Grief counselors and therapists in Manhattan Beach, CA

I am a dedicated clinician with 10+years of experience working in mental health services. Therapy is the first step in your journey of self exploration and change.

Carl Hess is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist offering in-person sessions in the city of Ventura. Carl works with individuals, families, and couples, helping to improve relationships and to discover the path to more rich and meaningful lives. Carl employs knowledge of a wide range of treatment modalities to create individualized treatment plans with practical solutions for life's challenges.

• Born and raised in Los Angeles and completed undergraduate degree in Psychology at Cal State Northridge (2003) and obtained Masters is Social Work at The University of Hawaii, Manoa (2005).
• Board Certified Clinical Social Worker since 2009.
• Established Private Practice since 2017 and licensed in Hawaii and California
• Certified in Perinatal Mental Health
• Previous Diversity and Inclusion Chair and Board Chair of the Postpartum Support International (PSI) California Chapter Board of Directors.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I see people as more than their symptoms. I offer a safe, nonjudgmental space to validate lived experiences. Together, we work through anxiety, depression, grief, and life’s challenges.

Hello! I am an Attachment based therapist and I find it an honor to be on the journey to self discovery with my clients. Walking along side someone (figuratively) while they create a better understanding to their self and how to live this thing we call life is what motivates and drives me.

I AM WARM, FRIENDLY, AND STILL SOLUTION-FOUSED THEARPIST WHO CREATE A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE AND NONJUDGEMENTAL SPACE FOR CLIENT TO FEEL HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD.

I am a LCSW. My background includes working in the prison system, medical social work, school social work and the foster care system. I specialize in supporting LGBTQ+ people, veterans, trauma victims, first responders, and survivors of domestic abuse.

I have a Master’s degree in Family Therapy and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with specialization in Depth Psychology. That means I’m going to work both with your responses to the external system that you live in and with the deep psychological parts of you that go back to your childhood. Finally, I am certified in Hypnosis and have several years of meditation and mindfulness training, and also use those perspectives to help my clients.

I believe therapy is a space where you should feel heard, understood, and accepted for who you are. My role is not to tell you what choices to make, but to walk alongside you as you better understand yourself, explore what matters most to you, and find a path that feels right for you.

I value building a genuine connection with my clients and creating a space where you can be open and honest without fear of judgment. Together, we can work through the things that may be weighing on you and develop tools that help you feel more confident in navigating life, relationships, and the challenges that come your way.

I primarily work with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, and relationship difficulties, including challenges with family, friendships, and romantic relationships. I have worked with youth and families since 2016 and have provided therapy since 2022. My experience also includes supporting individuals impacted by domestic violence and working in crisis settings, which has shaped my belief in meeting people with compassion, patience, and understanding during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Most importantly, I believe you are the expert on your own life. My hope is to help you feel empowered to make choices that align with your beliefs, values, and the life you want to create.

My clients tell me I am extremely non judgemental, empathic and very safe to talk to. I also work directly WITH you to set your desired goals and what you want from your therapy. One of my joys is to help my clients learn how to be their individual authentic selves complete with confidence, clarity and calm.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Master's degree in Social Work. In my clinical journey, I’ve had the privilege of working with adults, youth, children, and families in a variety of settings—including hospitals, residential treatment centers, schools, private practice, and community-based services.

These diverse experiences have shaped my ability to meet clients where they are and support them through a wide range of challenges.

You’ve spent a lifetime caring for everyone else. My job is to help you finally exhale.

I’m Melissa Lou Koerner, LCSW — a therapist with 20+ years of experience helping people navigate the messy, meaningful, and often hilarious business of being human. I’m a generalist at heart, which means you don’t have to fit into a diagnostic box to work with me. If it’s part of your story, it’s welcome in the room.

Over the years I’ve supported adults, couples, families, caregivers, Veterans, adoptive families, and folks moving through grief, trauma, identity shifts, and major life transitions. From school hallways to hospice rooms to VA clinics to private practice, I’ve learned one thing over and over: people are far more resilient than they realize.

My style is warm, grounded, and practical. I blend trauma‐informed care, attachment work, and evidence‐based approaches with a healthy dose of humor — because sometimes the only way through a hard moment is to laugh at how absurd life can be.

And while I’m a true generalist, I’ll admit my favorite work these days is helping adults untangle enmeshment, estrangement, and parentification. There’s something powerful about watching people reclaim space in their own lives after years of carrying roles that were never theirs to begin with.

If you’re looking for a therapist who can help you untangle what’s heavy, honor what’s hopeful, and