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Therapist In West Hollywood for Relationship Counseling.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist with nearly ten years of experience, I believe that life becomes the most satisfying and fulfilling when the relationships we have with our 'Self,' with Others, and with our family are healthy and balanced. The issues and problems that bring people into therapy result from imbalances and relationship problems in any of these areas.
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The most important person to understand is our Self. Being weighed down by anxiety, depression, anger, perfectionism, or health challenges can impact every aspect of our life, my job is to help you life according to what most matters to you.
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ANXIETY DISORDERS
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DEPRESSION
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TRAUMA
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EATING DISORDERS
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MOOD DISORDERS
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE
The first step in starting to make a positive change is to find the right therapist. A prospective therapist will talk to new clients on a consultation call to make sure they are going to be the right partner to provide you with mental health care.
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THERAPY WITH INDIVIDUALS
About half of my practice is spent doing individual therapy with adults. I see people of all ages, from young adults to parents of teens and older, from a diverse range of backgrounds and identities. My clients tend to stay with me for treatment after meeting me because they are looking for a safe space to navigate difficult times. I strive to create a supportive environment to establish a strong therapeutic relationship so that we can explore new ways of understanding your individual needs. This collaborative approach to understanding my clients is a big factor in giving a great experience to the people I work with.
Since my training at the esteemed Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills, I have enhanced my knowledge with a certification from the Los Angeles Institute and Association for Psychoanalytic Studies (LAISPS). I strive to constantly enhance my approach using contemporary influences, from Mentalization Based Training to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, My work as a therapist is to help people struggling to change an aspect of their life.
I offer talk therapy and in-person sessions in my office on Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood, and I also offer online therapy for people in California. I can provide referrals for psychiatrists or psychologists and services such as EMDR.
LGBTQ CLIENTS AND IDENTITY WORK
At Antioch University, I gained a Masters in Clinical Psychology, and I was part of a group of mental health professionals in the 'LGBT Specialization'. I received in-depth and rich LGBTQ affirmative training to deepen my cultural sensitivity and psychological understanding of how to provide services for this population. I am a counselor to a range of LGBTQ clients, from teens to adults. I offer quality care and counseling for gay, lesbian, and bisexual clients in Los Angeles and West Hollywood who strive for personal growth and ways to thrive.
ADDICTION THERAPY AND SUBSTANCE USE
I view addiction as a manifestation of underlying emotional challenges rather than merely a physical or societal issue or another of the unsolvable mental health conditions. I am a firm believer that therapists should recognize the emotional catalysts that lead to addictive behaviors is key to successful treatment. This approach emphasizes treating the root emotional causes rather than focusing solely on the addiction or the behaviors associated with it, and addresses the underlying causes, which could range from complex trauma to family conflict and beyond.
'OTHER'
In my work, the 'Other' can be a colleague who is making life challenging or can be an 'addiction' or an inner critic. Our relationship to these impacts our quality of life, As a therapist, my job is to help you navigate those internal and external dynamics.
COUPLES COUNSELING
As a marriage and family therapist, I offer couples and relationship-oriented services and work from a Family Systems perspective. Couples therapy is for all types of relationships and can help guide you and your partner toward making lasting, positive changes. If you are experiencing hard times in your relationship, then our work will identify a specific area or areas of concern you have. In the supportive space I offer, we can identify necessary changes that need to be made to help you both create the authentic relationships you want.
Couples in Los Angeles face the same issues as those living elsewhere. With that said, the pace and demands of Los Angles often seems to put some strain on some relationship issues. Couples in West Hollywood are no different, with the added stress of recent strikes, COVID-19, there are many reasons for added life challenges and negative feelings in a relationship.
Here are some common issues and problems I see in couples therapy, and I offer in-person sessions and telehealth services.
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Anger and resentment in a partner
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Depression in a partner
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Anxiety in a partner
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Constant arguments and fighting
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Low sex or no sex
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Infidelity
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Loss of trust
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Difficulty In Communication
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Emotional Distance
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Inability to commit
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Constant blame
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Inability to forgive
FAMILY THERAPY
The relationship we have with our caregivers profoundly impacts the way we think, feel, and behave. The connectedness and reactivity we sometimes have in our home system make the functioning of family members interdependent. This type of counseling can help you and your loved one to improve communication, reduce conflict and to generate moments of authentic connection and closeness.
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LGBTQ+ FAMILY SESSIONS
I love working with same-sex parents or families that identify as LGBTQ+ and understand some of the specific strains that go on inside families. I'd love to talk more if you're considering family therapy.
About Me:
British-born Oliver Drakeford is a Licensed Therapist as well as a Certified Group Psychotherapist in the West Hollywood / Beverly Hills area of Los Angeles. He has experience providing services to adolescents and adults individually, as well as providing family counseling and group therapy.
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Oliver started his career with years of working with adolescents as a psychotherapist in residential settings and at Beverly Hills High School and The Maple Counseling Center. His approach to therapy is influenced by his enthusiasm for psychodynamic theory, which was ignited while studying for his master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University. After graduating, he pursued this interest with year-long certifications from the Los Angeles Institute and Association for Psychoanalytic Studies (LAISPS), and the Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis (ICP).
In addition to private practice, he teaches Group Process at Antioch University in LA, and offers consultations and trainings in group and systems therapy. Oliver was the Clinical Director of an adolescent treatment center in Malibu for over three years and developed a family systems-focused approach to helping teens and their parents connect and strengthen relationships.
In 2017, he was the recipient of the Donald T. Brown Memorial Scholarship Award for group Psychotherapy from The Group Foundation for Advancing Mental Health. He continues his training in Modern Group Analytic theory at the Center for Group Studies in New York and serves as the Board of Directors for the Group Psychotherapy Association of Los Angeles (GPALA). Oliver is also a Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP), a designation identifying clinical mental health professionals who meet nationally accepted criteria of education, training, and experience in group psychotherapy. In addition, Oliver is an Adjunct Professor at Antioch University, Los Angeles where he teaches Master’s level graduate students in Group Process & Treatment Methods.
Oliver enjoys running groups of all kinds, in particular the multi-family group and specializes in working with families with teens who might be identifying on the LGBTQ continuum. He specializes in family systems therapy, running supervision groups and trainings for new therapists who are looking to improve their understanding of family systems theory. Oliver is available for consultations and supervision outside of his practice and loves teaching, giving presentations and any opportunity to explain "Oliver's Theory Of Everything", (which is neither his theory, nor the theory of everything).
