GRIEF THERAPY IN LOS ANGELES

Hello, I’m Theodora!

I’m a therapist in Los Angeles by way of New York who works with humans experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, adoption and self-esteem issues. I’ll help you feel more at ease with both yourself and others so that you can live the life you’ve always dreamed of—and enjoy it, too!

Also, as a writer myself, I love helping other artists, writers, performers, and musicians tap into and excavate the emotional issues blocking them, freeing the space for them to move forward successfully in their creative lanes and careers.

You’ll connect with me as a therapist because I’ve been there—I’ve been to the depths of depression and back, so I know what a scary place it can be when you’re there. I am lucky to have had many hands on my back guiding me out of that dark place, and I want to do the same for you.

My Qualifications

I obtained my masters degree in clinical psychology to help others going through anything (or everything) I went through, and I consider myself an endless student. But here’s some institutions and organizations that I’ve trained with:

MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University
BA in Journalism, Spanish minor from American University
Certified Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider training from the Integrative Psychiatry Institute
Certified Grief and Loss Provider with Claire Bidwell Smith
Certified Running Coach with Road Runners Club of America
200-Hour Yogaworks Yoga Teacher Training
Certified Personal Trainer with National Academy of Sports Medicine

Ready to make a change? Let’s chat! →

My Approach to Therapy

Sometimes people come to therapy for a certain reason—depression, anxiety, loss of a loved one, trauma—but plenty of others come knowing they want something more out of their life, but they’re not sure what it is.

If you’re familiar with therapy terms (totally cool if you’re not!), my approach is a blend of psychodynamic therapy and a bit of Cognitive Behaivoral Therapy (CBT). All this means is that I’ll help you understand the whys of your feelings and behaviors, and helping you find the right coping skills for you for if those feelings become overwhelming.

Humor is one of my favorite therapeutic tools! I have a big laugh (strangers on the street stop me to compliment me on it!) - and while I believe that working on your mental health is one of the bravest and most important things you can do for yourself, I also bring my brand of east coast humor to the table and to my therapy practice, so your safe space in our sessions will also be a comfortable and enjoyable one.

Laughing is every bit as much of an emotional and physical release as crying. Plus, I firmly believe that sometimes life is just too absurd not to laugh at.

What’s Important to Me as a Therapist

→ I’ll Admit When I’m Wrong

This is the most important thing to me as a therapist. I hope to never hurt you, but I’m also a human and humans sometimes hurt each other unintentionally. My goal is always for you to feel safe enough to say “hey, you really fucked up. It really hurt when you said ____.” I also see the therapeutic relationship as a microcosm of the “real world,” and learning to repair ruptures in the therapy room will make our relationship stronger as well as your outside relationships.

→ I Know What It’s Like to Sit on Your Side of the Chair

I became a therapist because I was therapy’s number one fan. I’ve had a lot of experience as a client, including in inpatient situations. If there’s ever something I’m going to say that will come off as “easy for you to say,” I’ll explain to you why I’m making this suggestion and how I think it will benefit you.

→ I Won’t Judge You

One of my favorite fancy psychology terms is unconditional positive regard. Basically, all that means is that no matter what you tell me, it won’t change how I think of you. I’ll support you no matter what you tell me, and hopefully this makes it easier to tell me things. (OK, unless you say you hate my sweet little rescue Shih Tzu, Lucy. That might change how I think about you.)

→ You Matter, Regardless of Any of Your Identities

I’m aware of the many privileges I hold, and I’m aware that your experience of the world might be pretty different than mine if you’re in a marginalized group, and I’m committed to being culturally humble. I know what I don’t know, and I’m always learning so I can better understand the human experience and the people I work with.