Contact

➤ LOCATION

Miracle Mile Area, Los Angeles, CA

☎ CONTACT

lizagerb@mac.com

323.333.0704

young adults

Young adults launching forth into an uncertain world can benefit from therapy by having an older person to bounce their ideas off of, express their hopes and fears, and perhaps come to terms with events in the past that may be keeping them from moving forward. Common wisdom is that the 20s is the best time of a person’s life—freedom, career, love, work, play. For some people in their 20s and 30s there is also a lot of confusion, disillusionment, and heartbreak. “Is this really what it’s like to be an adult? This is hard!” I love working with people in this age group. The tragicomic aspect of life begins to become apparent. Humor is key, as is honoring the tender heart of the young adult who is emerging from the family cocoon into the harsh light of day.

INdividual Psychotherapy

I use an eclectic mix of therapeutic approaches with a solid base in the theories of Carl Jung and other depth-oriented psychologists. In addition to a practical, solution-oriented, common sense approach based on empathy and respect for the client, I am also trained in working with dreams, active imagination, bringing to light and working with different aspects of yourself, and I use play with clients of all ages to help open up possibilities of healing that our conscious minds may not have thought of. My background in the entertainment business as well as in academia helps me relate well to people of various creative and intellectual stripes.

Men's Issues

Men in Western culture are in a conundrum. They are still supposed to be the tough guy, the breadwinner, the one who gets stuff done. They are also now expected to be “sensitive,” in a way that a woman might. Unfortunately, many men are not taught how to be this way when they are growing up. Men are getting a lot of mixed messages from society, women, and other men. As a therapist, I am comfortable in the world of men—the world of work, of sports, of creativity in the arts, of men at their strongest and most heroic and at their most hurt, vulnerable, and angry. Men may not admit it, but they want to be loved just as much as women do. Sometimes a man will benefit more from individual therapy work than from couples therapy.

What to Expect

When you contact me via phone or e-mail, I will provide a free consultation in which we can exchange information and you can decide whether you would like to come in for an initial appointment. We will discuss fees at that time. There will be some paperwork to fill out for my files upon your first visit, so plan to arrive at least 20 minutes early. Once we have met for the first time, we can decide together whether we want to proceed further with a therapeutic relationship. I usually see people once a week at the same time each week. Sometimes, if a person is in real distress, I will recommend meeting more often, perhaps twice a week. Once an appointment is made via phone or e-mail, that time is reserved for you. If you call or e-mail to reschedule or cancel an appointment within 24 hours of the appointment, there will be no charge. The full fee for the appointment will be due if it is canceled less than 24 hours in advance.

If you have PPO insurance and have satisfied your deductible, a portion of my fee may be eligible for reimbursement. Please check with your insurance company to verify your out-of-network mental health benefits.

about me

I come to the profession of psychotherapy as my second career with years of other work and life experience to draw upon. I grew up in Los Angeles in an academic family, went to college at Stanford University, where I graduated with a degree in History. I worked for 16 years at Warner Bros. Records, becoming head of their Editorial Department. I have traveled to many parts of the world and soaked it all in—these experiences have shaped me as a citizen of the world. When I left the music business I turned back to an a-ha moment I experienced in my 20s when I read C. G. Jung’s Memories, Dreams, Reflections. I was deeply moved and interested by reading Jung, and after considering many options, I decided to make a career of it. I attended Pacifica Graduate Institute near Santa Barbara, one of the only graduate schools in the country that specializes in Jungian theory and the depth psychological and humanities traditions of Jung, Freud, Joseph Campbell, James Hillman, Marie-Louise von Franz, and the many psychologists and thinkers who follow in their footsteps. From 2003-2008 I was a psychotherapist-in-training at Counseling West in the San Fernando valley, seeing clients of diverse backgrounds and ages. I am now licensed and have a private practice in the Miracle Mile area of Los Angeles. I live in Los Angeles and love its incredible diversity and energy. I take advantage of what a great city this is—restaurants, music of all kinds, opera, museums, sports. I feel that being a Los Angeles native makes me especially suited to help people find their way in this big and sometimes lonely city.

couples psychotherapy

If your marriage or relationship with a significant other could be better, I can help you. Usually what is blocking growth or health in a relationship is the way that people communicate with each other, both in words and in actions, and, vitally, the way that people listen or don’t listen to each other. Obviously there may be deeper problems like abuse or addiction. Regardless, coming in to therapy will help you as a couple assess where you are and where you would like to be. I am an advocate for the relationship, not for one person over another. Sometimes one or both people in the relationship need to learn how to listen to their partner, how to really understand what the person is saying in a way that you might not have before. The same goes for the way in which needs, thoughts, concerns, and feelings are communicated to the other person—in a way that your partner can understand. I see myself as a translator between people who are sometimes speaking what might as well be a foreign language.