Gaiane Akopian, LMFT — Therapist in California

Hi there, I'm Gaiane!

I provide therapy to adolescents, teens, children, families, and adults. My main areas of focus are anxiety, depression, life stressors, parenting, communication and relational issues, loss and grief, addictions, low self-esteem, domestic violence, and existential crisis.

My focus

I have a passion for working with teenagers and adolescents, helping young individuals navigate the complexity of their experience and achieve therapeutic goals. I also work with adults and parents who have parenting challenges. I see clients affected by domestic violence and specialize in loss and grief, addictions, and anxiety.

My approach

My therapeutic approach is eclectic, based on your individual needs. I draw from Psychodynamic, Existential, Person-Centered, and Solution-Focused therapy. I also apply Motivational Interviewing and Positive Psychology because I believe you have innate strength and abilities for change and healing given the right tools.

My communication style

My communication style is nonjudgmental, calm, and trustworthy. I create a safe space for you, making you feel at ease and less anxious. I practice active listening, tuning in with your feelings and emotions. I create an atmosphere where you feel safe and heard, where you know I'm interested in your unique, very personal story.

My journey to mental healthcare

I have always been fascinated with people's stories and unraveling the complex threads of the root causes of our anxieties in life. Sometimes we are fully stuck on the pieces of that puzzle. That perspective brought me to counseling to have my personal input in making the world slightly better by providing therapy.

My goals for you

I approach goal setting by collaborating with you. I believe you are an expert in your life. I start with building trust and creating a plan to achieve short-term or long-term goals, then identify what's holding you back or motivates you for change, guide you to face the challenges of therapy, normalize your experiences, and track your progress.

Our first session

The first session is about building rapport and an initial connection with you. We will talk about you and why you are seeking help, and how you feel in the present moment. I will navigate the process by asking questions to get to know you better and set individual goals for our therapeutic journey together.

I identify as...

Female
Caucasian or White

Expertise

Treatment approaches

Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)

Attachment-based

Child/Parent Psychotherapy

Humanistic

Mindfulness-Based

Motivational Interviewing

Object Relations

+ 7 more

Focus populations

Educators

First Generation American/Immigrant Parents

Military/Veterans

Recovery/12 Step Friendly

Single Mother

+ 5 more

Therapy types

Individual Therapy

Ages served

Adults
Minors

Practice

Accepted insurance providers

Carelon Behavioral Health
Aetna
All Savers
Allegiance
Allied

+ 61 more

Languages spoken

English, Armenian, Russian

Education

Master in Counseling (MC) in Marriage and Family Therapy from National University.

Sessions

60 minutes

Virtual sessions

Gaiane Akopian