Today we’d like to introduce you to Antoinette Gupta.
Antoinette, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a young 13-year-old, I remember trying to make sense of friends and family members struggling to be happy and to cope with situations. I think as a middle child you are more likely to be the peacemaker and a pleaser. I grew up with a message that I was a good listener and this internally made me feel good to see that I was needed and valued.
I was curious to find psychology as a subject after high school because until very recently psychology has not been that prevalent in India as it is now.
I was married early right after high school and I completed my Bachelors in Psychology in England. I moved to the United States in 1998. I wanted to further pursue psychology but I chose to take time off to care for my daughter. In 2004, I was registered as a graduate student in the department of Human Development and Family Studies in Colorado. As a full-time wife, mother and student, I learned to juggle and balance these roles to the best of my ability. I completed my Master of Science degree with a specialization in Marriage and Family therapy in 2006. With the guidance of my mentor, I was able to publish my master’s thesis “Relationship Advice in the Top Selling Women’s Magazine, Cosmopolitan: A Content Analysis” in the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy Vol. 7(3), 2008.
In 2006, my family and I moved to Orange County, where I registered as an intern to obtain my license in California. I have worked in community counseling centers, inpatient rehab facilities and gradually moved into private practice. I completed my hours, passed my board exam and became a Licensed MFT in 2010. I have been in private practice ever since.
Furthermore, as a graduate student, I was fascinated by a therapy called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a form of therapy that could alleviate and heal PTSD, trauma and addiction. I completed my basic training in my final year of my master’s program. I feel so grateful and appreciate what I have gained and learned over the years. Upon getting my MFT license, I became a certified EMDR specialist. I felt the need to pass what I have learned not just to clients but also to other professionals. So, I worked to become an EMDRIA consultant.
Has it been a smooth road?
Well, life has taught me to believe that no path is smooth. Each path is going to have rough edges, boulders that need to be seen and moved aside so that you can walk through to the end.
I have had to learn ways to balance juggling my roles as wife, mother and full-time student. I remember preparing for my undergraduate final exam In England while nursing and caring for my 2-month-old daughter.
My grad school training was bittersweet. The journey entailed me to “soul search” and deal with personal issues. With the help of my mentors and supervisors, I was able to risk sharing my story as an adult survivor of childhood abuse and worked towards healing myself. My graduate training was invaluable as I learned to take care of my self both personally and professionally so that I can be fully present and responsive to my clients.
I owe my gratitude and appreciation to my husband for his financial and emotional support, and to my daughter, for her emotional support. I believe that it is this safe haven and secure base that set the stage for me to accomplish my dream.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a licensed Marriage and Family therapist. My clientele includes children, teens, individuals, couples and families. I treat relationship distress, trauma and addiction.
I specialize in Emotionally Focussed Couple and Family therapy (EFCT) and a Certified EMDR therapist.
I am a Board Certified Clinical Supervisor for MFT interns who are in the process of obtaining licensure.
I am also an EMDR Consultant. I offer supervision and consultation to other clinicians who are in the process of getting trained and/or certified in EMDR.
Following licensure and clinical training and experience over the years, I have developed a unique “client-centered therapy box” that integrates Attachment, Imaginal Nurturing, CBT, Emotion Focussed and EMDR. I have found this integration to be highly effective and beneficial for my clients as they heal and learn to make lasting connections.
Witnessing clients heal and make positive changes in their lives and their positive feedback have been the greatest compliments I have received.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, I think that Irvine is a good place for therapy. Yes, I would highly recommend new therapists starting out here.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4010 Barranca Parkway, Ste 252
- Website: antoinettemft.com
- Phone: 949-954-0750
- Email: antoinette.gupta3@gmail.com
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