Karine Echighian, LMFT

Couples & Individual Therapist in Woodland Hills | California

Hi, I'm Karine, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. And yes, I will ask you the hard questions."

You have probably tried to figure it out on your own. And you are smart, so you have gotten pretty far. But there is a difference between intellectually understanding your patterns and actually being free of them. That gap is where I come in.

My goal has always been to be the kind of therapist who helps people understand themselves - not just survive their feelings, but actually make sense of them. The more we understand who we are, what we feel, and why we do what we do, the more empowered we become in our relationships, our choices, and our lives.

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Karine Echighian, LMFT in Woodland Hills, CA
Specializing in Anxiety, Shame and Complex Trauma

Personality & Style

In both my professional and personal life, I am often described as direct, quirky, and most importantly, real. I value honesty in the therapy room. I will always be upfront with you, and I expect the same in return.

My role is to offer insights and perspectives to help you navigate feeling stuck. You get to decide your path. I am just here to help you make sense of the chapter you are in right now.

Heads up: if you are looking for someone to just listen and validate, I am probably not your person. I am warm and I genuinely root for you - but I will also gently challenge you. My clients tend to appreciate that. Eventually. :O)

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Education and Credentials

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology, CSUN
Master of Science (MS) in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, California Lutheran University (CLU)
Master in Business Administration (MBA)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP)
Shame-Informed Treatment Specialist (CSTS)
Complex Trauma Certification (CCTP/CCTP-II) - in progress

These certifications reflect advanced training in anxiety treatment, shame-informed therapy, and complex trauma - the three areas I see most often in my Woodland Hills practice.

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Romanian-Speaking Therapist | Armenian Background

I was born in Romania and raised in a Romanian-speaking household, with Romanian and Armenian heritage. I offer therapy sessions in Romanian for clients who feel most comfortable expressing themselves in their native language.

Research shows that being understood in your native language and cultural context accelerates the therapeutic process. You should not have to spend session time explaining your family structure or cultural expectations. We can just get to the work.

Sessions can be held in Romanian or English, depending on your preference.

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Ready to Begin

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in your thoughts, or struggling in your relationships, therapy can help you better understand what’s happening and how to move forward.

You don’t have to navigate it alone.

If you’d like to learn more about working together, schedule a consultation to learn more about working together.

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What should I know about Karine?

What inspired you to become a therapist?

I became a therapist because I really wanted to help people. Too often we feel alone in this world and begin to feel lost. My hope and goal for becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist is to be a resource for individuals looking to learn to connect, while helping them become stronger versions of themselves. This world has failed to teach us how to discover who we are, how we feel and how to show up for ourselves and those around us. I believe the more we learn to connect to ourselves and to those closest to us, the stronger we will be to make this world a happier place for us to live.

I am lucky enough to work with adults and couples - in person, online, or through a hybrid approach. Both professionally and personally, I am often described as being direct, quirky, and most importantly, real. I value honesty in the therapeutic space: I’ll always be upfront with you, and I expect the same in return. I’m okay with being wrong, but I’ll also let you know if I sense you're not being fully honest with yourself. My role is to offer insights and perspectives to help you navigate feeling stuck - You get to decide your path! I realize I only get a glimpse of your life story. I'm here to help you make sense of that glimpse!

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What is your theoretical orientation?

I work from an elective perspective. I tailor sessions to what you need. However, I would say my practice focuses more on a reflective approach to therapy, more than a tool-based approach. This approach focuses more on understanding why you do what you do by helping you learn to identify what you are feeling, what you need and how to get those needs met. Nonviolent Communication (NVC) approach most closely summarizes my approach to therapy. We will use this approach to create the basis of understanding behaviors while incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Family Systems and Mindfulness to correct undesirable thoughts and behaviors. This approach does not tell you what to do to stop the behaviors or feelings but rather understand them and empowers you to change them.

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Do you work with children or teens?

My practice focuses on supporting adult individuals and couples. If you’re looking for a therapist for a child, I’d be happy to offer a referral to a therapist who specializes in that area.

I work with both individuals and couples. Individual therapy often focuses on personal insight, emotional patterns, and anxiety, while couples therapy focuses on improving communication, understanding each partner’s needs, and strengthening the relationship.

I offer in-person therapy for clients in Woodland Hills and surrounding areas, as well as virtual therapy for clients throughout California.

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What Clients Are Saying

“Her ability to know when to push me and when to listen. She advises without making me feel judged or like she is dictating my life.”

- Individual Counseling Client