Sondra Goldstein, Ph.D. has the expertise and experience to help you overcome the sometimes bewildering life situations of separation, divorce, life transitions, and aging.

She is a licensed clinical psychologist who works as a psychotherapist with adults, and couples in Encino, CA. She has frequently presented and lectured in California and nationally on the topics of couple therapy and attachment, long-term couples, and health issues in couple relationships. She is the author of numerous published articles on these topics. Dr. Goldstein was a veteran member of Dr. Allan Schore's study group on attachment, neurobiology, and affect regulation.  She is a member of an ongoing seminar with Dr. Terry Marks-Tarlow (author of seminal books on clinical intuition and creativity).

From 1995-2016 she served as a supervising psychologist in the UCLA Psychology Clinic, and a Clinical Associate Professor in the UCLA Department of Psychology. In addition, she is a currently a research faculty member of the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute.

She specializes in treating depression, anxiety, stress, and challenging life issues such as:

Couple Relationships

The dynamics of a couple relationship can be upsetting, volatile and filled with conflict. However, as couples learn about their emotional “triggers,” they may develop more successful patterns of mutual regulation which allow for positive and joyful times together. Life transitions such as engagement, marriage, pregnancy, birth of children and/or "the empty nest" present challenges for new roles which can successfully addressed in couple therapy.

Separation and Divorce

Ending a marriage (or long term relationship) is extremely stressful, creating powerful feelings of loss, abandonment and inadequacy. Couple and/or individual psychotherapy can be valuable in developing new coping techniques and adjusting to the many transitions involved in ending an intimate relationship.

Relationships

Couple relationship imageRelationship issues with family members, friends, and co-workers can become very upsetting, creating painful feelings which affect all aspects of life. Depression, anxiety and panic may become the focus of treatment if relationship conflict becomes intense. Secure attachment relationships are important to everyone, and finding the path to build more secure relationships is a goal of psychotherapy which Dr. Goldstein works toward with you.

Young Adulthood

Dealing with Young adulthood successfully is not an easy task. The challenges of friendships, dating, academic success, parent and teacher relationships, drug and alcohol decisions can truly be difficult. Dr. Goldstein can help in developing coping techniques and a healthy problem solving approach in dealing with these challenges.

Parenting

Children do not come with instructions and guidebooks. Parents have to create their own approach to parenting children. Psychotherapy can be a resource for exploring and developing healthy parenting, as well as creating appropriate expectations for parents and children as they transition from one developmental phase to the next.

Menopause

middle age woman representing menopauseUnderstanding the biochemical/hormonal changes of menopause is important in dealing successfully with this life transition for women. Moodiness, sleeping difficulty, increased irritability, and changes in sexual feelings are often part of menopause. In addition, life review, involving coming to terms with acknowledgement of accomplishments as well as regrets, is important in this life stage. Psychotherapy can be helpful in dealing with this stressful time of life, from which can emerge empowerment and new directions for successful living.

Aging

“Aging is not for sissies” captures the spirit of resilience and problem solving needed for addressing issues of aging. Retirement, adult children and grand-children, health and healthy living can create questions deserving excellent answers, assisted by the process of psychotherapy.

Life transitions, even positive ones such as marriage, birth of a child or grand-child, job changes, or moves can create stress which is difficult to manage. Dr. Goldstein brings her personal perspective of being married for more than 30 years, being a parent to two children, a grandparent, and being a psychotherapist in private practice for over three decades.