicians and clients of various ages, genders, sexuality, ethnicities, issues, and level of functioning. For the past two and a half years, I have been working in a private practice setting where I gain more experience in providing psychotherapy to individuals on issues such as depression, anxiety, relationships issues, family issues, grief, adjustment and phase of life issues, and issues of faith and spirituality. I have over 30 hours of training in providing teletherapy and am a Certified Clinical Telemental Health Provider with experience using video and text therapy. My therapeutic style is person-centered and often solution focused while incorporating a cognitive behavioral approach. Past clients have described delivery of therapy as warm, empathic, and down-to-earth, which I believe nurtures a safe and relaxing environment for individuals to identify their thoughts and feelings, as well as gain insight into their issues and solutions to help them resolve issues. It is my belief that even though it is hard to do at times, I believe one of the best methods of healing is to talk and let it all out – all of the hurt, all of the sadness, all of the things that get buried within – and therapy is one of the safest places to do that. I strive to provide a safe, non-judgmental space for adults and couples to reveal, feel, and heal their thoughts and emotions and gain insight and support during difficult times.

Hi I’m Monica, Are you feeling stuck, unsettled and ready to regain some normalcy in your life? Are you hoping to become the best version of yourself? Allow me to assist you in becoming more self-aware and regaining more control of your life. I am a licensed counselor for the state of Illinois and a certified substance abuse counselor for California. My experiences have allowed me to work with diverse clientele ranging from children and adolescents to adults with varying needs. My therapeutic style is collaborative and engaging and I assist you in learning to live an enriched and full life. I have fifteen years’ experience working with individuals who needed help with emotional regulation, developing coping strategies, struggling with alcohol, drug or behavioral addictions as well as with individuals or couples needing to enhance their communication skills. I also have several years of experience working with veterans. I offer phone and video sessions for clients who are distancing or quarantined. I have immediate openings for new clients. Allow me to assist you in taking the next step towards living a more fulfilled life!

I am licensed in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico and Texas with 3 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in California with 20 plus years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, lgbtq+ related issues, trauma and abuse, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in California with 6 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, lgbtq+ related issues, trauma and abuse, & coping with grief and loss. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I am licensed in California with 13 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, parenting issues (including parenting neurodivergent children), motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & coping with life changes. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I am licensed in California with 35 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, family conflicts, coping with grief and loss, & depression. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in California with 17 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & anger management. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.