Geriatric Therapy
Geriatric therapy provides compassionate, specialized mental health support for older adults — honoring the wisdom of a life lived while addressing the unique challenges that come with aging.
What is Geriatric Therapy?
Geriatric therapy — also known as therapy for older adults or senior mental health counseling — is a specialized form of psychotherapy designed to address the emotional, psychological, and relational challenges that are unique to later life. It recognizes that aging brings not only accumulated wisdom and resilience, but also a distinct set of experiences that require a clinician who understands them deeply: the grief of outliving loved ones, the emotional complexity of declining health, the identity shifts that accompany retirement, and the quiet but profound loneliness that many older adults carry without ever naming it.
At TrueMe® Counseling, geriatric therapy is delivered with the same evidence-based clinical rigor and genuine human warmth that defines all of our work — tailored to the specific needs, pace, and goals of the older adult in the room. Our therapists draw from approaches including CBT, psychodynamic therapy, grief-focused therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions, always calibrated to what is most meaningful and effective for each individual client.
Geriatric Therapy as Mental Health Care
Mental health care is not only for the young. Older adults deserve the same access to professional, compassionate support as anyone else — and the research is clear that therapy is highly effective across the lifespan, often producing some of its most meaningful outcomes in later life. If you or a loved one is navigating the emotional terrain of aging, you are in the right place.
Common signs Geriatic Therapy may be for you:
- Persistent sadness, withdrawal, or loss of interest in life
- Grief that feels unmanageable or unending
- Anxiety about health, the future, or losing independence
- A sense of isolation, meaninglessness, or feeling invisible
If you identify with 2 or more of these, you may be a good candidate for our testing and assessment.
OUR CLINICAL APPROACH
How we treat you — and why it works
Most therapy fails because it’s generic. At TrueMe® Counseling, our licensed 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.
Clinical Assessment & Root-Cause Mapping
We begin with a thorough clinical assessment — identifying your specific challenges, personal history, thought patterns, and underlying triggers. This isn't a generic intake form. It's the diagnostic foundation that everything else is built on.
Cognitive Restructuring
Using CBT and other evidence-based modalities, we help you identify and challenge the distorted thinking patterns keeping you stuck — whether that's anxiety, depression, low self-worth, or relationship difficulties. You learn to respond to life differently, from the inside out.
Behavioral Intervention
Insight alone doesn't create change — behavior does. We use structured techniques to help you break the cycles, habits, and avoidance patterns that have been holding you back. This is where meaningful, real-world transformation begins.
Personalized Treatment Planning
No two people are the same — and neither are their treatment plans. Your therapist builds a roadmap tailored specifically to your needs, goals, and pace. Every session is purposeful, intentional, and designed to move you forward.
Progress Tracking & Plan Adjustment
Healing isn't linear — and your therapist knows that. Progress is regularly reviewed and your treatment plan is adjusted in real time to ensure you're always moving in the right direction at the right pace for you.
Resilience Building & Long-Term Independence
The final stage equips you with a personalized, lifelong toolkit — regulation strategies, early warning recognition, and sustainable coping skills — so that when life gets hard, you have everything you need to handle it. The goal is independence, not dependency on therapy.
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 treatment 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 anxiety
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 licensed MFTs and PhDs with decades of combined clinical experience.
Marina Edelman LMFT #51009
Founder of TrueMe® Counseling | Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Cheryl Baldi,
LMFT #39801
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Dr. Rachel Chistyakov, PsyD, LMFT #150001
Licensed Psychologist
Sharalee Hall,
LMFT #135374
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Chris Calandra, AMFT#129479
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Suzanne Perry,
AMFT #132904
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Hayley Willis, AMFT #132776
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Jasmine Johnson, AMFT #137660
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Kylee Garfield, AMFT #145651
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Sean Palmer, AMFT #
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
FAQ - GERIATRIC THERAPY
Frequently Asked Questions About Geriatric Therapy
Honest answers from our licensed therapists — before you take the first step.
1. Is geriatric therapy really effective for older adults?
Yes — and the research is clear on this. Psychotherapy is effective across the lifespan, and older adults respond to evidence-based approaches at rates comparable to younger adults. The idea that therapy is less effective for older people is a clinical myth that causes real harm by discouraging them from seeking support they genuinely need and deserve.
2. How is geriatric therapy different from therapy for younger adults?
The core principles are the same — but geriatric therapy is specifically calibrated to the life stage and needs of older adults. This means a deeper focus on grief, loss, and legacy work; sensitivity to the psychological impact of chronic illness; and a pace that honors the older adult’s history, autonomy, and accumulated wisdom.
3. Can family members be involved in geriatric therapy?
Yes — and family involvement is often clinically valuable. With the older adult’s consent, family members or caregivers may participate in sessions to improve communication, process shared grief, or navigate difficult decisions together. We also offer caregiver support sessions for family members providing care for an aging loved one.
4. Is geriatric teletherapy a good option for older adults?
For many older adults, teletherapy is an excellent option — removing the barriers of transportation and physical mobility. Our therapists are experienced in walking clients through the technology at their own pace before the first session. In-person sessions at our Culver City and Thousand Oaks offices are also available for those who prefer them.
5. How do I help an older loved one start geriatric therapy if they are resistant?
It can help to frame therapy not as treatment for a problem but as support for a transition — a space to process loss or simply have someone entirely focused on them. Starting with a single consultation with no obligation often lowers the barrier significantly. We are happy to speak with family members about how to approach this conversation with care.
