Arianna Penalba
626.824.8242LMFT Therapist
Helping you channel your full potential
Hi, I’m Arianna! It can be easy to get caught up in our day to day and lose sight of the beauty that often surrounds us!
My Story
Here’s a little bit about me and how I got here 🤗 As a child of immigrants who left their country during a civil car I was strongly encouraged to pursue educational goals. Becoming a doctor or a lawyer would have brought great pride to my family as those careers hold both prestige and security.
So off I went to UCSD after high school as a pre-med student. Needless to say after my first university science class I knew this wasn’t the path for me. I probably should’ve known that all along, as I’d always thrived in my English and social studies classes and struggled with math and science.
So then I picked psychology. Why? Honestly, I don’t have some profound answer to that I just thought it’d be interesting and could provide me with some wiggle room in choosing a career after graduating.
Burnt out from graduating in three years and a quarter the last thing I wanted to do was more schooling so I decided to go out on a limb and pursue a career in fashion, which had long been an interest of mine. I was the girl who wore high heels in high school 🤣 and was always spending my work money on clothes and accessories.
Unfortunately, I landed on the uncreative side of fashion in licensing. A few years in I realized I was lacking fulfillment and purpose. I’d gotten to learn a lot and travel to New York several times and I’ll always be grateful for that especially since NYC is my favorite city in the whole world! So that’s when I went to graduate school to become a therapist.
My Values & Beliefs
I love my clients so much! They literally blow me away with their courage, strength, resiliency and commitment to healing.
It’s so incredibly liberating to actually release ourselves from things we can’t control or achieve! Like being perfect, the future, etc. Let that go, it will set you free!
For me there’s nothing quite as powerful and successful at getting me present as nature.
Accepting your partner’s perception as reality. One of the most simple yet difficult things to put into practice. I live for helping couples with this because it is just so transformative.
Let’s live the lives we want to not the ones we were told we could or should.
The universe has your back…if you let it!
Allow the inner child to work within you!
If you and your partner strive to work as a team it can help when tackling conflicts. Literally! Attack the problem and not each other.
I really believe we as therapists or coaches have so much to learn from our clients, since they are the experts in their own lives.
My hope is that we can be accepting and understanding of others no matter how different we may be ❤️🌈☮️🥰
Children, even from a very young age, are learning from you based on how you think and behave.
About Me
If you are looking to change, heal, and improve your life, you have found the right person to help you on this wonderful journey. I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist residing in Los Angeles, CA. I graduated from Phillips Graduate Institute with a Masters in Psychology in 2009. Since then, I’ve been treating individuals, couples, families, and children, gaining a wealth of experience and knowledge treating various mental health issues.
As a counselor, I would describe myself as an eclectic therapist, and I use a variety of theoretical approaches in my work, depending on my specific client’s needs.
What you can expect when you meet with me is a professional and caring therapist. I know when to listen, when to validate, and when to challenge you to work towards your best self!
