About King Family Therapy

I support individuals and couples struggling with relationships, anxiety, trauma, and/or life transitions. I'm the kind of therapist that listens well and also shares observations and feedback to help you create real change in your life. Sometimes that means change in your external environment, and sometimes it means change in your internal thoughts and feelings. Either way, it is important to me that therapy benefits you and helps you grow.

 

I am trained in various approaches including EMDR, Brainspotting, DBT, CBT, IFS, Gottman Method, and others. I earned my Masters in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University.

 

As a Certified EMDR Therapist, I have also researched psychological trauma and neuroscience with teams at Cedars-Sinai. I have an extensive background in addiction treatment and have held Clinical Director and Therapist positions at various rehabs across Southern California.​

 

Prior to becoming a therapist, my career was in Education. I earned a Masters from the University of Southern California and became an Educator for the Deaf. I started at a nonprofit learning center and theater program for children with hearing loss. I have held roles of Public School Teacher, Private Educational Specialist, and Nonprofit Director.

 

As for my own therapy - it began in a dance studio. I started at age 3, danced in college and professional arenas, and taught to children and teens. With an ongoing passion for dance and music, I still love going to concerts and exploring new musical artists.

 

Learn more about me at michellekingtherapy.com​​​​​

Therapy can mark the beginning of rebuilding a sense of community in your life, or it may be your first exploration of what community truly means to you. Either way, I believe we’re all connected; we share common emotions, learn from each other, and grow together. I see therapy as more than just finding "the solution" for you. I see it as ultimately helping you live more authentically and meaningfully.

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I have extensive experience working with addiction and substance use issues, depression, trauma, attachment issues, incarceration, and abuse. Additionally, I support 12-step recovery and frequently integrate spirituality.

 

I utilize various treatment modalities, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), and mindfulness approaches. I am also trained in EMDR, which I find particularly effective in addressing the root causes of negative beliefs and fostering lasting change.

 

I earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Florida International University and a Bachelor’s in English/ Creative Writing from New York University. My path to becoming a therapist began after a brief yet fulfilling career in book and magazine publishing, which ultimately directed me to my principal passion of helping others in their personal growth.

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My approach is compassionate and gently direct. We look at your past from a somatic perspective, moving beyond just talking about and intellectualizing your challenges. By acknowledging and healing the parts of you obscured by fear caused by trauma and adversity, we can foster change.​​​​

Throughout my life, I have always had a passion for working with people and understanding the complexities of the mind and human behavior. As a therapist, I provide support related to spirituality, dream work, obsessive compulsive disorders, anxiety, depression, complex trauma, relational issues, couples counseling, and working with the LGBTQ+ community.​ I have a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, where I also earned a specialization in Spiritual and Depth Psychology.

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In therapy I utilize a person centered approach that integrates evidence-based interventions such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. I have consistently been committed to pursuing further education, with a current concentration on trauma work. I believe that every human being has a unique story to tell, and I like to get to the root of trauma to help healing begin.

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Before I decided to pursue therapy, I earned an undergraduate degree in Education from Texas A&M University. I worked with children for over a decade in public schools and on TV shows for networks such as Disney and Nickelodeon. I still have a passion for the arts, spirituality, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with people on their individual healing journeys. ​​​​

Ah, The Choice: Stay safe and stuck? Or challenge yourself to change? Will it be easy? Will it be scary? Will it be worth it? Only you can choose the way, and whether to take that first step. With a therapist, you get a travel companion, a compass, someone to help carry the load, and maybe avoid a few stumbling blocks along the way. This is your journey. It would be my privilege to join you.

 

The ways in which we approach love, loss, fear, and forgiveness are all shaped by our attachment relationships, and complicated by the impact of trauma. I choose therapeutic interventions based on each presenting moment, using my knowledge of and training in CBT, DBT, ACT, IFS, EMDR, Brainspotting, and NARM to help sessions move as efficiently and compassionately as possible.

 

Like Forest said, “I’ve worn lots of shoes...” and I wouldn’t change a single step. I’ve been a stay-at-home parent, a paramedic, a soldier, a corporate supervisor, a truck driver, a day laborer, a federal investigator, a pipe fitter, a farm worker, and a youth

counselor. I’ve been married; I’ve been divorced. I continue to be a father. I know that I couldn't have made it this far without the help that I accepted from others. Now, with your permission, I get to be the one to help.