Meet Our Specialized Young Adult Mental Health Therapists
Douglas Rosen LMFT
Clinical Lead Therapist
Anxiety, Addiction, Teen Development, Family Therapy & Faith
Douglas Rosen brings years of experience helping teens and young adults navigate the unique challenges they face. In a world filled with high achievers, finding one's place can be particularly difficult. Douglas is kind, honest, and humanistic in his approach, guiding young adults toward discovering purpose and meaning in their lives. In his capacity as lead therapist, Douglas is responsible for client care and coordination, therapist/coach assignments and overarching clinical integration of the Aim Psych Youth program.
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For over 20 years, he has been delivering impactful speeches to teens and parents on the topics of addiction and spirituality through Beit T’Shuvah, a Jewish treatment center in Los Angeles. With a deep understanding of the obstacles young people encounter today, especially the transition from childhood to adulthood, Douglas draws on both his personal experiences and his knowledge of current trends in drug use and addiction. His message resonates with thousands of teens, helping them find clarity on how to live well. He speaks to national audiences of adolescents and their communities, providing education on self-awareness, coping strategies, dealing with peer pressure, and tools for making healthy, informed choices.
Douglas also shares a meaningful message for parents on the importance of raising resilient children—ones who can handle adversity and disappointment. He teaches parents the critical difference between "good" parents, whose first instinct may be to rescue, and "responsible" parents, who empower their children by allowing them to fail and learn how to get back up. Through this, children gain the confidence and resilience needed to navigate life's challenges.
Mr. Rosen holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Film from the University of Colorado and an Masters from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Andrew Merrell LMFT
Founder & Lead Therapist (Aim Psych)
Identity, Anxiety, Addiction, Family Systems & Group Therapy
Andrew Merrell is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in male psychology and male-centered therapy based in California. Andrew's specialization in men's psychotherapy includes adolescent and teen males with areas of emphasis in anxiety, addiction, social ecosystems, family systems, relationships, power/control, achievement, trauma, insecurity and anger. Andrew is the lead therapist of the adult men’s Aim Psych program, but devotes time and energy to Aim Psych Youth’s leadership, specific individual clients, family work and group work.
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Since its founding in 2015, Andrew has amplified Aim Psychotherapy into a collective of mental health professionals who share a vision for collaborative, innovative and deeply personal therapeutic work that is individualized for each client’s unique needs.
While Andrew works exclusively with men, his clients are diverse in identity, age, life stage, and clinical emphasis. Andrew’s areas of concentration include males facing internal and/or external challenges and changes - often executives, actors, athletes, musicians or public figures encountering issues related to managing and integrating public/private personas, relationships, sexuality, wealth, notoriety, betrayal, stress, unhealthy habits, exhaustion, and the pressures of prestige.
Prior to receiving his Masters in Clinical Psychology, Andrew graduated with his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with a concentration in Sociology & Communications. Outside of the private practice setting his work has included inpatient residential and rehabilitation settings, a leading dual diagnosis PHP/IOP in Los Angeles, running mens groups in Men’s Central Jail, training elite collegiate sports teams, running male identity groups, leading customized leadership optimization (corporate), trainings and workshops (LAUSD, FBI, and the LAPD among others) and serving as a coach/mentor in some specific capacities for clients across the country and overseas.
In addition to Aim Psychotherapy, Andrew co-founded the Eos Program in 2018 at the Camden Center, a renowned dual diagnosis mental health facility in Los Angeles where he served as the Eos Program Chief. While a staff therapist at Paradigm Malibu, Andrew ran their Family Program and their Identity Program. Andrew also co-founded the Prism Institute an organization devoted to identity, and Ignis an innovative men's retreat workshop.
Daniel Franks
Admissions & Outreach Director
Daniel joins Aim as Admissions and Outreach Director, bringing 15 years of experience in relationship-building, client services, and communications through his background in marketing and sales. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts with study abroad at Oxford University, Daniel is now channeling his mission into men's mental health and transformation, with a motto of "More Love." He's worked with brands like Nestlé and Breakthru Beverage, written for publications including Travel+Leisure, Expedia, and American Express, and co-founded BuyerBoard, a residential real estate app.
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His road to this work is deeply personal — over a decade of individual therapy, group work, coaching across multiple modalities and spiritual awakening, he took the slow, meaningful path of dismantling his shame about being a man and learning what it means to step into embodied presence. Today he stands proudly in his masculinity — as a husband, a son, a friend, and a man committed to his own continued evolution.
Service has always been at the center of how Daniel moves through the world. He grew up in his family's restaurants, where from a very young age he learned to listen, support a team, and understand what a real work ethic looks like. He came to recognize that true hospitality is its own kind of magic — the art of creating the conditions for someone to fully surrender to being taken care of. That early formation lives in everything he does today.
His personal practices include daily meditation, breathwork, journaling, and cross-training in boxing and Muay Thai. He's also developed a growing philosophical interest in AI — specifically in the exploration of building a conscious, collaborative relationship with it. When he's not working, you'll find him cooking, training, spending time in nature, and listening to soul-thumping good music, all of which he is grateful to share with his wife Amy and their three pups.
Reed Farrer LMFT
Anxiety & OCD
Reed Farrer is Aim Psycho Youth’s leading Affiliate provider in the realm of obsession, compulsion, rumination, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, and OCPD. Reed is clear, kind and deeply compassionate in his working relationships with young men.
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A cut above the rest, Reed is holistic in his conceptualizations, savvy in his assessments and treatment planning, and a rigorous steward of effective client journeys toward relief and management of OCD and related behavioral and psychological symptomology. Reed is practical and tactical in his clinical approach without sacrificing a rich relationship with his clients. Highly trained and skilled in ERP, ACT, TRM – Aim Psychotherapy is very lucky to include this exceptional shepherd in our collective.
Reed Farrer is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT #122656) and certified mindfulness teacher (CMT). Reed received a B.A. in Anthropology from UCLA and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Reed has trained in various clinical settings, including community mental health, residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and outpatient treatment. Past employers and training sites include Sandy Segal Youth Health Center, Visions Adolescent Treatment Center, Anxiety Therapy L.A., and UCLA's Dual Diagnosis IOP. Reed has trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), mindfulness meditation, and The Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM). Reed is in private practice in West Los Angeles and is primarily interested in the treatment of anxiety disorders and OCD.
Jake Rose LMFT
Teens, Anxiety, Relationships, Addiction
Jake Rose, LMFT works with children and adolescents who struggle with big emotions, emotional regulation, behavioral challenges, anger, frustration, confusion, and questions around identity. He provides a calm, supportive, and structured space where children and teens can feel safe opening up while learning valuable skills they can use in everyday life.
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Jake uses evidence-based approaches and motivational interventions to help children better understand the full spectrum of their emotions. He helps each client learn to express themselves in healthier ways, manage reactions and impulses, work through difficult feelings, and improve communication at home and school. His approach is compassionate, encouraging, and practical, with a strong focus on helping children feel understood while building confidence and emotional skills to become the best versions of themselves.
Jake understands that starting therapy can be hard for children and teens and that resistance is common. Because of this, he focuses on building trust and connection first, using a collaborative and conversational style that helps sessions feel approachable rather than intimidating. Over time, this approach creates meaningful progress that carries into daily life.
Jake takes a whole-child approach, supporting not only emotional health but also daily routines, behavioral patterns, social relationships, school functioning, and future goals. He believes therapy works best when it helps children build healthier habits and a stronger sense of self both inside and outside the therapy room.
He also believes that supporting a child means working closely with the family. Jake encourages parent involvement and collaboration to create consistency, balance, and support at home. By working together, families are better equipped to support their child’s growth and long-term success.
Jonny Levy LMFT
Teens, Families, CBT, Trauma
Jonny is a dedicated child, adolescent, and family therapist who brings creativity, warmth, and authenticity to his work. Fluent in both “parent” and “child,” he acts as a bridge within family systems, helping to improve communication and strengthen bonds. He believes therapy should be engaging and dynamic, meeting clients both in and out of the office to foster meaningful connections. Jonathan loves what he does—helping young people find their confidence, voice, and path forward.
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At the heart of Jonny’s approach is building strong, trusting relationships that lay the foundation for success in adulthood. His therapeutic foundation is rooted in psychodynamic and relational therapy, seamlessly integrating evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), narrative therapy, inner child work, and mindfulness-based interventions. Additionally, he is trained in the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), equipping him with specialized tools to help clients navigate anxiety, trauma, and life stressors while enhancing resilience and communication.
Before stepping into the world of therapy, Jonny spent years working with youth in various capacities. He has served as a counselor, C.I.T. coordinator, and program coordinator for summer camps and year-round programs supporting underprivileged youth. His journey even took him across the globe to Thailand, where he taught English and learned firsthand how to connect across cultures. These experiences shaped his warm, down-to-earth approach, allowing him to build meaningful connections with clients from all backgrounds.
Jonny earned his psychology degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and his master’s in psychology with a child/adolescent specialization from Antioch University.
Griffin Saxon LCSW
Teens, Families, CBT, Trauma
Griffin brings empathy, authenticity, humor, and creativity to his work with adolescents and families. Drawing on his experience as a psychiatric social worker in Los Angeles schools, he recognizes the deep connection between academics and mental health. His relationship-centered approach focuses on helping young men foster strong relationships, improve communication skills, and build emotional insight to be well-adjusted adults.
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Griffin integrates evidence-based practices, client interests, and genuine connection to create meaningful therapeutic experiences. He is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TEAM-CBT and Trauma-Focused CBT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A), combining these approaches to address negative thought and behavior patterns while strengthening relational supports. Griffin brings a diverse clinical background with work as a Psychiatric Social Worker in LAUSD’s School Mental Health Division, and an intern therapist with Santa Clarita’s Child & Family Center, and parent group facilitator for CALM Santa Barbara.
Before earning his Master’s in Social Work from California State University, Northridge, Griffin received his BA from Pitzer College in American Studies. He began his mental health career as an assistant supervisor of direct care services with Casa Pacifica’s START program (now Camino a Casa), a DBT-based residential treatment and PHP/IOP program. He also worked as a behavior interventionist in Santa Barbara Unified School District’s special education program, where he supported students with Emotional Disturbance IEP eligibilities.
Outside of therapy, Griffin is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and runner who trains students for the LA Marathon. He enjoys helping clients explore creativity and movement as tools for mental and physical wellbeing.
Jake Schuster, AMFT
Addiction (Gambling, Gaming, Technology, Substances)
Jake Schuster AMFT, is a therapist who helps adolescents and young men break free from addictive and compulsive patterns. He works with clients facing substance use, problem gambling, gaming addiction, and other behaviors that interfere with daily life. In session, Jake helps clients process the underlying drivers of these patterns, learn practical tools to manage urges, and build daily structures that support long-term change - while providing steady, nonjudgmental support throughout the process.
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Jake’s work focuses on addiction recovery, mindfulness, and life skills development. He completed his clinical training at Beit T’Shuvah, an inpatient treatment center recognized for its leading gambling addiction program and focus on co-occurring substance use, and has provided individual and group therapy at multiple intensive outpatient treatment centers in Los Angeles. He also speaks at middle and high schools on the risks of substance use - with a special emphasis on cannabis’s impact on developing brains - as well as gambling and gaming addictions, and leads mindfulness talks and workshops for student athletes. His approach is interactive and relatable, helping young people understand the risks they face and make choices that set them up for success.
Before becoming a therapist, Jake earned a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from the University of Michigan and spent nearly a decade working in sponsorship sales for professional sports and esports teams. In that role, he worked on advertising campaigns with gambling and alcohol brands, seeing firsthand how aggressive and effective these industries are in targeting young people.
Through his work, Jake has seen how addiction affects every area of life and how difficult it can be to break free once patterns take hold. His approach to therapy is informed by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based practices to help clients break these cycles, take control of their actions, and make choices that support their goals. Jake is an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist supervised by Douglas Rosen LMFT.
Shauna Greene
Academic Coach & Education Consultant
Shauna is passionate about helping teenagers achieve their academic goals and has done so successfully for 15 years as an academic coach, college consultant, and tutor. Her philosophy is simple: an empowered student is an independent student. Shauna’s mission is to help middle school, high school, and college students become self-reliant in all of their endeavors. Teaching time management and organizational skills are a key aspect of her work.
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Shauna has a clear understanding of the evolving college landscape and guides students through their school selection process. Shauna is also a trusted resource in pairing students with the summer opportunities and recognitions that are right for them.
Shauna Somers Greene has over 18 years of experience as an academic coach. Shauna began her professional life in New York City, where she sold her first young-adult novel, Blink, to Random House. After moving back to Los Angeles, she taught screenwriting at Writer’s Boot Camp. As the Executive Assistant to celebrities, high-net-worth individuals, and the President of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Shauna honed her time management, organizational, and resourcing skills, which prepared her for her pivot to working with students.
Shauna holds a B.S. from the University of Southern California and an M.A. in Critical Theory and Screenwriting from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Shauna’s experience as a writer has led to her area of specialty: college applications and facilitating the personal essay to be authentic by helping students dig deep to discover their best, unique stories. She has helped hundreds of students succeed at some of the best-known public and independent schools in Los Angeles, Park City, New York, City, and Santa Barbara, as well as admission and athletic recruitment to universities.
Shauna lives in Los Angeles with her husband, 21-year-old daughter (now away at college), 16-year-old son, and their dog Daisy. She can be found hiking, swimming, or vintage shopping when she's not coaching students. Shauna works from her LA home office. Students primarily work with her on Zoom. She is also available by text
Josh Fingerhut LMFT
Attachment, Breath Work, Somatics, Addiction & Group
Josh is a deeply compassionate and empathetic therapist whose personal journey of transformation fuels his authentic and dedicated approach to helping others. He brings a unique blend of modalities — breath work, CBT, DBT, inner child work, somatic experiencing, attachment theory, and more — offering a multifaceted framework tailored to meet young men where they are.
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Josh Fingerhut, M.A., LMFT thrives with clients who are facing some kind of transition/change or stand in the aftermath of a hardship, combined with their desire to know themselves more deeply.
Josh specializes in attachment work (psychodynamics), somatics (with an emphasis on breath work), addiction, and facilitating men’s groups. Certified in Polyvagal Theory and as an EMT, he integrates a deep understanding of both psychological and physiological safety into his practice. A skilled group facilitator and advocate of the mind-body connection, Josh incorporates active therapies like breathwork and boxing to foster resilience and healing, creating a space for curiosity, self-awareness, and growth. His approach is dynamic and always adaptable to the needs of his clients.
Before earning his Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Josh earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication and Theatre from Northwestern University. He pursued a career in acting before facing struggles with addiction, anxiety, trauma, and depression. A near-fatal crisis marked a turning point, inspiring him to channel his pain into purpose and dedicate his life to guiding others toward healing and self-discovery.
In addition to his one-on-one work, Josh has over five years of experience facilitating groups at addiction and dual-diagnosis treatment centers across Los Angeles, where he creates spaces for collective growth and emotional integration. With his authentic presence, equanimity, and steadfast ability to support clients in their darkest moments, Josh empowers them to uncover their inner strength and navigate life’s challenges with resilience.
Brandon Gescheidle LMFT
LGBTQIA+ Youth
Brandon specializes in working with young adults who identify within the LGBTQIA community and/or present with identity questions. Brandon’s approach is affirming, compassionate and skillful. Brandon supports each young person to safely navigate the uniqueness of orientation and gender within the pressures of adolescent and teen social ecosystems and the potential complications of diverse identity within family dynamics.
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With respect to pain reprocessing and treating chronic pain, Brandon utilizes Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), Somatic Tracking, Graded Exposure and other techniques with his clients. In his individual therapy practice, Brandon calls upon an integrated approach of Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Narrative Therapy to assist clients in unlearning unhelpful, sometimes harmful, patterns and beliefs in order to co-create a template that feels more sustainable. Brandon identifies as a gay, cisgender man who is passionate about working with the queer community.
After earning a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California, Brandon began working extensively with the chronic pain community – training with Alan Gordon at Pain Psychology Center and becoming certified in Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT). In addition to being a clinician at the practice, Brandon served as Intake Coordinator, admitting new clients and matching them with clinicians. Through this role, he had the unique privilege of absorbing thousands of mind-body stories involving a multitude of presentations. Brandon recognizes that while there are certainly common themes, each client’s relationship with pain is unique, and their treatment must be tailored to fit their individual needs and lived experience. Using PRT as a guide, Brandon assist clients through Somatic Tracking, Graded Exposure, managing fear thoughts, and other tools to help them understand their symptoms, increase self-compassion, and reprogram the brain's relationship to pain.
Dr Markus Rogan
Experiential & Adventure Therapy
Dr. Markus Rogan’s role within Aim Psych Youth is in the innovative provision of experiential and performance psychology. Tailored to each client’s (and family’s) unique presentation, dynamics, conceptualization and goals, Dr. Rogan will craft an experience that challenges, provokes, confronts and transforms an aspect of the client’s work.
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Whether its mountaineering, race track driving, shark diving or ice swimming, Dr. Rogan will incorporate clinical savvy with the physical/natural world to awaken what’s dormant, subdue what’s raging or alter self-perception and limitation.
Dr. Markus Rogan is a licensed psychotherapist and holds his PhD in Performance Psychology.
Among his many distinctions, he was the recipient of the United Nations Medal of Honor for Civil Courage in 2005 and competed in the 2000 (Sydney), 2004 (Athens), 2008 (Beijing) and 2012 (London) Olympic Games. Markus was the director of sport psychology for the Brazilian Olympic Team at their home Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, 2016. The team won the most medals in the history of their country. After graduating from Stanford University, Markus spent three years at UCLA’s department of psychology researching performance psychology. He was then the director of a residential depression and addiction rehab center before starting his private practice.
Zach Resnick, LMFT
Young Adulthood
Zach Resnick LMFT specializes in guiding young men forward as they build the skills and self-esteem to navigate their late teens, 20’s and early 30's. Zach empowers clients who feel lost or stressed by life’s challenges to develop the compassion, mindfulness and fortitude to become their more fully realized selves.
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The late teens, 20's and early 30's are phases of life where young men are facing a breadth of potential difficulties including, but not limited to: school or career, peer relationships, sex and intimacy, dating and romantic relationships, family issues, independence, self-esteem, understanding their thoughts and feelings, trauma processing, social pressures and expectations, as well as seeking meaning and value. Zach’s passion for this work is breaking the cycle of male loneliness and disconnection by being a partner in their journey toward growth and healing. Clients can expect to be warmly seen and understood while also being championed and encouraged to adopt skills and build confidence to find their way in the world.
Zach received a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University and began working in community mental health, training at Airport Marina Counseling Service where he created and led successful Navigating Your 20's and Men’s Support groups. Following clinical settings include working in a leading residential treatment center, working under Andrew Merrell’s professional guidance as AIM Psychotherapy’s first Associate Therapist, and supporting the beginning of a local clinic built on providing accessible therapy. Since completing licensure and founding his own clinical practice, Zach works primarily with men navigating their 20's and 30's by integrating approaches such as psychodynamic, CBT, DBT, Internal Family Systems and Inner Child work, as well as mindfulness to support his client’s becoming their most congruent self.
Chris Tompkins LMFT
LGBTQIA Youth, Identity, Addiction & Self-esteem
Chris Tompkins is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in helping LGBTQ youth, teens, and adults heal from identity-related challenges, internalized homophobia, religious trauma, addiction and recovery, self-acceptance struggles, and relationship difficulties. He supports clients who feel stuck in shame, self-doubt, or past trauma, guiding them to heal, strengthen self-esteem, and live in alignment with who they truly are. Chris also works with individuals who wish to integrate spirituality as a resource in therapy.
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Chris holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, where he specialized in LGBTQ Affirmative Psychology. He completed psychotherapy training at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology (Certificate in Narrative Focused Trauma Care, Levels I & II, Allender Center) and clinical training at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, developing extensive experience providing LGBTQ-affirming care.
Before becoming a therapist, Chris taught social-emotional learning (SEL) for six years in Los Angeles schools and juvenile hall, helping youth understand their emotions, communicate effectively, and build stronger relationships. He has also served as both a board member and speaker for PFLAG Los Angeles, offering education and advocacy for LGBTQ youth and families.
Chris views therapy as a collaborative, client-centered process: you’re the driver, he’s in the passenger seat supporting your journey. His approach draws from both Western and Eastern traditions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Humanistic Psychology. He emphasizes seeing the problem as the problem, not the person.
Chris’s own journey of healing and self-discovery informs his empathetic, client-centered approach.
In addition to his clinical work, Chris is a writer and author of Raising LGBTQ Allies: A Parent’s Guide to Changing the Messages from the Playground, a best-selling book recognized with the 2024 APA Distinguished Book Award.
Dr. Christopher Hawkey
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dr. Christopher Hawkey brings to Aim Psych his deep expertise in evidence-based treatment with particular emphasis in providing high-fidelity DBT with young men. Christopher believes that every client has access to their own wisdom and that it is his duty to teach clients the skills to unearth and activate their own inner wise mind.
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Dr. Hawkey trained at world-renowned clinical psychology programs focusing entirely on evidence-based interventions. Trained as a scientist-practitioner (also known as the Boulder model), Dr. Hawkey spent almost a decade training and conducting research at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology with an emphasis in neuroscience. Dr. Hawkey also trained at the Cognitive-Behavioral Research and Treatment Program at the Duke University School of Medicine and the Portland DBT Institute, which are both lauded for their excellence in clinical training and applied clinical research. More recently, Dr. Hawkey served as a director at CBT/DBT California prior to starting his own private practice, West Coast CBT. Dr. Hawkey also enjoys volunteering as a clinical supervisor and DBT coordinator at the LGBTQ+ Center of the Desert in Coachella Valley.
Dr. Hawkey is certified by the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification and has completed the Yale LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative Affirmative CBT training program. Dr. Hawkey is passionate about increasing accessibility to research-based treatments like CBT and DBT and provides training to other clinicians on implementing these interventions with historically-marginalized populations.
Brian Garhan, MA, PsyD
Wellness Coach – Fitness, Motivation & Life Strategist
Brian Garhan specializes in customized life dynamics and coaching with an emphasis on efficiency, performance, physiology, fitness and wellness strategies. Brian is also a sober coach and often performs the function of a sober companion for unique in-the-field activities and experiences for those going through restorative mental health journeys including recovery from substance/process addiction.
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Brian harmonizes his accomplishments as a therapist, life/sober coach, veteran, lifelong athlete, outdoorsman, loving husband, and proud dad of two amazing kids into his tailored approach with each unique client experience. He brings his history from the military, sports, clinical, and family life into a unique approach to helping people grow and thrive. The discipline and resilience Brian learned in the military, combined with the balance and motivation he’s acquired through sports, shape how he support clients’ needs and assesses their capacities. Brian’s experiences as a father adds a unique dimension to his practice – he understands first hand the juggling act of family life and personal goals, which motivates him to help others, especially busy parents, achieve their fitness and personal goals while managing the demands of family life.
Whether a client is dealing with mental health issues, addiction, life transitions, or just want to level up in your personal life, Brian uses his training and experiences to offer a dynamic, personalized approach that fits each persons’ journey.
Brian earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology from California State University, Northridge, and completed both his Master’s and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis on Health and CBT at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. His extensive training encompasses addiction, mood disorders, executive coaching & motivations, sports psychology, physical health, and holistic approaches to wellness.
Ben Hietala AMFT
Teens, Families & Coaching
Ben Hietala, MA, AMFT, is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist based in Los Angeles, California, who brings a unique and powerful presence to his work with young men , combining personal experience, technical mastery, and natural warmth. He specializes in working with children, adolescents, young adults, athletes, and emerging identities. He also has a specialization in addressing anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and suicidal ideation with youth.
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Originally from the snow-capped mountains of Montana, he relocated to Los Angeles to work in a city as diverse and dynamic as the people he serves. With a background spanning mental health coaching, sports performance coaching, public education, and nonprofit work, Ben has spent over seven years connecting with individuals navigating transition, development, and performance pressures. Ben has had the privilege of working under Dr. Markus Rogan, a Doctor of Clinical Psychology, where he provided coaching consultation for high-performing clients, including the Israeli national soccer team. Through his own struggles as a young adult, he has confronted deep personal challenges and developed a profound understanding of the darkness many face. His personal healing journey gave him the tools to relate, understand, and guide adolescents and teens struggling with internalized disorders.
While earning his Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, he worked at Cheerful Helpers, a therapeutic day school for children with Neurodivergence, providing both individual and group therapy. Ben combines technical expertise with an intuitive approach. As a former Division 1 soccer player and high school coach, he understands structure: learning the rules, recognizing boundaries, and mastering the art of playing within them. Therapy, much like sports, requires intuition, improvisation, and precise execution. He knows the modalities and techniques, but it’s the way he applies them that sets him apart. Ben applies therapy with the same fluidity he once brought to the soccer field—meeting clients where they are, adapting to their needs, and guiding them toward growth.