April Madden

I’m April Madden, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the owner of Twisted Oaks Family Therapy.

If you are interested in services, please reach out to clerical at (805)721-6112 or visit our website at twisitedoakstherapy.com

As the owner of Twisted Oaks Family Therapy, I’ve also built a team of clinicians with diverse specialties so that clients can be matched with a therapist who best fits their individual needs. Our goal is to provide a welcoming, nonjudgmental environment where clients can feel comfortable doing difficult work while knowing they do not have to navigate it alone.

I hold a master’s degree in clinical psychology and have more than 20 years of experience in the helping profession, working with individuals and families facing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, relational, and life challenges.

My approach to therapy is compassionate, trauma-informed, and direct. I believe therapy should be a space where you feel heard and supported, but also a place where meaningful growth happens. I work collaboratively with my clients to identify patterns, build healthier coping skills, strengthen relationships, and create lasting change.

I have experience working with adolescents, adults, couples, and families, with particular focus on trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, life transitions, addiction and recovery, communication difficulties, self-esteem, and rebuilding trust and connection. I am also a Certified Substance Use Disorder Counselor IV (SUDCC-IV), which provides me with specialized experience in substance use, addiction, and recovery.

Whether you are seeking support for yourself, your relationship, or your family, our goal is to meet you where you are and help you move toward greater understanding, healing, and meaningful change.

My approach to therapy is warm, compassionate, trauma-informed, and direct. I believe meaningful therapy involves more than simply having a safe place to talk—it is also about developing insight, recognizing patterns, building practical skills, and creating changes that carry into everyday life. I strive to provide a nonjudgmental environment where you can feel heard and supported while also being appropriately challenged when needed.

I tailor treatment to each client rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, mindfulness, and strengths-based and systemic approaches. Together, we will identify what is keeping you stuck, explore how past experiences may be influencing the present, and develop healthier ways of coping, communicating, and connecting with others.

I work with adolescents, adults, couples, and families and have a particular interest in trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, addiction and recovery, relationship difficulties, family conflict, communication, boundaries, self-esteem, and major life transitions. With couples and families, I focus on identifying unhealthy cycles, improving communication, rebuilding trust and emotional safety, and helping each person take accountability for their role in the relationship.

You can expect me to be engaged and active in the therapeutic process. I will listen, support, ask difficult questions when appropriate, and help you recognize patterns that may no longer be serving you. My goal is not to tell you how to live your life, but to help you better understand yourself, strengthen your relationships, and develop the tools and confidence to create meaningful, lasting change.

Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin creating a comfortable, trusting therapeutic relationship. I understand that starting therapy can feel vulnerable, so my goal is to provide a warm, welcoming, and nonjudgmental environment where you can show up exactly as you are. There is no expectation that you share everything at once—we will move at a pace that feels appropriate for you.

During our first session, we will talk about what brought you to therapy, what you are currently experiencing, and what you hope will be different as a result of our work together. I will ask questions about your history, relationships, current stressors, strengths, coping strategies, and other experiences that may help me better understand the whole picture.

Together, we will begin identifying your goals for therapy and developing a treatment approach that is individualized to your needs. Depending on what brings you in, goals may include reducing anxiety or depression, processing trauma, improving communication and relationships, developing healthier coping skills, establishing boundaries, rebuilding trust, navigating major life changes, or strengthening your overall sense of well-being.

Most importantly, the first session is also your opportunity to determine whether I feel like the right therapist for you. Therapy works best when you feel comfortable, respected, and able to be honest. My goal is for you to leave your first session feeling heard, understood, and with a clearer sense of how we can move forward together.