Hello and welcome. My name is Erika Self. I'm a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT 112368) in the state of California. I have a Bachelor's degree from Wellesley College and a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles. Psychotherapy is about connection, the relationship between the client and the therapist. Clinically, I work to instill hope through empathy and education so individuals are empowered with increased knowledge and awareness of choices in life. Please reach out it you want to feel more grounded, have healthier relationships, and live your life with more intention. Sessions are client-driven and collaborative.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In out first session together, I'll inform you about limits of confidentiality, mandated reporting, and receiving psychotherapy via telehealth. Then we'll talk about how individual psychotherapy works (if you're a newbie) and your past experiences with mental health care. After that, I'm going to ask you a bunch of questions for the intake. I focus a lot on your family history. Then, I take what you've share and my skills to create a map that we can use to navigate your treatment.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I have lots of experiencing working with people who have mood disorders (i.e., depression, bipolar) and anxiety, but so do most therapist. I think my experience working clients with eating disorder and addiction stands out. These “disorders” are usual a response to unresolved trauma. I have worked in psychiatric hospitals (in-patient), intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs, group practices, and in private clinics with folks from all walks of life. My strengths are my ability to listen, educate, and conceptualize my clients' lived experiences. Here are treatment methods that I integrate into my work and your care: Attachment-based Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) Compassion Focused Dialectical Behavior (DBT) Family Systems Interpersonal Multicultural Psychodynamic Relational Somatic
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I love working with intelligent, creative, and sensitive adult clients who are haunted by painful feelings (i.e., sadness, fear, anger) from childhood trauma. These "ghosts" usually pop-up with intimate partners and at work, causing constant worry, insecurities, and stress. There might even be a tendency to avoid these feelings through drugs and alcohol, disordered eating, and self-injury (e.g., cutting). I can share information through education, provide an sympathetic ear, and give you tools you can utilize to cope in healthy and safe ways.
About Erika Self
Serves ages
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Attachment-based
Attachment-based treatments look at the relationship we had with our primary caregivers and how that has impacted how we feel and interact with ourselves, others, and the world.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT helps us to learn about the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and ways that we can create new ways of thinking and behaving to positively impact our moods.
Compassion Focused
Compassion-focused therapy takes concepts from self-compassion, mindfulness, and CBT to help shift that way we relate to our thoughts, beliefs, and feelings from a place of criticism and judgment to one of understanding and acceptance.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
This means that I, as a mental health clinician, am aware of the intersectionality of culture (i.e., gender, race, language, body, ability, age, socio-economic status, etc) and how that impacts individuals both inside and outside of the psychotherapy space. This includes an awareness of my own biases.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
EFT is the "brain child" of Dr. Sue Johnson, who believed that we can create deep meaningful connections in our lives if we are willing to make spaces for emotions, which can serve as guides.