Inspiring Conversations with Kalie Pham of Inner Compass Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kalie Pham.

Hi Kalie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I sometimes think we ask kids the wrong question. Instead of “what do you want to be when you grow up,” I think a better question is “what problems do you want to help solve?”

For me, it has always been mental health. I struggled a lot as a teenager with emotional regulation and self-esteem, and I remember finding a CBT-based book that completely shifted something in me. It was the first time I realized that the way we relate to our thoughts shapes how we experience ourselves and even our reality. That idea stuck with me. Over time, it has expanded, and now I also really value how much our bodies and nervous systems play a role in healing, not just our thoughts.

I started out in research at the University of Florida, working on treatments for specific phobias and OCD-related fears, so I was immersed in exposure therapy early on. What stood out to me was not just the science, but watching people face things that felt completely paralyzing and slowly take their lives back. That is what made me realize I did not just want to be behind the scenes. I wanted to be the person walking alongside clients in that process.

After graduating, I spent a year at the University of South Florida leading clinical research trials focused on Tourette syndrome, ADHD, and autism. I loved contributing to work that could help people long term, but I kept coming back to wanting something more relational and human.

That is what led me to grad school for clinical psychology, where I focused on marriage and family therapy. I wanted to work with people in a more dynamic and connected way, not just individually, but in the context of their relationships.

Since then, I have worked in underserved school systems here in LA, supporting kids and teens through the pandemic. That experience deepened my understanding of trauma and led me to become EMDR trained. Now in my private practice, I work with individuals who are healing from past experiences and trying to feel more like themselves again, as well as couples who are working through disconnection, rebuilding trust, or trying to find their way back to each other.

At the core of all of it, what matters most to me is being someone who can sit with people in the hard, messy, long-term work of change and not rush that process.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t believe any meaningful path is completely smooth. For me, the hardest parts have actually been the in-between phases, those moments where you’re not quite where you used to be, but not quite where you want to go either. There’s a lot of uncertainty there, and it can bring up self-doubt. I think of it as that liminal space where you’re learning in real time, without a clear roadmap. That’s something I really connect with in my clients now, because I have lived it myself. Whether it’s their relationships, their identity, or their healing process, a lot of people are in that “in-between,” and it can feel uncomfortable and disorienting.

What has grounded me through those phases is coming back to the idea that I can trust myself enough to figure things out. I know I have resources, and I genuinely see myself as a lifelong learner. There is so much they don’t teach you in grad school, especially when it comes to figuring out what kind of therapist you want to be and how you’ll handle the surprise moments that you can’t prepare for.

There’s been a lot of learning and unlearning along the way. Trying things out, adjusting, growing. And honestly, that is part of what I’ve come to appreciate. It’s not always easy, but there is something really meaningful about building this path as I go.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Inner Compass Therapy?
Inner Compass Therapy is a psychotherapy boutique based in Santa Monica, California, offering both in-person and virtual sessions for individuals and couples.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I specialize in relationship issues, life transitions, and identity work. I work with a wide range of clients, including creatives and individuals working in the adult entertainment industry, including sex workers. My goal is to create a space that feels nonjudgmental, grounded, and genuinely human, where people can show up as they are without feeling like they need to edit themselves.

I am trained in EMDR, which I use to help clients process painful or overwhelming past experiences so they feel less activated in the present. The intention is to reduce that sense of being stuck in old emotional patterns or narratives, and to support clients in feeling more free and connected to themselves in their day-to-day lives.

In my work with couples, I’m especially drawn to helping partners rebuild trust, deepen emotional and physical intimacy, and better understand each other’s needs. This can include navigating challenges like disconnection or infidelity, as well as supporting couples at earlier stages through premarital counseling or discernment counseling, where they are exploring whether to stay together or separate and want clarity in that decision.

The name Inner Compass Therapy comes from the belief that each of us has an internal sense of direction that can guide us when we learn how to access it. A big part of my work is helping clients reconnect with that. I believe that while we cannot control everything in life, we do have agency in how we relate to ourselves, our choices, and our relationships. When we are living in alignment with our values, our needs, and the different parts of ourselves, it becomes possible to build a life and relationships that feel more intentional and fulfilling.

What I think really sets me apart is that my path into this work has been both research-informed and deeply relational from the beginning. I spent years in clinical research before becoming a therapist, so I have a strong appreciation for evidence-based approaches, but I am also very focused on the human experience behind the symptoms. I think what many of my clients appreciate is that I am comfortable sitting with complexity. Whether someone is navigating identity, relationship challenges, creative blocks, or nontraditional life paths, I aim to provide a space that feels open, grounded, and nonjudgmental. Especially for people who may not have always felt fully seen or understood elsewhere, that can make a meaningful difference. What I am most proud of is creating a practice that centers depth, authenticity, and long-term growth. My work is not about quick fixes, but about walking alongside people as they make meaningful changes over time, in a way that actually lasts.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something that might surprise people is how much I value being a lifelong learner outside of therapy as well. I am always exploring new ideas, perspectives, and frameworks, whether that is through reading, continuing education, or simply staying curious about people and the way they move through the world.

I also think people sometimes come into therapy with the expectation that therapists are a kind of “blank slate.” What tends to surprise them is that therapists are humans first! Something most people might not know about me is that I actively explore other parts of my own identity outside of my clinical work. I am a creative, a musician, a rescue dog mama, a problem-solver, an ASMR enthusiast, and someone who genuinely enjoys learning and trying new things. I believe we are not just one thing; we are multidimensional, and that perspective is something I carry into my work with clients as well.

Clients might also be surprised to learn how much I incorporate movement into my own life in a variety of forms. I spend time dancing, rollerblading, training in flying trapeze and contortion, practicing yoga, and taking choreography classes. I am a big believer in movement as a form of healing, and I see the mind-body connection as a vital part of the therapeutic process. For me, it is all connected, and that belief naturally shows up in the way I support clients in their own healing journeys.

Pricing:

• $200 for individuals (50 minutes)
• $250 for couples (50 minutes)
• I prioritize accessibility, so I do offer affordable sliding scale rates and support clients with insurance reimbursement

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.innercompasswithkalie.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/thepockettherapy
• Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/kalie-pham-santa-monica-ca/1229659