Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is a private, dedicated space for you — to understand yourself more deeply, heal what has been holding you back, and build the life you want.
What is Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy is a one-on-one relationship between a client and a licensed therapist, focused entirely on you — your history, your goals, and your unique way of moving through the world. Unlike group therapy or couples counseling, individual therapy creates a depth of exploration that is tailored exclusively to the individual, providing a confidential, nonjudgmental space to process what has been difficult and build a genuinely better relationship with your own inner life.
At TrueMe® Counseling, individual therapy is never passive. Our approach is active and collaborative — meaning you are not simply heard and reflected back at. From the very first session, you receive direct feedback, practical tools, and a clear sense of direction. We don’t just help you understand what is happening. We help you change it.
Individual Therapy Support
Individual therapy is one of the most versatile and effective forms of mental health support available. Whether you are navigating a specific crisis, working through patterns you have carried for years, or simply ready to understand yourself more deeply and live more fully — individual therapy meets you exactly where you are and walks forward with you.
Common signs Individual Therapy may be for you:
- You are overwhelmed and struggling to cope
- Your mood or outlook has shifted in ways that concern you
- You keep running into the same walls in relationships or work
- You are going through a major life transition
If you identify with 2 or more of these, you may be a good candidate for our individual therapy.
OUR CLINICAL APPROACH
How we treat you — and why it works
Most therapy fails because it’s generic. At TrueMe® Counseling, our therapists use a structured, evidence-based framework built around your specific needs, history, and goals — not a one-size-fits-all program. Whether you’re across the street or across the state, we’re here — in person or virtually throughout California.
Understanding Your Story
No two therapy journeys look alike. We begin by taking the time to understand your concerns, personal history, relationships, strengths, and goals. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship challenges, or a major life transition, we focus on understanding the whole person—not just the symptoms.
Identifying the Patterns That Keep You Stuck
Many emotional struggles are fueled by recurring patterns in our thoughts, behaviors, relationships, or coping strategies. Together, we'll identify what's contributing to your distress, uncover the underlying causes, and increase your awareness of the habits and beliefs that may be preventing you from moving forward.
Creating Meaningful Change
Insight is valuable, but lasting change happens when insight is paired with action. Using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR, Brainspotting, psychodynamic therapy, and other clinically appropriate interventions, your therapist helps you develop healthier ways of thinking, coping, communicating, and responding to life's challenges.
Building Skills That Last Beyond the Therapy Room
Therapy isn't simply about talking through problems—it's about equipping you with practical tools you can use every day. You'll strengthen emotional regulation, improve communication, build healthier boundaries, increase resilience, and develop coping strategies that support your well-being long after each session ends.
A Personalized Treatment Plan Designed Around You
Your goals, experiences, and pace are unique, and your therapy should reflect that. Your therapist develops an individualized treatment plan based on your needs, values, strengths, and the life you want to build. As you grow and your priorities evolve, your treatment evolves with you, ensuring every session remains intentional, relevant, and focused on meaningful progress.
Helping You Build a Life That Feels More Like You
Our goal isn't to make you dependent on therapy—it's to help you become more confident in navigating life on your own. By the end of treatment, you'll have greater self-awareness, healthier coping strategies, stronger relationships, and the confidence to face future challenges with clarity and resilience. Therapy isn't about becoming a different person—it's about helping you become the healthiest, most authentic version of yourself.
YOUR THERAPY JOURNEY
What to expect in therapy
Starting therapy can feel intimidating — especially when you’re already carrying so much. Here’s exactly what the process looks like, step by step.
Free consultation call
Before anything else, you’ll have a brief, no-pressure call to share what you’re going through and ask any questions you have. There’s no commitment — just a conversation to make sure we’re the right fit for you.
Your first session
Your first session is a relaxed, open conversation — not a test. Your therapist will take time to understand your history, your current experience, and what you’re hoping to achieve. Many clients leave their first session already feeling a sense of relief just from being heard.
A personalized plan
Your therapist will work with you to create a plan tailored specifically to your needs — not a generic program, but a personalized roadmap designed around your unique history, goals, and what you’re going through right now.
Ongoing sessions & real tools
Each session builds on the last. Using CBT and other evidence-based methods, your therapist will help you identify the thought patterns and behaviors holding you back — and equip you with practical tools you can use in real life between sessions.
Tracking your progress
Healing isn’t always linear — and your therapist knows that. Progress is regularly reviewed and your plan is adjusted as needed to ensure you’re always moving in the adirection at the right pace for you.
Life beyond therapy
The goal of therapy isn’t just symptom relief — it’s lasting transformation. You’ll finish therapy with a deeper understanding of yourself, a toolkit you carry for life, and the confidence to face whatever comes next.
Meet Our Therapists
TrueMe® Counseling is a team of MFTs and PhDs with decades of combined clinical experience.
Marina Edelman
Founder | Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #51009
Cheryl Baldi
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #39801
Dr. Rachel Chistyakov
Doctor of Psychology | Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #150001
Sharalee Hall
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #135374
Chris Calandra
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #164783
Suzanne Perry
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #163151
Hayley Willis
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #163642
Jasmine Johnson
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist #137660
Sean Palmer
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist #161917
FAQ - INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Frequently Asked Questions About Individual Therapy
Honest answers from our therapists — before you take the first step.
1. What is individual therapy and how does it work?
Individual therapy is a one-on-one relationship between a client and a licensed therapist, built around a single purpose: helping you understand yourself more deeply, process what has been difficult, and build a genuinely better relationship with your own inner life. It works through the consistent, focused attention of a skilled clinician who is trained to hear not just what you say but what is underneath it — the patterns, the histories, the beliefs that are shaping how you think, feel, and move through the world. Sessions are typically fifty minutes, held weekly, and guided by your goals and what you bring into the room. At TrueMe® Counseling, individual therapy is never passive — it is an active, collaborative process in which you receive direct feedback, practical tools, and a clear sense of direction from the very first session.
2. How do I know if individual therapy is right for me?
If something in your life — your mood, your relationships, your sense of yourself, your ability to function — feels harder than it should, and your own efforts to address it have not produced the relief or change you were hoping for, individual therapy is worth pursuing. You do not need to be in crisis. You do not need a formal diagnosis. You do not need to have experienced something dramatic enough to justify taking up a therapist’s time. In our clinical experience, the people who benefit most from individual therapy are often the ones who come in not because everything has collapsed but because something quieter is consistently getting in the way — and they are finally ready to understand what it is.
3. What can I expect during my first individual therapy session?
Your first session is a chance for your therapist to get to know you — your history, what has brought you to therapy, and what you are hoping to get out of it. It is also a chance for you to get a feel for the therapist’s style and ask any questions you have. There is no pressure to share more than you are comfortable with. The first session is the beginning of a conversation, not an exam. You will leave with a clearer sense of what the work will look like and a therapist who is already invested in helping you move forward.
4. How long does individual therapy take to produce results?
For many clients, something meaningful shifts within the first four to eight sessions — a new way of understanding a pattern, a reduction in the intensity of symptoms, or a concrete skill that is already making daily life more manageable. Deeper change — the kind that rewires longstanding patterns or resolves the roots of chronic anxiety or depression — takes longer and requires consistency. The clients who see the most lasting results are almost always the ones who stay with the process long enough for insight to become genuine change. Your therapist will check in regularly about progress and always ensure you have a clear sense of what you are working toward.
5. Can individual therapy be combined with couples or family therapy?
Yes — and this combination is often highly effective. Individual therapy focuses on your internal experience, history, and personal growth. Couples or family therapy focuses on the relational dynamics between people. Many clients at TrueMe® Counseling engage in individual therapy alongside couples or family sessions — doing their own deeper work while also addressing the shared dynamics with the people who matter most to them. Your therapist can help you determine whether a combined approach is the right fit for your situation.
