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Elai Fazel, AMFT

  • The Chicago School- Doctoral Student in Applied Clinical Psychology

    Pepperdine University- Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (Marriage and Family Therapy Specialization)

    University of Nevada, Las Vegas- Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences

  • I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT #PENDING) registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences under my legal name,

    As an AMFT, I practice under the supervision of a Licensed Mental Health Professional while completing the required hours for licensure.

  • I am supervised by Dr. Michael Grey, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#136636) and clinical supervisor who supports my clinical development and ensures that patients receive ethical, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care.

  • My therapeutic approach is rooted in depth psychology, which comprises psychodynamic principles and Bowen Family Systems theory, drawing on psychoanalysis.

    This perspective enables me to view an individual's challenges not only personally but also within the broader context of their family and societal systems. I help my patients unravel and address deep-rooted issues by bringing unconscious patterns to the forefront, fostering meaningful and lasting change.

    • Suicide Risk and Prevention - Didi Hirsch

    • Working with Bipolar Disorder- Didi Hirsch

    • Borderline States and Phenomenon - Alex Russan (Maple Counseling Center) 

    • Suicide Prevention Treatment, and Support: Risk Assessment, Treatment, and Management-The Nevada Office of Suicide Prevention

    • Supporting Survivors of Sexual Assault- UCLA Rape Treatment
      Center

    • Psychodynamic Psychotherapy- Harold Young (Maple Counseling Center)

    • Managing Anger & Expectations: Converging
      Approaches for More Effective Communication      - Paul Gutrecht (Maple Counseling Center)

    • Adult Training: Leaning Into Beauty and Grief- David Kessler, (Grief Education Program)

    Certified Loveologist & Love Coach -  Dr. Ava Cadell (Loveuniv)

    • American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)

    • California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)

  • Individual Therapy:

    • Navigating High-Stakes Leadership: Supporting executives, entrepreneurs, and public-facing professionals through burnout, decision fatigue, and the unique isolation of leading others.

    • Taming Perfectionism and Anxiety: Helping high-achievers and creatives untangle their self-worth from performance, quiet the inner critic, and find genuine peace of mind.

    • Healing Relational Trauma and Enmeshment: Exploring family-of-origin dynamics, early childhood experiences, and complex trauma to help you reclaim your individual identity.

    • Deepening Intimacy and Connection: Exploring sexuality, strengthening emotional bonds, and cultivating meaningful relationships where you feel fully seen and understood.

    • Reclaiming Agency and Boundaries: Learning to hold your own space, honor your voice, and establish healthy boundaries in your personal and professional life.

    • Deconstructing Cultural and Societal Pressures: Examining how systemic expectations, cultural identities, and family obligations impact your daily well-being and sense of self.

    • Navigating Major Life Transitions: Guiding you through career pivots, identity shifts, and significant life changes with clarity and grounded confidence.

    • Alleviating Depression and Anxiety: Moving beyond survival mode to find relief from persistent worry, heavy moods, and emotional exhaustion.

    • Supporting Addiction Recovery: Offering compassionate, non-judgmental, harm reduction therapy to help you navigate substance use, heal underlying pain, and sustain long-term recovery.

    Couples Therapy:

    • Rebuilding Emotional Connection: Helping partners bridge emotional distance, overcome disconnection, and restore a deep sense of warmth and safety in the relationship.

    • Navigating Conflict and Withdrawal: Identifying negative communication loops, addressing emotional withdrawal, and building the confidence to resolve conflict constructively.

    • Healing Relational Attachment Patterns: Exploring how individual histories and early attachment styles influence how you react, protect yourselves, and connect as a couple.

    • Deepening Sexual and Emotional Intimacy: Creating a safe space to explore desire, strengthen physical and emotional closeness, and revitalize your intimate bond.

    • Balancing Career Intensity and Leadership Pressure: Supporting couples as they navigate the unique strain that high-stress careers, public-facing roles, and demanding schedules place on a partnership.

    • Supporting Relationships in Recovery: Guiding couples through the complex dynamics of addiction, healing betrayal trauma, and rebuilding trust during the recovery journey.

  • Individual Therapy (50 minutes):

    $250.00

    Relational (Couples) Therapy (75 Minutes)

    $275.00

    Relational (Couples & Family) Therapy (90 Minutes)

    $300.00

    Services are also provided in Farsi & Arabic

Schedule My Consultation

A Message from
Elai

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I am a dedicated and compassionate Marriage and Family Therapist. I am deeply committed to helping Individuals and Couples navigate isolation, attachment, and the quest for connection and intimacy. My educational journey has been rich and diverse, equipping me with a profound understanding of the human condition and the need for connection.

As the daughter of immigrants and a first-generation American, my life has been shaped by the delicate art of navigating multiple worlds. Growing up, I watched my parents sacrifice everything to build a future from hope alone. In my own life, I had to learn to honor my family's deep cultural expectations while gently uncovering and protecting my evolving identity. These lived experiences, along with my understanding of the complex trauma that can weave through generations, shaped my heart and my clinical lens. They taught me how deeply our earliest relationships mold who we become, how we protect ourselves, and how we view our own emotional suffering.

My path to becoming a therapist was paved with my own journey of perseverance and survival. While working multiple jobs to put myself through clinical training, I lived in the exhausting cycle of constantly striving, performing, and carrying the heavy weight of expectation. I came to know the hollow feeling of achieving outward success while feeling quietly disconnected within. This personal chapter ignited my passion for supporting high-achieving professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, creatives, and leaders. I understand the unique burden of giving so much of your soul to your vision that your own well-being is left in the shadows.

These personal trials, combined with my clinical training, made me the therapist I am today. I do not just practice therapy; I hold a sacred space for it. Because I know what it is like to carry heavy burdens in silence, prioritizing everyone else's survival, I have dedicated my life to creating a true sanctuary for others. My mission is to provide a safe harbor where clients can finally lay down their armor, feel deeply and genuinely seen, and untangle the tight knots of burnout, perfectionism, and anxiety.

I believe that success and vulnerability can beautifully coexist, and that tending to our pain is the bravest way to reclaim our lives. I am here to walk alongside you, offering a grounded, compassionate presence as you navigate life’s complexities, reclaim your strength, and step into a life of profound healing, connection, and lasting peace.

The unique identities I hold deeply influence how I navigate both my life and my clinical practice. Having had to forge my own path through systems that weren't built with me in mind, I understand the courage it takes to claim your own space. I have had to learn how to be seen and heard, and that lived experience makes me passionate about helping others do the same

I am a BIPOC woman, First Generation, a Wife, a Daughter, a Student, and an Ally, but most importantly,

I am Human.

-Elai

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Person booking a consultation for therapy services with Elai Fazel, AMFT