LPCC, 10 years of experience
My name is Jonathan Meza, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. I have been working in the mental health field since 2008. My practice is based in the Los Angeles area in Southern California, but I am also available via telehealth for clients throughout the state. Finding the right therapist for you is important. I'm known for being a great listener, and a kid at heart. I'm a believer that life’s hardships can be opportunities for amazing growth. My approach is to gently challenge my clients with sensitivity for everyone's unique pace in self-discovery and motivation to achieve their goals.
Our first session will include a 1 hour evaluation of your history, current concerns, and establishing goals that are meaningful to you. Based on your personal reasons for therapy, we will discuss a treatment plan with interventions for learning new coping and relaxation skills, to build insight about past or current problems, to learn task management strategies and achieve goals, to learn how to practice mindfulness, to improve interpersonal and communication skills and to process grief and trauma, as applicable. Every treatment plan is ultimately developed collaboratively with you to suit your needs.
I have the unique life experience of being a US Army veteran, and survived the grief and loss of one of my children. I’m also fluent in Spanish and raised by parents who were immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador. My daily inspiration comes from my role as a husband, being a blessed father of two children, and my love of music, art, science and technology, geek culture, nature, and spirituality.
My areas of experience and specialty include working with children, adolescents and adults in individual sessions facing depression, anxiety, anger, phase of life adjustment, the effects of trauma, grief and loss, and self-harm.
I use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, for various mental health conditions, such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, and phobias. Using eye moment, tones delivered to both ears, bilateral tapping movements, or vibrations on both sides of the body, we work through the disturbing thoughts or sensations to achieve calmness and self-control. The EMDR treatment can enable you to identify and change negative thoughts invading your mind, alleviate PTSD symptoms, relieve emotional and physical distress, feel more relaxed, improve your sleep patterns, boost self-esteem, and improve concentration and focus.
I use Interpersonal Psychotherapy, or IPT, as a focused approach to primarily treat mood disorders and their effect on relationships. The main goal of IPT is to enhance the quality your interpersonal relationships and social functioning, and ultimately reduce overall distress. Together, we explore and focus on reducing social isolation or involvement in unfulfilling relationships, address any unresolved grief such as the death of a loved one (recent or past), provide support for difficult life transitions (ex. retirement, divorce, loss of employment, moving) and develop strategies to cope with these transitions, as well as help with navigating interpersonal disputes that can include conflicting expectations between partners, family members, close friends, or coworkers.