Approach

I believe that we all are naturally inclined toward healing and growth which unfold when we have the support that enables it. I work from a relational Gestalt perspective. Together, my clients and I look at past and current patterns and unpack them so they make sense. I find that new awareness brings expanded choice and opens up new possibilities.

Together, my clients and I explore the beliefs they have about themselves. We develop beliefs about ourselves, many of them learned from verbal and nonverbal messages from our families and those close to us. Our beliefs about our likeability, our competence, our ability to have impact on others and on our own circumstances influence many of our decisions and what we believe is possible for ourselves. My clients and I explore how these beliefs are impacting their current lives, their sense of wellbeing and their hopes and desires. By looking closely at these processes that are usually under our awareness, my clients are able to make choices about how they want to live, the values they want to embrace and those that are no longer useful or meaningful. As our work progresses, my clients usually find themselves responding to life’s challenges with more flexibility and a greater sense of self-worth.  
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Many of my clients struggle with confusing, and sometimes distressing thoughts, feelings or behaviors. Some feel stuck and unable to move forward. Together we explore new perspectives that help my clients live in ways that are more aligned to who they deeply are.

                                                                           Bio

I am a licensed psychotherapist and have completed over four years of post-Masters clinical training at Pacific Gestalt Institute. I am currently assistant faculty at the institute. I also have training in mindfulness and in working with people who struggle with disordered eating, from an Intuitive Eating model. I received my M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Oaks College. I currently serve as an officer on the board of The Gestalt Therapy Institute of Los Angeles.

Stella Chesler, LMFT 109433