Tatevik Sarkisian, MA
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist – AMFT 148590
Child & Adolescent Specialty Practice Pre-Licensed Therapist
Supervised by Monica Valdivia Aguilar Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 41352)
Pronouns: She / Her / Hers
Hello and welcome! I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist through the Institute’s Child and Adolescent Specialty Program (CASP). I am deeply passionate about supporting clients and their families to recognize their strengths and feel empowered to make positive life changes.
My clinical experiences include individual, family, and group therapy. My experience working as an MFT trainee in a school-based setting with adolescents and their families provided the foundation for my therapeutic approach, which includes play therapy, art therapy, sand tray therapy, music therapy, and cinema therapy. Using creative modalities allows clients to communicate and process events or situations they may have been unable to through talk therapy alone. Additionally, I utilize a variety of therapeutic interventions such as psychoeducation, grounding and relaxation techniques, skill-building, mindfulness, and modeling to help clients meet their treatment goals.
As a registered yoga teacher of over six years, I am also well-versed in mindfulness and meditation techniques that have been widely proven effective in reducing stress, promoting cognitive awareness, increasing emotional regulation, and improving overall health and well-being. In therapy sessions, I psychoeducate clients on the benefits of mindfulness and meditation as well as practice them together. Some techniques include deep breathing, box breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation.
I am honored to provide a safe space for my clients to explore their inner worlds, develop new relationships with their thoughts and feelings, strengthen their connections with their loved ones, and feel empowered to live authentically.
Specialties:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Self-esteem / Self-confidence
- Self-injury and Suicidal Ideation
- Mindfulness
- Emotional regulation
- Play therapy
- Art therapy
- Sand tray therapy
- Music therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy
Additional Information about my Specialties:
Play and creative modalities are at the heart of my clinical practice. Psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy are also heavily used in sessions with clients. Additionally, I use dyadic developmental psychotherapy (DDP) in family therapy sessions. Using DDP, I help family members develop healthy patterns of relating so all members feel safe and connected. As a result, family members feel less fear and are more open to hearing about each others’ experiences, thoughts, and feelings and reflecting on their outward behavior. Emphasis is placed on safety, attachments among family members, effective communication, and developing reciprocal relationships.
Advanced Training:
- Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) Informed
- Foundational Training with Dr. Daniel Hughes in December 2023
Other Current Professional Activities:
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) Member
Prior Experience:
- Partnerships to Uplift Communities (PUC) Schools, Inspire Charter Academy, MFT Trainee
Education:
- Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, Pepperdine University, Graduate School of Education and Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
Mission: My mission is to empower girls, women, and gender-expansive youth to find their authentic voices, recognize their strengths, and step into their power to shape a better future for themselves and the communities they belong to.
Email: TSarkisian@IFGD.care
Phone: 626-585-8075 ext. 139