Today we’d like to introduce you to Chloe Bean.
Hi Chloe, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
For as long as I can remember I have been extremely sensitive to the emotions and experiences of others, often noticing what others are feeling without any verbal information. Growing up in a creative family, I always sang, wrote little songs on the piano, and learned to play instruments. During my teen years, I faced many challenges including anxiety and panic attacks. Therapy became my safe place, and I had the privilege of working with a great therapist who helped me navigate my unresolved trauma. Through these formative years, I began to realize how powerful therapy is because it was teaching me to trust myself and start to practice healthy boundaries in relationships. As a teen, I remember wanting to be a “holistic healer” when I grew up, which has come full circle in how I work today! While attending Berklee College of Music for undergrad in Boston, I deepened my studies as a vocalist and composer. Even while in music school I followed my interest in mental health and enrolled in Psychology electives whenever I could. Mindfulness, meditation, being in nature, and body-centered practices throughout my upbringing set the foundation for how I approach therapy and the world today. While I don’t incorporate music and sound healing into therapy sessions unless a client requests it, I draw on my lifelong practice of listening and tuning in fully—whether listening for non-verbal communication, shifts in the client’s nervous system, or emerging emotions. Through this process, clients learn to create safety and stability inside while learning to listen to their body, their inner voice, and ultimately create a unique rhythm for their life-long healing.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
For over a decade, I questioned whether I should pursue therapy professionally. During my own therapy sessions, I found I was often holding back on following this dream out of fear. I was working in a variety of industries (advertising, entertainment, production, tech, and more) trying to find a sense of purpose. The one thing I enjoyed most about these jobs was the building of relationships. I wanted to know colleagues and clients on a deeper level, to learn their stories and have authentic, meaningful conversations…bringing me back to the idea of pursuing psychotherapy as a career over and over again. It wasn’t until I experienced a big loss and relationship trauma that I jumped back into my own weekly therapy as an adult and came across Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems and EMDR therapy. I was able to slow down, notice subconscious patterns, and see changes in all areas of my life fairly quickly. I finally felt understood, organized, and grounded inside. Shortly after, I finally embraced my calling to help others heal and provide a sense of hope. It was scary to dive into this field after years of self-doubt, but I was more terrified thinking about how much I would regret not pursuing my dream and staying stuck in the “what ifs”. This has been the most fulfilling and deeply aligned journey of my life!
I attended graduate school to earn my Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles.. While earning my Masters in Clinical Psychology, I worked as a high school counselor for Beverly Hills High School and I led groups and individual sessions in community mental health settings. Upon graduation, I worked for a treatment center for adults and families, where I provided EMDR and Somatic therapy for individuals and groups experiencing severe trauma symptoms. I am grateful to have this variety in my clinical experience because it helped me feel more prepared to go into private practice. My clinical training includes EMDR training from EMDRIA, and I am currently in the process of completing the 3-year Somatic Experiencing Practitioner training which heavily informs my work. I am IFS informed and incorporate mindfulness into sessions as well. I continue to learn from and be inspired by psychologists, writers, and healings including Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, Peter Levine, Dick Schwartz, Kristen Neff, Yung Pueblo, Resmaa Menakem, and Sue Johnson.
We’ve been impressed with Chloë Bean Therapy, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My therapy practice is called Chloë Bean Therapy where we focus on aligning body, mind, soul, and inner voice to feel more connected with self and in relationships with others in order to live a more empowered and authentic life. I specialize in Somatic Trauma Therapy for clients experiencing anxiety, depression, childhood trauma, relationship issues, career burnout, body image issues, perinatal/pregnancy, chronic pain & medical trauma. I have supported many clients through sexual abuse, relationship trauma, and narcissistic abuse recovery. I offer individual therapy and couples therapy in person in West Los Angeles and I also offer online sessions for all California residents. I work with anxious overachievers and trauma survivors to help them feel more at ease and safe in their bodies, to help them slow down and begin to move through what they have been struggling with for so long. I work with many creatives, medical professionals, high achievers, parents, highly sensitive people (HSP), college students, and couples.
My approach is built on what has worked for me therapeutically, and it is extremely rewarding to be able to give that back and help others feel less alone in their lives and more at home in their bodies. I help clients reconnect with their inner voice, their truth, and their intuition so they can heal and become a more empowered, healthy, and authentic version of themselves.
How do you define success?
For me, success is deeply rooted in the ability to feel at peace with myself, embrace who I am fully, and be present in my life. Professionally, when I can connect deeply with clients and help them feel less alone and more connected to themselves and each other (during couples therapy), then I have succeeded! Personally, success is about practicing forgiveness, patience, and embracing being a lifelong learner. When I am willing to stay curious, open-minded, and willing to grow, I can let go of the need to control outcomes and live in abundance! I used to think success was earning a certain income, getting married by a certain age, writing a certain number of songs, working constantly, looking a certain way, or “always being happy.” As I have matured and did my deeper personal therapy work, I realized how much of those messages were internalized societal pressures (yet another common theme that comes up with clients as well). I love to travel, swim, run, practice yoga, meditate, and spend time in quiet nature. If I can relax and unwind, that is a success!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chloebeantherapy.com
- Instagram: @chloebeantherapy
Image Credits
Emily Winnie Photography
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