About Lighthouse Counseling
"Let the light guide through your journey"
Lighthouse serves to warn mariners of dangerous shallows, perilously rocky coasts and help guide vessels travel safely. Lighthouse is visible in all weather conditions and provides stability and direction for people fighting through the storm. Lighthouse Counseling believes in the mission to help people navigate through the ups and downs of life and be a vessel in helping people find resolution.
Lighthouse Counseling is committed to raise mental health awareness within our community, promote benefits of mental health treatment, and aid in the decrease in the stigmatization of mental health services. We believe that therapy helps provide a sense of relief and self-awareness for those who feel overwhelmed or are having trouble finding the root of their problems.
Lighthouse Counseling strives to implement best available practice standards and to help clients expand their inner strengths and skills to work toward improved emotional health and well-being. Treatment can be tailored to meet individual needs of our clients and we are steadfast in our goal of meeting the needs of a variety of people and apply the skills of education, counseling, and psychology with the highest degree of professional competence.
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Mike Chang (Director)
LMFT #86321
Mike@therapylighthouse.com
I am an EMDR trained Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT#86321) who is experienced in working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. I completed my undergraduate studies at the Biola University and went on to receive my graduate degree from Pepperdine University. As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, I am committed to support my clients by providing a safe place filled with compassion, empathy, and non-judgment. I am passionate about my work and a firm believer that inner strength, determination and hope can lead to growth.
I am certified in evidence-based practices and utilize variety of treatment approaches in meeting different needs of my clients. I am also bilingual in English and Korean and very passionate to work with different ethnic communities. Based on my extensive experience in working with different cultures, I can be sensitive to all cultural issues, and provide a platform to explore them freely.
My goal as a therapist is to provide a therapeutic environment that is safe and comfortable to facilitate progress and resolution of different issues in life that can be debilitating. Life can be confusing and chaotic at times but I do believe in goodness of change. This Journey of life can be difficult but a period of hardship can also be a chance for personal awareness leading to happier life. Lighthouse Counseling Solutions is here to start that next Journey together.
Qualifications
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
TF-CBT
Trama Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
MAP
Managing and Adaptive Therapy
Neurofeedback
Neuro Therapy
Raphael K. Amir, M.A.
Associate MFT (#117377), Associate PCC (#7416)
Raphael@therapylighthouse.com
Thank You For Considering Me As Your Therapist!
You may feel that life isn’t what you thought it would be, perhaps feeling lonely or hopeless or full of fear and anxiety. Sleep problems may arise but so do feelings that there is something wrong with you. Comparing yourself to others doesn’t help and there are real problems in the world; financial, environmental and political. Trauma that has not been addressed often brings up anxiety or depression and you may want to talk about it or try to resolve it in some way. I believe I can help you with these thoughts and feelings and bring a new perspective.
My Approach
It is likely that you have a feeling that there is something wrong with you as many do after years of negative messages or a traumatic event. The essence of my approach is for you to separate who you are from the thoughts and feelings you observe. The fact is there is nothing wrong with you nor has there ever been, despite what your thoughts tell you and what you may currently believe. There was a time in the distant past (when you were little) where the idea of there being something wrong with you would have made no sense. Through conditioning and repetition the illusion of a "bad you" seemed to stick. Let’s get you unstuck.
My Background and Population I Serve
I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor under supervision with Mike Chang. I graduated from Sonoma State University with a Master’s in Counseling and have experience working with children, teenagers and families, individual adults, veterans, and with those with substance and alcohol issues. I use mindfulness approaches to address anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief, trauma, PTSD, self-esteem (and self-image), parenting, and career exploration. My approach is empathetic, person-centered and trauma-informed. I work with any adolescents, teenagers and adults appropriate for tele-health.
What You Can Expect From Our 1st Session
I provide high quality therapy via video on our secure and confidential platform. Many clients have found that video therapy, when done in a private space, provides similar benefits as being “in the room” but with the flexibility of not having to travel. In the first session, I will ask questions to assess and determine a diagnosis and treatment plan to start therapy, likely in the following session. Since counseling is always voluntary, I encourage having a few sessions with me to see if we are a good fit. I am here for your benefit to collaborate on your goals in therapy!
Karl Stenske, M.A.
Associate MFT (#139068)
Karl@therapylighthouse.com
I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #136098; supervised by Mike Chang, LMFT 86321. Experienced in working the trauma, adoption, attachment, and parenting. I use a variety of techniques in order to assist you in the pursuit of your goals. I am trained in Brain-spotting and able to use this model through telehealth.
Holding a master’s degree from Touro University Worldwide in Marriage and Family Therapy, along with an individualized master’s degree from Goddard College in Adoption Studies, I have well over a decade of experience in working with individuals and families through some of life’s most challenging issues. As an adoption specialist and former director of a foster and adoption agency, I am well versed in trauma, attachment, relinquishment, reunification, searching, relationships and parenting adopted and foster children. Though my background is in the adoption arena, I have a breadth of experience in working with many other life circumstances including depression, anxiety, couples, career, sexuality, gender identity, family issues and more.
As a therapist I work to create a safe and trusting relationship in order for you to have the support and connection you need to work on what matters most to you. It is through your trust and safety with me, that you will be able to honestly explore your life and create the change important to you. I am looking forward to being a part of your journey.