Nurturing the Roots of Healing and Growth
Welcome, I’m glad you’re here.
Reaching out for support takes courage. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, navigating anxiety or depression, facing parenting challenges, or carrying the weight of past experiences, therapy can be a meaningful place to begin healing.
I’m Brenda Fonarev (she/her), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience in social work and mental health. I hold a Master of Science in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals and families impacted by trauma, abuse, and neglect. My work has included roles in both nonprofit and school settings, and I now offer individual therapy for adults through secure telehealth.
I specialize in working with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, parenting stress, and the lasting effects of trauma. My goal is to create a space where you feel supported and understood—where we can gently explore what’s been difficult and move toward healing and growth.
If you’re considering therapy, or simply curious about what it might look like to work together, I’d be honored to connect with you.
“You don’t have to walk the path alone. Sometimes, healing begins when someone simply walks beside you.”
Services
Individual
I offer individual therapy in a supportive, nonjudgmental space where we move at your pace. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, past trauma, or life transitions, our work together will honor your lived experiences while gently exploring what’s present for you now. I take a trauma-informed approach, meaning I prioritize safety, choice, and collaboration. My role is to walk beside you—not ahead—helping you access your own resilience while building tools for healing and insight.
Therapy is not about getting it ‘right’—it’s about showing up just as you are. I meet you where you are emotionally, mentally, and energetically, and we start from there. Our sessions are a space where all parts of you are welcome.
Family & Couples
In my work with families and couples, I focus on creating a space where each person feels heard and understood. We explore relationship patterns with curiosity, not blame, and I support you in finding new ways to communicate, reconnect, and repair. Using a trauma-informed and relational lens, I help you uncover the stories and experiences that may be influencing how you show up with one another, while creating space for empathy, growth, and change.
Family and couples therapy can be a powerful way to shift long-standing patterns and strengthen relationships. I approach this work with deep respect for each individual’s story, helping families and partners understand each other more fully while navigating difficult emotions or life changes together.
Approaches & Modalities
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
TF-CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
Motivational Interviewing
Trauma Informed Care
Strength Based
Unconditional Positive Regard
Self Compassion
Attachment
Somatic/Mindfulness
IFS/Parts work
“Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.”
Fees
Individual Therapy
$150.00 per 50 minute session
Family Therapy
$225.00 per 75 minute session
Couples Therapy
$185.00 per 50 minute session
*Fees are the same for both telehealth and in person.
Superbills
I am happy to provide you with superbills to submit to your insurance company, HSA or FSA for reimbursement. I recommend speaking with your insurance provider to see if they offer reimbursement for out of network providers.
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”