I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Southern California who graduated with my Masters in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Since 2014 I've worked with active-duty military which inspired me to go back to school in 2017 for Sport and Performance Psychology. Since then I have pursued working with high performers and high-risk occupations. I have a passion for working with those ready to process trauma, understand how to regulate their nervous system and reach optimal performance. Going through my own challenges as an athlete with an injury, I developed a love for helping those with injury recovery or who are struggling with a chronic illness or chronic pain.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In the first session I really want to get to know you. Understand what it is that's brining you in to see me. Why now? I'll ask you about your goals, what are you hoping to achieve by coming to see me. I'll explain what brainspotting is and how I would incorporate it into sessions. Then we can create a plan of action to start getting you where you want to be!

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

I have a background in marriage and family therapy and sport and performance psychology. This has allowed me a unique way of working with clients to not only decrease negative symptoms but work towards optimal performance. Working with the military, athletes and high performers, I began specializing in injury (including TBI), chronic pain and chronic illness.

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

You've been feeling unmotivated, overwhelmed, and frustrated for a while now. You put on a smile even though it feels like you are barely holding your head above water. You don't want to bother anyone about how you've been feeling, telling yourself that there are others who have it worse than you. This has only left you feeling even more lonely and disconnected. You are go, go, go and have been running on high stress for so long that it's hard to just sit down and relax. You often put yourself on the back burner and may resonate with being a high performer, perfectionist or people pleaser. Maybe you've been injured or have health concerns that your doctor can't seem to find the cause for which is only making the overwhelm worse. Enough is enough, you are ready to do something to get to the root of the problem. Time to quiet that nagging voice in your head so you can finally relax and feel like yourself again. Or if you are being honest, discover who you really are in the first place. I can help you get there! I'll help you identify your goals and smash through those mental blocks that have kept you from moving forward.

About Katherine Blackwell

Appointments