The phrase "life changing" gets thrown around so often that it loses the weight of its meaning, but…read moreJo Ellen's counseling has not only changed my life in a very noticeable way, but has also given me a new way of thinking. A little over a year ago I had given up on life completely. The end of my long term relationship with my fiancé, legal troubles, bankruptcy, ongoing PTSD from decade old events, panic attacks, substance use dependence, the list went on and on. I had become completely unrecognizable. I could not see a way out anymore and living this way was too excruciating. After a long hospital stay, many of my close family members confided to me that they had to mentally prepare to say goodbye if I didn't do something to change. Jo Ellen was able to help me to see my life and my patterns of thinking clearer than I ever had before. She has a way of bringing things to your awareness that, after you understand them, you won't believe how long you lived without realizing them. I was in such a desperate place for years, and I threw everything I could at finding help. 8 different counselors, numerous psychiatrists, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, every single inpatient and outpatient program offered in my town and hundreds of self help books. I credit her with teaching me the tools to get my life back on the right track when literally nothing else could. She is unbelievably well spoken, genuinely cares about her clients, and so easy to be honest and open with. She never misses a single detail and knows how to gently guide your focus back to the issue at hand. She has also reached out by text when I've been going through a particularly hard time to offer support, which was very touching and something no other counselor has done. (I also want to add that I'm not a mother, but my own mom attended a session with me and said it gave her so much peace of mind and clarity as a mother of someone with substance use issues, and even just one session very much helped our relationship.) I truly cannot recommend Jo Ellen highly enough, and am so thankful for the way she has impacted my life.

I knew I needed a little help going through my divorce, but the transition was made so much better…read morebecause holding my hand through it (metaphorically) was Jo Ellen. She helped me make the difficult transition, with kindness, understanding, and very knowledgable and expert therapist advice. I fully and completely recommend her to anyone. It's like talking to a good friend - who also happens to be able to help you see through your patterns, and old beliefs, and walks you through to the other side.

Finding Donna was such a relief for us during a time when we truly needed guidance and support. We…read morewere very relieved that she didn't waste any time and started putting us to work at communicating and listening to each others' needs. We love that she advocates for us as a couple and there wasn't a good guy vs a bad guy. Donna created a comfortable and supportive space where we felt safe sharing our vulnerabilities and deeper issues without judgment. We're very grateful for her guidance and highly recommend her to couples looking for thoughtful, constructive support.

Donna is an amazing therapist. She really is gifted in the way she listens, forms a plan for care,…read moreand executes. I had seeked counseling with numerous other therapists before her and never felt like I could break through the surface of my trauma. With Donna, I felt immediate changes within a couple sessions. I am feeling alive again and am no longer in survival mode. Thank you, Donna, for your compassion and your gifts of healing!

Beth is amazing. She was my son's therapist and my son absolutely adored her. He had such a…read moreconnection and rapport with her. She helped my son through a very difficult divorce. I'm a therapist so I know a good therapist when I see her. She's wonderful!

Beth Haynes is an outstanding psychologist. During one of the most difficult times in my life, she…read moreoffered comfort, understanding and inspiration. Rarely have I had such rapport with anyone. I look forward to seeing her again.

Serious Breach of Professional Ethics - Chris Massman, LMFT…read moreI am documenting a major concern regarding professional boundaries and ethical standards with Chris Massman dating back to the 2013 era. During treatment, it was discovered that Chris Massman maintained a pre-existing, undisclosed close personal friendship with the client's family members while concurrently acting as the primary clinician. In the state of California, this is a severe violation of professional ethics regarding 'Dual Relationships.' Failing to disclose such a conflict of interest is a breach of informed consent and patient trust. It appeared that private clinical information was shared with those personal ties rather than serving the patient's therapeutic interests. I strongly advise anyone seeking an objective, ethical therapist who respects confidentiality and autonomy to look for a provider other than Chris Massman who adheres to higher professional standards.

Not a client (yet) but I did send in an inquiry to her voicemail and received a call back in a…read moreshort time frame. She was very pleasant to speak with. She was great at explaining her approach and teaching/therapy style. Leaving one star out simply because I am not a client just someone who is searching for a therapist.

Liz is a wonderful caring therapist that can get to the heart of the matter in an very enlightening…read morefashion. She guides me through the rough spots and I always feel more liberated with a sense of calm after leaving her office. She has taught me (and continues to teach me) how to love myself. So thankful for her

Liz is an incredible therapist:) She has helped me find my way through some of the most difficult…read moretimes in my life. She has taught me how to love myself and I am so grateful for her support. She is so loving and honest, I can't imagine my life without her. I have been able to move forward and grow in my life with Liz's guidance, working through layers of of hurt through love and acceptance. I highly recommend her she is such a gift!

Paragraphs cannot even describe the life changing experience I had working with Linda Laffey. Four…read moreyears after our six years working together, I am continually benefitting from our sessions in my day to day life. Before meeting with Linda Laffey, the severity of my state called for immediate medical attention. Because of her brilliant work, patience and care: I am alive and strong. I know many friends and family members that jump from therapist to therapist and never accomplish much. Linda Laffey is dedicated to her patients the minute they walk into the door. She works with you not against you. Even in the toughest of times, she guided me to see the possibilities as well as my accomplishments. I am so beyond grateful I had the pleasure to work with her. Absolute 5 stars!

I had no idea how the long-forgotten traumas of my childhood were affecting my marriage today until…read moreworking with Linda! This was my first time working with a therapist so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I found the experience extremely rewarding and helpful. Linda was able to provide unbiased insight into my struggles and shared with me a lot of wisdom about the human experience. She knew how to listen for the real issues I've been dealing with, and provided me with a forum to be able to express myself openly and without judgement. She is very open minded and present which put me very much at ease. It honestly feels like you are talking to a really close friend. Everything about her is warm and inviting. I like that she has an office in Encino as well as in Westlake Village as I've seen her in both places, depending on my work schedule. I would recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone looking for an excellent therapist. What she's done for me is nothing short of magical.

I couldn't believe it. Somehow after therapy, I felt worse…read more This woman made me feel like I had problems that couldn't be fixed. Because my mental health issues are all "a choice" in her words. Most of the things I tried to vent about, she'd reply with "I don't know..." "you know?" "I don't know what to say." Etc. Due to mental health issues, I was in desperate need to take some time off of work. I had just had a mental breakdown after our first session together and since speaking with her was too new, she wasn't comfortable filling out any paperwork for my Leave of Absence. Fine, understandable. But I still wanted to talk about what was bothering me at work. I wanted to talk about the situation where when I left work I had sat in my car hyperventilating and unable to drive home. I wanted to explain how bad it gets sometimes that I can't even function. I wanted to see if she could tell what had set me off. Nope. She didn't want to hear it. She just kept saying "it's not your problem anymore." But it is. Because unfortunately I can't get over things that quickly. I told her about how my boss made comments about what I ate or drank, what was wrong with my body or my skin. So she thought it was a good idea to tell me about one of her clients who was "just huge" and morbidly obese and that was the first thing she noticed about her, but now all she sees is her face. I wasn't sure why she brought that up and I mentioned that I never really brought up that I was insecure about my weight and she says "yes YOUUUUU did." Maybe she was listening, she's actually remember what I was talking about. Thankfully I'm not so damaged as to jump off a bridge after hearing that from a PAID "EDUCATED" MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, but I really felt like doing so after our session ended. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach and there was no hope anymore. I was asked "so what are you gonna do?" for most of our last session together, and she said I was "hostile" from showing any sort of emotion. I knew she had just mentally check out minutes into our session. Like, we've only had 3 sessions together and you're already over it. Pretty sure she was eating during it, too. I was told that people can recover from their trauma. And I said not everyone can. She said "yes, they can." ??? So I guess I'm just a lost cause? I'm the one person on the planet still affected by things in my At the end, she said to find another therapist. Like, obviously, lady. But nice job ripping into me for existing then basically telling me to F off. Also, posted a Facebook status about her. Apparently I'm not the first person she's done this to. I think if you have issues that make it hard to express how you feel or you have any sort of depression/anxiety or whatever, you should go speak to someone who understands and genuinely wants to help. Not Dr. Alison J Lee.

Kind, listens with a depth of knowledge, and easy feedback. I have no fear of expression. Makes me…read morefeel validated and important in my own life no matter how difficult my challenges may be.

Seeking a quality therapist can bring up some nervousness as one hopes to find someone who will…read moredeeply and thoroughly understand them, and one who we feel comfortable opening up to and being vulnerable. As a therapist myself, I was in search of a professional to help me see the things I couldn't see for myself. A professional to ask the "appropriate" questions to surface the real issues that I had longed to release. I also desired to work with someone balanced - meaning not just strictly scientific in their approach but spiritual as well. I was only able to see Aileen for a brief 2 months or so, but as my intention was set to "be well", and Aileen understanding the short duration we would have together she provided the necessary work for me to release attachments to the past, fears and also helped me to find my voice, step up and step out into the world to fulfill my purpose in life. I appreciate Aileen for the quality of work she provided for me and the variety of techniques she used. It wasn't always just sitting on the couch and talking but there was interactive work involved. I appreciate having something to take home and work on from one session to the next and Aileen offered a variety of practices, meditations, visualizations and other suggestions that I could pick and choose from... or not, if I so chose. I recommend her services to anyone seeking an understanding and effective therapist. One who holds a space of love, openness, and yet directive. I also encourage anyone to join her Meditation Monday class as I also found new insights into freeing my "Self", new friends and community there as well. Aileen is a 10+ and I am forever grateful for the freedom I experience in the present. Thank you, Aileen Nealie :) Cheers, Howard

I have been seeing Aileen for almost 2 years now. She has helped me through an extremely…read morechallenging part of my life, and did so with compassion and understanding. She took the time to get to know me and built a therapeutic and ETHICAL relationship based on trust and respect. Before becoming Aileen's patient, I was seeing a very dysfunctional and abusive therapist and was extremely anxious, depressed, and lost due to huge boundaries violations. At the very first session I felt a real connection with her. She was so genuine and I felt that she really cared about me. She did not judge the mess my life was in, but rather gave wonderful perspective to me about the choices I was making. Aileen, thank you for being such an important part of my life. Thank you for developing a therapeutically healthy and ethical relationship with me. You are truly healing one soul at a time! Love, S.