Licensed to practice in California and accepts 21 insurances. Specializes in Grief, Life Transitions, Trauma and PTSD and 6 more.
(she/her)
New to Grow
Hi and welcome! My name is Gwendolyn and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a background in stage of life issues, grief/bereavement, and caregiver support. I work with adults of all ages who are navigating major transitions, such as starting college, parenting teenagers, adjusting to life after loss, or processing complicated grief. Both my personal and professional experience have taught me that, with the right support, moving through hard things can become a pathway to greater awareness, compassion, and the discovery of new skills and capacities. It is this transformation that I find most meaningful — and most exciting — to explore together. I draw on a range of tools to support this process including somatic awareness, self-compassion, nervous system regulation, neurobiology-informed care, and EMDR for trauma processing - always following your lead and working at a pace that feels right for you.
I know that beginning therapy can feel vulnerable, and my goal is to make our first meeting feel as warm and informative as possible. I will want to hear what has brought you here, what you have been carrying, and what you are hoping might feel different in your life. I also will go over with you what to expect from therapy and give you a sense of how we can address your concerns through our work together.
What sets my work apart is my integrative approach which honors the whole person and the systems of family, culture, and society in which we all exist. I bring warmth and attunement alongside clinically grounded tools to create personalized and effective care. I am able to hold space for both the immediate and the long-term — addressing current concerns while also tapping into the larger arc of growth, including older wounds and future goals. And finally, I bring an appreciation for the importance of embracing life's hardships while also remembering to celebrate the moments of connection and growth.
My ideal clients are people from diverse backgrounds who have encountered what Francis Weller calls, the “rough initiations” of life. Those uninvited challenges that ask something of us, and which usher us into deeper levels of authenticity. I also enjoy working with creatives, leaders, and those with a rich inner life seeking a space to explore your gifts, challenges, and purpose. What my clients share is not a single struggle, but a common desire — to move through life's challenges with greater awareness, intention, and care for themselves and others. Whether you are grieving, growing, creating, or simply trying to find your footing again, I would be honored to walk alongside you.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cash - $175 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
Amerihealth Administrators
Arlo
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
Evernorth
GTEB
IHSS Healthy Workers
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
Sutter Health Plan
Tufts Health/Cigna
Person-centered (Rogerian)
As a person-centered therapist, my first priority is creating a space where you feel genuinely seen, heard, and accepted — exactly as you are. From that foundation of trust and understanding, we can build our work together.
Somatic
Through a somatic lens, we give attention to what's happening physically in order to discover how emotions live in the body, build tools for self-regulation, and strengthen inner knowing. We also look at how the brain and body work together to shape our responses to stress, trauma, and connection. This body-centered approach helps clients feel grounded and supported as we go deeper.
EMDR
Trauma-informed care is at the heart of how I work with every client — a foundation I see as essential to building trust and holding space for life's more intense experiences. As an EMDR-trained therapist, I draw on this powerful, evidence-based approach when appropriate to help process unresolved trauma and integrate an affirming view of one’s self and one’s life.
Grief Therapy
Grief is one of life’s most profound and often least supported experiences. I offer a companioning approach to grief therapy, walking alongside those anticipating a loss or navigating life in its aftermath. I draw on current research and trauma-informed care to support client well being during the grieving process, and address more complex forms of grief, such as a sudden loss, or the loss of someone with whom there was a complicated relationship.