Hamid Mirsalimi, Ph.D., ABPP
Psychotherapy, Marital and Couples Therapy, Premarital Counseling, Family Therapy, Executive Coaching
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Welcome!
I am a double board certified clinical psychologist (in Clinical Psychology, as well as, Couple and Family Psychology) who provides individual psychotherapy, couples and marital therapy, pre-marital counseling, and family therapy. In addition, I provide life and executive coaching services (please refer to the other pages on this website for more detailed information about each of these services).
If you have reached my website because you are looking to do something about your personal challenges, relationship issues, or to get more out of life, I congratulate you for your courage to want to live life more fully. My purpose in working with all my clients is to help them live more successful and fulfilling lives. I strongly believe that it is in our human nature to want to strive toward happiness, self-improvement, and an expression of our humanity. But at times we get derailed.
Our sources of pain and suffering in life are as much a function of our perceptions as they are of realities of our circumstances. While at times we cannot change life’s realities, we can always examine and change our own perceptions. A challenge in life is to determine what is changeable and what is not. We often experience a lot of emotional pain when we falsely believe that something is not changeable, where in reality it is. At other times we suffer because we cannot accept some aspect of life that is indeed not changeable. But how can we learn which is which?
Before we can make any changes in our lives, we need to gain awareness of our choices. We also need to gain awareness of why it is easier for us to make certain choices as opposed to others. This is often related to the way we were raised, to our relationships with parents and siblings, friends, and other important people in our lives. The choices that we make are often influenced by conclusions we made early in life about how life, people, and relationships work, and about our own self-worth. During adolescence the major aspects of our self-perception and identity are formed by conclusions we make based on peer interactions. Without awareness and self-understanding, we often live life as if our perceptions are absolute truths. Our misperceptions can cause us, and those around us, much pain and suffering. Our misperceptions also limit our ability to realize our full potential, and to enjoy the beauty of life.
In working with my clients I create an atmosphere of safety, trust, and comfort in which they explore the roots of such misperceptions, gain access to their feelings, learn relationship and life skills, grieve their losses, and make commitments for change. I also help my clients to become curious about themselves and to look at where they are in life, where they would like to be, and how to chart a course to bridge that gap.
My Theoretical Orientation
I use a variety of theoretical models and tools in helping my clients achieve a more fulfilling life (including more fulfilling relationships). Each client is different and depending on her or his specific needs I draw from different theoretical approaches including experiential, psychodynamic, existential, cognitive behavioral, and family systems to best help my clients. I also use a variety of tools including clinical hypnosis.
I work under the premise that the first step in dealing with emotional and relational problems is to become aware of what keeps us in their trap. Self-awareness and insight are prerequisites to making choices that help us become effective in life and achieve our goals. I also work with many of my clients on issues such as communication, anger management, self-monitoring and self-esteem.
Many of my clients, both individuals and couples, desire closer and more meaningful relationships. Relationship issues, whether with ourselves or with others, cause a variety of problems including depression and anxiety. I help my clients make sense of their relationship patterns and examine thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that may be obstacles to experiencing a fulfilling and exciting life.
I strongly believe that such work is best achieved in the context of a strong and positive psychologist-client relationship in a safe and comfortable atmosphere for growth. I work within such a therapeutic atmosphere with my clients.
