About
Therapy

At the root of so much suffering is one simple yet insidious cause: self-doubt. As we reclaim our inner knowing, many of our mental health concerns begin to heal and self-liberate.

Our goal is to help you find clarity, purpose, and strength as you reconnect to your intuitive wisdom and cultivate an unshakeable resiliency that you carry into every challenge you face.

Therapy Works

My LA Therapy Philosophy

As more and more research is conducted, one thing becomes increasingly clear: therapy works. Independent researchers continually find the benefits of psychotherapy not only endure but increase over time. Even more compelling is the finding that the indicators of emotional health for recipients of psychodynamic therapy equal and often exceed those of medication. To see the research for yourself, click here: The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.

Effective therapy actually alters the chemicals in your brain and rewires your neural pathways, transforming the way you process information about yourself and the world. In fact, therapy has even been shown to have a powerful impact on physical diseases. In one study, patients with metastatic breast cancer who received therapy lived an average of 18 months longer than those who did not. You can find out more about how therapy impacts the brain and body by clicking on the following link: Evidence Is In: Psychotherapy Changes the Brain.

0
THERAPISTS & PROFESSIONALS
0
SPECIALTIES
0
SERVICES
0
WELLNESS SERVICES
0
LOCATIONS

While some anxiety is a normal part of life (sigh), when it’s accompanied by feelings of hopelessness or loss of control—or when it starts to interfere with your everyday functioning—it’s time to seek help from a professional therapist.

Scientifically speaking, anxiety is just your body’s natural response to stress.

Sadness is a normal part of life, but when it’s accompanied by hopelessness, worthlessness, or numbness, it’s a sign that there’s something more serious at hand that requires professional attention and care. These feelings may indicate that you’re experiencing depression, a common mood disorder that can stem from trauma, learned behavior, negative thought patterns, and biochemistry–or some combination of all of the above.

Love can be one of the most powerful and beautiful experiences in life, but at times it can also bring us more pain than joy. Can you relate?

Dating can be as intoxicating and exciting as it is painful and destructive. And sometimes we find ourselves in relationships that hurt us or just aren’t right for us, but we still have a hard time leaving.

Click on the button below to learn about all our specialties.

While each member of our Therapist Team has a great deal of training and experience, what makes us different is who we are. Authenticity, openness, and warmth are a central part of who we are and how we practice. We strive to be real and we don’t put on pretenses or hide behind the veil of professionalism. Because we have overcome struggles in our own lives, we feel uniquely qualified to help you with yours — not looking down from an ivory tower, but as people who have been in the trenches too. Remember this. Whatever you are feeling, no matter how crazy or scary or different, you are not alone.

My LA Therapy - Klara Knypinski (featured)

Klara Knypinski
ASW

Klara Knypinski ASW

therapy session in west la

No matter how difficult and painful it may be, nothing sounds as good to the soul as the truth.

— Martha Beck

About Klara

Navigating life’s ups and downs can be complex and confusing, revealing our underlying vulnerabilities and unconscious pain. As a therapist, my passion lies in supporting you on your unique path to building more joy, peace, and resilience as we discover the lessons within life’s various challenges. 

My work is centered on forming a trusting and deeply compassionate relationship of full permission, welcoming all parts of you. This foundational safety allows for genuine trust to be established and embedded throughout our sessions so that the deep work of healing, growth, and expansion can take place.

Therapy is a place to bring your deepest truths to the surface so you can begin to live in alignment with who you really are (and wave goodbye to the things that just aren’t YOU!). As we cultivate a space of deep self-forgiveness and self-permission, we reclaim a more authentic and soulful experience of our own lives. 

Uncovering and deciphering what serves you and what doesn’t can be a powerful and formative experience, and I’m honored to walk alongside you on this journey of self-discovery as we empower you with tools to cultivate deeper peace, self-trust, and vitality.

How I Work

My practice is rooted in supporting you as the whole and complex person that you are. I utilize an integrative approach to therapy,  combining psychodynamic therapy (exploring where unconscious patterns arise from), somatic experiencing (trauma-informed exercises to soothe and heal physiological distress in the body) to best support your needs and desires, with other structured and research-based approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), mindfulness based therapy practices, and motivational interviewing. 

Our work in therapy is collaborative, and we will adapt approaches and work together to explore what works best for your unique needs and preferences. 

I work primarily with adults, teens, and folks going through changes (internal or external) in life. In addition to working with anxiety, depression, trauma, and PTSD, I specialize in challenges related to self-esteem, relationships, codependency, multicultural identity, and people-pleasing. 

I’m passionate about exploring how oppressive structures (from society, culture, family, etc) could be perpetuating a sense of misalignment with your truth and your unique, individual expression. 

Attachment Theory and Systems Theory are two of the most prominent theories that inform the basis of my practice.

If you’re curious and ready to explore therapy, feel free to reach out to me for a complementary 15-minute phone consultation to ask any questions and see if working together feels like a good fit for your needs.

Office Location(s): Culver CityOnline and Mobile

Je parle français

I am an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) #106801. I am employed by My LA Therapy and supervised by Manuel Briones, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) #11831

Erin Astin - new - 500

Erin Astin
AMFT, APCC

Erin Astin AMFT, APCC

therapy session west la

I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.

— Louisa May Alcott

About Erin

My main priority as your therapist is to ensure you feel heard and understood. I know firsthand the vulnerability that comes with sharing intimate struggles, and I applaud you for showing up for yourself in this way! I approach my clients holistically—not as “problems to solve” but as humans with a rich history and complexity to them. As a person-centered therapist, I believe wholeheartedly that you are the expert in your own life, and will work collaboratively with you to develop a plan of care that feels good for you. I have no agenda of my own other than to be your champion and ally throughout this process of growth and healing.

How I Work

I offer therapy sessions to young adults, adults, teenagers, and couples struggling with a variety of mental health concerns. I specialize in working with depression, anxiety, stress management, self-esteem and self-doubt, life transitions, dating and relationship struggles, sexual abuse, and trauma. In addition to a career in mental health, I am also a professional actress. I know the unique struggles that come with pursuing a career in the creative arts, and am passionate about providing therapeutic support for other artists! While I focus much of my therapeutic work around somatic techniques, my practice is also informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Psychodynamic and Attachment Theory, and Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy.

While sadness, anxiety, anger, and self-blame are all normal reactions to life’s challenges, there can come a time when these feelings become overwhelming to the point where our relationships and quality of life are being affected. If you are looking for support, please feel free to reach out for a complementary 15-minute phone consultation to determine if this feels like a good fit. I look forward to meeting you!

Office Location(s): Santa Monica – PromenadeCulver CityOnline and Mobile

I am a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) #134319 and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) #12020. I am employed by My LA Therapy and supervised by Manuel Briones, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) #11831.

My LA Therapy - Brianna Brennen (featured)

Brianna Brennen

About Brianna

As a former collegiate athlete and a current strength and conditioning coach, I have a competitive passion for helping people reach their goals and become the best version of themselves. Through my experience working with teams and individuals I am invested in the importance of people helping one another achieve goals and discipling together on the journey. My time in college and graduate school has equipped me with the tools and personal relation techniques to assess, prescribe and support those looking to better themselves in a holistic manner: physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

In my free time I enjoy volunteering, playing beach volleyball, and spending time in nature. 

HOW I WORK

I offer personalized training plans and sessions to all clients and take a holistic approach to improve outlook, self-esteem, and overall quality of life.  An initial assessment complete with goal setting helps me build a truly unique plan and understand my clients on a personal level; emphasizing quality over quantity.

I am available to train in-home or on-site (whether that’s outdoor or at a facility such as a gym, park, beach, etc.) in Santa Monica, Venice, Culver City, El Segundo and the South Bay. I offer online/remote training in Silverlake and Sherman Oaks. I also have a personal gym in Redondo.

p. 314.239.5710 e. [email protected]

Office Location(s): In-Home, On-Site

My LA Therapy - Lee Goldstein (featured)

Emily “Lee” Goldstein
ASW

Emily "Lee" Goldstein ASW

therapy west la

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

— Maya Angelou

About Lee

The choice to start your journey in therapy is one of the hardest, but most rewarding decisions you can make. My own experience in my personal therapy has been one of the most impactful and transformative experiences of my life and has allowed me to live in a way I never thought possible.

I see the relationship between a client and therapist as a partnership. We become a team working together to help you heal, grow, and meet your self-determined goals so that you can begin to thrive. Supporting individuality while also considering the many identities one may hold, I am passionate about helping people gain the courage to live out their unique self-expression.

By addressing past traumas and healing old wounds, therapy can provide an avenue for each individual to live life in a way that is authentic and true to who they are. I will work with you to break patterns and cycles in your life that no longer serve you and to develop new ways of being that are based in consciousness and autonomy.

How I Work

I take a person-centered approach to therapy because I believe that you are the foremost expert on yourself, your life, and your unique needs in the therapy process.

Exploring how our past has shaped us and reflecting on those experiences helps us grow and heal in the present. Through this process, we can uncover and heal the unconscious forces that may be running the show behind the scenes and begin to change the repeating patterns that keep us stuck.

I work from an intersectional and trauma-informed perspective with the understanding that each person comes with their own unique histories, experiences, and ways of moving through the world.

As for treatment modalities, I draw primarily from Family Systems Theory, Psychodynamic Theory, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. While I have advanced training in these modalities, I will always tailor our work to focus on your individual needs and what is most effective for you.

I identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community and have a deep passion for serving my community members, however, I welcome clients from all backgrounds and am genuinely devoted to serving all who wish to begin their therapeutic journey.

Please reach out to me and I would be happy to set up a time for a short phone consultation for us both to determine if we are a good fit!

Office Location(s): Online and Mobile

I am a Registered Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) #108820. I am employed by My LA Therapy and supervised by Manuel Briones, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) #11831.

Jason-Kim-Therapist (featured)

Jason Kim
ASW

The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.

— Carl Rogers

About Jason

Meaningful change arises from awareness and acceptance. As a psychotherapist and clinical social worker, I am here to walk alongside you as we venture inward, develop an understanding of our inner experience, and come to terms with the strengths and fallibilities that make us human. Together, in a therapeutic process empirically grounded in psychology and guided by honest self-compassion, we will develop skills and explore ways of thinking that will open the door to healing, growth, and fulfillment.

How I Work

I work with adolescents, young adults, and adults in individual psychotherapy. Holding in mind the whole person and understanding that diagnostic labels do not define people, I simultaneously see the value in using diagnoses to guide treatment while not allowing them to limit the larger view of a person’s strengths and individuality. That being said, I specialize in mood and personality disorders. In therapy, I use a holistic and empirical approach that is uniquely tailored to each individual, pulling concepts and techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Narrative Therapy, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness.

Office Location(s): Online and Mobile

I am a Registered Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) #102404. I am employed by My LA Therapy and supervised by Manuel Briones, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) #11831.

Claire-Summers-Therapist (featured)

Claire Summers
ASW

Claire Summers ASW

therapy session west la

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

— Maya Angelou

About Claire

As your therapist, I am committed to offering a safe and non-judgmental partnership where we can join together to unlock a deeper understanding of what might be holding you back from living an authentic and empowered life. My hope is to help you build upon your innate strengths, uncovering what might be buried under anxiety, depression, or fear.

Having navigated my own healing journey, I recognize the courage and vulnerability it takes to reach out for support. I believe that it is my responsibility to be my most authentic self in the therapy room, and I encourage you to do the same. I will walk with you on this journey, using the space that we create to move beyond the beliefs that have disconnected us from our highest potential future selves.

How I Work

My practice emphasizes experiential, somatic, and cognitive-behavioral techniques to help reestablish and strengthen the connection between the mind and the body. During our sessions, I will guide you to lean into the sensations in your body and practice new ways to attune to our bodies and our experiences. It might feel odd at first, but the more we practice embodying this new way of being, the closer we move to our true selves. 

I specialize in chronic pain and chronic illnesses, utilizing Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), a mind-body approach that reduces and eliminates symptoms. In addition, I have experience working with anxiety, depression, anger, relationships, and addiction. Although I emphasize somatic techniques, my practice is informed by a number of therapeutic models including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and person-centered approaches that incorporate concrete tools and strategies to use in and out of the therapy room.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out for a phone consultation to determine if we could be a good fit!

Office Location(s): Santa Monica – Promenade, Santa Monica – Mar Vista, BrentwoodCulver CityOnline and Mobile

I am a Registered Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) #102195. I am employed by My LA Therapy and supervised by Manuel Briones, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) #11831

Previous
Next

At the beginning of treatment, it is recommended that you meet with your therapist weekly. Standard sessions are 50-minutes long. You may request longer sessions in advance if you plan ahead and schedule them with your therapist. To set something up, all you have to do is email or call us and determine a time that works for you and for your therapist. To learn more about our team and choose which therapist is best for you, please visit the Therapy Team page.

At the beginning of treatment, it is recommended that you meet with your therapist weekly. Standard sessions are 50-minutes long. You may request longer sessions in advance if you plan ahead and schedule them with your therapist. To set something up, all you have to do is email or call us and determine a time that works for you and for your therapist. To learn more about our team and choose which therapist is best for you, please visit the Therapy Team page.

What Our Clients Say

Therapy locations in West Los Angeles, Culver City & Santa Monica.

Santa Monica

Main Street

Santa Monica

Promenade

Culver City

West Los Angeles

Online Therapy

Mobile

Ready to level up your life?