Therapists Providing Relational Therapy in Los Angeles

The common denominator in virtually all of my clients' struggles and problems is the lack of relationship with Self.

The relationship with your Self is the most important relationship. It's the “X-factor” for empowerment, change through awareness and action, and what makes transformation possible.

The common denominator in virtually all of the problems and symptoms that bring people to therapy is relationships, past and current and there is a prevailing lack of knowhow to boot.

Most of the relationships I work come in are mired in discord and disconnection due to the backlog of unexpressed feelings and unresolved issues that never get any airtime and a palpable wedge of mistrust and unsafety between them

Relationships are as good as the conversations had. Can you talk to each other? How much do you talk to each other? What can you talk about? But, more importantly, how well do they understand each other and feel in the process.

Usually the first conversation I facilitate and one you can expect to have, one I consider to be perhaps the most standard and basic one every couple needs to be able to have is, How are you feeling in the relationship and towards each other?

I create a safe space for you to begin having these ‘more difficult’ conversations and facilitate a process that ensures that you talk and listen to each other in a way, and about things, you never did before.

I believe that therapy should always be a safe environment, but "comfort" may need to be challenged in order for desired, transformative change to occur. My clients tend to come at a weekly session frequency for maintenance of a steady "flow" to our work.

My hope for any potential client is that they find the therapist that sufficiently aligns with their needs. If we find that after a couple sessions that our dynamic is not quite working, I will help you find a therapist that is a better fit.

Please feel free to contact me for a free, 15 minute phone consultation to determine whether we are a good therapeutic match. I look forward to hearing from you!

I want you to know that I love my work and look forward to collaborating with you. Psychotherapy is a hopeful endeavor. We will work together to understand your challenges and struggles and develop a path towards greater happiness and contentment in your life. You will have the opportunity to speak openly and honestly and be heard with empathy and respect.

It might help you to know that I have been a caretaker and understand the challenges. I also have three wonderful stepdaughters and can help you navigate the sometimes rocky road and eventually the joy of step parenting.

My clinical approach is flexible and will be based on what you need and feel comfortable with. Once we establish trust we will develop a plan to work together. Therapy can be brief or longer term depending upon your specific situation and needs. I enjoy using humor in our work as it can provide a fresh perspective on entrenched issues.

A lot of the clients I work with are high achievers; they’re organized, on top of things, and on the outside, it may look like they have it all together, but underneath they are struggling with self-doubt, never feeling good enough, and that feeling like their emotions are unmanageable. Being kind to yourself is so important to working with these issues and beginning therapy is a great way to start practicing this self-compassion.

I particularly enjoy working with people who are struggling with their relationship with food and their body, eating disorders and disordered eating, as well as anxiety and perfectionism. I’ll provide a supportive space to explore your challenges and together we’ll begin to notice themes and patterns and find better ways to cope. I work with you to understand the root of the issue so that you can create change in a meaningful and lasting way.

My practice philosophy is driven by the belief that genuine connection with others is essential to well-being. My hope is that you feel like you can talk to me about anything and trust that you’ll get supportive and objective feedback. Many of my client clients notice that not only do the issues they come in with improve significantly but they also gain a greater understanding of themselves and other areas of their lives improve as a result.

I’d love to talk to you more about what you’re looking for and how we can work together. I look forward to meeting you!

We don’t heal in isolation. We heal in the context of healthy and safe relationships. Together, we can lighten load that you’ve been carrying and make sense of the messiness of life. In sessions with me, you can expect to be empowered with practical tools, observations, insights and nurturing containment. I offer a safe, authentic space to unpack issues, repair emotional wounds, develop practical skills, engage in exploratory processing of patterns, and be connected with resources and information. Our work together will build on and activate your inner strength and resiliency.

Connecting with a professional therapist can shed light on patterns that may need to shift in order to align with the healthiest version of you. Weekly sessions can offer you a restorative sanctuary from which to heal, grow and break cycles of dysfunction. The therapeutic process is enlightening, transformative, and can surprisingly even be fun! The process puts you in the driver seat of your life rather than continuing to repeat unconscious patterns which are no longer serving you.

I would be honored to be a partner in your path to wellness. If you feel drawn to my approach, let's connect for a free consult.

The weight of emotional pain can be unbearable and lonely. It is difficult, impossible even, to envision feeling better, feeling fulfilled, feeling connected or just feeling like yourself again. These emotions may result from depression, anxiety, grief, relationship problems, pregnancy issues, school challenges, sports injuries, or life/work stressors. The Blue Clinic understands how daunting this first step can be and we provide a safe, warm space to help you make your way through this.

The Blue Clinic was founded in 2015 with the mission of providing care that is smart, warm, and pays careful attention to cultural markers. All the ways you move through the world impact your experience and your symptoms, and your treatment should be carefully crafted to address your unique needs. The Blue Clinic is committed to offering quality therapy and each clinician is carefully selected to be a member of our group. Our mental health clinicians graduate from board accredited training institutions, have extensive clinical experience, and share our founding ethos. Our clinicians employ their respective expertise to carefully and respectfully help you develop insight around unconscious processes, past patterns, relationship trends, and current behaviors through individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy and assessment.

It is in this process that you begin to feel better, feel more fulfilled, more connected, feel like yourself. We strive to help you lead a more fulfilling life. We welcome you to get to know our practice.

The therapeutic relationship is one of the leading proponents of change in the work that we do. Yes, concrete tools are necessary, but without the solid relationship foundation, the tools are not as impactful to the therapy process. I view the therapeutic relationship as an opportunity for us to examine a relationship closely in order to associate what happens between us to patterns/tendencies that occur for you elsewhere in other settings. In my approach to treatment, I am authentic, warm, understanding, and non-judgmental. I take a collaborative approach in helping you rediscover yourself and gain a better understanding of your experiences on both a cognitive and emotional level. We will work together to put our insight and curiosity into action by slowly shifting deeply engrained patterns and beliefs that no longer serve you. Doing so will allow us to make space for new shifts to unfold and the reduction of distressing symptoms that are preventing you from thriving in life.

My views are holistic in that I believe a multitude of various factors impact our overall wellbeing and therefore need to be examined. This includes how we nourish ourselves, movement, spiritual beliefs and practices, social connections, biological factors, creative outlets, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Humans are so complex and dynamic that no single approach is going to suit every healing process. This is why I draw from a variety of different modalities including psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-based approaches. I pride myself in my curiosity and honoring of various cultural backgrounds and practices. You are the expert in yourself and I am here to learn alongside of you and get curious about what you bring into our sessions.

Some therapists focus on “problems,” “disorders” or what’s “wrong” with people—I do things a little differently. I help you identify your strengths and support your capability to design and achieve new outcomes for yourself.

I don’t pretend to have the answers to all life’s questions. I am, however, prepared to create a safe environment where you can gain insight into your life, discover new possibilities and make new choices to create the life you want.

I believe that each of us has a deep-seated desire to know others and be known by others. When this doesn't happen, we often find ourselves isolated and feeling alone - even when surrounded by others.

I will create a safe space where you can explore, know, and understand your whole self, even the parts that you’re sometimes afraid to look at. I will help you remove shame, fear, loneliness, and guilt so that you can manifest your authentic self. I can help you get unstuck and discover who you really are. I can help you overcome the pain of rejection and embrace your authentic self.

Taking the first step to begin therapy can be challenging, but you won’t regret it. By now, you have already learned ways to tolerate life’s painful challenges. You don’t have to do this alone. Take the next step and call me today.

We understand how difficult it can be to seek out therapy and we are here to help you get started. Send us a message and we are happy to set up an initial consultation if needed.

Carmel Valley Psychologists (CVP) are LGBTQ+ informed and allied and specialize in working with marginalized populations and all genders. We work from an evidence-based framework that seeks to understand each individual’s patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behavior in order to deepen self-awareness and insight, reduce suffering, and provide a window for change. Therapy is tailored to each individual's needs and our approach is very supportive and collaborative.

Julie Manoogian, Psy.D. (CA License PSY31242) is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 18 years of experience in the mental health field. She has worked in multiple settings, including college counseling centers, an inpatient residential treatment facility, and private practice. Dr. Manoogian works from a trauma informed framework and has extensive training and expertise working with individuals and couples struggling with relationship challenges, emotion regulation, anxiety, stress, identity issues, self -esteem, and depression.

Dominic J. DiMaggio, Psy.D. (PSB# 94025634) is a registered psychological assistant. He has worked in multiple outpatient treatment facilities, including community mental health, public high school, federal career training facility, and university counseling centers. Dr. DiMaggio provides individual and couples therapy. He is interested in and has experience treating anxiety, depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic response, and relational distress.