Gita Rai
Greetings & welcome to my clinical practice. 🙏🏽 It is a privilege and honor to be in consideration as your therapist. I recognize the courage it takes to seek support, and I am committed to creating a space where you feel seen, heard, and respected throughout your therapeutic journey. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California, and I provide therapy to individuals, adolescents, and families navigating a wide range of challenges. My areas of specialization include: anxiety, mood disorders, acculturative stress, life transitions, & ambiguous grief and loss. I have experience working in both outpatient and inpatient settings, supporting clients with diverse backgrounds and needs. I also have experience working with neurodivergent individuals, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and co-occurring mental health concerns.
She also has a background in supporting neurodivergent (ND) individuals, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), (ADHD), and dual diagnoses.
As the oldest daughter of Asian Indian immigrants, I understand many of the complexities that can arise when navigating multiple cultures, family expectations, identity, and belonging. My approach to therapy is rooted in compassion, curiosity, and collaboration. I strive to create a safe, non-judgmental environment where you can openly explore your experiences, emotions, and personal challenges. I believe that every person is the expert of their own story, and my role is to help scaffold your narrative, build upon your existing strengths, and support you in discovering new pathways toward healing and growth. Together, we can work toward creating meaningful change while honoring your values, experiences, and personal journey.
First session
In our initial session, my goal is to create a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental environment where you feel respected, heard, and valued. I strive to help you feel safe and comfortable sharing your story at a pace that feels right for you. During our initial session, I will take time to get to know you as a whole person. Together, we’ll explore what brings you to therapy, including any current challenges you may be facing, such as anxiety, stress, life transitions, grief, relationship concerns, or other emotional difficulties. I may also ask about your personal history, relationships, strengths, and values so I can better understand your unique experiences and perspective. I believe therapy is most effective when it is collaborative and tailored to your individual needs. My hope is that our first session leaves you feeling supported, understood, and empowered with a clearer sense of how we can work together toward the changes you would like to see in your life.
Strengths
I offer a supportive, culturally responsive space where you can speak openly and authentically without fear of judgment. In our work, I will also introduce you to the therapy process, explain what to expect from sessions, and, when appropriate, provide practical tools and strategies to help you begin addressing your concerns and building resilience.
Ideal clients
Her areas of specialization include mood disorders, life transitions, anxiety, grief, substance abuse, and eating disorders. Gita has extensive experience working in both outpatient and inpatient settings. She also has a background in supporting neurodivergent (ND) individuals, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), (ADHD), and dual diagnoses. Gita’s approach to therapy centers on creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their experiences and emotions openly. scaffold each client’s narrative, empowering them to heal and cultivate personal growth. Tailoring her therapeutic interventions to meet the unique needs of each client, Gita draws from a range of modalities designed to foster resilience, self-efficacy, and well-being.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-oriented form of psychotherapy that helps clients understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected—and how changing unhelpful patterns can improve emotional well-being.
Humanistic
In practice, a provider using humanistic therapy may utilize reflective listening, open-ended questions, emotional validation, and present-focused exploration to help clients deepen self-awareness and better understand their thoughts, feelings, values, and interpersonal patterns. The therapeutic relationship itself becomes a central component of healing, as clients often benefit from experiencing genuine acceptance and empathy within session.
Existential
As Viktor Frankl wrote in Man's Search for Meaning, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” As a provider, I use existential therapy to help clients explore meaning, purpose, identity, personal responsibility, and the realities of the human experience. This approach supports clients in examining themes such as freedom, isolation, grief, life transitions, mortality, and authenticity while encouraging them to make intentional choices aligned with their values and goals.
EMDR
EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that helps the brain process distressing memories and experiences. Through guided bilateral stimulation, EMDR can help reduce the emotional intensity associated with difficult experiences and support more adaptive ways of responding.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Other specialties
Doesn't specialize in
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 145962