Our awareness is at the heart of our well being

Life presents us with great challenges which can often cause us to feel defeated and stuck.

We may fall into the most vulnerable places where we feel lonely, disconnected from our friends, family, our work and most importantly, from ourselves. My priority is to build a relationship with you so we can explore the areas of your life that need attention.

I invite you to work together to achieve awareness and create a space within you that will guide and open you towards greater self-love, the ability to trust yourself, and thus be fully present for your life! With my expertise in mindfulness, somatic therapy, EMDR, psychodynamic and humanistic approaches, I’m able to create a therapeutic approach that will meet your own unique needs.

I invite you to call me or email me for a consultation.

The wound is the place where the Light
enters you.

Rumi

Lousine Stepanian MA, LMFT, PsyD

Lousine Stepanian MA, LMFT, PsyD
LIC# 92424

She has helped many who struggled with school issues, ADHD, anger issues, trauma, low self esteem, peer relationship, depression and anxiety.

Lousine is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist in private practice in Glendale, Ca. She is originally from Yerevan (Armenia). Lousine received her Masters Degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family therapy (MFT). She received her Doctoral degree in Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. For the past ten years, Lousine has been working in the community mental health clinic outpatient milieu setting with severely emotionally disturbed children and their families. Lousine has received training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy in addition to advanced EMDR training with an emphasis in children and adolescents. She is an EMDRIA approved consultant and EMDR certified therapist.

verified-psychology-today
verified-psychology-today

Alternative Languages:

Armenian, Russian

Specialties & Issues:
Child or Adolescent
Trauma and PTSD
Relationship Issues
Coping Skills
Depression
Parenting
Stress
Client Focus
Behavioral Issues

Treatment Orientation:
Attachment-based
EMDR
Existential
Mindfulness (MBSR)
Person-Centered
Play Therapy
Psychodynamic
Somatic
Modality
Individuals
Family
Group

 

I invite you to call me or email me for a consultation.

EMDR

I use scientifically grounded therapeutic approaches.

I specialize in EMDR Therapy. EMDR is an evidence based practice that can change your life. EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and while it might sound complicated, its principles are simple, tested and highly effective for resolving emotional difficulties caused by disturbing, difficult life experiences. EMDR uses Dual Attention Stimulation (DAS) which refers to the use of alternating, right-left tracking that may take the form of eye movements, tones or music delivered to each ear, or tactile stimulation, such as alternating hand taps. While it is not clear how DAS in EMDR works, we do know that eye movement works similarly to what occurs naturally during dreaming or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. EMDR therapy helps to integrate all parts of the brain/mind together, and therefore, allow for access to the body’s natural healing mechanism. Therapy that once took years to make a difference may now be accomplished in a shorter period of time. I have witnessed with reverence and inspiration the healing that takes place with EMDR therapy.

To learn about EMDR therapy, please visit the links below from The EMDR Institute.

How does EMDR work?

What is the actual EMDR session like?

Does EMDR really work?

What kind of problems can EMDR treat?

EMDR Therapy for Children & Adults

 
I invite you to call me or email me for a consultation.

Starting

  • Please find the following helpful forms.

    Please fill out the intake form prior to our appointment.
    Client Intake
    Consent to Realse Information
    Limits of Confidentiality

  • Rates

    Please contact me to discuss my rates. I offer reduced fees depending on your current situation. My goal is to provide the best care that you can afford.

    Payment

    Cash and checks are accepted for payment at the time of service.

  • Cancellation Policy

    Please contact me within twenty-four hours of our scheduled session to avoid a cancelation fee.

I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.

Carl Jung

What can therapy do for me?

There are a variety of benefits that can come from therapy, and they tend to be individualized. Therapists are there to provide levels of support, teach certain skills, and help patients discover new coping strategies for things like anxiety, depression, stress, or even creative blocks. You don’t need to have some kind of ‘major disorder’ to find usefulness from a therapist. In fact, if you’re simply looking for personal growth in any aspect of your life, you can typically find the skills and resources through therapy to help with family problems, marital issues, and more. Essentially, a therapist offers a different way of looking at things – perhaps a perspective you haven’t yet considered, which makes it easier to point you in the right direction, and find the solutions you’re looking for in life.

Of course, therapists can’t just ‘fix’ everything on their own. It’s about using those resources you learn in your everyday life that can really turn things around. Still unsure about what therapy could do for you? Let’s take a look a few examples of some common benefits:

– Grasping a deeper understanding of who you are
– Identifying your goals and dreams
– Obtaining the right skills for bettering your life’s relationships
– Learning resources to put an end to the issues that brought you to therapy
– Managing problem areas in your personal life, like anger, stress, depression, etc.
– Creating new patterns of behavior for yourself
– Changing your problem-solving perspective
– Boosting your self-esteem and confidence

If I feel as though I can handle my issues on my own, is therapy really necessary?

There isn’t a person alive who doesn’t experiences challenges of some kind throughout their life. Some people can simply get through them better than others, and even then, it’s never a bad idea to have additional support and understanding when it comes to the obstacles you’ve gone through. In all actuality, therapy is ideal for people who understand themselves enough to realize they actually could use some help, instead of denying it. Noticing that your life isn’t necessarily where you want it to be is a big realization and admittance, and taking the steps to change that for the better is something to be incredibly proud of. You’re taking the first step down an incredible path that can lead to long-lasting benefits for the rest of your life, even when challenges come up again.

What makes people go to therapy in the first place? How do I know if it’s the right decision?

While everyone’s reasons for coming to therapy are different, whether they’re going through a big life change, or a specific event like divorce, or just aren’t dealing with stressful situations ideally. Sometimes, the assistance of therapy can not only help with specific situations, but personal issues as well. Depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and even low-self esteem are often common reasons to seek out help. You may start out looking for one thing, and find on your journey that you can gain so much more through learning the right skills, and having the right kind of encouragement.

In terms of making the ‘right decision’ for yourself, of course therapy is a personal decision, but if you take a look at your life, and your desire is to make a change that starts from within, it’s likely that some form of psychotherapy could be a great benefit.

What can I expect from therapy?

Just like the reasons for therapy are different for everyone, most people can expect different experiences. The good news is that therapy is completely individually-focused, which is why everyone can get something different out of it. Generally, your life, your history, and any relevant insights will be important to the specific discussions, but in a very personal and individualized manner. Sometimes therapy can be focused on a specific need, in which case it’s a ‘short term’ solution, while in other cases, many people go to therapy regularly, each week, to simply look for more personal growth.

Again, therapy isn’t meant to be some kind of ‘quick fix’ where you simply sit back and listen. It is a participatory experience. The more you involve yourself in the process, the better results you’re bound to see. It’s a practice in everyday living, in which you take what you learn from the session, and apply it to your life. Therefore, it’s important to be mentally prepared to make those changes in your life, and desire new perspectives on things.

How should one consider medication vs. psychotherapy?

While medication has been proven to help with many different disorders, it has also been proven that time and time again, it simply isn’t enough. Medication often treats the symptoms of a problem, without getting to the root of solving it, which is where therapy comes in. The decision to take psychotropic medications or not, is a highly personal one, and your personal wishes will be honored. If in the course of treatment, you decided you might benefit from medications, I will refer you out to an appropriate provider.

People are turning more and more to holistic and natural alternatives to modern medicine to treat mental, physical and spiritual issues.  I fully support alternative options as such essential oils, chiropractic and massage care, yoga, diet/exercise and nutrition options, and other means you might explore to improve your well being.  I can refer you to professional holistic providers in the area for further consultation.

How does insurance factor into therapy?

Insurance companies are different – some offer mental health coverage, while others do not. The easiest way to find out if mental health care is covered by your provider is to contact them, to make sure you understand their options. If you’re looking for a good place to start in asking them questions, you could consider asking what their coverage amounts are for therapy sessions, what an out-of-network provider might cost, or if prior approval will be needed from your primary care physician. Don’t be afraid to ask enough questions so you feel confident in knowing how your insurance responds to mental health care.

Do the topics in each therapy session remain private?

There is practically nothing more important in therapy than confidentiality. As with any doctor/patient agreement, your privacy is of the utmost importance. A good therapist understands the vulnerability and openness that must come from each patient in order to really get through, so therapy itself can take a lot of trust, and that needs to be developed over time. Make sure your therapist offers a confidentiality agreement before you begin your sessions, typically called ‘informed consent.’ It is your choice if you’d like to have your therapist share anything significant with your other healthcare providers, but this can only be done with your written consent. Nothing you share in your sessions is to be told to anyone else, with the rare exceptions of suspected abuse of any kind (including child protection), or if the therapist has any reason to believe their patient may hurt themselves, or others. These situations are a matter of ethical procedures, and sometimes, even the law.

Resources

Lousine Stepanian MA, LMFT, PsyD

Glendale, California 91203

818 649 9093

EMAIL

Hours

My Hours are flexible and by appointment. Please contact me to find the time that works best for you.

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