Family Therapy
Families are systems. And like any system, they develop patterns that become self-reinforcing over time, patterns that can be remarkably difficult to see clearly from inside them. What presents as a problem with one person is almost always something the entire family is participating in, usually without realizing it.
Most families who come here are not in chaos. They are in a stuck place. A dynamic that has calcified. A conflict that keeps returning in the same form no matter how many times it gets addressed. A family member whose behavior is signaling something that nobody has quite been able to name. A transition, divorce, remarriage, a crisis, that has disrupted the equilibrium and left everyone uncertain about what comes next.
This work helps families see the system they are part of, understand what is actually driving the pattern, and build something more honest and functional in its place.
What Brings Families Here
Parent-Child Conflict
When the relationship between a parent and child has become a source of chronic tension, it rarely stays contained. It affects the whole family, the marriage, the siblings, the atmosphere of the home. We work to understand what the conflict is actually about, which is often not what it appears to be on the surface, and to rebuild a relationship that has room for both the parent's authority and the child's developing sense of self.
Teens and Adolescents
Adolescence is one of the most psychologically complex periods of a person's life, and one of the most frequently misread by the adults around them. A teenager who is withdrawing, acting out, struggling academically, or showing signs of anxiety or depression is communicating something. The question is whether anyone in their life has the tools to hear it.
I work with teenagers directly and with their families, helping parents understand what their adolescent is navigating and helping teenagers feel understood by the people who matter most to them. I am also a parent of teenagers, which informs this work in ways that clinical training alone cannot.
Families Navigating Divorce and Its Aftermath
Divorce reorganizes everything. Roles, routines, loyalties, and the basic architecture of daily life all shift at once. For children especially, the way a family handles divorce matters as much as the divorce itself. We work to help every member of the family navigate the transition without carrying the weight of adult conflict, and to establish new structures that provide stability when everything else is in flux.
Blended Family Transitions
Integrating two family systems requires far more than goodwill. It requires clear roles, honest conversations about expectations, and the patience to let new relationships develop at their own pace rather than forcing them. Stepparent roles, loyalty binds, sibling dynamics, household rules that don't match: these are not signs that the blended family is failing. They are the normal friction of two systems learning to coexist. We help families navigate that friction with clarity and care.
Families of Someone in Crisis
When one member of a family is struggling with addiction, mental illness, or acute crisis, the entire family reorganizes around that person in ways that are rarely healthy for anyone. We work with families to understand their role in the system, set boundaries that are both compassionate and sustainable, and find a way to support their loved one without losing themselves in the process.
How This Work Is Different
Family therapy in this practice is not a roundtable where everyone takes turns expressing their feelings. It is active, structured, and direct. I observe the dynamics in the room in real time, name what I see, and help each member of the family understand their role in the pattern rather than waiting for someone else to change first.
The goal is not harmony for its own sake. It is honesty, accountability, and a family system that works for everyone in it.
This practice serves families in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes, and across California via telehealth. Evening and weekend availability.
If you're ready to prioritize your family relationships, reach out for a consultation. Let's start working towards healing and a clearer path forward.