Do you find yourself unable to get out of bed in the mornings because you loathe going to work and feel significantly unmotivated? Or perhaps you feel like you derive no joy from activities you once loved and cherished.
It is also possible that the loss of a loved one hit you badly, and the grief seems to be consuming your days. Maybe you’re always worried about what the future holds, and retreat into your shell — and if you have been there for too long, perhaps that’s all you feel you know.
If you relate to any of the above, you are like many people we see at our office in Santa Monica. Life is full of ups and downs, but if the downs seem to consume all our emotional resources — we need to seek help to rejuvenate those resources. Just like how our body feels fatigued after excessive amounts of physical work, our mind can feel that way if it is constantly running on overdrive too.
Our psychotherapists at My LA Therapy are here to support you in your recovery and help you find the clarity, meaning, and joy that you really deserve. If you need help finding a psychologist in Santa Monica that’s right for you and aligns with your requirements, consider the factors we detail ahead before you make your pick.
A psychotherapist or therapist is a professional that helps people tackle mental health conditions. Psychotherapy is an intervention that uses psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal contact, to assist a person in changing their behavior, increasing their happiness, and overcoming difficulties.
The way they do this is with a thorough inquiry into your past that helps you uncover the causes of your negative emotions and experiences, and equips you with tools to manage those in the present.
While psychotherapy can assist with a wide array of emotional and mental health issues, most people choose to work with a psychotherapist in Santa Monica for anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia, and addiction.
There are some important differences between the terms “counselor” and “psychotherapist” although they are often used interchangeably and share many similarities. A counselor is usually recommended for specific issues and situations, such as addiction or grief, and the session can last from a few weeks to several months.
On the other hand, psychotherapy explores deep-rooted past issues and childhood issues that lead to present-day mental health issues over a period of several months or years. It can also be a continuous week-after-week exploration or intermittent, depending on your case.
Counseling tends to come under ‘talking therapy’ and it is an essential part of psychotherapy. It can also be seen as a subset of the psychotherapeutic process. You can reveal a deeper subconsciousness through psychotherapy counseling, enabling you to overcome the obstacles that are currently holding you back.
Here is a list of common services psychotherapists can offer clients:
There are many factors involved when you’re choosing a psychotherapist to support your mental health journey. They need to be the right fit for you and have the relevant qualifications and experience to become your guide on that journey.
Let’s go over some of the factors you need to consider to choose the right therapist for yourself:
Many mental health professionals specialize in different fields. For instance, some focus on anxiety, sleep disorders, and so on. You want to choose a therapist that is experienced in dealing with mental health issues that you are struggling with. A good way to determine this is to check out the kind of testimonials and reviews they have received — what kind of struggles did people come in with?
Their website should list the services they offer.
One of the most important factors that come into play while choosing a psychotherapist is evaluating their approach. A professional psychotherapist can use many different therapeutic approaches:
If you prefer one over the other, you should choose a psychotherapist that specializes in that field.
Now that you have a fair idea of how to choose a psychotherapist, you might be wondering if it is right for you. Truth is, therapy can be helpful for anyone who is going through emotional stress and is struggling with mental health. If you’re a student, it can help you find clarity about your career goals.
If you’re an adult, it can help you cope with stress, anxiety and conflicts with your loved ones. If you’re a parent whose child has left home for studies, you can find comfort and support in speaking with a therapist.
Therapy can benefit anyone. But if you find that your mental and emotional health is starting to affect how you take care of yourself or function in your day-to-day life — you should seek help immediately.
At My LA Therapy, we have a well-rounded approach to helping you in your journey. Our team of experienced professionals has helped many people from all walks of life find more joy and clarity in Santa Monica. Our reviews speak for themselves, and we have a solid reputation in our community in Los Angeles.
We have many patients (both adults and children) who are now thriving and living up to their full potential after they chose us. And we can help you find that life for yourself too.
Let’s work on creating a fulfilling life for you together.
I am blown away! I don’t write testimonials, unless I have been extremely moved by something. I was blessed to work with Brooke on a single session, and before this I was in therapy on and off with multiple therapists for the last 20 years of my life. Brooke was able to do more in one session than many years of work with my previous therapist. She has the true gift of great insight and compassion while also getting straight to the heart of your blind spots and unconscious issues in a way that has truly changed my life.
Skyler J.
There are people who are good at their work there are people like Brooke: who are born to do it. I cannot recommend Brooke more highly. I can only imagine where I would be today if I had started working with her years ago. From the beginning of our session, she knew exactly what tools and questions that would work for my particular psychology and my personal experience. No other therapist has been able to do that or anything close.
What I also really appreciate from our session is Brooke's ability to go directly to the source of the issue while also keeping a very gentle and kind energy with me. I felt very seen, understood, and supported. Everything and more that I could have ever asked for from a therapist. I have a severe trauma history and complex issues she was able to immediately identify and help. If she could help me, I know she can help you too.
Taylor E.
You did more in 45 minutes than my last therapist did in a year.
Jamie
With your help, I've finally started to understand that while my vivid imagination often wants to create terrifying monsters under the bed, in a lot of cases those monsters are nothing more than a heap of decidedly less-terrifying laundry I've avoided for too long that just needs to be aired out and put away. Which is definitely a lot easier than monster slaying. Thank you for shedding light in the dark places I was too afraid to face alone.
Morgan B.
I am extremely fortunate to work with Sydney, who is helping me create real internal change. The talent to listen well is Hall of Fame stuff, and she has that. She then follows with questions, strategies that are organic to the moment. I have come to believe that deep, radical, if occasionally deeply painful change ... and, then, healing can happen. I'm just at the lip of that last part - but would not have gotten there, AT ALL, without Sydney
Ric K.
The best therapist ever! Life-changing 🙂
Catherine H.
Right now, the work is changing my life, sometimes in inches, sometimes in miles.
Ric K.
