Trauma
• heal trauma
• get unstuck
• EMDR
• develop resilience & empowerment
H ello! I see therapy as a relationship of support. Think of me as a compassionate and curious traveling companion for this leg of your journey. You and I will cultivate care-filled space, safe AND brave. We’ll take stock of where you’ve been, where you’re at, and where you’re heading, shaping the kind of relationship that supports you best. There is so much about ourselves that we have yet to discover, embrace, and integrate to help us adapt and grow.
There are so many ways therapy can support. Some of my specialties include: trauma, relationships, grief, sexuality, anxiety, identity, creativity, work, depression, and self-esteem. Take a look at some things you might like to talk about. Whatever you’re going through, notice that right now you’re stepping towards more support for yourself. Your health, and the well-being of all your relationships stands to benefit. Click below to set up a free 15-minute consultation.
Individuals
Demand for our attention and awareness can be relentless, which makes it easy to get overwhelmed, feel stuck, or lose touch. Think of Individual Therapy as a place where you show up for YOU—for that very being you have been gifted to live this life. We all have a natural drive to adapt, learn, and grow, and we do so in relationship to ourselves, to others, and to the world. We will listen closely—from right exactly where you are—to help reconnect you to your innate tendency to grow and change in desired ways. This may very well mean tolerating more friction and tension at first. It’s alright. We will get more comfortable with being uncomfortable. And over time, knowing how you feel, think, and act—right here and now—will help you make better choices, recharge your sense of well-being, and enliven and deepen your relationships.
Relationships
Our relationships define who we are. Relationships are primary. We do not become a “me” without relationships. Some of the most important relationships are romantic/sexual/intimate relationships. These close bonds provide necessary nurture and nourishment, but they also commonly bring about stress, tension, and conflict.
Often, connections with spouses and partners come to feel heavy or harder to navigate. Importantly, communication can be seen as more than just words being exchanged; things easily get lost in translation. Becoming fluent in these “meta-languages” takes some focus and some practice. In Couples Therapy, we’ll practice slowing down communication and listen closely to what is being expressed and exchanged, so you and your partners can better understand one another, and yourselves. Figuring out what we want and where we’re coming from—and what our partners want and where they’re coming from—helps build understanding and empathy. In turn, trust and intimacy will strengthen as love, appreciation, and respect flow more easily between you.
Maybe you and your beloveds do not color inside the traditional lines with your relationships. Perhaps the available, normative choices of relationship style, type, or approach leave you feeling limited or constrained in some way. You may be thinking about (or already) exploring alternative approaches to intimacy, like Ethical/Consensual Nonmonogamy or Polyamory. I have extensive experience in these areas and can help you to explore and negotiate in safe, respectful, enjoyable, and healthy ways. Together, you and your partners can learn to co-author your relationships in ways that do not necessarily adhere to conventional “relationshapes.”
Teens/Young Adults
If you’re a teen or young adult, you might be faced with questions like: Who am I becoming or who do I want to be? Or who do others want me to be? Where or how do I belong? What should I do for a living? Maybe you’re going through some kind of tough transition, or feel the need to straighten out your thinking. Maybe you feel confused and overwhelmed, like people don’t get you—or like you don’t get you. With so much noise and content coming at you everyday, and so many people and algorithms competing for your attention, it can be hard to find the time and space to figure stuff out. What you probably don’t need is another older adult telling you what you should do. So, let’s open up some nonjudgmental space to talk through (and walk through) what’s going on in your life and what is important to you so you can get a better handle on things.
Therapeutic Orientation
I orient relationally and interpersonally with clients, evoking the healing potential of an empathic, dialogic therapeutic relationship, while simultaneously cultivating compassionate curiosity. I help to develop and practice somatic awareness and mindful acceptance about what is arising—cognitively, emotionally, somatically, and behaviorally—right now. My approach is informed by humanistic, attachment, narrative, Gestalt, CBT, and existential theories/practice. I am currently engaged in advanced trainings with Gestalt and Somatic Experiencing modalities. I also facilitate trauma work with EMDR.
Demand for our attention and awareness can be relentless, which makes it easy to get overwhelmed, feel stuck, or lose touch. Think of Individual Therapy as a place where you show up for YOU—for that very blessed being you get to be this whole life. We all have a natural drive to adapt, learn, and grow, and we do so in relationship—with ourselves, with others, with ideas and values, and with the world. You and I will listen closely—from where you are right now—to help reconnect you to your innate tendency to grow and change in desired ways. This may very well mean tolerating more friction and tension at first. It’s alright. You will get more comfortable with being uncomfortable. And over time, knowing how you feel, think, and act—right here and now—will help you make better choices, recharge your sense of well-being, and enliven your relationships.
Our relationships define who we are. Relationships are primary. We do not become a “me” without relationships. We are never not relating. Some of the most important relationships are romantic/sexual/intimate relationships. These close bonds provide necessary nurture and nourishment, but they also commonly bring about stress, tension, and conflict.
Often, connections with spouses and partners come to feel heavy or harder to navigate. Importantly, communication is more than just words being exchanged; things easily get lost in translation. Becoming fluent in these “meta-languages” takes focus, empathy, and practice. In Couples Therapy, we’ll practice slowing down communication and listening closely to what is being expressed, transmitted, and exchanged, so you and your partners can better understand one another, and yourselves. Figuring out what we want and where we’re coming from—and what our partners want and where they’re coming from—helps build understanding and empathy. In turn, trust and intimacy strengthen as love, appreciation, and respect flow more easily between you.
Perhaps you and your beloveds do not color inside the traditional lines with your relationships. Maybe the typical relationship styles, types, or approaches leave you feeling limited or constrained in some way. You may be thinking about (or already exploring) alternative approaches to intimacy, like Ethical/Consensual Nonmonogamy or Polyamory. I have extensive experience in these areas and can help you to explore and negotiate in safe, respectful, enjoyable, and healthy ways. No doubt there are challenges, but together, you and your partners can learn to co-author your relationships in ways that do not necessarily adhere to conventional “relationshapes.”
If you’re a teen or young adult, you might be faced with questions like: Who am I becoming or who do I want to be? Or who do others want me to be? Where or how do I belong? What should I do for a living? Maybe you’re going through some kind of tough transition, or feel the need to straighten out your thinking. Maybe you feel confused and overwhelmed, like people don’t get you—or like you don’t get you. With so much noise and content coming at you everyday, and so many people and algorithms competing for your attention, it can be hard to find the time and space to figure stuff out. What you probably don’t need is another older adult telling you what you should do. So, let’s open up some nonjudgmental space to talk through (and walk through) what’s going on in your life and what is important to you so you can get a better handle on things.
I orient relationally and interpersonally in sessions, evoking the helping potential of an dialogical therapeutic relationship, while simultaneously cultivating and modeling compassionate curiosity. I support cultivation and practice of “here-and-now” awareness and mindful acceptance about what is arising—cognitively, emotionally, somatically, and behaviorally. My approach is informed by humanistic, attachment, experiential, 3rd-wave CBT, and existential theories/practice. I am trained in EMDR and I am currently pursuing certification in Somatic Experiencing and Gestalt psychotherapy.
Steve LeSieur, MA, AMFT, APCC
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #117767
Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor #7759
After growing up in NH, spending my 20’s in Florida, and much of my 30s in the Pacific Northwest, I came to Los Angeles 15 years ago to work as a sound editor in the entertainment industry. I eventually moved into the field of psychotherapy, an occupation well-suited to my evolving curiosity for relationships and growth. I have an extensive background in the arts, (music, dance, theater), and believe wholeheartedly in the transformational potency of creative expression. In addition to the arts, nature is an essential life nutrient for me. Connecting to the natural world brings me more alive and provides a sense of vitality, ground, and balance.
I cherish relationships—with all beings—including the being that is “me.” I engage intentional dialogue and practices that revolve around building and sustaining these connections, and I am irresistibly drawn to the ways we navigate and negotiate them. To me, relationships are primary. I believe at our core, “I” is born of “We,” and I am endlessly curious about how relationships shape us, and in turn, how we might shape them.
For more specifics on experience, education, and training, click below.
P sychotherapy for families, beloveds, and individuals of all ages and identities. You can choose telehealth (remote sessions), in-person sessions, or a hybrid. If you have experienced trauma, I also offer EMDR. The fee is $150 for a 50-minute session, and I offer a sliding scale for those in financial need. Longer sessions are available and pro-rated accordingly.
In session, you might be interested in exploring one or more of the experiences and issues listed below. You also might not know where to start. That’s ok. Sometimes growth happens in the most unusual ways, and in the most unpredictable places.
• heal trauma
• get unstuck
• EMDR
• develop resilience & empowerment
•trust your feelings
• regulate nervous system
• mindful awareness
• learn coping skills
• reconnect emotionally & socially
• awaken agency
• break patterns
• allow difficult emotions
• improve communication
• build trust/intimacy
• consensual nonmonogamy
• rekindle sparks
• honor your process
• adjusting to loss
• moving through
• being with pain
• it’s natural!
• sex-positivity
• reclaim your inner spark
• creative unblocking
• express yourself
• harness right brain
• art is for everyone!
• career shaping
• work/life balance
• occupational transitions
• workplace challenges
• gender
• LGBTQIA+
• neuroatypical
• online identity
• understand family dynamics
• practice boundary-setting
• accepting difficult family members
• refine/define parenting
• legal & illegal drugs
• internet & devices
• sex
• food
• set SMART goals
• identify core values
• accept what we can’t control
• practice self-compassion
Identity
• gender
• LGBTQIA+
• consensual nonmonogamy
• neuroatypical
• online identity
Grief/Loss
• honoring your process
• adjusting to loss
• moving through mindfully
• sitting with pain
Anxiety
• regulate your nervous system
• practice coping skills
• mindful awareness
• trust your feelings
Trauma
• develop resilience & empowerment
• heal trauma
• get unstuck
• EMDR
Depression
• reconnect emotionally & socially
• awaken agency
• break patterns
• allow difficult emotions
Relationships
• improve communication
• build trust
•develop intimacy
• rekindle sparks
Sexuality
• it’s natural!
• sex-positivity
• reclaim your inner spark
• claim erotic desires
Work
• career shaping
• work/life balance
• occupational transitions
• workplace challenges
Creativity
• creative unblocking
• express yourself
• harness right brain
• art is for everyone!
Addictive Behaviors
• legal & illegal drugs
• internet & devices
• sex
• food
Family
• understand family dynamics
• practice boundary-setting
• accepting difficult family members
• refine/define parenting
Self-Worth
• set SMART goals
• identify core values
• accept what we can’t control
• practice self-compassion
GROUP THERAPY
S ometimes, individual therapy is not quite enough to make lasting changes in our lives. Talking about things in individual therapy is important, but eventually we have to leave the safe and empathic hold of our therapist and go back to being with the people in our lives. How can we translate the insights of individual therapy to our actual relationships? Group therapy offers a unique chance to experiment interpersonally with others in a therapeutic setting. We get to learn about how we experience others and how others experience us, in a safe AND brave space. We might notice patterns about how we relate that can help us figure out how to BE differently with others. Expanding awareness of how we show up in relationships can help us learn and grow in directions that align with our aims, wishes, and desires—and those of our loved ones. The fee is $50. Send me a message below if you are interested.
C hoosing the right therapist can be challenging. Often we don’t know what we’re getting into until we actually get into it. Reach out to me for a free 15-minute consultation to see if we might be a good fit for therapy.
There is a path forward.
I practice sensitivity, cultural humility, and compassionate curiosity with folks who self-identify within and across all spectra and intersections including: race, gender, spirituality, sexuality, ethnicity, immigration status, ability, neurodiversity, and/or relationship approach. Folks negotiating the richness and challenges of cultivating humility, understanding, and antifragility—in relationship—with respect to whiteness, straightness, maleness, and other historically normalized and marginalizing ways of being/seeing are also most welcome here.
4620 Hollywood Blvd., LA, CA 90027
(657) 845-1140
Aurisha Smolarski, MA, LMFT #90391