Essentially, the therapy that is best tailored to the client’s needs. At the heart of Dr. Thomas’s practice is an adaptive, tailored approach to therapy, utilizing several evidence-based methods to meet the unique emotional, cognitive, and relational needs of each individual or couple. An experienced and licensed psychologist in Los Angeles who serves clients throughout the state, Dr. Thomas’s areas of specialization include individual therapy, couples counseling, grief counseling, and life transition counseling.
With advanced degrees and over twenty years in private practice, she combines psychological theory with empathy, understanding, and professionalism to support her clients.
For those seeking psychotherapy in Los Angeles or throughout California, Dr. Thomas’s methods reflect a deep understanding of the complexity of the human experience and a commitment to helping people move toward healthier, more fulfilling lives.
What is Dr. Thomas’s Approach to Therapy?
Dr. Thomas believes there is no one-size-fits-all solution in therapy. Every person is different—shaped by personal history, personality traits, environment, family, culture, and relationships. Accordingly, she tailors her approach to each client’s specific goals, struggles, and patterns.
Her work is grounded in psychological research and training, with a clinical emphasis on improving clients’ quality of life and helping them develop healthier ways of thinking, feeling, and acting.
Rather than rigidly applying one method, Dr. Thomas assesses each client’s background, presenting issues, and communication style to determine the most effective approach or combination of approaches. She often integrates therapy modalities to better meet evolving needs as therapy progresses. This integrative model allows her to address both longstanding and more recent challenges.
Psychodynamic Therapy
One of the foundational modalities used by Dr. Thomas is psychodynamic therapy. This method focuses on increasing a client’s self-awareness by exploring unconscious motivations and past experiences that shape present behaviors and emotions. The aim is not simply to manage symptoms but to uncover the root causes of distress and dysfunction.
Through psychodynamic therapy, clients begin to understand repetitive patterns in relationships, unresolved childhood experiences, and internal conflicts that may be contributing to current problems. This greater insight often leads to healthier choices and more satisfying relationships.
Dr. Thomas uses this approach when clients struggle with identity issues, low self-esteem, chronic dissatisfaction, or self-sabotaging behaviors. It is particularly helpful for those who have difficulty understanding their own emotions or who repeat relational dynamics that no longer serve them. By helping clients uncover the origins of these dynamics, she empowers them to break out of old cycles.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dr. Thomas also incorporates cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, which is known for its practical, goal-oriented techniques. CBT operates on the premise that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. When someone holds distorted or negative thought patterns, they are more likely to feel distressed and act in counterproductive ways.
CBT helps clients identify and reframe unhelpful thoughts—such as catastrophizing, black-and-white thinking, or overgeneralization—and replace them with more balanced, realistic perspectives. This method is often used for treating anxiety, depression, phobias, and issues involving stress management.
With Dr. Thomas’s guidance, clients learn tools for self-monitoring, behavioral change, and emotional regulation. The skills learned through CBT can be long-lasting, empowering individuals to better handle future stressors without becoming overwhelmed.
Therapy That Emphasizes the Whole Person
Dr. Thomas can help clients reconnect with their own values, strengths, and potential. Therapy with her emphasizes the whole person and regards every client as innately worthy and capable of growth.
This approach is especially beneficial for individuals who feel stuck, disconnected, or unsure about their path in life. Through empathetic dialogue and a focus on present-moment experience, clients can begin to cultivate self-acceptance and authenticity.
In therapy sessions, Dr. Thomas creates a nonjudgmental, supportive environment in which clients can explore their identity, values, and desires. For those navigating significant life changes or personal development goals, this method fosters empowerment and clarity.
Couples Counseling for the Couple
In couples counseling, Dr. Thomas utilizes principles which consider the couple as a dynamic unit rather than simply two individuals. This approach looks at patterns of communication, emotional expression, conflict resolution, and role expectations within the relationship.
This can be particularly effective in addressing issues related to intimacy, trust, miscommunication, and recurring arguments. By examining how each partner influences and responds to the other, Dr. Thomas helps couples develop healthier patterns and repair the emotional fabric of the relationship.
Her work with couples emphasizes empathy, mutual understanding, and constructive problem-solving. Therapy provides a space where both partners can speak openly, feel heard, and work collaboratively toward positive change.
Therapy That Finds the Underlying Causes
Depending on the client, Dr. Thomas may explore how internalized representations of past relationships—especially with primary caregivers—affect current interpersonal experiences.
Clients who benefit from this therapy often find themselves reacting strongly to others, forming unhealthy attachments, or feeling emotionally distant. Dr. Thomas helps these individuals recognize and work through these patterns to form more secure, satisfying relationships in adulthood.
This can, in time, offer a deeper understanding of emotional responses and helping clients develop greater emotional resilience.
Experience That Counts
Drawing on her background, Dr. Thomas understands how different stages of life bring unique challenges. She uses this insight to guide clients through life transitions—whether it’s entering adulthood, becoming a parent, navigating a career change, or facing retirement.
This allows her to tailor therapy to the client’s current stage, helping them make sense of the psychological tasks and stressors that may arise during transitions. This perspective is particularly useful in life transition counseling, where identity shifts and emotional uncertainty are common.
Individual Therapy With Dr. Thomas
Dr. Thomas offers individual therapy for adolescents and adults who are dealing with a range of concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem issues, and general dissatisfaction with life. Her individual therapy sessions are customized to each person’s needs, using one or more of the therapeutic methods mentioned above.
She creates a safe, confidential space in which clients can explore their emotions, develop insight, and practice new coping strategies. Over time, therapy can lead to reduced distress, increased confidence, improved relationships, and a more positive outlook on life.
Couples Counseling With Dr. Thomas
In couples counseling, Dr. Thomas helps partners identify and resolve conflicts, strengthen communication, and build emotional intimacy. Whether a couple is facing a crisis or simply wants to improve their connection, her goal is to facilitate a more satisfying, functional relationship.
She does not take sides but rather guides the couple in understanding each other’s perspectives. Using techniques from systems theory, humanistic psychology, and communication models, she teaches couples to break negative cycles and reinforce healthier patterns of relating.
Couples counseling can be particularly helpful for partners dealing with infidelity, parenting disagreements, emotional distance, or communication breakdowns. Dr. Thomas offers the structure and expertise needed to help couples reconnect and move forward constructively.
Grief Counseling With Dr. Thomas
Grief is a deeply personal experience that can take many forms—not only after the death of a loved one, but also following divorce, job loss, health changes, or other major life disruptions. Dr. Thomas provides compassionate, personalized grief counseling to help individuals process loss and find a path toward healing.
Using humanistic and psychodynamic techniques, she helps clients explore their emotions, express unresolved feelings, and adjust to life after the loss. Grief counseling is not about rushing recovery but rather honoring the individual’s experience and guiding them through the emotional landscape with patience and understanding.
Life Transition Counseling With Dr. Thomas
Life transition counseling addresses the psychological challenges associated with major life changes. This can include starting a new job, ending a relationship, becoming a parent, entering retirement, or experiencing a move or relocation.
Dr. Thomas helps clients manage the uncertainty, stress, and emotional turbulence that often accompany these transitions. Her goal is to support clients in finding stability, direction, and meaning during times of change. With the right therapeutic methods in place, clients are better equipped to adapt, grow, and thrive through transition periods.
Is Therapy with Dr. Thomas Available to Clients Across California?
In addition to in-person sessions in Los Angeles, Dr. Thomas offers teletherapy to clients throughout California. This means individuals can benefit from psychotherapy with Dr. Thomas without being limited by geography. Her teletherapy sessions maintain the same level of privacy, effectiveness, and professionalism as in-person appointments.
Remote therapy can be ideal for clients with demanding schedules, mobility issues, or those living in areas where specialized psychological services are less accessible. With her deep understanding of therapy modalities and her flexible delivery, Dr. Thomas is able to provide meaningful support to people across the state.
When You’re Ready to Experienced Psychotherapy in Los Angeles
Clients searching for psychotherapy in Los Angeles find that Dr. Yvonne Thomas offers a rare combination of expertise, warmth, and individualized care. Her extensive training in multiple therapy methods allows her to draw from a range of approaches to match each client’s situation and personality.
Whether someone is experiencing anxiety, relational challenges, grief, or a major life shift, Dr. Thomas provides the tools and guidance to navigate these issues with clarity and strength. With her integrative approach and commitment to personalization, clients receive more than just support—they receive the opportunity to create lasting change.