Licensed to practice in California and accepts 18 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Coping Skills, Depression and 6 more.
I'm Setareh, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California with four years of clinical experience and a Master's degree from Alliant International University. I work with people who feel stuck in their relationships, overwhelmed by anxiety or depression, or caught in patterns they can't break. If you're here, something probably feels painful right now—and I want you to know that change is possible. My practice is built on a simple belief: your struggles make sense. They're not random, and they're not something wrong with you. Anxiety, disconnection, conflict—these are usually connected to how you learned to relate to yourself and others, the patterns in your relationships, and how you've protected yourself over time. My job is to help you understand what's underneath and then practice something different. I work from genuine warmth and real honesty. I create true safety for vulnerability because you deserve to be fully seen. But I also gently push back when patterns keep you stuck, because you deserve more than comfort—you deserve to actually heal and grow. The work we do is concrete and practical. We don't just talk about problems; we practice new ways of communicating, handling conflict, and connecting. You'll leave with real tools for your actual life. Whether you're working on your relationship, managing anxiety, navigating family dynamics, or finding solid ground after loss, I'm here to walk alongside you toward meaningful, sustainable change. You deserve support that truly sees you and believes in your capacity to transform.
In our first session, we'll take time to get to know each other in a safe, judgment-free space. I want to understand what's bringing you in and what feels most difficult or confusing right now. There's no pressure to have it all figured out or to share everything immediately—we'll move at a pace that feels comfortable for you. We'll talk about what's happening in your life, your relationships, and what you're hoping will change. I'll listen closely and ask questions to really understand your situation. By the end of our time together, you'll have a clearer sense of what's going on and what the path forward might look like. You might feel nervous, and that's completely normal. My goal is for you to leave our first session feeling heard, understood, and hopeful that things can actually shift. You deserve that.
What makes my approach different is that I bring both genuine warmth and real honesty to the work. Many therapists do one well; I do both. I create deep safety for you to be vulnerable and share what's really going on, and I also gently but firmly challenge you when patterns are keeping you stuck. That combination—being truly heard while being genuinely pushed to grow—is powerful. I'm also deeply grounded in lived experience. Growing up between two cultures taught me that real change requires understanding where you come from while also claiming your own voice. I've navigated family expectations, cultural identity, generational differences, and the tension between honoring your roots and forging your own path. That's not just knowledge for me—it's something I've lived. So when clients come to me with these struggles, I meet them with authentic understanding, not just clinical knowledge. My work is also radically practical. We don't just explore your feelings or talk endlessly about the past. We practice new ways of communicating, we work through actual conflicts, and you leave each session with concrete tools you can use immediately. That's the difference between insight and real change—and I'm committed to both. Finally, I genuinely believe in your capacity to transform. I've seen people move from feeling stuck and hopeless to building secure, authentic relationships and managing their anxiety in ways that actually work. I don't just theorize about healing—I help you create it, step by step, in your real life.
I love working with young adults and adults who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or anxious—whether it's relationship struggles, family pressure, career stress, or just feeling lost in life. You probably know something needs to change, but you're not quite sure how to make it happen. Maybe you're stuck in the same patterns in relationships, or anxiety keeps getting in your way, or you're caught between what your family expects and what you actually want. What I appreciate about my ideal clients is that they're ready to do the work. They might not have all the answers, and they might not know exactly what tools they need, but they're genuinely willing to look at themselves honestly and try something different. That openness and willingness is where real change happens. My goal is to help you develop the skills and confidence to build healthier relationships, manage the stress that's weighing on you, and move forward with clarity about who you are and what you want. You deserve support that actually helps—and that's what I'm here to do.
Cash - $175 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Lucent Health
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
CalViva Health (Medi-Cal)
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley (Medi-Cal)
Health Net (Medi-Cal)
IHSS Healthy Workers
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
Sutter Health Plan
I use CBT to help you notice the thoughts that are driving your difficult feelings and reactions. Here's how it works: what you think directly affects how you feel and what you do. So if you're thinking "I'm going to mess this up," you feel anxious and then you avoid situations. Together, we identify those unhelpful thought patterns and practice different ways of thinking about situations. This gives you real tools you can use immediately—and over time, you build genuine confidence and a sense of control over your own mind.
I use an attachment approach to help you understand how your early relationships—with parents, family, or other important people—shaped how you connect and respond to closeness and conflict today. Maybe you learned to pull away when things get hard, or to over-function in relationships, or to question whether people really care. These patterns made sense then; they just might not be serving you now. We explore these patterns not to blame the past, but to understand what's driving how you relate today. From there, we practice new, healthier ways of connecting with yourself and the people who matter to you.
I use DBT to help you build concrete skills in four key areas: managing intense emotions so they don't control you, handling tough moments without falling apart, staying present and aware, and connecting more effectively with people. This approach is especially helpful if you feel overwhelmed by strong emotions or find yourself reacting without thinking. Together, we practice tools you can use right away—in the moment when things get hard—so you get immediate relief and build real, lasting skills over time.
In psychodynamic therapy, we explore your story—past and present—through open conversation and reflection. I listen closely to what you say and what you don't say, paying attention to patterns that keep showing up in how you feel and relate to others. We look at how your earlier experiences might still be influencing how you see yourself and your relationships today. We move at a pace that feels safe, and as trust builds between us, you're able to work through deeper, more painful feelings. Over time, this creates a stronger, more resilient sense of who you are.
1 rating with written reviews
December 2, 2025
Setareh is extremely accomplished at listening and allowing you to feel your emotions, while then coming up with a alternative way to see that same situation from someone else’s eyes. It’s ground breaking because it allows you to be heard and seen but also hear and see!