Sandplay Therapy therapists in Santa Monica, California CA

Hello! You can call me Lexi. I'm so glad you're taking this step. As a therapist, my greatest passion is helping people move from feeling overwhelmed and disconnected to feeling centered, stable, and deeply safe in themselves. I hold a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California (USC) and have received specialized training in trauma-informed modalities such as CBT, TF-CBT, DBT, and attachment theory. In addition to individual therapy, I have experience working in intensive outpatient programs (IOP), crisis intervention, and community-based services. I’ve supported individuals on probation, survivors of domestic violence, and those who have experienced exploitation or trafficking, offering trauma-informed care with compassion and respect. My background also includes supporting clients through major life transitions, postpartum adjustments, abandonment wounds, relational trauma, and the challenges of coping with borderline traits—especially the impact of stigma, misunderstanding, and invalidation that can deepen emotional wounds. My clinical experience has taught me that true healing comes from a warm, attuned relationship. I approach every session with deep empathy and patience, tailoring our work to your unique needs. Ultimately, I'm here to support you in healing emotional pain, building resilience, and reclaiming your sense of agency in your own life.  

We started our practice supporting Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse to recover from the effects of their abuse and complex grief, and continue to center that care. Our practice includes support for trauma, complex trauma, dissociation, associated and co-occurring health and chronic health needs, anxiety, depression, addiction, personality disorders. We also offer integrative mental health care for mold toxin and some other environmental toxin exposure, and some TBI and PCS symptoms, as well as support for folks with chronic health related mental health needs that intersect with the above traumas. We offer intersectional care that is decolonizing, supports those impacted by systemic abuse, and supports affirming neurodiversity. We integrate TIST-- Trauma Informed Stabilization Therapy, DBR -- Deep Brain Reorienting to recover from Shock, IFS-- Internal Family Systems Work, PVT-- Polyvagal Theory, AT -- Attachment Theory, Nonviolent Communication, Inner Child Work, IPNB -- Interpersonal Neurobiology, Bonnie Badenoch's IPNB and dyad work, Memory Reconsolidation, Coherence/Existential Level of Care, BrainSpotting, DARE Attachment Model, CranioSacral (for mind, gut, and acute trauma recovery), Mediation/Relational/Partners/Couples Support, Functional Mental Health Care via Psychiatry Redefined Training and BioIndividual Nutrition, Integrative and CAM Health Care (herbalism, homeopathy, remote Traditional Chinese Medicine and other CAM Care), Student-Directed Learning Pedagogies (from Education), compassionate Parenting and inner Re-parenting, ... and a strong Intersectional and Social Justice Framework to support clients to recover from the debilitating effects of traumas and myriad effects of traumas, facilitate clients being centered in their own sense of self, develop healthier boundaries, cultivate self awareness (mindfulness), understand and parse power structures for healthy discernment ... and move towards more fulfilling self actualization that is compassionate, inclusive and also eco-relationally congruent. We are a POC/GM Practice with a decolonizing orientation and Intersectional framework. Red lines are red lines -- we don't support abuses of power systemically and culturally. We are supportive of indigenous peoples and other systemically marginalized peoples, and their rights to safety, parity, sovereignty and dignity. If you are interested in support, we'd love to work with you! Our focus has been on supporting adult survivors of childhood sexual trauma and torture, folks recovering from narcissistic trauma, folks recovering from oppressive hegemonic systemic trauma and/or folks recovering from these traumas along with recovering from toxic mold exposure. We do work with individuals with other needs who are active and engaged bystanders and activists advocating alongside the most systemically oppressed for systemic change for the greater good of the whole global community, prioritizing care for the most marginalized. We also support those who are actively stopping and recovering from committing moral injury and boundary transgressions and willingly doing the work to repair and become bystanders with their privilege rather than violent enactors. This is a no mass media and state propaganda zone. If you are interested in support, please ask! We'd love to work with you. Keywords: Sexual Abuse Survivors Care, DV Care, Trafficking Trauma Care, Colonial Oppression Care, Torture Care, Complex Trauma Care, Dissociation Care, DID, DDNOS, CPTSD, BPD, Narcissistic Abuse and Bullying Trauma Care, Workplace Trauma Care, Mold Recovery Care, Chronic Health Related Care, Integrative, Functional, CAM Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Homeopathy, Flower Essences, Herbalism, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Intersectional, Intersectional Feminism, Progressive Internationalism, Anti-Racist, Anti-Oppression, Inclusive, Mediation, Repair, Attachment, Transformative Justice, Human and Civil Rights Affirming, Honoring International Law; DBR, IFS, TIST, SPI, PVT, SSP, IPNB, RLT, CI, BSP, Inner Child Work, Psychiatry Redefined Fellow, CranioSacral, Zero Balancing, Somatics Lab, Ethno-Traditional, Eco-relational  

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience and received my Ph.D. from University of Michigan in both the child and adult tracks. In my practice, I have a highly experienced team who provide integrated, multidisciplinary, and holistic care for children, families, adolescents, college students, and adults. We collaborate closely with you to address your unique and multiple needs. We offer therapy and counseling, assessments, neurofeedback, expressive arts therapy, behavioral interventions, and in-home and in-school support. Our mission is to provide effective and evidence based interventions to empower you to be the best person you can be.  

At Bay Tree Therapy Group, we provide compassionate, personalized therapy for children, teens, and adults navigating anxiety, trauma, life transitions, and relationship challenges. Our approach is grounded, collaborative, and focused on real change. Together, we’ll explore the patterns that may be holding you back, develop tools to manage stress and anxiety, and work toward creating a life that reflects your values. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected from yourself or others, we're here to support you—every step of the way.  

We are a counseling center that focus on relationships. Whether you are looking to improve your relationship, learn to coparent with your ex, want premarital counseling, would like to improve your family relationships, we have a therapist to help. LGBTQ friendly, marriage counseling, living together or partners not married are all welcome. Many therapists don't take additional training which is required to do couples work well. We have an extensive training program so your therapist will know how to work with your situation.