Let Your Journey Towards Inner Healing Begin
Trauma-Informed Psychodynamic Therapy for Adults in Long Beach
Specializing in the Treatment of Adults Who Experienced Childhood Sexual, Emotional, Physical, and Psychological Abuse
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.
Specialties Include:
Adults Who 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 Experienced Emotional, Physical, Psychological, or Sexual Abuse as a Child
Individuals Who Struggle with Low Self Esteem, Self Doubt, or Self Sabotaging Behaviors
Individuals Seeking Long Term Healing Rather Than Symptom Management
Is This Work Right for You?
This Work May Be a Good Fit If You Want To:
Understand how your past continues to shape your present
Explore how unconscious patterns influence your choices, relationships, and self-perception
Expand your sense of agency and increase your range of options in life
Develop a more secure internal attachment and healthier relational dynamics
Heal relational wounds and move toward a more authentic way of living
Create meaningful, long-lasting change rather than relying only on short-term coping strategies
*This is depth-oriented therapy designed for high-functioning adults who are ready to look beneath the surface — not just manage symptoms, but understand them.
What Depth-Oriented Therapy Requires:
A willingness to explore deeper emotional layers, even when it feels uncomfortable
Consistency and commitment to a reflective, long-term process
Curiosity about relational dynamics and personal responsibility
Emotional stability sufficient for insight-oriented therapy (this is not crisis stabilization work)
*Psychodynamic therapy is the foundation of my work. While I am not rigid in theory, I integrate other approaches when clinically appropriate — always in service of depth, clarity, and sustainable change.
This May Not Be the Best Fit If:
You are primarily seeking short-term coping tools without exploring underlying patterns
You prefer highly directive advice or step-by-step instruction each session
You are in acute crisis and need immediate stabilization or intensive support
You are unable to commit to consistent sessions at this time
*If you’re unsure whether this approach aligns with what you’re looking for, we can explore that together during a consultation call.
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.
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
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
Ariel Black, M.S., L.M.F.T #119825
