Therapy for Depression and Suicide Ideation in West Los Angeles
Depression doesn't always look the way people expect.
It's not always the person who can't get out of bed. More often it's the person who gets up every day, meets every obligation, keeps everything running — and feels nothing. Or feels everything, quietly, in a way they've never told anyone.
I'm a depression therapist in West Los Angeles who has worked in this territory since 2009 — not just in private practice, but in the field, in crisis, with people the traditional system had given up on. If you've been carrying something heavy for a long time without telling anyone, this is a place to put it down.
It's not always the person who can't get out of bed. More often it's the person who gets up every day, meets every obligation, keeps everything running — and feels nothing. Or feels everything, quietly, in a way they've never told anyone.
I'm a depression therapist in West Los Angeles who has worked in this territory since 2009 — not just in private practice, but in the field, in crisis, with people the traditional system had given up on. If you've been carrying something heavy for a long time without telling anyone, this is a place to put it down.
CBT for Depression in West Los Angeles
CBT for depression targets the thinking patterns that maintain it. That means looking at how you interpret events, examining whether those interpretations hold up, and building more accurate and useful ways of understanding yourself and the world. It's structured, practical, and it works.
Common patterns we work with include all-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, emotional reasoning, personalization, and the particular brand of self-criticism that high-functioning people are especially good at — the internal voice that says you should be handling this better.
CBT for depression is goal-oriented. You won't be in therapy forever. My goal from the beginning is to help you become your own therapist — someone who understands what's happening and has the tools to address it, not someone who needs me indefinitely.
Common patterns we work with include all-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, emotional reasoning, personalization, and the particular brand of self-criticism that high-functioning people are especially good at — the internal voice that says you should be handling this better.
CBT for depression is goal-oriented. You won't be in therapy forever. My goal from the beginning is to help you become your own therapist — someone who understands what's happening and has the tools to address it, not someone who needs me indefinitely.
My Background in Crisis and Suicide Intervention
Depression and suicidal thinking aren't things I learned about in a classroom and began treating in a comfortable private office. Before entering private practice, I spent over a decade doing crisis intervention work in Los Angeles — responding with law enforcement, working with individuals in acute psychiatric crisis, and training other clinicians in evidence-based suicide intervention.
I started at Didi Hirsch's Suicide Prevention Hotline in 2009, where I worked as a counselor and trainer until 2012. I fielded over 500 hours of crisis calls and supported hundreds of volunteer counselors through training.
I became an ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) certified trainer in 2012 and have conducted numerous trainings since. I was later selected as a Certified Trainer by the American Association of Suicidology for their Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk (RRSR) program, sponsored by LA County DMH.
I've sat with people at their absolute bottom. I know what that looks like, and I know what it takes to actually help — not just manage.
I started at Didi Hirsch's Suicide Prevention Hotline in 2009, where I worked as a counselor and trainer until 2012. I fielded over 500 hours of crisis calls and supported hundreds of volunteer counselors through training.
I became an ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) certified trainer in 2012 and have conducted numerous trainings since. I was later selected as a Certified Trainer by the American Association of Suicidology for their Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk (RRSR) program, sponsored by LA County DMH.
I've sat with people at their absolute bottom. I know what that looks like, and I know what it takes to actually help — not just manage.
If You're Thinking of Suicide?
Suicidal thinking exists on a spectrum — from fleeting, intrusive thoughts to active planning. Wherever you are on that spectrum, it's worth talking to someone who knows this territory.
You're not broken for having these thoughts. And you don't have to be in full crisis to deserve support. Most people wait far longer than they should before reaching out — partly because they're not sure their situation is serious enough, and partly because saying it out loud makes it real. Both of those hesitations make sense. Neither of them should stop you.
If you're in immediate danger, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or 911. If you're not in immediate danger but you're carrying something that hasn't had anywhere to go, reach out.
You're not broken for having these thoughts. And you don't have to be in full crisis to deserve support. Most people wait far longer than they should before reaching out — partly because they're not sure their situation is serious enough, and partly because saying it out loud makes it real. Both of those hesitations make sense. Neither of them should stop you.
If you're in immediate danger, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or 911. If you're not in immediate danger but you're carrying something that hasn't had anywhere to go, reach out.
If You've Lost Someone to Suicide
Losing someone to suicide is its own kind of grief. The questions don't stop. The guilt has a particular weight. And most of the people around you don't know what to say, so they say the wrong thing or nothing at all.
I've lost people to suicide myself — personally and professionally. I'm a suicide loss survivor. I know what this grief actually looks like, and I won't flinch from it.
If you need support or referrals to specialized resources, reach out directly. I'm glad to help.
A few organizations for support:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's I've Lost Someone
American Association of Suicidology's Suicide Loss Survivors
Los Angeles-based Didi Hirsch's Survivors After Suicide are great places to start.
I've lost people to suicide myself — personally and professionally. I'm a suicide loss survivor. I know what this grief actually looks like, and I won't flinch from it.
If you need support or referrals to specialized resources, reach out directly. I'm glad to help.
A few organizations for support:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's I've Lost Someone
American Association of Suicidology's Suicide Loss Survivors
Los Angeles-based Didi Hirsch's Survivors After Suicide are great places to start.
FAQs
Do you treat depression and anxiety?
Yes. I provide CBT-based therapy for depression, anxiety, and related concerns, grounded in evidence-based methods and attention to the beliefs underneath the symptoms.
What if I'm having thoughts of suicide?
If you're in immediate danger, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or 911. In ongoing therapy, I have extensive experience with risk and crisis work and can provide a steady, non-judgmental place to talk about what you're carrying.
Is therapy effective for depression?
CBT is one of the most well-supported treatments for depression and anxiety. Results depend on the person and the situation, but for many people it produces meaningful change.
Yes. I provide CBT-based therapy for depression, anxiety, and related concerns, grounded in evidence-based methods and attention to the beliefs underneath the symptoms.
What if I'm having thoughts of suicide?
If you're in immediate danger, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or 911. In ongoing therapy, I have extensive experience with risk and crisis work and can provide a steady, non-judgmental place to talk about what you're carrying.
Is therapy effective for depression?
CBT is one of the most well-supported treatments for depression and anxiety. Results depend on the person and the situation, but for many people it produces meaningful change.
Ready to Take The Next Step?
Please email me today to schedule your free consultation.
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2001 S. Barrington Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90025 |