About Me

Starting therapy can feel like a big step. Most people don’t begin because everything is fine—they begin because something feels heavy, stuck, or hard to manage alone.

My goal is to create a space where you don’t have to carry that alone.

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist providing virtual therapy to adults throughout California.

I work with people who are navigating anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, eating disorders, grief, and major life transitions. Many of my clients appear high-functioning on the outside but feel overwhelmed, self-critical, disconnected, or emotionally exhausted internally.

How I Work

My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and grounded in curiosity rather than judgment.

In therapy, we slow things down enough to understand what’s happening beneath the surface—your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and long-standing patterns. From there, we work on building tools that help you feel more grounded, more connected, and more able to respond to life with intention rather than reactivity.

When appropriate, I also incorporate EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help process traumatic experiences in a way that reduces their emotional intensity and impact.

Therapy with me is not about fixing you. It’s about understanding you.

The Kintsugi philosophy

I often think about the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold. Instead of hiding the cracks, they become part of the object’s history and beauty.

I see people in a similar way. The experiences you’ve been through—loss, trauma, relational pain, or difficult transitions—don’t diminish your worth. With time and support, they can become part of your story in a way that brings meaning, resilience, and self-understanding.

What Therapy Is Like With Me

Therapy with me is a space where you can speak freely without needing to filter yourself or have everything figured out.

Some sessions focus on understanding patterns from your past. Others focus on what you’re currently experiencing and what tools can help you feel more grounded day to day. We move at a pace that feels manageable, not overwhelming.

My work is influenced by a range of evidence-based approaches, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Attachment Theory, and psychodynamic therapy.

EMDR is a structured, research-supported approach that can help process traumatic experiences and reduce their emotional intensity. When appropriate, I incorporate it into therapy to support deeper healing from trauma.

I tailor treatment to your individual needs rather than using a one-size-fits-all model.

The goal is to support both insight and practical change so you can feel more stable, connected, and empowered in your daily life.

Let's see if we're a good fit

If you’re considering therapy, I offer a free 15-minute consultation to help you decide whether working together feels like the right fit.

You don’t need to be at a breaking point to begin—you just need to be open to change.

Can’t find a time that works for you? Not all of my availability is listed online. Please feel free to call or text me directly at 408-831-8804, or email me at zivlmft@gmail.com—I will do my best to accommodate your schedule!

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