Psychodynamic Therapy in Santa Monica
Our office is conveniently located at San Vicente and Montana in Brentwood. Every clinician on our team sees clients there Monday through Friday, as well as online across California.
Santa Monica therapy, online across California or in person in Brentwood
You may have done everything "right" and you're still tired. Perhaps the answer isn't more.
Therapy for Santa Monica, right around the corner
People reach us from Santa Monica in two distinct ways. Some clients value coming into the office for the quiet drive and an hour carved out that belongs neither to home nor work. Others have schedules that cannot accommodate a commute and prefer connecting with the same therapist over video on a Tuesday evening.
We are a group practice led by a clinical psychologist, practicing relational psychodynamic therapy. We look closely at the underlying patterns beneath whatever brought you through the door, believing that the relationship between you and your therapist is where those patterns genuinely change. Whichever way you choose to meet, you receive the exact same dedicated care.
Getting here from Santa Monica
11777 San Vicente Boulevard
Suite 700
Los Angeles, CA 90049
At the corner of San Vicente and Montana
In person & Online
Monday — Friday
8am — 7pm
Parking
Metered parking on San Vicente Blvd and Montana Ave. Free street parking on S Westgate Ave.
Finding the suite
Take the elevator from the lobby to the 7th floor. The waiting room is the second door on the right as you exit.
Online therapy in Santa Monica
Most people searching for online therapy in Santa Monica aren't looking for a compromised experience—they are looking for a therapy hour that fits seamlessly into an already demanding week. We meet clients via video across California for regular 50-minute sessions, maintaining consistent weekly care with the same therapist. Some clients start online and transition to in-office visits when their schedules loosen, while others remain virtual long-term because it is what makes therapy possible in their lives. Our office at San Vicente and Montana is always an option if you prefer sitting together in a room, and you are welcome to adjust your format as your life evolves.
Couples therapy in Santa Monica
Couples usually arrive stuck in a single, recurring argument they have had dozens of times—yet the topic itself is rarely the issue worth studying. Our first step is to slow the interaction down until you can both see what you are trying to protect at the moment it turns. Our couples work draws on training in psychoanalytic couples psychotherapy from the Newport Psychoanalytic Institute. Dr. Chelsea Sarai sees couples, including partners navigating non-traditional relationships. If you are looking for a couples therapist in Santa Monica, we meet couples in Brentwood and online, and our page on couples therapy at Brentwood Therapy Collective details how that work begins.
Individual therapy in Santa Monica
Individual therapy with us begins with the understanding that present struggles almost always have a history. The relational patterns formed in your earliest experiences continue to shape how you relate to yourself and to those closest to you today. Within the therapeutic relationship, these dynamics become clear enough to understand and transform. Sessions run 50 minutes on a regular weekly basis, with the pace set collaboratively. For clients processing trauma, we integrate EMDR therapy into this ongoing psychodynamic framework rather than offering it as an isolated protocol. Visit our individual therapy page to explore our approach in depth.
Therapy for burnout in Santa Monica
Burnout often goes unrecognized for a long time because high performance and output can persist long after you have stopped feeling connected to what you are doing. Dr. Chelsea Sarai works with high achievers, founders, and entrepreneurs balancing the unique demands of their ambition. We also work with accomplished individuals who lead with intellect and purpose while privately carrying emotional fatigue and disconnection. If you are looking for stress therapy in Santa Monica, this work offers a space to slow down—focusing on genuine restoration rather than a quick productivity fix.
Santa Monica depth therapists
Every clinician on our team sees clients in person at the Brentwood office and online across California. The free consultation is where we figure out fit, including which of us you should see.
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Chelsea Sarai, PsyD
Founder & Clinical Psychologist
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Caty Pooley, LPCC
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
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Kim Brounstein, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
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Elyse Jung-Vrymoed, AMFT
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
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Dana Kurth, AMFT
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
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Dr. Sylvia Martin
Registered Psychological Associate
Full Bio Coming Soon
Elyse Jung-Vrymoed, AMFT and Dana Kurth, AMFT practice under the supervision of Dr. Chelsea Sarai, PSY 32481.
Questions we hear from Santa Monica
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Our office is conveniently located right next door to the heart of Santa Monica, at 11777 San Vicente Blvd, Suite 700, at the corner of San Vicente and Montana. We see clients there Monday through Friday, as well as online across California.
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Yes. We provide online therapy anywhere in California, which is how many of our clients choose to meet. Virtual sessions share the same 50-minute duration and weekly rhythm as in-office visits.
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Yes. We meet couples both in Brentwood and online, and our couples work draws on training in psychoanalytic couples psychotherapy from the Newport Psychoanalytic Institute.
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Yes. We work with grief and unexpected loss, including certified death doula and death educator training through the Conscious Dying Institute.
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Yes. Dr. Chelsea Sarai conducts adult ADHD evaluations and diagnostic testing virtually over a series of targeted sessions. Our adult ADHD testing page goes into more detail on the process and getting started.
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We are an out-of-network practice. We provide a monthly superbill containing all the diagnostic details your insurer requires to reimburse you. We recommend contacting your provider beforehand, as out-of-network reimbursement varies by plan.
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Send us a brief message through our contact form. A clinician will reach out to schedule a free 15-minute consultation over the phone or Zoom to discuss your goals and ensure we are a good mutual fit. If not, we will happily connect you with trusted referrals.
Areas We Serve
In person in Brentwood, Los Angeles and online across California.
Let’s Get Started
We are accepting new clients for in-person sessions at our Brentwood office and for online sessions across California.