Who is Laressa Desmond PhD, LMFT?

I specialize in helping Couples in the LA area. I work with most aspects of relationship,  attraction, dating, living together, engagement, marriage, long distance. Private practice since 1993. I see clients at my offices in West Los Angeles, Agoura Hills and Santa Monica as well as video and phone-sessions. I am also a Certified Professional Coach.

License 

CA LMFT 29944

NPI ?

Yes

Degrees, Specialty Trainings & Certifications

Emergency Medical Technician                                    Medical Center Pre-Hospital Care, UCLA

Masters/Doctorate                                                    Antioch/AU, Psychology & Human Sciences

Couples Communication                                                                Mentor: Dr. Alex French, UCLA

Relationship Dynamics                                                                  Mentor: Dr. Alex French, UCLA

Anger Management                                                                                   1 year internship at SCCC

Trauma Training

Trauma Recovery                                            Certified in the Mitchell Technique, UC San Diego

Red Cross Certification                                                              Early Stage Disaster Management

Red Cross Certification                                Crisis Debriefing for Emergency Services Personnel

Red Cross Certification                    Crisis Intervention for Disaster Workers/First Responders

Teaching

Crossroads School                                                                   Teaching Intern Life Skills Program

FBI, LA Bureau                                       Taught " Workplace Depression, Impact & Prevention "

FBI, LA Bureau                                                                           Taught " Stress in the Workplace "

Teaching Abroad

Center for Citizen Initiatives             Taught " American Psychology Techniques " to European

                                                                     psychologists, psychiatrists & middle school teachers

Coach Training Certifications

Certified Professional Coach                              College Executive Coaching, Santa Barbara, CA

ICF                                                                                                    International Coach Federation

Relationship Coach                                                                                          Coaching for Couples

Technical Consultant for Film and TV

TV                                                                                                     Oprah, Episode on " Infidelity "

TV                                                                                                           Naomi Judd Talk Show Pilot

Film                                                                  Bette Midler, Woody Allen," Scenes From A Mall "

Guest Therapist on Radio and TV

CNN News                                                                                        " Treatment of Panic Disorder "

KRLA Radio                                                                            " Issues of Life: Your Relationships "

Fox TV                                                                                  " Impact of OCD Parents on Children "

MTV                                                                                               "Effect of TV Violence on Teens "

NBC                                                                        "Crisis Therapy for Families Impacted by 9/11"

Additional Skill Sets

Emotional Intelligence: Testing & Enhancement,                       Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Method

Affiliations

American Association of Integrative Medicine

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

Association for Traumatic Stress Specialists

International Critical Incident Stress Foundation

International Association for Relationship Research

What makes me unique as a therapist?

There are several unique qualities that I bring to my clinical practice. One interesting aspect is the way that I began my practice in the Los Angeles area. I launched my practice by doing house calls and field work with clients. The population that I initially served was those who were homebound due to PTSD or Anxiety Disorders such as Agoraphobia.

Their fragile emotional state was such that they couldn't leave their home to attend therapy.

During those home sessions, of course, it was often the case that other family members would be present, usually a spouse. It became efficient to include them in the sessions and via that I began to understand the contagious nature of emotions inside a relationship. As this process evolved I branched out in deeper theoretical and practical ways for helping couples.

The other population that I helped was people who had developed specific phobias such as flying, driving, elevators, etc. I went with those clients and taught them breathing, self talk, arousal control, & incremental movement in such places as airports, on planes, trains, freeways, in malls, hotels, grocery stores, elevators etc. I accompanied them through their systematic desensitization as they regained their freedom to move normally in the world.

I saw couples at my office 3 days a week and did house calls and field work 2 days a week for 10 years. The range of my client base extended from Santa Clarita to Santa Monica. My clientele included housewives, celebrities, law enforcement, first responders, executives, entrepreneurs  and business owners. Eventually, I also went abroad and taught American Psychology techniques to European Psychologists for a time.

For almost 3 decades now I have specialized in Couples Therapy. I'll be happy to apply all the areas of my expertise to assist to with your relationship needs.

Couples Communication

Couples Therapy

Positive Problem Solving for Couples

Marriage Counseling 

Fertility & Pregnancy issues

IVF Support

Infidelity Recovery for Couples

Marriage Rescue & Program

Relationship Struggles with Intimacy

Coaching for Men

Individual Counseling for Men

Anxiety

Commitment Reboot

Premarital Counseling

Sex Therapy for Couples

Intimacy Reboot for Couples

End Power Struggles

Co-Dependency 

Co-Habitation Adjustment 

Anger Management

Arguing

Trauma Support

ADD/ADHD  partners

Individual Therapy for Women

Resentment Recovery 

Avoid Break-ups

I definitely do work with couples who are in recovery from substance

abuse/addictions as long as there is at least 1 year clean & sober & an

ongoing participation in recovery such as AA, etc.

Suicide

Self-Harm

Domestic Violence

Active Drug Addiction

Active Alcoholism

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Legal Issues

Divorce

Child custody issues

Dept of Child Family Services issues

Paranoid Personality

Rape

Bi-Polar Disorder

Eating Disorders

Gambling problems

Sexual addiction

Internet porn addiction

Schizophrenia

Smoking addiction

Compulsive Shopping

Crime related issues

Sex offenders

Stalking

Children

Adolescents

💛 Issues that I don't treat 💛

Please note: I do not treat suicide or domestic violence or any issues involving the legal system. If you are having any kind of urgent situation please call 911 or your local police. The phone number for the suicide prevention hotline is  800 273 8255 or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

💛 Issues that I work with & specialize in 💛

Exclusive discount for video sessions