Trauma-Informed Psychodynamic Therapy for Adults in Long Beach

Hello and Welcome!

I’m Ariel Black, a licensed MFT, located in Long Beach, California. I understand that finding a therapist can be deeply anxiety-provoking and difficult. Which is why I strive to provide my clients with a safe, supportive environment that facilitates their ability to address deep-rooted, painful wounds and begin their healing journey.

Therapy for Adults with High Functioning Trauma

I specialize in treating adults with high-functioning PTSD or trauma—meaning that, from the outside, you are the person who always appears to have it all together. You are responsible, a great caretaker, and a high achiever. On the outside, everything looks fine and that life is okay—however, on the inside, you feel differently. You may feel disconnected, anxious, or numb. You struggle to relax, trust others, or feel truly seen. No matter how much you accomplish, it never feels like enough. You carry a deep sense of loneliness or shame that’s hard to name—and even harder to explain. This is what I call high-functioning trauma. It often looks invisible to others, but its deeply and personally felt.

My Approach

I believe that there is no exact recipe or standardized treatment in therapy. Each person that comes to see me is unique and presents a different set of issues. This is why I hope to create an individualized, organic treatment plan that is tailored towards helping each person achieve their goals. As a psychodynamic, trauma focused therapist, my main focus is the relationship and connection I have with my clients. I believe that it is important to feel grounded and secure when processing deep rooted and painful issues.

Long-Term Healing Through Psychodynamic Inner Child Work

During our sessions together, I will be using a psychodynamic framework that incorporates inner child healing. This style of therapy focuses on uncovering unconscious and recurring patterns that may be preventing individuals from moving forward and experiencing true inner healing. This approach is grounded in the belief that early childhood experiences—particularly those involving unmet emotional needs, trauma, or attachment disruptions—can leave lasting imprints on the psyche. These unresolved issues often manifest in adulthood as depression, anxiety, low self-worth, self-sabotaging behaviors, and difficulties in relationships.

Unlike some other forms of therapy, psychodynamic work is a long-term process that requires commitment. It is not intended as a quick fix or a “band-aid” approach to coping. Rather, it is best suited for those who are seeking deep, meaningful, and lasting change—and who understand that true inner healing takes time. Through this form of counseling, my goal is to support clients in achieving long-lasting, lifestyle-level transformation—the kind of growth that may not always be possible through more surface-level approaches.

Ready to Begin?

If this work resonates, I invite you to reach out. Before the onset of therapy, I do offer a 15 minute phone consultation to answer any questions/concerns and assess if we are a good fit.

Specialties Include:

• Adults that Struggle Forming Healthy/Secure Relational Attachments

• Struggles with Co-dependency/People Pleasing

• Adults with Previous Childhood Trauma

• Sexual Trauma

• Survivors of Narcissistic or Unavailable Caregivers

• Adults that Encountered Emotional, Physical, Psychological, or Sexual Abuse as a Child

• Individuals that Struggle with Low Self Esteem, Self Doubt, or Self Sabotaging Behaviors

• Individuals Seeking Long Term Healing Rather Than Symptom Management

Ariel Black, M.S., L.M.F.T #119825

Email: arielblackmft@gmail.com

Address: 4195 N. Viking Way Suite 220 Long Beach, CA 90808

Phone: (562) 581-9344

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday: 9am-9pm (In-Person & Telehealth)

Tuesday: 9am-9pm (In-Person & Telehealth)

Wednesday: 9am-9pm. (In-Person & Telehealth)

Thursday: 9am-9pm. (Only Telehealth Sessions)

Friday: 9am-9pm. (In-Person & Telehealth)

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

✦Holliday Office Hours✦

November 27th-November 30th: Closed

December 22nd-January 5th: Closed

A Side Note on Scheduling Flexibility

❤︎

I deeply value the opportunity to walk alongside my clients and to accommodate their needs, which is why I offer both in-person and telehealth sessions. Because my schedule is shaped around the needs of the clients I see, I typically plan to be in the office on the days listed on my website. However, if all my clients happen to be meeting via phone or video on a particular day, I may work remotely instead. Just to clarify — I genuinely enjoy meeting each person’s needs and being as flexible as I can! To make that possible, I simply ask for a little notice in advance if you’d like to switch an already scheduled session from telehealth to in-person, or from in-person to telehealth. I usually have no issue accommodating these requests; I simply ask that this be communicated at least one to two days in advance. This helps me plan accordingly and provide the best possible experience for every client I work with.

Thank you so much — I really appreciate your understanding.

~Ariel