Who I am and how I work

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #44632) in a private practice in Arcadia, CA. I work with individuals, adolescents, and families. I assist clients through life's transitions and challenges that can potentially lead to depression, anxiety, low self-image, decreased self-confidence, or behaviors they would like to change. I work with couples who want to improve their relationships and those considering marriage or separation. We will work together to figure out where you are, where you want to be, and how you can get there. I provide childhood and relationship trauma treatment if necessary to help individuals heal and move on in life.

I find that cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused therapy in conjunction with mindfulness, behavior modification, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), TRM (trauma resiliency model) works well for most people. My approach is integrative and tailored to each individual or couple. My goal is to assist you in developing skills and strategies that you can use to bring about realistic and positive changes in your life.

My background

I grew up in Ukraine, studied and lived in Moscow, Russia, before moving to the USA in 1994. I have two master degrees in psychology: one from Moscow State University, another from New York University. I started practicing psychotherapy in 1999 in Houston, TX, with individuals who suffered chronic pain. Since 2004 I work in Los Angeles, CA, with children, adolescents, and adults.

Professional affiliations

Trauma Resource Institute, EMDR International Association, Tourette Association of America, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), and San Gabriel Chapter of CAMFT.

Personal

I like to travel, read, hike, dance, and paint in watercolor. I speak Russian and Ukrainian.