Raymond Waller III, MA, LMFT, Therapist in Santa Monica, California

A necessary component of a rich and fulfilling life involves experiencing a full range of emotions. The pride of accomplishment, the sadness of loss, the security of trust and the pain when it is broken, the joy of love, and the disappointment of mistakes and missed opportunities all play an important role in our lives. We all deserve to appreciate our own successes and good fortunes, and to be able to grow through and from our misfortunes. We also all deserve help navigating through them. I began my career in the field in 2007 at an acute psychiatric hospital, primarily in the child/adolescent unit. While there, I worked as a Behavioral Health Child Specialist and treated patients from a wide variety of backgrounds with histories of trauma and abuse, abandonment, mood disorders, grief, anxiety, behavioral problems, anger, and impulse control issues, among others. I have worked with all age groups (children, adolescents, adults, and seniors), including one-on-one, families, and couples, while working with children on the autism spectrum and continuing my work with at-risk adolescents. I work with my clients toward improved relationships with others and with one’s self, increasing insight and awareness. My therapeutic orientation is eclectic, adopting aspects from different theoretical perspectives to suit the individual client(s), borrowing from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and others. It is my goal as a therapist to have you feel comfortable and safe from judgment while exploring whatever may be contributing to your distress. My personal style is very relaxed and informal, acknowledging, and respecting your personal autonomy. I act merely as a collaborator alongside you in reaching your personal goals. I plan to continue my work with adolescents (15 years and older), adults, couples, and families.