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Jilla Lavian

Jilla Lavian

LCSW

California

Compassionate clinician focused on practical change

Continue with Jilla

At a glance

Credentials
LCSW
License
LCSW, California / 15233
Experience
20 years
Languages
English, Persian
Location
California

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

    • Motivational interviewing
    • Mindfulness and CBT
    • Goal focused work

    About Jilla

    Jilla Lavian is a California licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 20 years of experience supporting people facing stress, anxiety, depression, and life changes. She works with individuals who are juggling parenting, career shifts, grief, or the strain of caregiving. Sessions are offered in English and Persian.

    Her style centers on attentive listening and practical goal-setting. She encourages clients to notice thoughts and feelings with kindness. That awareness becomes the starting point for clearer choices and small steps forward.

    Jilla draws on several approaches to meet each person where they are. She uses cognitive behavioral ideas to spot unhelpful thought patterns. She brings mindfulness practices to strengthen attention and calm.

    Motivational Interviewing is part of her toolbox to help people find their own reasons for change. She also weaves in psychodynamic perspectives to look at patterns rooted in earlier relationships. Solution-focused techniques are used when clients want brief, action-oriented work.

    Her background includes a dual master’s from the University of Southern California in Social Work and Jewish Communal Service, plus work as a transformational life coach. That mix supports both emotional exploration and practical planning.

    Clients who connect with her typically want a collaborative process that balances insight with steps they can try between sessions. She aims to help people restore clarity, build on strengths, and take manageable actions toward their goals.

  2. How her approaches translate to online work

    Jilla often blends Motivational Interviewing with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy. Motivational Interviewing focuses on helping people explore their own reasons for change and build commitment to steps they choose. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions so clients can test new ways of thinking. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention practices to reduce reactivity and improve focus. Finding the best approach is a team effort. She will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That means trying things, checking what helps, and adjusting the plan together rather than imposing a single method. For practical matters, confirm current session options before booking since formats were not specified in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - it can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins on hectic days, and let people meet from wherever they are. Some approaches translate well to remote sessions: CBT and Motivational Interviewing lend themselves to homework and brief exercises, while mindfulness practices can be taught and practiced during a virtual visit. Licensed professionals, including therapists, will help tailor session rhythm and homework to fit daily routines.

  4. Areas of expertise

    Primary focus

    Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsParenting issuesSelf esteemCoping with life changes

    Also works with

    Relationship issuesGriefSleeping disordersAnger managementCareer difficultiesDepressionCoachingCompassion fatigue

    Additional focus areas

    AbandonmentAttachment issuesCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsGuilt and shameImmigration issuesIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMulticultural concernsSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issues

    Therapeutic approaches

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

    Experience

    20+ years

    Listed in

    California

    Languages

    English, Persian

  5. Frequently asked questions

    What concerns does she help with?

    She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and parenting struggles, sleep and anger problems, career questions, and related concerns such as codependency, attachment issues, and caregiver stress.

    How would you describe her therapeutic style?

    Her approach is collaborative and practical, combining listening and validation with goal-setting and skills practice so clients can try small changes between sessions.

    What is her clinical background?

    She has 20 years of experience and completed dual master’s degrees at the University of Southern California, alongside work as a transformational life coach.

    What credentials and region does she hold?

    She holds an LCSW credential in California and practices as a licensed clinical social worker in that state.

    Which languages are available for sessions?

    Sessions are offered in English and Persian.

    Can international clients work with her?

    International clients are not currently accepted.

    How are fees and payments handled?

    Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

    How do I begin working with her?

    Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

  6. Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers

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Jilla Lavian Continue with Jilla