Therapy is not Neuroscience. We believe that the only obstacle to reaching your goal is commitment. That path does not have to be difficult. If you are completely committed, we will help you reach your goals. You may come to therapy with a very serious challenge that takes time to address or your challenge may be resolved in only a few sessions. Together, we will determine which route is best for you to have the most successful experience.
The most important part of therapy is making a connection with the client. This practice was founded on that premise. At Goodman therapy, we pride ourselves on our ability to empathize with others. What separates us from other therapists is the careful attention that we pay to this connection. When we enter a session with a client, we are present with them the entire time we are together and all of our attention goes into trying to understand their situation. Once the session is over, our attention to the needs of our clients does not cease. Whether it is returning a phone call in a timely fashion, shooting an email to check on your emotional state, keeping scheduled appointments, or being flexible with a client’s life circumstances, we remain committed to you.
The therapist you choose may be the most important decision you ever make. We have been told that if it were not for our therapists, marriages would have dissolved, many clients would still be addicts, and many families would have remained in total chaos, feeling helpless and out of control.
For many people, choosing a therapist is a very daunting task, so here are a few things for you to consider when choosing.
You do not have to choose the first therapist you meet. Try several therapists. Make sure you feel very comfortable with your choice. Our clients usually meet us and look no further. After you meet the therapist you choose, you should feel relieved and relaxed. You should believe that your therapist understands you and can help you. This is why we offer a first free session. We want you to be sure that we are right for you and if we are not, then we don’t believe you should be charged to find out.
Ask many questions. You should find out if your therapist has experience with your specific issue. You should also make sure the therapist is licensed. If they are not, make sure that someone licensed is supervising them and that they also have experience working with your specific issue.
Fundamentally, it comes down to two issues, connection and experience. If you feel the connection and you believe that the therapist has the knowledge and experience to help you, then you have made the right choice. Please meet our therapists:
 | Donald Goodman, LCSW Top four Areas of Specialty |
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCS 22798)
• Master's in Social Work, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
• BA, California State University, Northridge (CSUN)
• Over Ten years of experience working with substance abuse and Mental Health.
• Formerly a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (Las Vegas, NV).
• Over six years of experience in the Child’s Sexual Abuse Program providing group therapy to victims, siblings of victims, non-offending parents, and perpetrators.
• Ten years of experience working in child and family welfare working with individuals, couples, and families from intake to reunification or adoption.
• Ten years of experience dealing with juvenile delinquency, runaways, self mutilation, ADHD, homicide and suicide ideations. (please link to teen issues)
• Field Instructor for the CSUN Master's in Social Work program.
• Supervisor at Department of Children & Family Services.
• Clinical consultant for the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project.
• Four years of experience as a seminar instructor at California State University Los Angeles (CSULA).
• Clinical Supervisor for Associate Social Workers trying to obtain their license.
Coming from a troubled past, my path to become a therapist has been an exciting, wonderful, life changing experience. I received my undergraduate degree in Philosophy where I critically evaluated how we should treat others as well as ourselves. Ultimately, I realized that “serving man” was how I wanted to make my life meaningful.
In 1997, I obtained my first job working in the helping profession at an outpatient psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents and quickly a second job at another psychiatric hospital working with adults. In these first two places of employment to this day, I believe that I have seen man in his most painful state. What I learned was, I can handle it and this field is where I want to be.
While I pursued my Master’s degree in Social Work I worked at an outpatient drug treatment program as the lead juvenile drug and alcohol counselor. I was exposed to every aspect of drug and alcohol addiction. I evaluated and assessed new clients, conducted individual and group therapy, provided in writing and in person reports to court, and developed and implemented new material for the program. I gained experience treating anything from moderate marijuana and alcohol use to chronic, physiological dependent heroin addicts.
In 2001, after receiving my Master’s in Social Work, I accepted employment at the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) working as a Children’s Social Worker. Working in Children and Family Welfare furthered my clinical skills as I gained professional experience, assessing safety and risk, managing crisis, stabilizing family situations, and learning about the court processes whether dependency or family law.
In conjunction with my work at DCFS, I began teaching at CSULA and in 2005 I obtained my Clinical License. In 2007, I opened my own private practice in the city of Valencia. After over two years of private practice, my specialties are couples counseling, teen issues, substance abuse, and child custody matters
What separates me from other therapists is my ability to connect to the client. I believe that it is critical that the client feels validated and understood.
I believe that through my journey, I have been through many of the painful experiences that enables me to understand others. I have also mastered the ability to separate my past from the journey of my clients.
 | Mimi Ufano-Leon, LCSW Top 4 areas of specialty |
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCS 24642)
• Master of Social Work, Florida State University
• Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
• Eleven years of experience working in social services/mental health field, primarily with children/adolescents in a variety of settings
• Seven years of experience as a therapist, working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families
I truly believe that every individual has the potential to be happy, content, and fulfilled with their lives. This may seem impossible if you are overwhelmed and feel trapped by obstacles and stressors that you are experiencing. It can be extremely helpful to have someone to lend an open ear and provide some guidance to encourage positive movement forward. As a therapist, I create a warm, safe, nonjudgmental environment for children, adolescents, and adults to be able to open up and share their feelings and make sense of what is troubling them. I strive to empower people and help them realize the strength and potential they possess.
My educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from UCLA and a Master of Social Work degree from Florida State University. For the past 11 years I have been working in the social services/mental health field, 7 years of which I have been working as a therapist with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Much of my experience has been working with children and adolescents in a variety of settings, including group homes, a juvenile correctional facility, a residential substance abuse treatment program, an after school delinquency prevention program, and outpatient clinics. I also have experience working with adults, both individually and conjointly with others (family members, partners, former spouses). My experience working with adults includes, but is not limited to, focus on such areas as relationship issues, parenting, communication skills, self-esteem, empowerment, assertiveness, mood management, conflict resolution, and life coaching. Specifically when working with couples, I help people reconnect and build/rebuild trust with one another. A major issue that causes conflict in relationships is a lack of or unhealthy/faulty communication. I help couples learn active listening and assertive communication skills, so that they are better able to hear and be heard by their partner, which results in a more satisfying, mutually respectful relationship. In my practice, I utilize a number of theoretical orientations and therapy styles, as I find that different techniques work with different people. I primarily draw from humanistic, positive psychology, cognitive behavioral, and solutions focused theories.
My experience has prepared me well to be able to interact and connect with a wide variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds. I am especially confident in my ability to connect with children/teens that are resistant to or skeptical of therapy. I feel that making a connection with an individual is crucial in the therapy process, and once that connection is established, the stage is set for meaningful, transforming therapeutic work to begin. Whether you are a teen, young adult, or adult having difficulty making the transition to a new phase in your life, a parent finding that you are hitting a brick wall when trying to communicate with your teenager, a couple finding it impossible to make the relationship work, or just someone encountering a struggle, I welcome the opportunity to help you embark on a journey toward happiness, contentment, and fulfillment.
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Top Four Areas of Specialty |
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCS 21299) since 2003
Master's In Social Work (California State University, Long Beach)
BA in Psychology (California State University, Dominguez Hills)
Two years of experience in Crisis Response Counseling
10 years of experience treating children, adolescents, adults, families, couples
5 years of experienience working with a multi-cultural approach to teatment
3 years of experience supervising and training interns in a clinical setting
Growing up, I always knew I had a desire to help other people deal with their issues and would often put the needs of others before my own. Being the product of parents who divorced when I was 9 years old, my passion for helping others became even greater as I realized a need to help my own family through this difficult period and this set me down a path towards wanting to help others who may have experienced similar life changing experiences and showing them that these experiences did not always have to be negative, rather could be seen as "growing" experiences that helped make them stronger.
I also have first hand experience dealing with addiction and understand that this is a disease that can be as debilitating and devastating to an individual and family as any medical disease can be. Due to this fact, your addiction should never be treated as a crime, yet should be treated as a mental health and physical health issue and with understanding and compassion from someone who will not judge you, I am that person."
My years of experience in the field of social work and psychotherapy have enabled me to work with all kinds of people and help people deal with all kinds of mental health and other issues that may have made them feel like they wanted to "give up", yet I have been able to give them hope for a brigther future with my compassion and dedication towards them.
My main goal is to make you feel comfortable in the therapeutic setting and to work with you on the issues that brought you to treatment. I understand that therapy is a very personal and potentially life changing experience. I believe commitment to that process is one of the most important components to therapy. If you have that committment then I am confident that I will be able to guide you to reach your goals.
 | Jeff Lumaya, LCSW Top Four Areas of Specialty -Depression |
• Clinical supervisor for the Department of Mental Health.
• Field Instructor for graduate student interns from UCLA and USC
• Three years as a Preceptor for the USC Master's in Social Work
• Facilitated psychotherapy to patients since 1995.
• Worked in Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital Adult and Adolescent Units, Outpatient treatment, Mental Health Adult and Juvenile justice systems, and Psychiatric Mobile Response Teams.
Congratulations on taking the initial steps to address the painful or troubling issue in your life. I find it very important that you take the time to explore the right match for you when choosing a pscyhotherapist. Indeed, ask yourself: Will I be comfortable in sharing painful or intimate issues with this therapist over time? Do the area(s) of expertise match with my needs? Will my values and worldviews be respected during the course treatment?. I offer a free, no-obligation, initial consultation to discuss issues at hand, and to determine if we are a good fit for each other.
I offer straight-forward, goal oriented, solution-based therapy to address your concern or painful situation. I work with adults and adolescents, and usually refer out children younger than 10 years of age. I never keep anyone in treatment longer than necessary, and I'm available 24 hours for any crisis.
I have an office space in Valencia, but offer the flexibility of home visits if deemed clinically necessary.
Jose Parada |
- Registered – Marriage and Family Therapist Intern (IMF 61758) Over the years of working in child welfare; I noticed a great need for Spanish speaking/bilingual therapists. I took it upon myself to be prepared to make a difference in our community. Having immigrated to the United States as a child allows me an opportunity to share similar experiences with members of our community. It is truly a privilege for individuals and families to come into the therapy process to share their story. The connection made is the most important aspect of how one can instill change with those who lend themselves to this process. As a Spanish speaking therapist, I have an opportunity to understand and work with families from different Latino cultures. I take great pride in the belief that behind every individual stands a family.
- Master’s in Psychology, Phillips Graduate Institute (PGI), Encino, CA
- B.A. in Sociology/Social Welfare, California State University Northridge (CSUN)
- Sixteen years of experience working in child welfare, alongside families and individuals from investigations through the finalization of the adoptions process
- 7 years Supervisor at Department of Children and Family Services
- More than 6 years facilitating parent education classes in the San Fernando Valley
- Specialized training and working with victims of trauma
 | Stacy Buiatti
|
-Master of Science in Counseling (Marriage and Family Therapy), CSUN
-Bachelor of Arts in Child Development/Psychology, CSUN
-7 years experience working as a therapist
-3 years experience working within the mental health clinic setting
-Experienced, trained and certified in Family Therapy
-Experienced, trained and certified in Grief and Loss work
-Experience with parenting issues and support
-Experience with teen issues
-Experience with life transitions
Welcome to the first step in your personal journey to finding growth and healing! Allow me to help this journey be a rewarding process. I commit to stand beside you within a collaborative relationship where you hold the wheel and I help to navigate and explore your way through individual and relational barriers/roadblocks, and unconstructive patterns that leave you stuck and disappointed. Your past may not have been in your control, but your future is and it depends on you to choose to make this journey a fulfilling one. I view the therapeutic relationship as walking side by side while looking towards the future and seeing what we as a team can do to help you grow and be successful in life. I focus on providing a safe, confidential, supportive space utilizing a solution focus, gently directed, relational approach.
My journey began as a wife and then a mother where I stayed home to raise my daughters by empowering them to be strong and independent yet respectful and humble. Attending graduate school, I desired to not only learn the tools I would need to succeed in the field I chose, but I also learned about myself in the process. While in school, I was trained in and interned at the Valley Trauma Center working with and advocating for rape and sexual abuse victims, dealing with issues such as guilt, shame, body image, self confidence, unhealthy boundaries, and trust. I also interned in the school setting working with adolescents as they navigated their way through issues such as peer pressure, creating a sense of individuality, body transformations and image views, academic pressure, finding a balance between independence and dependence with parents, divorce, sibling rivalry, etc. For the past three years, I have worked in the mental health clinic setting focusing primarily on individuals with self-destructive patterns, life transitions, families, foster children, teen issues including self harming behaviors, abuse, anxiety, depression, anger issues, trust issues, mental illnesses, at-risk behaviors, runaways, substance abuse, etc. What makes my job rewarding is witnessing progression and change in my clients as they are empowered to break free from holds them back from living a full, satisfying life!