Lynnetta Hawkins
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a direct, down-to-earth approach. I believe therapy should be a place where you can be honest about your life and get honest feedback in return. We’ll look at what’s happening, what’s keeping you stuck, and what you can realistically do to move forward.
My goal is to help you understand yourself better and make changes that work in your everyday life.
I bring compassion, but I’m also willing to ask the hard questions. My goal is to help you understand yourself better and make changes that work in your everyday life.
First session
Our first session is a chance to get to know each other and understand what brought you in. We’ll talk about what you’re experiencing, how it’s affecting your daily life, and what you’d like to see change. I’ll ask about your history, what you’ve already tried, and what has or hasn’t helped. I also want you to understand what you can expect from me as your therapist. I’m direct, involved in the conversation, and willing to ask hard questions, while treating you with compassion and respect. We’ll talk about how we’ll work together, and you’ll have time to ask questions and tell me what you need from therapy. You don’t need to know exactly where to start. My goal is for you to leave feeling understood, knowing what working with me will look like, and having a clearer sense of our next steps.
Strengths
I bring honesty, compassion, and a practical perspective. I listen closely, ask direct questions, and help you look at patterns that may be getting in your way. You can expect me to be involved in the conversation, offer feedback, and respectfully challenge you when it could help. Together, we’ll focus on what you can control and identify steps you can actually take. I understand that change can be uncomfortable, and I’ll support you while encouraging you to take an active role in it.
Ideal clients
I work well with people whose anxiety, depression, or concerns about sex and intimacy are affecting their daily lives, relationships, or how they feel about themselves. You may feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or caught in patterns you want to understand and change. My practice is focused on ongoing outpatient therapy, where we have time to explore concerns and put practical tools to use between sessions. You appreciate a therapist who listens, gives honest feedback, and asks questions that make you think. You don’t need to have everything figured out or feel completely ready for change. We’ll start with what’s bringing you in and build from there.
Origin story
I come from a family of public servants, and I knew from a very young age that I wanted to help people. As a child, I remember being deeply affected by the missing children pictured on milk cartons. I cared about what happened to people, and I wanted to make a difference. With friends and family, I was often the person listening, thinking through problems, and seeing possibilities for them. What I came to love about therapy was learning that it wasn’t my job to fix someone’s life. My role is to offer support, useful tools, and honest questions that help people figure things out for themselves. I love being part of the process as people recognize what they’re capable of and begin making changes for themselves.
Ongoing work together
Our work together will involve honest conversations, practical tools, and looking at how you can use what we discuss in your everyday life. We’ll build on previous sessions by talking about what you tried, what helped, and where you’re still struggling. I’ll offer feedback and challenge you when it’s useful, while helping you work through what makes change difficult. We’ll regularly check whether your symptoms are improving and whether daily life feels more manageable. Progress might mean spending less time caught in worry, having more energy, communicating your needs, or feeling more connected in your relationships. We’ll use your goals and experiences to guide our next steps and adjust when something isn’t helping.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help you recognize how your thoughts, feelings, and actions affect one another. We’ll look at real situations in your life, question assumptions, and identify patterns that may be keeping you anxious, depressed, or stuck. Together, we’ll practice more balanced ways of thinking and try practical changes in what you do. We’ll check what helps and build on it.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I draw on DBT skills to help you manage strong emotions, get through stressful moments, and communicate your needs more effectively. We’ll practice noticing what you’re feeling, pausing before reacting, and choosing how you want to respond. I help you acknowledge your feelings while also looking honestly at behaviors you want to change. We’ll apply these skills to situations you’re actually facing, including difficult conversations and setting boundaries.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I want to understand your life from your perspective, including what matters to you and what you want for yourself. I bring curiosity, respect, and honesty to our conversations, and you have a say in the direction of our work. I’ll help you explore your experiences, recognize your strengths, and build confidence in your own judgment. The goals we work toward should reflect your values and the life you want to live.
Solution-Focused Brief Treatment
I use this approach to help you get specific about what you want to change and what progress would look like in everyday life. We’ll explore times when the problem has been less overwhelming, what was different, and what you were doing that helped. From there, we’ll identify small, realistic steps you can take. I’ll help you recognize what’s already working and build on those strengths as we track progress toward your goals.
Psychodynamic
I use this approach to explore how earlier experiences and relationships may still influence how you see yourself, relate to others, and respond to difficult situations. We’ll pay attention to recurring feelings and patterns, including reactions you may not fully understand yet. Making those connections can help you recognize what’s happening in the present and give you more room to respond differently. I keep that exploration connected to the concerns bringing you to therapy now.
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Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 93110