I am a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist with a Master of Science Degree in Marriage Family Therapy from California State University – Dominguez Hills, CA. I work with children, adolescents, and adult clients on a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, anger, ADHD/ADD, communication, relationship problems, trauma, work related stress, and life transitions. I have also worked in the community helping individuals and families to learn the coping strategies to lead more productive lives. My years of working in a major corporation has taught me that sometimes we get “stuck and burned out” in our jobs due to no fault of our own. However, this issue can eventually lead to depression, anxiety, and other unhealthy issues ultimately impacting our personal relationships.
Philosophy
I listen to you in a non-judgmental manner, validate your concerns, guide your discovery, and work collaboratively to develop treatment goals that provide healthy outcomes for you. In the initial phase of therapy, a lot of focus will be given to understanding you and explore your personal history (including childhood and family of origin.) This will help me understand your life story and provide insight into patterns in your life which led you to the path you are on today. I will assist you in learning effective problem solving techniques to allow you to develop solutions to life issues.
Dr. Sonjia Williams
Dr. Sonjia Williams is a graduate of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology earning a Psy.D. degree in Clinical Forensic Psychology. She earned a B.A. degree in Psychology and French from the University of Minnesota and a M.A. degree in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University. Dr. Williams is a veteran having served in the United States Air Force and Air National Guard for 7 years, and is currently a Registered Psychological Assistant, providing psychotherapy to victims of crime of all ages, specializing in domestic violence and other forms of trauma, and Worker’s Compensation clients. Dr. Williams has experience working in both faith-based sectors and civilian sectors. She has facilitated DV Support Groups and has regularly presented on “Best Practices for Working with African American Victims of Domestic Violence” at Casa de la Familia’s 40 Hour Domestic Violence Certificate Training Course since April 2016. Dr. Williams is experienced in ethnocentric approaches to therapy and is passionate about educating and training mental health clinicians on best practices for working with African American clients concerning trauma and abuse, their unique and complex attitude towards mental health, and noteworthy considerations why they may hesitate to seek help.
Dr. Don Rubish
Sometimes when things go wrong, we don’t know exactly why. Problems at home or work, health issues, relationship struggles, and life transitions can all create a sense of deep disconnect. Being listened to and understood will often increase your personal satisfaction and improve your life on a deeper level. The ultimate goal of this work and my main interest is that you come to know yourself more deeply and live a more complete and satisfying life, thereby raising your level of functioning and returning to or discovering a life of gratification and vitality.
I am a clinical psychologist with 20 years of experience, licensed in both the states of California and Colorado. I have lived in Los Angeles for 10 years and love the West Coast. Becoming a therapist later in life has allowed me to incorporate my varied life experiences into my psychoanalytic approach. I am a veteran, husband, father, and grandfather, and I have worked in many fields in addition to psychology as an instructor of tennis, skiing, and golf — and now I am a senior working as a psychologist.
My varied life experiences combined with a broad psychoanalytic approach allows me to match the best treatment modality to my clients’ needs. I have worked with individuals, couples, families, and prisoners serving time. I enjoy working with all ages including adolescents and people from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. I look forward to connecting with and empowering my future clients!