Stella Liang
Associate Therapist
AMFT #141656
As a clinician with both professional and personal lived experiences, I understand that beginning therapy can be daunting, yet the potential benefits are profound and long-lasting. My practice emphasizes mental health wellness, offering a safe environment for clients to process thoughts and feelings freely. Using a combination of Psychodynamic and Mindfulness approaches, I foster self-compassion and a deeper understanding of mental health, grounded in empowerment, engagement, and collaboration. I specialize in working with neurodivergent children and their families, providing tailored support to address unique needs and build resilience. My holistic approach creates a space for clients to acknowledge their strengths and navigate daily challenges with confidence, whether they're seeking answers or focusing on the journey of self-discovery.
Stella works with Children, Teens and Adults. She specializes in ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety, Neurodivergence and Complex Trauma. Stella is EMDR trained.
She graduated with a Masters in Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University.
Stella is currently offering telehealth services in California, and in-person sessions in Santa Monica, CA and Redondo Beach, CA.
A fun fact about me that most people don’t know is…
I have a thing I do called "Tour De Tiramisu" where I order every tiramisu I come in contact with for ranking purposes (They're ranked by texture, depth of flavor, ratio etc - so far Bay Cities in Santa Monica is the best!)
Meet Samuel! (Sammie for short)
Sammie is a rescue dog that loves all people and sitting in on sessions! Don't worry, he knows how to keep confidentiality and cannot wait to meet you! (virtually or in-person in Redondo Beach!)
Something about my background or life journey that influences my approach to therapy is…
Growing up as a neurodivergent child, therapy felt more harmful at times than beneficial because I felt even more invalidated. Because my brain processes differently, I've never felt seen because there was always the assumption made of me already - at school, at home, and now in therapy. Because of this, my approach is geared towards not only understanding the behaviors from a neuro affirming way, but diving even deeper to the individual's processing and providing guidance in ways in which the individual knows how to process.
A therapeutic tool I find particularly effective is…
Analogies! When working with neurodivergent individuals, the concept of emotions can be hard to navigate. Tangible aspects in an individual's life may be easier to grasp and control, thus sometimes leading to intellectualization rather than feeling. This can end up increasing the distance between us and our emotions - so when we work with analogies, emotions become more manageable and less daunting.
A small piece of advice that I often find myself offering to clients or potential clients is…
We are all navigating life for the first time - Would you give grace to someone starting a new job? And if so, how can we share a bit of that empathy for ourselves?
Something that I have learned from my clients that shapes my approach to therapy is…
Asking for explanations / clarification is for the client and not a reflection of my skills as a therapist. It is always easier to make assumptions for the actions of others but really taking the time to explore the client’s experience fully, is crucial to the therapeutic work. Because of this approach, I provide highly collaborative sessions that welcome the client's autonomy and transparent communication. This models healthy communication and self-worth for the client.