LCSW, 2 years of experience
Hi! My name is Alexis Kuney and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Southern California. Therapy and meeting a new therapist for the first time can be a little scary, but you've taken the first step, which is great! If you’ve never gone to therapy, or if it’s been a while, it’s time to move forward and rediscover the best version of yourself, and I'm here to help you do that. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, interpersonal/relationship issues, adult ADHD, and survivors of domestic violence. I also work with parents in high-conflict custody disputes to help them navigate the complexities of family court. I have a personal knowledge of what it means to struggle, and I find satisfaction in helping people solve their problems in meaningful and adaptive ways. In these unsettled times, a therapeutic support system can be beneficial to all of us. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and hopeless coping with life’s challenges, it’s helpful to have someone calm, supportive, and empathetic to listen and provide guidance. Given that everyone is unique, and our lives are complex, I tailor my approach to you and your needs. My goal is to provide an environment that is safe and supportive so that we can work collaboratively to help you reach your goals.
During our first session, I aim to understand what problems brought you to therapy and to begin to help you feel differently about your problems by the time our session ends. I encourage my clients to look inward and to be open and candid with me so that I can gain insight into their presenting concerns, history, background, current struggles, interests, strengths, and goals. In order to establish clear goals, I collaborate with my clients to establish their needs and strengths, then draw on these to identify what they would like to achieve during the therapeutic process. I partner with clients to identify short-term and long-term goals and find out what is really important for their growth and life success. This process entails building trust and helping clients to feel comfortable with the therapeutic process.
I have a diverse background as a social worker and have worked with people from all walks of life over my career. With a strengths based perspective, I aim to help you build upon your innate abilities. I take the time to really understand you and your specific needs, then tailor my approach in a way that will work best for you. Finally, mental health can be heavy, so I try to create opportunities for laughter and joy.
I enjoy working with individuals who feel stuck in their lives and relationships, and are seeking tools to build upon existing strengths, grow emotionally, reach their full potential, and reduce problematic behaviors. Together we will explore the patterns of thinking and behaving that prevent you from living in full accordance with your values, then learn strategies address those patterns. I focus a lot on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, boundaries, self-care, and communication.
I use ACT to help clients take a different perspective on their problems and their lives, and learn to embrace every experience life has to offer. With ACT clients also learn to let go of struggling with their suffering, focus on their values, and commit to acting in ways that further those values.
I use CBT to help clients recognize faulty and unhelpful ways of thinking and behaving, and then learn skills to change these. CBT also helps clients learn problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations. as well as develop a greater sense of confidence in their own abilities.
I use humanistic therapy to treat many issues with the understanding that each person is an individual with unique potential and abilities and innate goodness. This approach helps individuals overcome their difficulties through personal growth. In these sessions we explore how you feel in the here and now—rather than trying to identify past events that led to these feelings.
As a certified DBT therapist, I use this evidence-based approach to help clients develop skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. I tailor these skills to each client's needs, empowering them to manage emotions, reduce stress, and improve relationships. My goal is to support clients in creating lasting positive changes by balancing acceptance and change.
4 ratings with written reviews
July 24, 2025
Love the personal attention & suggestions of improvement Alexis offers.
June 18, 2025
Alexis is a wonderful therapist. We have been working together for over a year now, and I have definitely noticed improvements in my emotional intelligence and my ability to handle my emotions effectively. She is very open-minded and kind, but also tells you what you need to hear to reach your goals. Alexis is very professional, yet also very easy to talk to about anything, which contributes to an environment where I can feel safe and comfortable talking about sensitive subjects.
May 29, 2025
Alexis is hands down the best therapist i've ever had the privilege to work with. She provides incredibly thoughtful and insightful feedback. Her questions provoke genuine reflection and personal insights. She always brings our topic discussions back to my goals and asks me what i will do about it in the future. She validates my feelings and challenges me when i need it.