Louise Sturm

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Santa Cruz, California, offering services to children, families, and adults statewide via Telehealth and in person.

I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to help my clients identify unhealthy thinking patterns and develop healthy behavioral strategies. I specialize in treating anxiety, trauma, and, transitional and relational life experiences.

My extensive professional background includes over 30 years of experience as an art teacher and preschool teacher, serving individuals, children, and families from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. My background as a visual and public artist gave me the opportunity to lead community projects that included intergenerational and multi-cultural bridging. All of my accumulated skills and background provide greater opportunities to offer my clients a multi faceted and foundational approach to therapy, focusing on practical skill development and experiential growth.

My approach to therapy uses a client-centered perspective to support my clients with their unique needs and goals. I often combine Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy to support my client in developing healthy ways to cope with stress, regulate their emotions, and improve their relationships with others. I center my therapeutic practice towards children and adults who are facing life transitions. These challenges often present with symptoms of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and negative behavioral patterns. I help my clients to gain self-acceptance, insight, agency, and resilience; the necessary skills for personal growth and happiness.

I offer a variety of tools that will support you to develop effective emotional regulation tools, communication skills, and to help you to recognize your inner strengths. Every person is unique, and therefore therapy should be as well. We can explore what is going on in your life right now so you can build resiliency in the face of challenges.

What you can expect from our sessions together is that I will create a safe environment for you to explore your feelings and what it is that you want from therapy. I will listen and support you on how to move forward and whether I am the right person to help. Together we can decide which path will lead you to a greater sense of well-being.