I’m Alana, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Los Angeles. I work with young adults and women who are navigating major life transitions and feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves. Together, we identify and clear the patterns that get in the way of you showing up as the most grounded, confident version of yourself. I earned my undergraduate degree from Simmons University and my master’s degree from the University of Southern California. Over the past decade, I’ve worked across a wide range of settings—including school-based mental health programs within LAUSD and SMMUSD, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the Department of Children and Family Services, intensive outpatient and residential programs and most recently private practice. These experiences shaped a treatment approach that is thoughtful, flexible, and deeply attuned to the whole person. I believe meaningful therapy goes beyond symptom management and focuses on understanding the root causes of distress. My style is warm yet direct, grounded, and collaborative. Clients often share that they feel relief early on—because they finally feel understood. My role isn’t to “fix” you, but to help you reconnect with your strengths, build clarity and confidence, and feel more in control of your life again.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Your first session is a chance for us to get to know one another and see if working together feels like a good fit. I’ll invite you to share what’s bringing you to therapy, along with your needs, goals, and hopes for this process. You’re also welcome to ask me any questions about my approach or what therapy with me is like. Together, we’ll reflect on what’s shared and determine whether this feels like the right partnership to support you in creating the change you’re seeking.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
Healing happens when you feel safe, understood, and genuinely connected in the therapeutic relationship. I believe trust and comfort are the foundation of meaningful change. My clinical approach is eclectic and integrative, drawing from multiple therapeutic modalities to meet you where you are. My style is both gentle and direct—supportive without being passive, and honest without being harsh. I aim to create a nurturing, nonjudgmental space that offers guidance and structure while empowering you to show up as your most authentic self. Through our work together, you can expect increased self-awareness as we explore experiences of hurt, loss, and transition. I support you in developing practical tools to navigate life’s challenges, while guiding you through deeper self-exploration, personal insight, and symptom relief. My hope is that you begin to release the armor that no longer serves you, move beyond internal barriers, and reconnect with your sense of empowerment, creativity, and joy.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
If you’re open to self-reflection and value a collaborative, strength-based approach, we may be a great fit. I’m especially well-suited to support individuals seeking a safe, supportive space to process past experiences, reduce distress, and build a stronger sense of self. Together, we will work to strengthen relationships, improve emotional regulation, develop healthier patterns of thinking and behavior, so you can reconnect with a sense of purpose. This work is for individuals motivated to invest in meaningful personal growth.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on understanding the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and how unhelpful patterns can keep us feeling stuck. I use CBT to help clients build awareness, challenge negative thought patterns, and develop practical tools to manage anxiety, depression, and everyday stressors. When working with ADHD, I adapt CBT to support organization, emotional regulation, time management, and self-esteem—using strategies that are realistic, structured, and strengths-based. I am also certified in Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), which I use to help clients safely process trauma, reduce trauma-related symptoms, and build coping skills in a way that feels empowering, paced, and supportive.
2 ratings with written reviews
April 29, 2025
Very empowering and authentic, is gentle with approaching topics and is very solution oriented. Asks great in depth questions and is very open and easy to talk to. She is very funny, kind, a great problem solver and optimistic (:
April 17, 2025
She is soooo good I love her! Thank you for being so helpful