Pacific Practice: Mindfulness, Acceptance and Self-Compassion Based Psychotherapy for Anxiety & Depression

Do you ask yourself "Why can't I just be happy!?" Do you feel like life would be better if you could just get rid of your thoughts? Are you becoming someone that you do not want to be? My clients come to me trying to use old ways of coping that are no longer working for them. If the harder you try to control your problems just seems to make your problems worse, I am here to help.

My Background and Approach

I don't believe that we are flawed because we are not happy. I don't believe that we are hopeless if we can't control our emotions. I believe that our depression and anxiety indicates something is missing in our modern lives. How can we give ourselves what we primally need? Using a psycho-evolutionary approach, incorporating eastern philosophy, neurobiology, mindfulness, self-compassion and metta (lovingkindness) my clients learn to treat themselves kindly, gently while defining what their hearts truly desire. This is direct and practical therapy. You can immediately use what we practice in session. My goal is not to have you in therapy for the rest of your life, but to be ready to live the rest of your life fully moving toward what it is that makes your heart full.

My Personal Beliefs

I am a social worker and believe in social justice, dignity and worth of my clients. The perspectives that heal us are not those that we are commonly taught at a young age--and are not reinforced in society. In the current socio-political climate, we need mindful self-compassion and a connection to our own meaning more than ever. Depression, anxiety, worries, negative thoughts, shame, self-blame are issues that are overwhelming. We learn to isolate, shame ourselves and self-harm instead of: connecting with our own humanity, identifying what is important to us and learning to open up and even embrace our discomfort. This can help us relate to ourselves more positively. This can improve our overall sense of well-being and is a foundation for good mental health. If you're ready to take this journey, I am here for you.

Pacific Practice is conveniently located at: 4052 Del Rey Ave in Marina Del Rey, CA. 

Interests

Neurobiology, Epigenetics, Nutrition & Mental Health, The Effects of Nature on Wellbeing, Meditation, Social Determinants of Health

Call Nami at: (805)322-7576 or email: PacificPractice@gmail.com today

Wise Words:

How
did the rose
ever open its heart
and give to this world all of its beauty?

It felt the encouragement of light against its being,
otherwise we all remain too frightened.

~ Hafiz

“Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing,
there is a field.  I'll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
doesn't make any sense.”

~ Rumi

“Pain is not wrong. Reacting to pain as wrong initiates the trance of unworthiness. The moment we believe something is wrong, our world shrinks and we lose ourselves in the effort to combat the pain.” ~ Tara Brach

“A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life.” ~ Dr. Christopher Germer

“Self-compassion is approaching ourselves, our inner experience with spaciousness, with the quality of allowing which has a quality of gentleness. Instead of our usual tendency to want to get over something, to fix it, to make it go away, the path of compassion is totally different. Compassion allows.” ~  Robert Gonzales