Many of the people who reach out to me have spent years holding everything together. They are thoughtful, capable, and deeply caring. Other people depend on them. From the outside, their lives often look successful. Inside, they are anxious, exhausted, overwhelmed, or wondering why they cannot seem to relax, even when life is going well.
I specialize in trauma, anxiety, chronic stress, chronic pain and illness, addiction, and the long term effects of living in survival mode. My approach integrates EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, and psychodynamic therapy to help address both the emotional and physical effects of trauma and chronic stress.
Therapy offers the opportunity to understand the patterns that developed for good reasons, while creating new experiences that allow those patterns to begin changing. I provide secure online therapy throughout California and in person in West Los Angeles.
Client Focus
Session Format: Group, Individual sessions.
Age Specialty: Adult, Senior, Young Adult
Demographic Expertise: Asian, LGBTQ+, Persons with Disabilities, Women clients.
Languages: English
Treatment Approach
- Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) Builds skills in self-kindness and compassion toward others. It is especially helpful for people who struggle with shame or self-criticism.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) A structured therapy that uses guided eye movements to help process traumatic memories. It is widely recognized for treating PTSD and trauma-related conditions.
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) A short-term approach focused on improving relationships and social support. It is often used for depression and grief.
- Multicultural Therapy Acknowledges the role of culture, race, and identity in mental health. It values diversity and adapts treatment to each person’s background.
- Narrative Therapy Encourages people to view problems as separate from themselves and reframe their life story. It helps build resilience and self-identity.
- Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) Emphasizes empathy, unconditional positive regard, and authenticity. It provides a safe space for self-discovery and growth.
- Psychodynamic Therapy Explores unconscious thoughts and patterns that influence current behavior. It builds insight into how the past impacts the present.
- Somatic Therapy Helps clients notice how emotions are stored in the body. It uses breath, movement, and awareness for healing trauma and stress.
Approach Description: Therapy with me is collaborative, relational, and attentive to both what is being said and what is happening beneath the words. Sometimes we notice your breathing change as you talk about a difficult memory. Sometimes your shoulders tense before you realize you are anxious. These responses are not random. They often reflect the ways your mind and body learned to adapt.
I integrate EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, and psychodynamic therapy to help address trauma, anxiety, chronic stress, and chronic pain. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, we become curious about the patterns that developed over time and help your system discover new ways of responding.
Therapy moves at a pace that feels thoughtful and collaborative. The goal is not simply to cope better, but to experience more flexibility, connection, and choice in your everyday life.
Fees & Insurance
Fees
- Average Session Fee 300
- Affordable sliding scale therapy: apply if you may be eligible.
- I believe mental health care should be accessible. I reserve a small number of lower fee spaces for individuals who may need financial flexibility. These sliding scale openings are offered on a limited basis and are available until filled.
- Out of Network
- I am an out-of-network provider and can offer a courtesy superbill to submit to your insurance for reimbursement.
Education & Credentials
Elaine Skoulas M.A., LMFT
- Female
- License # LMFT126670
- Licensed in California
- Practicing Since 2018
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Addiction Studies, dual concentration
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, specialization in Psychological Trauma Studies
Elaine Skoulas Practice Details
Therapy Sessions
- Available In-Person in Los Angeles, CA 90034 and San Francisco, CA
- Available Online for residents of California
- Online Therapy Details: I use a secure, confidential teletherapy platform for ease and convenience.
I work with adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, chronic stress, burnout, grief, and persistent patterns such as perfectionism, caretaking, people pleasing, and difficulty setting boundaries. Many of my clients are high achieving individuals who might be outwardly successful but feel internally exhausted from staying constantly alert, responsible, or self critical.
Some clients are navigating the long term effects of relational or developmental trauma. Others are dealing with chronic pain or physiological symptoms that persist even after medical workups are stable. These patterns often reflect a nervous system that has learned to stay in survival mode for a long time.
Therapy focuses on understanding how these responses developed and helping the system shift out of chronic stress patterns. This work is especially helpful for individuals who have insight, intelligence, and motivation but feel frustrated that traditional coping strategies have not fully resolved the problem.