Licensed to practice in 2 states and accepts 1 insurance. Specializes in Anxiety, Coping Skills, Depression
(she/her)
Clients say this provider is
I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and have been practicing since 2020. I earned my Master of Arts in Clinical and School Counseling from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based practices. I help clients better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships so they can break unhelpful patterns and respond to life with greater intention. My work often focuses on anxiety, trauma, grief, emotional regulation, relationship concerns, self-esteem, boundaries, and major life transitions. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, I tailor therapy to each person’s needs and goals, drawing from approaches such as CBT, ACT, DBT-informed skills, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed care. My goal is to help clients develop greater self-awareness, emotional flexibility, resilience, and confidence while creating meaningful and sustainable change. Outside of therapy, I enjoy hiking, traveling, reading, painting, journaling, and spending time with family and friends.
Therapy is a space to make sense of what you’re going through and develop a clearer direction forward. We’ll identify the experiences, beliefs, and patterns influencing your current situation and consider what needs to shift for you to feel more grounded and fulfilled. I value therapy that translates into real life. Our work may involve developing new ways of responding to emotions, practicing healthier communication, examining relationship patterns, or taking steps toward changes that matter to you. The pace and focus will be guided by your circumstances, readiness, and goals. Throughout the process, we’ll assess what is working, make adjustments when needed, and recognize the progress that can be easy to overlook. My role is not to tell you how to live, but to help you develop the insight, skills, and confidence to make decisions that are right for you.
My strength is creating a space where clients can be honest about what they are experiencing without feeling judged, rushed, or defined by their struggles. I listen closely to both what is being said and the patterns underneath it, helping clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships. I bring a practical yet reflective approach to therapy. I adapt our work to the individual rather than relying on a fixed formula, combining evidence-based strategies with genuine curiosity about each client’s experiences. I help clients move beyond simply understanding their challenges by developing greater emotional awareness, healthier patterns, stronger boundaries, and the confidence to make intentional choices. What stands out most is my belief that meaningful change comes from both insight and practice. Therapy should help you understand yourself differently—and give you opportunities to live differently.
My ideal client is someone who is ready to better understand themselves and make meaningful changes, even if they are not yet sure where to begin. They may be navigating anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, emotional overwhelm, low self-esteem, life transitions, or patterns that they recognize are no longer serving them. I work well with clients who are curious about the connection between their experiences, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors and are willing to engage in honest self-reflection. You do not need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Whether your goal is to feel more emotionally grounded, improve your relationships, strengthen boundaries, or develop a clearer sense of direction, we can work together to identify what needs to change and build a path forward that feels authentic to you.
Anxiety
Coping Skills
Depression
Woman
Adults (18 to 64)
California
Washington
Cash - $225 per session
I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients develop a different relationship with difficult thoughts and emotions. Rather than trying to eliminate uncomfortable experiences, we explore how to notice them without automatically reacting to them or allowing them to dictate behavior. In practice, this may involve identifying emotional and behavioral patterns, creating space between an experience and a response, clarifying what matters most to the client, and practicing choices that are consistent with those values. The goal is to build psychological flexibility—the ability to remain present with difficult experiences while still moving toward the life and relationships that matter to you.
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients understand how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors influence one another. We identify patterns that may be contributing to distress and examine whether those patterns are helping or holding the client back. I use CBT in a practical and collaborative way, helping clients develop more balanced perspectives, challenge unhelpful thinking, and experiment with new behaviors outside of sessions. The goal is not simply to “think positively,” but to develop more accurate, flexible ways of interpreting experiences and responding to them. Over time, this can support greater confidence, emotional stability, and meaningful behavioral change.
I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help clients understand the emotions and underlying needs that shape their relationships. We explore recurring interaction patterns and how they can contribute to conflict, disconnection, or difficulty feeling understood. Our work focuses on increasing emotional awareness, expressing needs more effectively, and developing more secure and responsive ways of relating. Whether working individually or with relationship concerns, I help clients recognize the patterns they want to change and build greater trust, connection, and emotional security.
I use Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help clients clarify what they want to change and understand what may be getting in the way. Instead of directing clients toward predetermined answers, I use a collaborative approach that helps them identify their own motivations, values, and readiness for change. We may explore ambivalence, build confidence, and identify realistic next steps that feel personally meaningful. My goal is to help clients strengthen their sense of ownership over the change process so that progress is driven by their own insight and commitment rather than pressure from others.
I use a trauma-informed approach that recognizes trauma as an experience that can overwhelm a person’s sense of safety, control, or ability to cope. Trauma can result from a single overwhelming event or from repeated experiences such as abuse, neglect, loss, instability, or prolonged exposure to stressful relationships or environments. Its effects may show up in emotions, relationships, behaviors, self-perception, and the way a person responds to stress. In therapy, I focus on understanding how these experiences may be influencing the present without defining the person by what happened to them. I prioritize safety, trust, choice, and collaboration while helping clients develop healthier ways to respond to emotional triggers, strengthen resilience, and regain a greater sense of agency and connection with themselves.
18 ratings with written reviews
March 15, 2026
Truly so grateful to have found a therapist like Ilhan Ali. She is super easy to talk to, authentic, empowering, warm and funny.
November 11, 2025
I first met Ilhan last year in July and saw her for 7 months before I decided to take a break from therapy. I came back 10 months later to check in because she gave me a new found sense of confidence, helped reframe my thinking, is very warm and welcoming, but also direct and honest with her advice. I felt empowered after our sessions - meeting with her made me realize how important and valuable therapy really is, and how it's truly an investment in yourself.
September 11, 2025
My provider gave me the opportunity to express myself while listening patiently. I really appreciated that.