Therapists in California

I work with people navigating developmental trauma, addiction, depression, and the complicated work of couples relationships. My own path through these same struggles — trauma, addiction, and long-term depression — sparked a nearly twenty-year exploration into meditation and somatic psychotherapy, and shaped how I show up with clients now. I hold a master's in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling from Naropa University and I'm a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and Certified Addiction Specialist. I've worked in community mental health and private practice since 2014, with individuals and couples alike. What I care about most is helping people find real, felt change — not just insight, but a shift in the body and nervous system that actually sticks. Outside of sessions, you'll probably find me at the record store, on a trail, or dancing badly in my living room with my wife and daughter. I'd be glad to work with you.

Danielle Wiggins, founder of Space Takes Practice, offers trauma-informed somatic, EMDR, grief, OCD, and movement therapy.

Hi, I'm Emma. I work with people navigating anxiety, big life transitions, and the deeper process of becoming more authentically themselves. My approach blends body-based trauma work (Somatic Experiencing™) with contemplative practice and depth psychology — because real change happens when we work with the body and nervous system, not just the mind. I hold a Master of Divinity from Naropa University and have trained in various bottom-up modalities. Above all, I meet you where you are, and I'd be honored to walk this next part of your journey with you.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Play Therapist, and Certified LEGO Serious Play Facilitator. I offer a specialized playroom designed to support engaging, developmentally appropriate work with children, teens, and families. I help clients navigate emotional and behavioral regulation challenges, anxiety, low self-esteem, trauma, parenting stress, and neurodevelopmental differences, including ADHD, Autism, and learning differences. I also support individuals and couples working through relationship and attachment concerns, as well as life transitions across all stages of development. My work extends to women seeking greater emotional balance and clarity, couples looking to strengthen communication and connection, and families striving for more harmony and cohesion. I specialize in working with children, teens, young adults, adults, couples, and families, with focused support in women’s wellness, divorce transitions, and families of individuals with special needs, all through an integrated, brain-based approach to care.

Hi! I’m Elise, an Associate Clinical Social Worker with five years of experience in the mental health field. I have worked across a variety of treatment settings, including residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient care. I work with Individuals, couples, adolescents and children. I utilize a trauma-informed and eclectic approach, blending evidence-based therapies such as CBT, ACT, and DBT, while also drawing from Compassion-Focused Therapy to help cultivate your compassionate self and guide you toward treating yourself with the kindness you deserve. For trauma-focused work I pull from DBT and CPT to help my clients gain relief from the hold that trauma may have on them. I also have specialized training in OCD and Eating disorders and am a HAES aligned Clinician. In my work with couples, I utilize techniques derived from the Gottman Method and EFT. I value using humor in therapy and prioritize building strong relationships with my clients so they feel heard, seen, and supported in a nonjudgmental environment. I also find it important to bring attention to the cultural and systemic forces that may shape how you view yourself, helping to ‘zoom out’ and gain a broader understanding of your experiences. Outside of work, I enjoy hanging out with my cat, hiking, spending time at the beach, and diving into my latest library find. I believe that bringing curiosity, balance, and compassion into life is just as important as the therapeutic work, and I aim to model that approach with the clients I work with.

 I have been practicing as a clinical psychologist for 20 years in my own private practice. I feel honored to be trusted my thousands of clients who have started one of their most valuable journeys with me. I work to create a non-judgmental and safe environment that allows you be vulnerable.  I use a variety of approaches to work with each individual depending on the challenges that may come up in every session.   

Hello, and thank you for considering me to be your therapist. I know it can be a tough decision both to start therapy and to choose someone to work with, so I hope you can be proud of yourself for taking the steps. When we work together, I plan to see an increase in self-worth, and a desire to determine what you want and how to go for it! We'll work with what holds you back, and on how to create a vision that helps move through hardship, trauma, and barriers from the past. I operate with empathy and compassion, but with the framework of us each telling the truth so we can move toward what's helpful in your life. Together we can identify and explore patterns, the stories you tell yourself, and how what you learn about yourself is impacting your mood, self-image, relationships, career, family, etc. My intention is to provide you with reflection, resources, and questions that guide you to your own insight. You may recall things from your past, you may not. You might connect some dots, you might have some breakthroughs. You may be challenged, you might grow. Whatever therapy is meant to be for you, it can be. If you’d like to book a free 15-minute phone consultation, to determine if we’re a good mutual fit for this work, I’d love to hear from you! 

I have a passion for helping people who have educational and relational challenges due to ADHD & neurodivergence. I can help you if you are struggling in a relationship due to infidelity or divorce or just can't find the relationship you know you need. Many people who come to me are experiencing anxiety, depression, are unsure about how to help themself with stress or procrastination, feelings of instability during a life transition. Therapy is a wonderful opportunity for support, to grow insight, and make change. It's scary when you don't know why things aren't going your way. I have helped people understand their behaviors, feelings, and brain chemistry so they can be happier. We will focus on strengthening your mental well-being and helping you be true to yourself and the people you love. I do individual and couple's therapy.

Maria Aurora San Pedro is an AAPI Therapist in the state of California. She is a well versed Therapist with a demonstrated history of working in the mental health industry for 12 years. Skilled in Evidenced Based Practices, with an emphasis in providing culturally responsive care, Maria Aurora works with clients to build awareness around the mind and body. Maria Aurora Functions through heart center to guide individuals in finding ways to live more authentically. By addressing intergenerational trauma and encouraging the practice self compassion, she is able to assist clients in meeting their truest selves.

You’ve spent years holding it all together, but inside, something feels off. Maybe it looks like high-functioning anxiety, low motivation, or feeling emotionally flat. Maybe it’s a quiet sense of “something is missing,” even though life appears full. Maybe you're in the midst of a life transition — a shift in identity, purpose, relationships, or stage of life — and you're not sure who you are anymore. You’ve tried to think your way through it. You’ve read the books, stayed busy, pushed forward. But deep down, you know this requires something different—something more profound. If you resonate with any of this, you’re not alone. I specialize in working with adults who are ready to slow down and explore the inner landscape that often gets ignored — the parts of ourselves that don’t show up on the surface, but shape everything underneath. My clients are thoughtful, self-aware, and deeply tired of staying stuck. They’re often navigating: A midlife crisis or major life transition Menopause or identity shifts related to aging Low self-worth, shame, or chronic people-pleasing Overthinking and high internal pressure Feeling disconnected from their joy, purpose, or body A sense of numbness, loss, or emotional confusion Many have spent years succeeding on the outside while feeling disconnected or unfulfilled inside. They don’t want band-aid solutions — they want real, lasting change. My approach is depth-oriented, relational, and insight-driven. I don’t believe in quick fixes. Therapy with me is about gently peeling back the layers — roles, expectations, early attachment patterns — to reconnect with the core of who you are. My work is rooted in: Attachment-Based Therapy – to help you understand how early relationships shape emotional patterns Depth Psychology – for uncovering unconscious beliefs and internal narratives EMDR Therapy – to process trauma and create new emotional pathways Psychodynamic Therapy & Mindfulness – to integrate past and present with awareness and compassion Together, we create a space where you can be deeply seen and gently challenged — a space where real transformation becomes possible. I hold a Master’s in Clinical Counseling from the California School of Professional Psychology and have advanced training in EMDR, psychodynamic therapy, trauma-informed care, and somatic practices. I am multilingual (English, Italian, and Spanish) and bring a culturally inclusive lens to my work. Prior to becoming a therapist, I worked in creative industries and international environments — so I understand the pressures of fast-paced, high-expectation lives, and the emotional cost that comes with constantly "performing." Ready to begin? I see clients in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and virtually across California. If you're seeking deeper meaning, emotional relief, or simply a safe space to rediscover yourself, I’d be honored to walk with you. 📍 In-person and Telehealth Available 🌐 www.lauramalandrino.com 📧 [email protected] 📞 (747) 334-2972