"Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced."
— James Baldwin
If things were simple, you wouldn't be here.
Something has shifted, or quietly stopped working. Maybe you're trying to make sense of why the life you worked so hard to build doesn't feel the way you thought it would. Maybe a relationship that matters deeply is fracturing, or a betrayal has left you unsteady in ways that go far beyond the obvious. Maybe you're carrying grief or disappointment that never got the attention it deserved, or you're beginning to see how much of the past is quietly running the present.
These are not small things. They don't resolve on their own, and they deserve more than a surface-level response.
This practice is designed to meet the full complexity of your life, with the insight, experience, and honesty to help you heal, grow, and actually change.
Depth, Discretion, and Real Change
My approach is built on a single premise: Insight without action is just observation.
Good therapy requires more than a good listener. It requires clinical expertise, hard-won wisdom, and the courage to challenge what isn't working, even when that's uncomfortable.
I don't sit back and observe. I roll up my sleeves. Every session is an active collaboration, and you'll leave with something tangible, a shift in understanding, a specific tool, a clearer frame for what's been driving the pattern. Most clients find that this work moves faster than anything they've tried before, not because we rush, but because we work on the right things from the beginning.
Your time and your privacy are treated with the same care as the work itself. Discretion is not a feature of this practice. It is the foundation of it.
Services
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![Individual Therapy Services for anxiety, perfectionism, lack of fullfilment, sense of nothing being good enough, lack of purpose, burnout, exhaustion, relationship issues, fear of failure, impostor syndrom.]()
Individual Therapy
The most important relationship you have is with yourself, and most people don't give it nearly enough attention until something else stops working.Individual therapy is an invitation to understand yourself more honestly than daily life allows. You may arrive with a specific concern: a relationship that keeps failing in the same way, a decision you can't seem to make, a grief that never got the attention it deserved, a creeping sense that the life you've built doesn't quite match who you actually are. Sometimes it's a loss of purpose, a burnout that goes deeper than rest can fix, or the quiet anxiety of not knowing what you want next.
What most people find beneath the presenting issue is something richer and more worth examining: a clearer, more honest understanding of who they are, what they want, and what has been quietly standing in the way of it. That understanding is where real change begins, not just in the problem that brought you here, but in how you move through everything that comes after.
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![Couples therapy with Regina Abayev, JD LMFT focused on rebuilding intimacy, trust, communication, reducing conflict and navigating difficult life and family transitions.]()
Couples Therapy
Couples come to me at every stage, early in a relationship wanting to build something solid, years in and wondering how they got so far from each other, or in the aftermath of something that has shaken the foundation entirely.The concerns that bring people in are as varied as the relationships themselves. Infidelity and betrayal. Sexual and emotional disconnection. High conflict that has become the weather of the relationship rather than an exception to it. A loss of intimacy so gradual it was hard to name until it was impossible to ignore. Disagreements about parenting that have quietly become disagreements about everything. Couples on the edge of separation trying to decide clearly rather than reactively. Partners who love each other and can't seem to get on the same page about the life they're building together.
Most couples have been having the same conversation for years without resolution. That's rarely a communication problem. It's a signal that something deeper needs to be understood, and that's exactly where this work goes.
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![Family therapy focused on rebuilding trust, opening communication, healing past hurts and creating loving connection, trust and support.]()
Family Therapy
Families are systems, and systems develop patterns that can be remarkably difficult to see from the inside. What looks like a conflict between two people is often something the entire family is participating in without realizing it.Family therapy is an opportunity for everyone in the room to develop a clearer understanding of the dynamics at play and take genuine responsibility for their part in them. That includes families navigating divorce, blended family transitions, and reunification. Families where conflict has become chronic and communication has broken down entirely. Families where one person has been cast as the problem, the difficult one, the black sheep, when the truth is almost always more complicated than that.
The goal is not to assign blame or declare a winner. It's to help every member of the family see the system they're part of, understand their role in it, and build something more honest in its place.
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![Group therapy that is transformational and provides real-time feedback on how we are perceived, experienced and supported.]()
Group Therapy
There are things you cannot learn about yourself alone, and things a single therapist cannot show you that a room full of honest people can.Group therapy offers something individual work rarely can: real time feedback from multiple perspectives, the experience of being truly seen by others, and the opportunity to understand how you actually land in relationship, not how you think you do. For the right person, the growth that happens in a group setting is exponential precisely because the mirror is held by many hands at once.
Whether you struggle with vulnerability, isolation, or recurring interpersonal friction, explore how connecting with others can uncover patterns that individual therapy might miss.
What We Work On:
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You look fine on paper. Great, actually. But there's a background hum of "not enough" that never fully goes away. We work on what's underneath that, not just strategies to manage it.
The goal is to separate your sense of worth from your productivity, allowing you to maintain high standards without the constant backdrop of self-criticism or fear of failure.Common areas of focus:Difficulty relaxing, nervous system regulation, fear of failure, relentless self-criticism, and risk aversion.
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Professional demands often compete with relational needs, leading to partnerships that function well logistically but lack emotional depth. We work to identify patterns of disconnection—whether that manifests as communication breakdowns, infidelity, or simply growing apart—to restore safety and genuine intimacy.
Common areas of focus: Emotional distance, power imbalances, communication stalemates, fear of vulnerability, and infidelity recovery.
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We navigate the specific pressures inherent in high-stakes careers, including leadership dynamics, "golden handcuffs," and the fatigue that comes from constant decision-making. Our work focuses on establishing sustainable boundaries and determining whether your current path requires a new strategy or a fundamental pivot.
Common areas of focus: Imposter syndrome, conflict at work, professional stagnation, work-life integration, and loss of purpose.
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Past family history influences every aspect of your present life, parenting approaches, and partner choices. We examine these origins to understand their impact on your present-day reactions. This work allows you to break inherited cycles and respond to challenges with intentionality rather than reflex.
Common areas of focus: Family of origin issues, childhood trauma, navigating toxic family relationships, and identity integration.
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When stress exceeds capacity, coping mechanisms often shift from helpful to harmful. We examine behaviors like overwork, substance use, or emotional avoidance not as character flaws, but as attempts at regulation. We work to replace these with strategies that offer genuine relief and stability.
Common areas of focus: Reliance on substances/alcohol, emotional shutting down, risky behaviors, and compulsive overworking.
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The discovery of a partner’s infidelity or a significant breach of trust creates a unique form of trauma that attacks one's sense of reality. We work to stabilize the immediate disorientation and shock. The focus is on processing the betrayal without getting lost in the chaos, allowing for a clear decision-making process regarding the future of the relationship.
Common areas of focus: Discovery shock, "gaslighting" recovery, loss of reality, decision-making clarity, and rebuilding self-trust.
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Item For high-performers, dependency often hides in plain sight, masked by professional success. We address the reliance on alcohol, substances, or compulsive behaviors (such as workaholism or risky sexual behavior) used to manage stress. The goal is to move beyond "functional" dependency toward genuine regulation and freedom.
Common areas of focus: Alcohol and substance dependency, compulsive sexual behavior, technology addiction, and the cycle of numbing/performing.
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Success often creates structural isolation. Many clients experience a profound sense of loneliness despite having wide social or professional networks. We address the "void" that exists when interactions remain transactional or superficial, working to build relationships that offer genuine resonance and being seen rather than just admired.
Common areas of focus: Existential loneliness, lack of peer support, difficulty being vulnerable, and the "isolation of leadership."
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Life does not always follow a strategic plan. Whether navigating a sudden divorce, a legal challenge, or the illness of a loved one, we provide a grounded space to manage acute instability. We focus on maintaining executive functioning and emotional stability while navigating high-stakes personal challenges.
Common areas of focus: Divorce proceedings, sudden career loss, grief, legal stressors, and mid-life transitions.
How I Help:
My approach combines deep insight with practical strategy. We start by uncovering the root patterns driving your struggles. Then, we build a plan to change them. I focus on giving you tangible tools for stress management, boundaries, and high-stakes communication—helping you move from 'just coping' to a life that is authentic and aligned.
The Goal:
Our work is about building the capacity to enjoy the life you have worked so hard to create. We aim for more than just stress reduction; we aim for a life lived with intention. You can expect to build deeper, more honest relationships, and find the freedom to navigate challenges with a sense of calm and clarity that comes from the inside out.
About Me
Education & Clinical Experience
B.A. (Summa Cum Laude), University of Michigan | J.D., University of Michigan | M.A., Pepperdine University | Ph.D. (In Progress), Clinical Sexology, MSTI
Prior to private practice, I worked at Exodus Recovery Inc., a residential crisis facility supporting clients with substance use and mood disorders.
I gained deep experience in this high intensity rehab environment, seeing firsthand how addiction impacts an entire family system. I use this background to help you navigate the complex work of loving someone in crisis, holding boundaries, and maintaining your own stability in the storm.
My Practice
I'm a therapist. I'm also a former lawyer, a Wall Street veteran, and someone who has built companies, closed deals, and navigated the kind of high-stakes environments where there is no room for error.
This practice is designed for people who want to understand themselves deeply and change what is not working.
I have sat on the other side of the couch. I found traditional, passive therapy inefficient and, frankly, frustrating. What I needed was not just a witness. I needed someone who would engage directly, challenge my thinking, and name what I was not willing to see yet. That is the experience I bring here.
We work with direction and intention. I share what I observe, offer perspective you may not have access to on your own, and help you build a deeper understanding of what is driving your experience. We are not here for surface solutions.
The goal is agency. Not just relief from what is painful, but a deeper understanding of what drives you, so you are making conscious choices rather than reacting to old patterns. You came here to lead your life, not just manage it. That is what we are working toward.
Many of my clients work in high profile roles, with real stakes and real privacy concerns. Discretion is not a feature here; it is a given. I genuinely love this work, and I am particularly energized by clients who are used to being the smartest person in the room and want a therapist who can keep up.
If you’re wondering what this looks like in practice, check out the [FAQ: What to Expect].
Professional Background
My background is built on two decades of leadership in law, finance, and tech. I held senior roles at major investment banks, including Goldman Sachs (GS) and The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), and served as an early executive at several tech companies that reached “unicorn” status.
I helped raise hundreds of millions in funding for early stage companies, structured multi‑billion‑dollar capital markets transactions, reimagined the future of financial transactions on blockchain at Figure Technologies, and served as a co‑founder with a successful exit at FinDox Inc. Having acted in roles ranging from General Counsel to Head of Product, I understand the relentless pace, pressure, and politics of that world. I bring that real‑world perspective into this practice alongside a genuine love for what I do.
I share this not to impress you, but because it matters for the work. I know what it is like to perform at a high level. I know what “golden handcuffs” actually feel like. I understand the loneliness that can come with a title, and the particular exhaustion of being the person everyone else leans on.
Personal Life
Outside of the office, I have a deep love for the outdoors. As a former endurance cyclist, I still find my best clarity when I’m moving or just getting fresh air.
At home, I am navigating life with two teenagers and a blended family. They keep me grounded and humble. Mostly by informing me, regularly, that my jokes aren’t nearly as funny as I think they are.
Serving couples and professionals in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and the greater South Bay.
Located in the heart of Hermosa Beach, this practice serves clients in person and virtually across California. Whether you're in the South Bay, Los Angeles, or anywhere in between, working together is straightforward and accessible. My office is located in the heart of Hermosa Beach about a 10-minute walk from Pier Ave. and a 15-minute walk from the beach.
Evening and weekend availability, because your schedule shouldn't be what stands between you and this work.
Serving Nearby Cities:
Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey, Redondo Beach, Torrance, El Segundo, Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Playa Vista, Greater Los Angeles
Contact Info:
Hermosa Beach Office
2309 Pacific Coast Hwy Suite #202
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254-2751
Phone Number & Email
(323) 646-6263
info@reginaabayev.com