Susan Leviton

I'm an LMFT with 18 years of experience working with a genuinely wide range of people — and by that I mean the whole spectrum: straight, gay, queer, transgender clients pre-, during, and post-transition, people in non-traditional relationships, and any adults navigating anxiety, depression, or the long reach of childhood. I have deep training in gender-affirming care, which means I understand the clinical and emotional complexity of transition — not just the basics. I also work with couples who want to stop having the same fight and actually change how they relate to each other. I have a multicultural clientele and welcome clients from all backgrounds, identities, and relationship structures.

My approach is primarily psychodynamic — I believe that understanding where you've been is the real engine of change. We'll look at how your history, your family, and the stories you've been told about yourself shaped the patterns you're stuck in now. But I'm very flexible--I draw from CBT, ACT, IFS, and my own creativityt if I feel they will be helpful. For couples, I incorporate Gottman Method techniques alongside relational and attachment-based work. I'll offer ideas and perspectives, and I want you to tell me what's landing and what isn't — this is a collaboration, not a lecture.

Expect a real conversation — not a clipboard full of intake forms. In our first session, I want to hear your story: not just the symptoms, but the context. What's brought you here, what you've already tried, and what kind of support you're actually looking for. I'll ask questions and we'll start mapping the landscape together. There's no pressure to have everything figured out before we start. A free 15-minute phone consult is available beforehand so you can get a feel for whether we're a good fit — I encourage you to use it. I offer sessions weekday evenings and during the day, both in-person at my Encino office on Ventura Blvd and virtually throughout California.