Hi, I’m Natalie (she/her)
I’m an associate marriage & family therapist based in Orange County, California.
I became a therapist after nearly a decade working as a brand strategist in advertising agencies where I became an expert in understanding consumer psychology and analyzing cultural trends. After some soul searching, I realized I wanted to use my skills to help people heal, instead of selling products to people. I went back to school and got my master’s degree in counseling and depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. It was through my education I discovered my passion for being a therapist. I loved that I got to have honest, vulnerable, and truthful conversations with people. It felt like a great privilege to be entrusted with sacred stories, some of which no one else in the world knew.
While in school, I worked as a therapist trainee at a domestic violence shelter and a community mental health agency, supporting my local communities. After graduating, I began working in private practice where I discovered my love for helping couples. My proudest accomplishment over the course of this journey is my master’s thesis published research entitled Alchemizing Pain: The Creative Act of Transforming Chronic Pain into Power.
My favorite part of being a therapist is the people, I’m endlessly fascinated by the complexity of the psyche and soul. I love learning about people and their stories on the comfort of a couch.
I’m so glad you’re here.
My Approach
Education
Texas Christian University | Bachelor of science in strategic communications with a minor in graphic design
Pacifica Graduate Institute | Masters of counseling psychology with an emphasis in marriage & family therapy and depth psychology
My specialities include:
Couples therapy
LGBTQIA+
Trauma, PTSD, c-PTSD
Anxiety & depression
Major health challenges
Survivors of intimate partner & family violence
Certifications & Ongoing Training
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy - Externship & Core Skills
Dream Analysis
Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAGALA)
Somatic Experiencing Supervision
How I work
My approach to therapy is rooted in a blend of Psychodynamic and Jungian psychology, in addition to Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT).
This means I pay close attention to your unconscious thoughts and feelings that often run your behaviors and moods. Together, we explore the impact of both early and current relationships on your sense of self.
Long-standing, repetitive issues that interfere with your life are often best addressed in psychodynamic therapy. Some examples of problems my clients often present with:
Getting into one unsatisfying relationship after another
Chronic failure to achieve goals and reach one's potential
A long history of anxiety or depression
Repeating conflicts in your relationships
Never feeling like you can be your true self or you aren’t sure who your “true self” is
Feeling like you are "performing" your life rather than living it
There are many types of therapy out there that address specific behavioral problems, Psychoanalytic and Jungian therapy is often a better fit for people who are curious about their inner world and want a more expansive psychic life.
What is Jungian Psychology?
Jungian therapy invites us to look at life as a living myth. It assumes that your struggles are not problems to be solved, but signals from your soul to get your attention.
We look below the surface of your daily life, paying attention to synchronicities, symbols in your life, recurring themes in your dreams, and shadow parts of yourself that have been tucked away.
The goal of Jungian work is Individuation: the process of becoming the person you were always meant to be. It is a soulful, creative journey toward wholeness, helping you move from a life of "performing" to a life that feels vital, embodied, and true.
What is Psychodynamic Psychology?
Psychodynamic therapy is built on the belief that our past is never truly behind us. Our past reveals itself through our current relationships and our moods. If you find yourself repeating the same unsatisfying patterns in love or work, it is often because an old, invisible map is still guiding your behavior.
We don't just look at what is wrong, we look at why. Central to this work is the relational aspect—the unique connection that develops between us, client and therapist.
By observing the feelings and dynamics that surface in our sessions in real-time, we gain a clear, visceral understanding of how you relate to the world outside. Our therapeutic relationship acts as a safe laboratory where you can experiment with new ways of being, eventually allowing you to let go of old defenses and move through your life with more alignment and ease.
What is Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT)?
Developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, EFCT is based in Attachment Science. This method has been acknowledged by the APA (American Psychological Association) as meeting the gold standard for research demonstrating it’s effectiveness in helping distressed couples improve their relationship and deepen their bonds.
EFT for Couples sees relationship issues centered around the loss of secure emotional connection, creating a negative cycle or “dance.”
These cycles often look like:
Feeling stuck in a repeating pattern
Anger and criticism
Heightened worry or anxiety
Leaving when challenges arise
Feeling indifferent or numb
And more
Once established, this cycle in your relationship can become corrosive to the bonds of trust and security in your relationship over time.
These negative dances can also impact a your sexual relationship, leaving couples feeling anxious, shutdown, or rejected.
Using EFCT, together we identify and mapping out your cycle, articulate your needs, and clarify your emotions in a way that helps your partner to have greater understanding and compassion.
Through this process a more secure, strong resilient bond is created. This process leaves room for couples to experience one another in new ways, and can be powerfully transformative in relationships.
Credentials
I am an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist #155308 in California.
I am employed & supervised by Fabrice Paracuellos, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #114054