Individual Therapy

Molly Burrets, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist

Individual therapy is a designated space for you to process and explore your past, present, and future. The most common challenges my clients face are anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship issues. Many are also dealing with reproductive health concerns including pregnancy loss and infertility, career transitions, and balancing the many demands of modern life.

I often work with high-achieving professionals in entertainment, law, finance, medicine, and sports.

These folks sometimes struggle with the pressures of juggling identities at work, at home, and in love.

I’ve always been equal parts left brain and right, bringing a balance of intellect and empathy to all parts of my life. Like many of my clients, I often find myself pondering life’s most important questions:

  • What creates meaning in our lives?

  • How do we define and cultivate purpose?

  • How should we view our challenges? 

  • And how do we find our path through them in ways that serve us?

These deep-seated curiosities and a fascination with the way people navigate relationships and the world led me to my career as a clinical psychologist. 

As a therapist, I’m grounded in the art and science of psychotherapy. I believe both parts are equally important. Utilizing evidence-based approaches in my practice maintains the standard that everything I do has scientific literature supporting its efficacy. 

But there is so much more to psychotherapy than science. Most importantly, the therapeutic relationship. My practice is a safe place for my clients to land. You’ll be met with kindness and compassion rather than judgment. The trust we build provides a solid foundation for the difficult work required to make meaningful changes in your life. 

The truth is, the people I work with aren’t all that different from me. You face many challenges that I, too, have had to navigate. That common ground and relatability can sometimes be missing in therapeutic environments. 

It’s integral to my practice that my clients see me not just as an expert but also as a human.

I personally understand the challenges that can come with deep inner work and will be right alongside you as you navigate the edges of your comfort zone. 

Individual Therapy is an Opportunity to Invest in Your Well-being and Transformation.

In day-to-day life, it can be challenging to take a step back and identify patterns of thought and behavior that may be causing you to feel stuck or unfulfilled. Individual therapy provides a space to explore different perspectives.

When you work with me in individual therapy, I provide support as you navigate issues causing you emotional distress. Over time, unaddressed psychological challenges may manifest in your physical body, professional endeavors, and relationships.

What to Expect From Your First Therapy Session

1•••

You may feel nervous about getting started if you’ve never been to therapy before. This is completely normal. An introductory therapy session is an opportunity for you to get to know me, the way I work and ask any questions you may have.

•2••

Our first session is also a chance for me to get to know you and determine, based on my training and experience, if I am a good fit for your needs. We’ll explore what brings you to therapy and talk about what you feel is currently working well in your life and what isn’t. We’ll also discuss what your goals are for treatment and what you’d like your life to look like in the future.

••3•

Learning about your relevant history and the current landscape of your life will help me tailor future therapy sessions to your unique experiences. Our first session helps inform a plan for your individualized treatment.

•••4

Following our session, you can take some time to decide if you would like to move forward and schedule ongoing sessions.

Therapy in California

with Dr. Molly Burrets, PhD

I have advanced doctoral and postdoctoral training in several evidence-based therapies that form the foundation of my approach. In individual therapy, I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), full protocol Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). 

What this means in practice is that we’ll work to understand the connections between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. We’re also likely to incorporate elements of mindfulness into our sessions to root you in the present moment. This allows you to observe your thoughts and feelings, which places you in the driver’s seat, rather than your thoughts and feelings driving you.

I work with clients through an attachment-based lens. That means we’ll work to understand how significant relationships earlier in your life affect how you show up in relationships now, and use this knowledge to form healthier patterns.

Per my licensure in the state of California, I am only able to work with clients who are California residents. I work with clients in person from my South Pasadena office and via HIPAA-compliant telehealth platforms like Zoom. 

I’m able to accommodate in-person home visits for clients with highly visible profiles who have to navigate potential media sightings with additional care. Home visits may require travel fees depending on your location.

Payment per session is required at the time of service. I do not accept insurance for individual therapy but will provide a superbill to submit to your provider for out-of-network reimbursement.

If you’re interested in scheduling individual therapy but have a few questions, I offer free consultations. All free, 15-minute consultations are confidential and conducted via telephone.