Today we’d like to introduce you to Javan Taherkhani.
Hi Javan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey to becoming a psychotherapist began as a pre-med, biochemistry major in undergrad at Claremont McKenna College (CMC). After struggling to perform academically in chemistry and several 24hr incubations in biochemistry lab, it was time for a change. I graduated from CMC with a degree in psychology and film studies then set off to apply my knowledge and education in the entertainment industry. After working in demanding corporate settings such as Creative Artists Agency, Media Rights Capital, and Entertainment One, the universe once more guided me to make yet another change.
This time, I reminded myself that the primary reason I switched my undegrad major from biochemistry to psychology was to find a path toward working with people, not petri dishes. Interestingly and ironically, working in the entertainment business for close to 8 years taught me that just about every environment, workplaces, school and social settings, etc. are, in themselves, petri dishes of human behavior.
As an aspiring and hopeful agent of change might, I decided to pursue additional education through a master’s degree in clinical psychology. After receiving acceptance letters to my top graduate school choices, I did not go. The reasons for not matriculating I believed in at the time were that I could not afford the cost of tuition, but I knew deep down self-doubt and imposter syndrome were playing their best game yet.
I chose the familiar path and reapplied myself in the corporate world, taking on an operations-related role at another entertainment company. At Riot Games over the course of 4 years, I saw myself grow both professionally and personally and welcomed challenges that I my old friends self-doubt and imposter syndrome did not dare contend. Then COVID came and everything changed.
A layoff during the COVID lockdown and at the peak of my career was a devastating blow to my self-confidence, self-esteem, and gave my old friends all the fuel they needed to thrive. It all creeped up so quickly and during the all but certain time of a global pandemic. There was hope, however; I trusted myself to remember my foundations and my power of choice. I chose to seek help and hired a career to coach to support me in the next step in my journey ahead.
Working with a career coach helped me process unresolved feelings of guilt and shame for not attending graduate school during my first career pivot exploration. With th_, I was free to re-explore my passion for psychology and helping others. I decided to re-apply to graduate school and was accepted to each program I applied to.
I began pursuing a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy with the intention of working with adult men. Turns out the universe once again had other plans for me and sent me many couples to work with during my time as a pre-licensed marriage and family therapist (MFT) trainee. In addition to individuals and families, I continued to work with couples throughout grad school and realized I seemed to continually attract and work well with couples that featured some form of intercultural identity dimensions (ethnicity, faith/religion, country of origin, etc.) across partners in the relationship. This soon turned from dumb luck to a specialty.
My clinical focus continued with intercultural romantic relationships after I graduated from graduate school and began my journey as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT). I worked closely with and deeply trust my clinical supervisor (a licensed marriage and family therapist) during graduate school who invited me to join her practice as her first associate clinician. Under her supervision, I continued to hone my clinical skills and grow my client caseload for close to 2 years. After much growth, I decided it was time for another change to further promote and challenge my clinical training and skills. I began practicing under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist (PsyD) at Angeles Psychology Group, which is where I practice now. With him, I receive a very different clinical perspective on client care, in addition to learning more about the operations of running a clinical practice. It’s been a wonderful journey!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth is not a word I would use to describe the road to arrive where I am today. Aside from the aforementioned professional and personal challenges I faced, the training period for clinicians (graduate school and the pre-licensed phase) alone is fraught with obstacles and barriers. The education is rigorous and for good reason. The overall journey to licensure (including graduate-level education) can last anywhere between 3.5-6 years, during which time it is reasonable to expect that finances and time availability will be very limited. During the pre-licensed phase (where I am now), pre-licensed clinicians earn less than their potential and far less than they deserve. The administration and documentation required to become licensed through the California board of behavioral sciences (BBS) is extremely extensive and costly both in time and money.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Angeles Psychology Group was founded to offer something rare in Los Angeles: a practice where holistic mental health LA residents can access goes beyond conventional treatment. Our approach to LGBTQ therapy Los Angeles communities trust combines specialized modalities like Orgonomic therapy, Internal Family Systems, and depth psychology with genuine cultural competency. We don’t just treat symptoms. We transform lives by addressing root causes in a sanctuary where you can be fully yourself.
I’m an experienced Associate Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in helping individual adults and teens, romantic relationships, and families transform stories that may be preventing you from accessing the life experiences you desire.
As a multicultural, Black and Persian, male-identifying psychotherapist, my work is informed by an unwavering curiosity about you and the infinitely complex qualities, experiences, and hopes that make you who you are and who you are becoming. My approach to psychotherapy leads with compassion, cultural responsibility, and the unchanging belief that you are whole and complete and have so much more to discover about yourself.
Working with me is a highly collaborative journey toward identifying the problem stories that might be keeping you from living the delicious life that you deserve. Through an eclectic blend of evidence-based treatment modalities, such as narrative, psychodynamic, person-centered, The Gottman Method, and Emotionally-Focused Couple Therapy, we will collaboratively discover the possibilities your preferred story is begging to reveal to you.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
When you choose to explore therapy, you’re choosing yourself. Finding the right fit in a therapist is like finding the right house: you want to come home to yourself at the end of the day and you want to feel comfortable being YOU. Take the time to explore your options and find the right therapist fit for you.
Pricing:
- $210 for individuals
- $221 for couples and families
Contact Info:
