Grief counselors and therapists in Santa Monica, CA

I have vast experience with a wide variety of clients. My professional history includes children living in abusive environments, teenagers who are struggling to access their education due to mental health concerns, families navigating dysfunction and adults dealing with a variety of life difficulties.

I currently work, primarily, in corrections with inmates struggling to adjust to the custody environment. I offer crisis intervention in addition to ongoing support.

I approach the therapeutic space with compassion and openness. I meet my clients right where they are emotionally and in their healing journey.

Carl Hess is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist offering in-person sessions in the city of Ventura. Carl works with individuals, families, and couples, helping to improve relationships and to discover the path to more rich and meaningful lives. Carl employs knowledge of a wide range of treatment modalities to create individualized treatment plans with practical solutions for life's challenges.

With a Masters in Holistic Counseling Psychology as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #106892) and with a Masters Certification in Intuitive and Energy Medicine (MIM) I offer an integrative approach that blends evidence based therapeutic modalities with psycho-spiritual practices to support healing, growth, and transformation for personal and spiritual development.

Welcome to my therapy practice. If you are anxious and feeling overwhelmed, therapy can help you find relief. If it is hard to say no and you are exhausted from taking care of everyone but yourself, my approach will help you to set healthy boundaries. Are you feeling stuck? Therapy can reduce feelings of depression and low self-worth. Are you feeling hurt by narcissistic abuse or alcoholism and drug abuse in the family? Together we will heal the pain of your inner child.

My goal is to help you to achieve a better sense of fulfillment and serenity.

My approach addresses challenges with grief and loss, relationships, substance use and codependency. With my more than 35 years of experience, I am confident that we will find a way to help you to achieve a better sense of fulfillment and serenity.

I am a licensed MFT in California with years of experience directing programs, training therapists and supporting adults in their recovery. I have weekend appointments!

Being a teenager can feel overwhelming. You might be juggling school, work, relationships, family expectations, and trying to understand who you are—all at the same time. Some days, it can feel like too much. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, or feeling lost or disconnected, we can work through it together at your pace. I also help with things like setting boundaries, building self-confidence, navigating identity, and improving your relationship with food and your body.

That inner pressure to be perfect or “have it all together” can be exhausting. Maybe your inner critic is loud, or you feel like you’re constantly falling short. Therapy is a space where you can take a break from that pressure, feel heard without judgment, and start to make sense of what’s going on inside.

I have been in the healing professions throughout my adult life, initially as a Registered Nurse, working in many different specialities (NICU, pediatrics, and Clinical Trials for Hepatitis C). I’m grateful for both careers and maintain an active interest in medicine and alternative healing. I practice Christian Counseling and my goal as a therapist is to meet you where you’re at and walk with you to a healthier, stronger place. For those of different faiths, I offer counseling oriented toward growth and healing, grounded in traditional values.

If you are experiencing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, difficulty in relationships or other concerns, and are desiring a therapeutic approach aligned with a Christian worldview or traditional values, I would be honored to speak with you.

I offer compassionate, supportive care where you’ll feel heard, valued, and encouraged in your journey of growth and healing. Member of the Focus on the Family Referral Network and American Association of Christian Counselors.