Individual Therapy in Los Angeles, CA | David Strah, Licensed Therapist

Something’s been weighing on you. Maybe you’ve been carrying it for a while. Anxiety that won’t quiet down. A grief you can’t quite name. Stress that’s spilled over into every corner of your life. Or maybe there’s no single “thing” you can point to — just a feeling that you deserve more than this.

That’s exactly what individual therapy is for. And it doesn’t take a crisis to start.

At David Strah’s private practice in Los Angeles, CA, one-on-one therapy sessions give you a confidential, judgment-free space to work through what’s real. Not a script. Not a checklist. Just honest, skilled support that actually fits your life.

What Is Individual Therapy?

Individual therapy (also called one-on-one counseling or psychotherapy) is a regular, private session between you and a licensed therapist. Most people meet weekly or bi-weekly. You talk. Your therapist listens, reflects, and helps you understand what’s getting in your way.

It sounds simple. But good therapy changes how you see yourself, how you relate to others, and how you move through the world. That shift can take weeks or months — and it sticks.

Individual therapy is different from group or couples sessions because every minute is focused on you. Your history. Your patterns. Your goals. No one else’s.

People in Los Angeles come to individual therapy for all sorts of reasons:

• Anxiety that makes daily life feel exhausting
• Depression or a low-level sadness they can’t shake
• Trauma or PTSD from past experiences
• Burnout from work, caregiving, or just trying to keep up
• Grief after a loss — a person, a relationship, an identity
• Self-esteem struggles and harsh self-criticism
• Big life changes: career pivots, breakups, moves, identity shifts
• A general sense of being stuck

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many adults in West Hollywood, Silver Lake, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Brentwood, and across Los Angeles County are going through something similar right now. The difference is having someone in your corner to help you figure it out.

Why Individual Therapy Works

People often think therapy is about venting. It’s actually about pattern recognition.

Your therapist helps you see the thoughts, reactions, and relationship dynamics that keep repeating in your life. Once you can see them clearly, you can start changing them. That’s where real progress happens.

Here’s the thing most people miss: the relationship between you and your therapist is part of the treatment. Research consistently shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes in talk therapy. A good therapist doesn’t just hand you tools. They help you feel safe enough to do the work.

At David Strah’s practice, you’ll work with a therapist who brings both clinical training and genuine care to every session. Every session is HIPAA-compliant and fully confidential.

Therapeutic Approaches Used in Sessions

No two people need the same thing. Sessions draw from several evidence-based methods, applied based on what fits your situation and goals.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is one of the most well-researched approaches in mental health. It helps you identify thought patterns that are fueling anxiety, depression, or low self-worth — and replace them with more accurate, workable ones. Practical and goal-oriented, CBT tends to show results relatively quickly.

Psychodynamic Therapy

This approach looks at how your past experiences, relationships, and unconscious patterns are shaping who you are today. It’s a good fit if you want to understand yourself on a deeper level, not just manage symptoms.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

EMDR is a structured therapy specifically designed for trauma. It helps people process distressing memories that feel “stuck” so those memories lose their grip. Many clients working through PTSD find EMDR to be a turning point.

Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Mindfulness approaches help you build awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without judgment. They’re especially useful for anxiety, stress, and emotional regulation.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT helps you stop fighting your own internal experience and start moving toward a life that actually reflects your values. It’s less about eliminating difficult feelings and more about building a life you’re genuinely invested in.

Somatic Therapy

Emotions live in the body, not just the mind. Somatic therapy pays attention to physical sensations, tension, and nervous system responses as part of the healing process. Particularly valuable for trauma, chronic stress, and burnout.

Narrative Therapy

This approach helps you examine the stories you’ve been telling yourself about who you are and what you’re capable of. Often, those stories were written by someone else — a critical parent, a painful relationship, a cultural expectation. Narrative therapy helps you reclaim your own.

Who David Strah Works With

This practice serves adults and young adults across Los Angeles, including people in Mid-Wilshire, Koreatown, Los Feliz, Westwood, Sherman Oaks, Santa Monica, and Downtown Los Angeles.

Clients include:

• Professionals dealing with burnout, work stress, or career transitions
• Young adults navigating identity, relationships, and what comes next
• LGBTQ+ individuals seeking an affirming, knowledgeable space
• Creatives and artists processing the specific pressures that come with that world
• People managing anxiety disorders, clinical depression, PTSD, or grief
• Anyone who’s never been to therapy before and isn’t sure where to start

You don’t need a diagnosis to benefit from therapy. Many clients come in for personal growth, emotional regulation, or life transitions — not a clinical condition.

This is an LGBTQ+-affirming practice. Every client is met with cultural sensitivity and respect, regardless of background, identity, or life experience.

What to Expect: Your First Session and Beyond

Most people are a little nervous before their first session. That’s completely normal.

Your first appointment is really a conversation. You’ll share what’s been going on, what you’re hoping for, and any concerns you have. Your therapist will listen, ask some questions, and start getting a sense of what would be most helpful.

There’s no pressure to have it all figured out. You can say “I don’t know where to start” — that’s a perfectly fine place to begin.

From there, sessions usually run 50 minutes and happen weekly or bi-weekly. The pace, focus, and approach will adjust as your needs become clearer. Some people work through a specific issue in a few months. Others benefit from ongoing, longer-term support. You’ll always have a say in how therapy progresses.

Sessions are available in-person and via teletherapy, so if you’re in the Sunset Blvd Corridor, near Cedars-Sinai, near the UCLA Medical Center area, or anywhere else across Los Angeles County, you can get consistent care without a commute.

Fees, Insurance, and Sliding Scale Options

Therapy in Los Angeles typically costs between $150 and $350 per session, depending on the therapist’s experience and the type of practice.

David Strah’s practice accepts both private pay and insurance, and sliding scale fees are available for clients who qualify. Telehealth sessions are covered by most major insurance plans at the same rate as in-person visits.

If you’re unsure about costs, reach out before your first appointment. The goal is to make sure finances don’t stand between you and the care you need.

A free consultation is available to talk through fit, fees, and next steps.

Credentials and Professional Background

David Strah is a California BBS-licensed therapist with years of clinical experience working with adults across Los Angeles.

Credentials and professional memberships may include:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
• Member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), or American Psychological Association (APA)
• Verified listings on Psychology Today, Zocdoc, and Therapist.com
• Positive reviews from verified clients on Google Business Profile

All sessions are conducted within a HIPAA-compliant framework. Your privacy is protected at every step.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I actually need therapy?

You don’t need to hit rock bottom to start therapy. If something is affecting your quality of life, your relationships, or your ability to function day-to-day, that’s a good enough reason. Anxiety that keeps you up at night, depression that’s lasted more than a couple of weeks, patterns you keep repeating but can’t stop — these are all valid reasons to reach out. A lot of people wait too long, thinking they should be able to handle it on their own. You wouldn’t wait to see a doctor for a physical problem. Mental health works the same way.

How long does therapy take?

It depends on what you’re working on and your goals. Some clients work through a specific issue in 8 to 16 sessions. Others benefit from longer-term therapy that spans a year or more. There’s no set timeline. What matters is that you and your therapist are regularly checking in on your progress and adjusting the plan as needed. You’re always in the driver’s seat.

What’s the difference between therapy and just talking to a friend?

A good friend can offer comfort, but they’re not trained to recognize underlying patterns, avoid projecting their own experiences, or guide you through evidence-based techniques. Therapy is confidential in a way that friendships usually aren’t. And your therapist doesn’t have a stake in what you decide to do — they’re there purely in your corner. Friends are great. Therapy is something different.

Will my insurance cover individual therapy in Los Angeles?

Many insurance plans do cover outpatient individual therapy sessions. The easiest first step is to call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask about your outpatient mental health benefits. Key questions to ask: Is there a copay? Do I need a referral? Have I met my deductible? If you have a PPO plan, you may be able to use out-of-network benefits to see a private pay therapist and get partial reimbursement. David Strah’s practice can walk you through this during your free consultation.

What’s teletherapy like? Is it as effective as in-person sessions?

For most people and most concerns, yes. Research shows that teletherapy produces outcomes very similar to in-person sessions, and many clients actually prefer it for the convenience. You connect by secure video from wherever you are. Confidentiality and HIPAA compliance apply the same way as in-person sessions. If you’re in Los Angeles County but can’t easily get to an office, teletherapy removes that barrier entirely.

I’ve been to therapy before and it didn’t help. Why would this be different?

Honestly, the biggest factor in whether therapy works isn’t the method — it’s the fit between you and your therapist. If past therapy felt generic, surface-level, or like you weren’t really being heard, that’s worth naming. Many people try therapy more than once before finding the right match. A free consultation is a good way to get a feel for whether this practice is the right fit before committing to anything.

Is everything I say in therapy confidential?

Yes. What you share in therapy is private by law. There are narrow exceptions — if there’s an immediate risk of harm to yourself or someone else, or specific legal requirements — but those situations are rare. Routine session content stays between you and your therapist. That confidentiality is what makes it possible to be fully honest. If you want to understand the specifics before your first appointment, just ask during your free consultation.

Ready to Get Started?

Reaching out is often the hardest part. Most people feel some relief just from taking that first step.

If you’re in Los Angeles — whether you’re in West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Silver Lake, Beverly Hills, Culver City, or anywhere across the city — individual therapy with David Strah is available in-person and via teletherapy.

Start with a free consultation. No commitment required. Just a conversation to see if this is the right fit.