Rachel Woods

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. My areas of specialty include anxiety, couples therapy, codependency, compulsive overeating, and other addictive behaviors.
who helps clients develop healthy relationships with their bodies, weight, and food, and to heal from shame and trauma.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT #45452) in California. I have been a psychotherapist for over 20 years, in private practice, social service agencies, and clinical research settings. My experience in research has allowed me to see first-hand which therapy techniques produce effective results. As a result, I draw from evidence-based techniques such as mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral, and Gottman Method couples therapy approaches, and I incorporate 12-Step and family systems principles as appropriate. I’ve learned that different people respond to different approaches, and I modify my methods accordingly for each client. You are unique and deserve a treatment plan tailored especially for you.

In my private practice, I work with individual and couples. My areas of specialty include anxiety, couples therapy, codependency, compulsive overeating, and other addictive behaviors. In addition, I work with people who have suffered a major or chronic illness, to foster healthy mental, emotional, and spiritual states, all of which aid the body in resilience and resistance to disease.

My therapeutic style is active and engaged, helping you to gain insight and understanding along with making desired changes in your life. As a relationship specialist, I also focus on strengthening your communication skills, to help you connect better with other people – and yourself.

I conducted clinical research studies for 18 years at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA Medical Center and UCLA’s School of Dentistry, in the areas of psychoneuroimmunology (mind/body medicine), depression, auto-immune disorders, substance abuse, ADHD, and trauma-related PTSD and depression.  I’ve seen how significantly our emotional health and relationships can affect our physical well-being, and vice versa. Investing in your psychological and spiritual well-being can be profoundly healing on many levels.

I have also lectured and led numerous classes in the practice of mindfulness, healthy vs. emotional eating, self-compassion, happiness, managing anxiety, and enhancing emotional and physical health, for UCLA psychiatric residents and the community. I enjoy running groups on the art of happiness and resilience, among many topics related to personal growth. The journey is never-ending!

I received my Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of California at Los Angeles. Prior to my studies at UCLA, I spent several years at Northwestern University as a theater major. Starting in my childhood I trained as both a flutist and singer, and as a result I have a great appreciation for the power of art and music as therapeutic tools. I obtained my Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. I have post-graduate training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Gottman Couples Therapy. In addition, I am a Certified Shame-Informed Treatment Specialist (CSTS).

Please visit my blog entitled Cultivating Contentment and Happiness at Psych Central to read more about my approach to therapy and life.