You’ve already googled “How do I deal with anxiety?”, or “How do I stop fighting with my partner?” You’ve read books and blogs, watched videos, tried meditation, and practiced “I statements”. Maybe you’ve already tried therapy, but it didn’t lead to any real change in your life, and you are seriously frustrated! You wake up stressed out and unfulfilled. Sometimes it’s all you can think about. It keeps you up at night. You work hard but you’re not even sure where you’re going. Your Instagram makes your life look enviable, but the truth is that there’s an emptiness that no one knows about. And you wonder…What if the emptiness is the part that’s real???

I am passionate about helping people who are stuck in a cycle of negative emotions and unhealthy relationships get unstuck, find their balance, and create loving, supportive, and sexy relationships. I can help you get your mojo back!

I know that therapy is a big investment of time, energy, and financial resources, and I respect that. I want you to have a sense of my style and qualifications so that you feel comfortable contacting me for your free phone or office consultation.  We’ll explore the ways I can help you with your specific situation.

If you choose to work with me, here’s what you get:

1. Actionable Ideas!

I make sure that by the end of each session you have some concrete tools to take home and try out before coming back for your next session. You are here because you are looking for some change in your life, and I want you to have the skills to make that happen!

2. Accountability

I am not just a sit-and-nod kind of therapist. I will call you out on your bulls**t. I want to make sure you can break free from the sneaky ways your mind tricks you into doing things that keep you stuck in patterns that no longer serve you.

3. Insight

One of my personal strengths as a therapist is being able to piece together the moving parts of your story and make sense of why you do the things you do. I will lead you to the key places where making small changes will have the biggest impact on your life.

4. Education, Training, and Love of Learning

I have years of training, practice, and experience, and I never stop working to learn more and stay on top of my field. I read the research, and I train and consult with experts in order to insure that you receive the most effective, most up-to-date therapy possible. For a list of my specific education and training, see “The Nitty Gritty” below.)

Studies show that most therapists do their best work in their first 5 years of practice? Why?. Because they get complacent.

I am not complacent.

5. Availability and Flexibility

I want this to be as easy as possible for you. The last thing I want to do is cause you more stress!

I answer my own phones and I respond quickly to messages. I have a secure video conferencing platform if you need to do video sessions when you are traveling, not feeling well, or just too busy to come in to my office. In fact, some of my clients prefer to do the majority of their sessions via video.

For your convenience I have appointments available both before and after work hours, and I am available for phone calls and text messages most evenings and weekends. I make it as convenient as possible for your busy life!

relationship therapist los angeles

6. Humor. That’s right, Humor.  

I debated whether or not to include this, but the truth is, if you don’t have a sense of humor we might not be a great fit. I love to laugh and a fair amount of laughter happens in my sessions! My office is a safe place for all emotions, though, and I buy Kleenex in bulk. We laugh, we cry–this is where Shit. Gets. Real.

 

I specialize in helping smart, motivated young men and women who have worked hard and overcome obstacles (and look good on Instagram!) but are secretly feeling lost and overwhelmed, and unhappy in their relationships.

I offer therapy both in my Los Angeles office, and online anywhere in California.

If all this piques your interest, please call me at 323-999-1537or email me at amy@thrivetherapyla.com for a free consultation. Or if it’s 2am and you want to skip the phone tag, go directly to my online calendar to schedule your consultation either on the phone or in my office.

I’d be honored to share this journey with you.

I Have a Lot More to Say…

Featured in Forbes, Bustle, Readers Digest, Us News and World Report, The Washington post, healthy way, thriveworks, fairygodboss, she said, she knows

My Training–the Nitty Gritty

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University, and a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles. In order to get my Marriage and Family Therapy license I did over 3000 hours of training and passed two rigorous exams. I stay up-to-date on the latest research and techniques by attending conferences and trainings provided by professional organizations such as CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) and The Milton Erickson Foundation.

In the field of relationships, in addition to training at the Couples Institute,  I have studied the work of Esther Perel, MFT; Michele Weiner-Davis, MSW (Divorce-Busting); and Dr. Sue Johnson (Emotionally Focused Therapy, or EFT). In the field of anxiety management I study and follow the somewhat unconventional but very effective work of Reid Wilson, PhD, Director of the Anxiety Disorders Treatment Center in North Carolina.

I have not only worked with teens and their families, but I have also raised four of my own children, who are now all in their 20's.  I can relate to teens, young adults and their families from both sides of the couch!

Some of the specialized trainings I have done include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – David Burns, M.D, Adjunct Clinical Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Couples Therapy – Ellyn Bader, PhD, Co-founder and Director of The Couples Institute, Menlo Park, CA.

LGBTQ Affirmative Therapy  – Joe Kort, PhD. Supervisor, American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)

I love learning and I am continuously studying, consulting, and training to become the best therapist I can be! Feel free to ask me about any of my specialized training and how it helps me with therapy for anxiety, couples counseling, and relationship therapy for individuals.