in-person in los angeles & online across california
Therapy for high functioning people in Los Angeles navigating anxiety, people-pleasing, and self-loss.
You’ve learned to hold a lot.
You learned how to keep going, even when no one noticed how much you were carrying.
From the outside, your life may even look full or successful. But underneath it all, something still feels off. You’ve spent so long managing expectations, responsibilities, and pressure that you’ve lost touch with yourself and what actually feels meaningful or fulfilling to you.
Maybe you’ve started to realize that you’ve spent so much time surviving that you’re no longer fully present in your own life.
You might recognize some of this in yourself:
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You notice shifts in tone and try to smooth things over. When something feels off, you often assume it’s your fault.
You care deeply about connection, you just wish it didn’t mean carrying so much of the emotional weight.
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You replay conversations, analyze decisions, and try to anticipate what might go wrong. Even small choices can feel heavy, and you wish your mind would finally give you a bit of rest.
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You hold yourself to high standards in work, relationships, and everyday life. But part of you wants to be able to feel steady enough in yourself so that the smallest mistakes don’t trigger the harshest self-criticism.
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When you feel hurt, disappointed, or overwhelmed, your first instinct is often to minimize it. The feelings may build quietly until they start to come out in ways you didn’t expect.
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After years or focusing on others, your own preferences can feel hard to access. It’s unsettling when you’re not sure what feels right to you.
I’m stephanie, a California Therapist.
There is a way to live that feels more like you— and we’ll find it.
Over the years, I've sat with people carrying all kinds of stories, but there are a few themes that tend to come up again and again: the pressure to hold everything together, the feeling that everyone else's needs come first, the constant second-guessing, and the quiet fear that if you stop pushing, something will all fall apart.
As a Los Angeles therapist, I work with people navigating anxiety, chronic overthinking, people-pleasing, relationship challenges, and the feeling that they've lost touch with themselves somewhere along the way. Many are thoughtful, insightful, and deeply capable. They know how to take care of other people. They know how to meet expectations. But what they're often struggling with is knowing what they want, what they need, and how to trust themselves.
Over time, those struggles often lead to bigger questions. What belongs to me, and what have I been carrying for everyone else? Which parts of my life feel chosen, and which parts have been shaped by fear, guilt, or expectation? Together, we'll spend time with those questions and explore what it looks like to trust yourself more fully, feel less pulled by guilt and expectation, and build a life that feels more connected to who you are and what matters most to you.
My specialties:
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For those who often feel on edge — where uncertainty feels hard to tolerate and your mind is always trying to predict what’s going to happen next. Together, we’ll work toward a steadier relationship with your thoughts and the ability to move through life with more clarity and self-trust.
Click here to learn more about how I work with anxiety and chronic overthinking.
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For those who have spent so much time taking care of everyone else that they're no longer sure what they want, need, or feel. Together, we'll explore the patterns that keep you stuck and learn how to stay connected to others without losing yourself in the process.
Click here to learn more about people-pleasing and relational patterns.
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For those who feel disconnected from themselves or uncertain about what they truly want. Maybe your life looks right on paper, but something still feels missing. Maybe you've spent so much time meeting expectations that you're no longer sure which parts of your life feel chosen and which parts have been shaped by obligation, guilt, or habit.
This work is about reconnecting with yourself, understanding what matters most to you, and building a life that feels more like your own. For many clients, this also includes navigating cultural expectations, identity development, and the tension between who they've needed to be and who they're becoming.
How it works
Reaching out can feel like a big step. I keep this part simple.
Click this link to schedule a 15-minute free consultation.
During the consultation, you’ll get the chance to share a little about what's bringing you here, ask any questions you have, and get a sense of what it might be like to work together. It's simply a chance to talk and see whether it feels like a good fit.
If we decide to move forward, we'll schedule your first session and begin exploring the patterns you're tired of repeating, the questions you've been carrying, and what kind of life you want to create moving forward.