Los Angeles, CA I San Francisco, CA
Therapy for Trauma and EMDR I Grief and Loss I Addiction I Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness
EMPATHIC THERAPY IN CALIFORNIA
Elaine Skoulas LMFT
What if there was a world where you could just be you?
Light and free and loved because of who you really are.
Fully accepted because you are just uniquely you.
And that is enough.
Elaine Skoulas, LMFT
Trauma-Informed Therapy Based In Los Angeles and Virtually in California
Therapy For When You Are Ready To Find Yourself
A big part of life's journey is finding yourself -
What makes you tick,
How you make decisions,
What lights you up,
How you navigate relationships.
Many of us go through life on auto-pilot, not stopping to ask questions about who we are and who we are becoming.
If you’re in a spot in your journey that’s stirring discomfort, maybe it’s time to talk with a professional who can hear you out and help you move forward as a stronger and more empowered you.
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The People Who Often Find Their Way Here
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The people pleaser, who is tired of living for other people’s expectations but doesn’t know any other way.
The caretaker, who serves as a constant support for friends and family and rarely gets their own cup refilled.
The searcher, who is ready to find their purpose and learn to understand themself.
The lover, who longs to have healthy and successful romantic relationships.
The determined, who has big dreams and goals and desires to end self-sabotage.
The sensitive person, who is deeply empathic and is looking for tools to feel restored.
You Don’t Have To Carry This Alone
Here Are Some Of The Reasons People Come To Therapy
Emotional Wellbeing
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Stress, Overwhelm, And Burnout
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An Active Inner Critic
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Numbness
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Worry And Rumination
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Loneliness
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Shame And Self-Criticism
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Fear Of Failure
Relationships & Identity
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Relationship Issues
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Perfectionism And People-Pleasing
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Decreased Self-Esteem Or Confidence
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High Sensitivity
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Creative Blocks
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Boundaries And Assertiveness
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Attachment Wounds
Life Circumstances
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Trauma (Complex, Childhood, Or Single-Incident)
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Family-Of-Origin Challenges
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Grief And Loss
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Life Transitions
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Chronic Pain
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Chronic Illness
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Alcohol Or Substance Use And Misuse
Virtual / Online Therapy In California
Confidential
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Secure platform
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Convenient
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Easy to use
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Comfortable in your own home
A Supportive, Trauma-Informed Approach To Therapy
Creating A Safe Space For Healing And Growth
It takes immense courage to recognize that something is holding you back from the life you want to be living and reach out for help. I am here to tell you that you don't have to navigate this alone.
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From my own lived experience and my training, I believe therapy can be an incredible tool for self-discovery and growth. I am committed to providing a warm and supportive environment where you can feel safe exploring your feelings and experiences. We will work together to help you develop greater confidence, strengthen boundaries, and improve your relationships, ultimately leading to increased life satisfaction and well-being.
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I believe that with your innate inner resourcefulness and resilience, paired with my expertise and experience, we can create powerful change in your life.
I use a combination of EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, trauma-informed therapy, and other methods to help my clients move forward on their journeys. Finding the right therapist is crucial, which is why I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to see if we're a good fit. Don't hesitate to reach out and take that first step towards a more fulfilling life.
EMDR
SOMATIC EXPERIENCING
GRIEF & LOSS
ADDICTION
CHRONIC PAIN & ILLNESS
A Happier, Healthier You
Intense emotions, difficult relationships, anxiety, depression, poor work or school performance, and reactivity over the smallest things can all be responses to trauma. Carrying this distress can become unbearable, burdensome, and exhausting.
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused therapy modality. EMDR helps to alleviate trauma responses such as hypervigilance, emotional dysregulation, and other overwhelming reactions to triggers. By reprocessing painful memories in a safe and structured way, EMDR allows the brain and body to integrate traumatic or stressful experiences. Many people find that what once felt overwhelming becomes easier to manage, opening the possibility of living with greater steadiness and relief.
Find Safety Within
When stress or trauma overwhelm the nervous system, it can get stuck in fight, flight, or freeze. This may show up as a rapid heart rate, muscle tension, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, or feeling disconnected and dissociated from yourself and others. Living this way can feel confusing, exhausting, and discouraging, especially when you have already tried to cope on your own or even sought therapy that did not bring enough relief.
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a gentle, body-based approach that helps the nervous system complete and release what was left unfinished. By paying close attention to sensations, SE allows you to gradually restore a sense of safety, presence, and connection. Over time, this process can release stored survival energy and support healing that goes beyond words so you can begin to feel more at home in yourself.
Honoring Your Loss
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Has everything been reminding you of your loss and you feel stuck in the pain? Do other people seem to not know what to say to you or seem to always say the wrong thing? Are you feeling that you should be "over it" or at least better by now? It can be frustrating to feel other external life stressors when you are experiencing so much internal pain.
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Grief is a natural and universal experience that often ebbs and flows. You can benefit from grief counseling when experiencing isolation, compounded grief, disenfranchised grief (a loss that others don't acknowledge), or traumatic grief. Everyone grieves differently and there is no correct or appropriate timeline. I can help provide a space just for you to express and process your feelings. Be gentle with yourself and reach out for the support that you need.
Reclaim Your Life
Maybe it started off innocently enough with drinking or experimental drug use. It might have even been helpful at times to check out from the pressures of life and other people. Yet you may be realizing how many consequences your use has brought. You might feel more isolated, have pushed people away, or no longer function the way you used to. It’s time to get your life back. I can help you break out of the cycle.
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Oftentimes people don’t get sober right away and it can be a process. Maybe you’ve tried in the past and feel ambivalent about abstinence. Maybe you just need someone to hold you accountable. Maybe you’ve been sober for a while and need a therapist who understands the significance of recovery in your life. Wherever you are, I will meet you in this process and work with you on your goals to start living again.
Feel The Difference
Chronic pain and illness can affect so many areas of life, including work or school, relationships, self-esteem, your schedule, and even your goals for the future. The shame often comes from feeling misunderstood or judged by others, and when your body will not cooperate it can leave you feeling out of control. Living with these challenges can be exhausting and discouraging, especially when others cannot see or understand what you are carrying.
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Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) is a science-backed approach that helps reduce or even eliminate chronic pain by working with the mind-body connection to decrease pain signals the brain sends when it believes the body is in danger. PRT can help soften your suffering and create more space for comfort, connection, and the possibility of living more fully.
CONTACT ME
I’d love to hear about why you’re considering therapy and learn about what’s on your heart and mind to see if we’d be a good fit.
I work with individuals via telehealth from all over California and am based in Los Angeles. Let’s connect!
I offer in-person therapy by appointment in a welcoming office on Motor Avenue in West Los Angeles, between Venice and Palms Boulevards near the 10 Freeway.
Virtual sessions are also available for clients anywhere in California.
