Michelle R. Kobayashi is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Mindfulness Coach who sees clients online anywhere in California and in-person at The ROWDTLA in Los Angeles. She enjoys working with adults who want to feel more comfortable with who they are and less intimidated by other people’s judgments, opinions and expectations. One of Michelle’s specialties is working with people hit with a tsunami of grief like the loss of a loved one, a romantic partnership or big life transition like starting or graduating college, loss of income, becoming a parent or adjusting to an empty nest. Many of Michelle’s clients suffer from a harsh inner critic and have difficulty trusting people and enjoying intimacy. Another specialty is guiding people who experience insecurities which may directly relate to their childhood or other hurtful experiences they haven’t been able to process alone. They can feel anxious and/or depressed and resort to prioritizing other people’s needs over their own, leaving them feeling drained and resentful. Michelle sees strengthening emotional balance, having more fun, and connection as foundational to everyone's well-being. Clients learn how to replace mean, untrue and defeating self-judgments, instead replacing them with increasingly kind self-support. Expect to collaborate and practice new skills between sessions. Michelle creates an atmosphere in sessions that feels calm, upbeat and engaging.Michelle earned a Master’s degree from Antioch University and has been licensed since 2015. Life experience like being married since 1998, a mom since 2000, has deepened her understanding and compassion for the challenges of being human. In her free time Michelle enjoys spending time with family and friends, swimming and learning new things.Message to clientsYou are welcome to reach out for a 10 to 20 minute phone or video meeting at no charge. It’s a time to get to know each other.If we decide to work together you set the goal(s). We may explore what brings you joy and how you get stuck. That will help us clarify what you want for yourself and a direction for our work together. None of us can change the past, but it is possible not to be driven by it. Science has shown we can make new choices that lead to a more enjoyable life.