“The wound is where is the light comes in.”
Rumi
Therapy for High-Functioning Anxiety, Family Dynamics & Sensitive Adults Who Want to Feel More Like Themselves
Do you feel like you're always trying—trying to be good, calm, kind, productive—yet still something inside feels unseen or not quite right? You may look composed and successful on the outside but feel anxious, overwhelmed, or unsure of who you are underneath the roles you've taken on. Maybe you silence your needs to keep family peace, or question every decision, afraid to disappoint others or take up space.
Many of the people I work with are sensitive, intelligent adults who learned early to care for others at the cost of themselves. Often raised in families where emotions weren't fully welcome or their sensitivity was seen as "too much," they adapted by shrinking, people-pleasing, or perfectionist striving. These survival strategies once protected you, but now they keep you from the deep connection, self-trust, and authentic relationships you long for.
Therapy can offer a space to breathe. A space to hear your own voice again. Together, we'll move gently beneath the surface—at your pace—to explore the roots of old patterns, honor what kept you safe, and invite new ways of being that feel more grounded, free, and real.
I offer in-person therapy in the serene environment near Topanga Canyon and virtual therapy throughout California. If you're ready to stop performing and start living authentically—to feel more whole, steady, and at home in your life—let's connect. Contact me for a free 15 minute consultation.
How I Help
I help sensitive, intelligent adults throughout California who look successful on the outside but feel disconnected from their authentic selves inside. My clients are often high-achievers, perfectionists, and natural caregivers—used to being everyone's rock while feeling like they're falling apart internally. Under that composed surface, they feel overwhelmed, stuck in family patterns, or trapped by the exhausting pressure to have it all together.
In our work together, we slow things down. We explore the roots of your struggles without judgment—family dynamics that taught you to shrink or perform, early experiences of feeling "too sensitive" or invisible, or long-held beliefs that your worth depends on what you do for others. Through warm attunement, deep listening, and collaborative reflection, I help you reconnect to your body, your voice, and your inner wisdom.
My approach blends psychodynamic insight with practical tools—mindfulness, somatic awareness, self-compassion practices, and gentle exploration of the parts of you that feel overwhelmed or critical. I don't believe in quick fixes or surface-level advice. I believe in helping you develop a trusted, compassionate relationship with yourself—gently, steadily, and at your own pace.
You don't need to perform in therapy. You don't need perfect words or to have it all figured out. You just need to show up as you are. Together, we'll make space for your authentic self—the version of you that's been waiting to emerge from behind the masks of productivity and people-pleasing.
I
You might be my client if you...
✓ Look successful on paper but feel empty or anxious inside — good grades, stable job, supportive relationships, yet something feels fundamentally off or unsettled
✓ Are everyone's go-to person but have no one to lean on yourself — friends and family depend on your advice and support, but you struggle to ask for help or even know what you need
✓ Feel guilty every time you set a boundary or say no — you've learned that keeping others happy is your job, even when it comes at the cost of your own wellbeing
✓ Overthink every decision and constantly doubt your instincts — you seek validation from others because trusting your own judgment feels impossible or dangerous
✓ Were told you're "too sensitive" or learned to hide your emotions — your feelings were minimized, dismissed, or seen as inconvenient, so you learned to manage everyone else's emotions instead
✓ Feel like you're performing a version of yourself rather than living authentically — you've gotten so good at being what others need that you've lost touch with who you actually are
✓ Struggle with perfectionism that feels both protective and exhausting — you set impossibly high standards to avoid criticism or disappointment, but nothing ever feels good enough
✓ Come from a family where your role was to be "the responsible one" — you learned early to read the room, manage conflict, and keep things stable, often at the expense of your own childhood
✓ Feel deeply but worry you're "too much" for others — your emotional intensity feels like both a gift and a burden you need to constantly manage or hide
✓ Are tired of trying so hard yet scared of what might happen if you stop — you know something needs to change but fear that being authentic means disappointing everyone you care about
If several of these resonate, you've found the right place. Let's talk.
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Private Practice Associate Therapist - Nicholas O'Madden, LMFT
Individual therapy with adults and young adults specializing in anxiety, depression, and family dynamics
Associate Therapist - Southern California Counseling Center
Comprehensive mental health services for diverse adult populations
Associate Therapist - Airport Marina Counseling Services
Individual and family therapy in community mental health setting
Associate Therapist - Stepping Stones Group
Individual and family therapy with children, adolescents, and parents
Resource Associate & Supervisor - Teen Line Hotline
Crisis intervention and supervision of teen peer counselors
SPECIALIZED TRAINING
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Level 1 - Evidence-based approach for relationship and attachment issues
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Specialized treatment for trauma and PTSD
Community Resiliency Model - Somatic-based approach to trauma and stress
CLINICAL SUPERVISION & CONSULTATION
Dr. Marcia Steinberg, PsyD - Psychoanalytic Individual Supervision
Focus on psychodynamic theory and practice
Dr. David McPhee, PhD - Person-Centered Individual and Group Supervision
Humanistic and client-centered therapeutic approaches
Dr. Peter Maduro, PsyD, JD - Intersubjective Consultation Group
Relational and intersubjective psychotherapy
