Psychotherapy & Counseling

Offering creative & culturally sensitive psychotherapy for individuals (ages 12+), partners and families. 

In-person & telehealth sessions available.

black female therapist

Living with a marginalized identity means becoming familiar with the space in-between. 

As a neurodivergent Black female therapist, I know just how lonely this life can be when you’re constantly being told that you’re too much of this and not enough of that.

I believe that we’re all born with a necessary and intuitive sense of creativity within us, designed to protect us and help us function and exist in a world that was not created with us in mind. But with that creativity can also come pain (grief, anger, isolation, prejudice, etc), as the impact of various personal experiences, social/political dynamics & biological / physiological processes slowly start to take their toll, leaving us feeling stuck, confused and stifled, no hope or creativity in sight.

The exhaustion is real, but so is the opportunity for incredible healing and connection. My work honors your unique, individual experiences by recognizing all the systems that you are up against & leveraging the healing powers of art, community and humor to help you process big emotions, facilitate deeper self-awareness, strengthen your relationships and navigate life’s transitions in creative, holistic ways. 

Together, we’ll find the tools to help you make sense of the gray areas & recognize the unique beauty and strength of all your parts and pieces.

Who are you?

black female therapist

Hi! My name is Amber and I am currently a Registered Associate Marital and Family Therapist (#AMFT135666) and a professionally-trained Expressive Arts Therapist, working towards full certification. I take a multifaceted, creative and culturally-sensitive approach to therapy, specializing in anxiety, life transitions, intersectional identities, and relationship difficulties. 

I belong to a group practice - The Wellness Arts Collective - and am working under the supervision of Rhonda Waller-Dang (LMFT #108744). I offer in-person sessions for clients located in Los Angeles and virtual sessions for residents of California. You may read more about The Wellness Arts Collective here or request an appointment here.

Who do you work with?

I specialize in working with young (12-35), BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or neurodiverse individuals, as well as partners and families looking to improve communication and intimacy. Majority of my clients can be described as creative, ambitious, sensitive, engaged and driven and may be looking for a more flexible, creative approach to traditional talk psychotherapy. 

therapy for life transitions
therapy for life transitions
therapy for life transitions

What do you work on?

If you find yourself at the beginning of something new, stuck in a rut, overwhelmed by big thoughts and even bigger emotions, or just looking for a place where you can process & explore - my therapeutic services make space for you to dive deep & bring your goals into focus & reality.  

More specifically, I’m able to provide support for the following concerns:

  • ADHD & Autism 

  • Anxiety, Perfectionism & Imposter Syndrome

  • Body Image & Body Dysmorphia

  • Career Counseling

  • Individual or Intergenerational Trauma

  • Chronic & Psychosomatic Pain

  • Grief and Loss

  • Peer Issues & Family Conflict

  • Sex, Intimacy & Relationships

  • Life Transitions & Adulting

  • Self-Esteem & Identity Work

  • High Sensitivity and Chronic Stress

  • Holistic Health & Wellness

How do you work?

My approach to therapy is as eclectic and diverse as my clientele. I operate from an integrative, culturally-sensitive, trauma-informed and strength-based lens, to help you unpack your story, explore your parts and ease pain. 

Some of the main frameworks that inform my work are:

  • … to help us explore the subconscious and the symbolic and bring balance to your system

  • … which encourages mindfulness, self-compassion and psychological flexibility to help you accept your thoughts and feelings without judgment and commit to making meaningful actions, aligned with your values

  • … which explores the thoughts, feelings, communications, behaviors, and interpersonal exchanges that you may have learned either to suppress and avoid or to amplify and overemphasize because of early attachment & relational experiences

  • … to offer a safe space for you to explore, understand and express your emotions, build intimacy and develop healthier ways of relating to yourself and your loved ones, so that you are ultimately able to foster more fulfilling and satisfying relationships.

  • … to provide you with a supportive and empowering space where your individual experiences are recognized and understood within the broader context of social, cultural, and systemic oppressions, to help you overcome limiting beliefs, uncover and build on personal strengths and improve self-worth/self-image through collaboration, psychoeducation and validation.

  • … to help you explore, challenge and reframe your personal narratives, gain a new perspective on your life and make positive, lasting change.

  • … which combines talk therapy with imagery, art making, storytelling, tarot, dreamwork, movement and sound to help communicate what exists beyond words.

  • … which is focused on disabling unhealthy assumptions & attitudes, fostering self-awareness, promoting personal growth, and encouraging the development of a positive self-image, ultimately leading to enhanced well-being and a deeper understanding of oneself.

  • … to help you navigate through profound questions of meaning, purpose, and identity in the face of uncertainty, enabling you to come to terms with your own existence and make authentic choices that align with your truest self.

  • … to help you better understand the unique topography of your internal psychological landscape, heal discord and generate new, creative solutions to the internal problems you may be facing.

black female therapist los angeles
black female therapist los angeles
  • Our standard fee for a 50-minute session is $175; longer sessions are charged on a pro-rated basis. Groups and workshop fees vary and are made available with posted sign-up/registration information. Fees are payable at the time that services are rendered and we accept cash, check, and credit card. So that you and your therapist can work up until the end of your sessions together, credit cards are stored via a client portal and are billed the morning following your session; no "swiping" or payment during session is necessary. Cash and check are requested at the beginning of the session so we can work up to the end of the session without interruption.

  • While we are not a contracted provider with any insurance company or managed care organization, we do provide clients monthly statements of payment along with a “super bill” which you may submit to your insurance carrier/the third-party of your choice to seek reimbursement of fees already paid. Most of our clients with out of network benefits are able to obtain some form of reimbursement with our super bill, without incident. The amount of reimbursement and the amount of any co-payments or deductible depends on the requirements of your specific insurance plan. You should be aware that insurance plans generally limit coverage to certain diagnosable mental conditions (i.e. your insurance may refuse payment of your claim without a diagnosis). Current and prospective clients are responsible for verifying and understanding the limits of their insurance coverage.

    To determine if you have mental health coverage, we recommend you first check with your insurance carrier. To help you navigate this process, we've outlined the following questions to ask your carrier about your coverage:

    • What are my mental health benefits?

    • Do I have out-of-network benefits?

    • How much does my plan allow for an out-of-network provider?

    • What is the "reasonable and customary"/"universal cap" per session?

    • How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?

    • Do I have a deductible? Have I met my deductible?

    • Is approval required from my primary care physician?

  • I offer in-person sessions to clients located in Los Angeles and virtual therapy for California-based residents. All in-person sessions are held at my group practice, The Wellness Arts Collective, located in Glassell Park at 3519 Eagle Rock Blvd. Telehealth sessions are conducted via Simple Practice, a secure HIPPA-compliant platform.

  • A processed-based approach to therapy is less about providing you with all the answers and solutions, but more about creating a space for you to explore & discover the answers that are already inside of you. You are the expert of your own life and your vision, but sometimes, the path can seem cloudy and distant. My job as your therapist is to help you move past the confusion, clear the haze, and offer a space where you can actually stop, reflect and discover the you that has been there all along. Together, let’s unpack the story of who you are and where you come from, so you can shift the narrative and move forward with clarity, peace and intention.

  • Our sessions give you the opportunity to talk about any issue that is problematic for you. What you want to work on may change from week to week, or you may wish to delve deeply into one issue or area of your life over a long period of time. As your therapist, I will hold the space with confidentiality so that you can work at your own pace, in the direction that you want to follow.

  • Sure, but like with anything in our work together, you always have a choice. You can try it, hate it, love it, never do it. An example of “homework” is try creating 5 intentional minutes in the morning for yourself. What do you notice? Was it easy, challenging?

  • Life happens and it is also important for us to honor our time together. Barring an emergency, if an appointment is cancelled 24 hours or less, you’ll be charged for the full session fee.

  • Call us! Or if you’d rather shoot us an email, that's fine too. You can go to the "contact page" on this website to do either. If you have a sense that you want to move forward, let's schedule a phone consultation so that we can chat and see if we would be a good fit for one another. Following your consultation call, and if we schedule a session together, then we will send you an email with a link to set up your online client portal, which will ask for your personal, emergency contact, and billing information before your first appointment.

Ready to get started?

Life may not make sense right now, but you don't have to figure it all out on your own. I’d love to support you on your journey – to listen to you, ask questions, offer a helping hand, make some art and (hopefully) share a laugh or two.

You deserve to live a life filled with joy.

Let’s chat about how to make that happen.