How do I know if Lisa Chen & Associates is the right fit for me?

We offer a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation. It's a chance to get to know us, understand our approach, and see if we align with your needs. The purpose of an initial consultation is to determine if you are a good fit for working together. You can expect a 15–20 minute conversation where you will have the opportunity to share your concerns, goals, and what you hope to achieve through therapy. This is also a chance for you to ask questions and get a sense of the therapist's approach and personality.

Our fees range from $180 to $350 per 50-minute session based on the clinician's experience, specialized training, and services provided. Lisa Chen's fees are $350 per 50-minute session for both individual and couples counseling. Licensed Client Session fees are $200 for individual and $225 for couples counseling per 50-minute session. Associate Clinician fees are $180 for individual and $200 for couples counseling per 50-minute session. We also reserve spots for clients requesting a sliding-scale rate to accommodate financial needs.

Do you accept insurance?

Lisa Chen & Associates are out-of-network providers. We provide monthly insurance statements ('Superbills') for you to seek partial reimbursement from your insurance company according to your policy. For questions about your out-of-network benefits, please contact your insurance carrier before scheduling.

What is your cancellation policy?

Weekly clients are allowed 3 free cancellations every 6 months, and bi-weekly clients are allowed 2 free cancellations every 6 months, beginning from the date of your first session. You will be responsible for payment for your normally scheduled session time for all cancelled appointments beyond this. Please provide at least 48 hours' notice for cancellations. You may always choose to reschedule and/or take sessions virtually to accommodate occasional scheduling conflicts.

How often should I expect to meet?

We recommend weekly therapy sessions for optimal progress. However, there are times when clients prefer to meet twice a week for more complex challenges. During your initial phone consultation, let us know if you are interested in more frequent sessions.

Are you offering in-person sessions?

Yes, we are seeing clients in our South Bay office located at 2615 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 326, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. We also offer telehealth sessions for California residents.

How do I get started with counseling?

The first step is to schedule an initial consultation by calling our office or submitting the contact form on our website. This allows us to understand your needs and match you with the best therapist for your situation. From there, we'll work with you to schedule ongoing sessions.

How We Treat

Thoughtful, depth-oriented therapy, tailored to how change actually happens

Real relief from anxiety, burnout, trauma, and relational pain, not just symptom management.

At Lisa Chen & Associates, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all therapy.
We offer a curated set of evidence-based, depth-oriented approaches—each chosen for its ability to create meaningful, lasting change.

This page is a guide to how we work, the therapeutic methods we use, and how to find the right fit for your goals.

If you’re not sure where to begin, that’s okay. Most people aren’t. We’ll help you decide.

We work from the belief that symptoms such as anxiety, burnout, relationship conflict, and emotional numbness are not random. They are intelligent signals shaped by your nervous system, attachment history, and lived experience.

Our therapists are trained to listen beneath the surface, helping you understand why patterns formed and how to change them without forcing or fixing.

Our clinicians integrate evidence-based approaches, including:

These approaches allow us to work at multiple levels of change, helping you understand the deeper roots of emotional patterns while building new ways of relating to yourself and others.

Clients seek our therapy practice in Hermosa Beach for support with trauma, anxiety, relationship challenges, and the emotional pressures that often accompany high-functioning lives.

This is therapy for people who value insight, emotional precision, and real transformation.

Our Philosophy

Our therapists work with individuals and couples throughout Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and the greater South Bay, with virtual therapy available across California.

Not sure where to begin?

We’ll help you understand what kind of support would be most effective and connect you with the right therapist.

→ Schedule a Consultation

Individual Therapy Approaches

We combine evidence-based therapies with a deep understanding of the mind, focusing on both symptom relief and meaningful emotional change.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Explores how early experiences, unconscious patterns, and relational dynamics shape your present-day life. Ideal for those seeking depth, insight, and long-term change.

Learn about Psychodynamic Approach →

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Helps you understand and heal the different “parts” of yourself, such as inner critics, protectors, and wounded parts, so you can respond with more clarity and self-leadership.

Learn about IFS →

EMDR Therapy

A trauma-informed approach that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories and experiences that feel stuck. Particularly effective for trauma, anxiety, and performance-related stress.

Learn about EMDR →

Couples & Relational Work

Couples often seek us out from Hermosa Beach and nearby South Bay communities

For communication breakdowns, emotional distance, and recurring conflict

Gottman Method Couples Therapy

A research-based approach focused on improving communication, managing conflict, and rebuilding trust and intimacy. Structured, practical, and effective.

Learn about Gottman Method →

Intimacy From the Inside Out (IFIO)

An attachment-based, depth-oriented model that helps couples understand how past experiences shape present-day reactions—creating more safety, empathy, and emotional closeness.

Learn about IFIO→

Couples Therapy & Relationship Repair

We tailor our work depending on where your relationship is—early repair, long-standing disconnection, or high-stakes decisions about the future.

Explore Options→

Intensives & Specialized Formats

For communication breakdowns, emotional distance, and recurring conflict

Therapeutic Intensives

Extended sessions or multi-day formats designed for clients who want deeper progress in a shorter time—often used for trauma, major transitions, or relationship repair.
→ Learn more

EMDR Intensives

A focused approach to trauma treatment that allows for deeper, uninterrupted processing—ideal for clients who want momentum or have limited availability.

→ Learn more

Couples Intensives

A focused, immersive therapy format that allows couples to work through entrenched patterns and relational ruptures in a sustained way, creating clarity, momentum, and meaningful shifts in connection over a shorter period of time.
→ Learn more

Intensives are offered in-person in Hermosa Beach and, in select cases, virtually for clients located elsewhere in California.

How to Choose, The Right Approach

You don’t need to know which modality you need. That’s our job.

Many clients begin with a general goal“I’m burned out,” “We keep triggering each other,” “I feel stuck despite doing everything right.”

From there, we recommend an approach based on:

Your nervous system and emotional patterns
Your relational history
Your goals and timeline
Whether insight, structure, or trauma processing is most supportive right now

We often integrate multiple methods over time.

Not Sure Where To Begin? We Can Help You.

We offer psychotherapy and couples therapy serving clients throughout Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and the greater Los Angeles area. Telehealth sessions are available statewide across California.

Schedule a Consultation