Ariel Agmon

Hi there! My name is Ariel and I am a therapist, a social worker, a former Californian and a proud mamma to my dog and two cats. I became a therapist 16 years ago (wild) after leaving my career in the entertainment industry to get my masters in clinical psychology at Antioch University Los Angeles. Taking that step felt pretty risky, but once I started learning I couldn't get enough. So much so that I decided to go back to graduate school for a Masters in Social Work at USC! I followed my interests and gained specialized training in intimate partner violence, complex trauma and serving our unhoused neighbors to name a few. In private practice I have found joy and fulfillment from creating genuine, meaningful relationships with my clients. I am so glad that you are here.

Have you ever wondered, “why do I continue to do ‘x, y, and z’ even though I know it doesn’t work for me?” Haven’t we all! That’s why I work primarily from a psychodynamic perspective. In psychodynamic therapy, the goal is to make the unconscious conscious. We all have thoughts and feelings that we are not aware of, and that unconscious material is creating unhelpful pattens that leave us feeling hurt, confused, and stuck. When we can make the unconscious conscious, we regain our sense of agency and we can make choices that bring us closer to the life that we really want to live.

I love doing psychodynamic work, but I also enjoy pulling from other therapeutic approaches in order to meet each individual’s unique needs. I may use several different modalities cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), emotional focused therapy, and person centered therapy in a single session.

My overarching goal in therapy is to make sessions feel collaborative and conversational. Collaboration is vital, because I may come to session with clinical knowledge but you are the expert on all things you. I respect and value the hard earned wisdom that you’ve earned through navigating the hard times. We will work well together if you are looking for a therapist who will be authentic (no clinical jargon here), a therapist who will challenge you, and a therapist who will create safety and trust.