Seth Menachem, LMFT, Founder

I am a psychodynamically-oriented therapist, which means I work to help you understand your history so we can discover how it is influencing the ways in which you currently operate in the world. Those experiences can lead to defense mechanisms that can make it more challenging to fully connect to feelings and emotions. As your therapist, our relationship in the room is integral to the work. It is while navigating those feelings where self-discovery, bringing the unconscious to the surface, and corrective emotional experiences, help you diminish your symptoms, find clarity, and become a fully-realized, authentic human being.

I think it is important for therapists to bring their humanity in the room, and while I take the work seriously, it is okay to also laugh at life, and ourselves. I work with clients from a place of curiosity and empathy, and occasionally use humor as a teaching tool and modeling for a healthy coping mechanism.

Before becoming a therapist, I earned my B.A. in Psychology from Emory University in Atlanta, where I contributed to research and conducted studies in England measuring children’s abilities to identify emotions in facial expressions.

I moved to LA, where I spent almost two decades working as an actor and writer. I am very familiar with the unique challenges of working in the entertainment industry, and many of my clients work in TV and film.

I received my Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in LA, and did my training at Beit T’Shuvah, an inpatient addiction facility. I worked with a variety of clients–some coming from a life of privilege; others who are transitioning out of the criminal justice system. I also worked at Creative Care, an inpatient substance abuse rehabilitation facility specializing in co-occurring disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar, and borderline personality.

I currently work with individuals, couples, and groups in private practice at Menachem Psychotherapy Group. I founded this group in order to create a place for like-minded therapists to work with clients. I see clients in person at our Valley Village office, as well as clients virtually throughout California, Florida, and New York.

I know how difficult choosing a therapist may be, and I appreciate you thinking about working with me.