Meet Brian Carlson of Sessions Marriage and Family Counseling Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Carlson.

Brian, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Like many working marriage and family therapists, I have had a previous career. I was a successful and productive Los Angeles based interior designer for more than 20 years when I decided to go back to school. Though daunting in my 40’s, I was certain that my instincts would lend themselves to becoming a therapist. I went to Pacifica Graduate Institute where I quickly learned that there were words, ideas and theories that would constitute my spirit.

For us therapists, there is a minimum of 3000 hours of service, in several categories, required to qualify for your license in the state of California. Within that process, there is a difficult and lonely period stretching from your masters degree to ultimate licensure. It’s this difficult time as an intern that has inspired the formation of Sessions Counseling Group, Inc.

Sessions Counseling Group supports continuing education through group supervision for post graduate/pre-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Interns while providing affordable counseling to the community in a pleasant and comfortable setting.

As part of clinical training, aspiring therapists are required to commit to a clinical internship. In the early summer of 2005, I met Dr. Gary Pearle, my clinical supervisor. Since he has been my mentor, colleague, peer, friend, ultimately family and now business partner.

Gary has been practicing psychotherapy for more than 25 years and currently is private practice in Sherman Oaks, CA. As a clinical supervisor, he has mentored dozens of emerging therapists and during his years on the adjunct faculty at Antioch University Los Angeles, he taught courses in psychodynamic theory, contemporary theory, group process, and advanced process of psychotherapy.

Gary holds a special interest in working with creative responsiveness in the supervision of emerging therapists, alongside artistic endeavors and in the moment-to-moment’s of daily life.

During my years under his mentoring, I have witnessed his magical ability to navigate complicated dilemmas while endorsing each therapist’s competence.

While fulfilling my internship obligations, I was able to expand on my masters education in the trenches. The program that Gary and I worked primarily served individuals who were court mandated to “out-patient-treatment” for substance abuse.

Under Gary’s supervision, he was able to infuse psychodynamic theory and intervention into what was a resistant population.

All came to an end in 2010 when the facility that housed our program fell under hard times. A successful program that facilitated so many interns who possess unique experience and talent no longer had a roof. It was the end of an era.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Through the years, Gary and I would reminisce about the rich alchemical culture that our program was able to host. As I look back, I long for the combination of individuals who brought such invigoration and curiosity. Since, I became licensed and found my own office. Little pieces, slowly breaking apart… perhaps the era had really ended.

Then, in 2016, my landlord knocked on my door. A larger suite down the hall had become available. Bathed in orange shag carpet and brown paneled walls, the suite was home to an abundance of 1970. Though some of the furniture was a bit exciting with its retro appeal, none was sustainable enough for our use. It all had to go… and my landlord agreed.

Through all of the orange haze, Gary and I realized the potential. What was a front office, file room and main office could soon be a waiting room, and two offices. Just had to move a wall.

There are many walls in life and some just need to be moved. Immediately, we saw the potential.

This is the place where we would host a small, private practice helping pre-licensed therapists build their practice while benefiting peer support under a psychodynamic frame. And once again, Gary and I get to be a part of it all!

Sessions Marriage and Family Counseling Group – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Sessions Counseling Group provides psychodynamic counseling by qualified, supervised, pre-licensed marriage and family therapists in a pleasant and comfortable setting. Our mission is to facilitate continuing education through group supervision for post graduate/pre-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Interns while providing affordable counseling services to the community.

Our therapists see individuals, couples and families. We are experienced in working with a myriad of personal issues. Each of our therapists possess unique experience and skill. When choosing a therapist, one should always look for the best “fit.” Therapy is about the relationship and trust that can be built within that relationship.

What sets us apart is our psychodynamic or “depth psychological” approach. Most therapists have one modality where they possess more education and experience. That said, we are trained to work with several modalities and are not required to limit ourselves to a single point of view. We like to integrate approaches that allow us to optimize personal technique and reinforce the therapeutic relationship.

With that, depth psychology is rooted in slowing down a process so that we can look at experiences from all sides. To relax and pay attention in the psychic space that is created in the room. The tradition of depth psychology suggests that symptoms, whatever their nature, are not random but a clear indication that something “new” is on its way.

The depth therapist will look at your relationship to your experiences and look at problems as a symptom of something deeper. Whether experiences are internal or external, a thought, perception, dream, belief, value or current relationship, we will embrace your unique perspective as a genuine element of your collective and distinctive experience. Ultimately, in the therapeutic relationship, we seek out what messages are coming to you from a greater place within.

Sessions Counseling Group is founded and built on the idea of providing a solid foundation to our interns. We believe that a well-supported and supervised therapist will be able to lean into the most intrinsic of dilemmas and able to join the client in the potential of problem solving.

Pricing:

• Session fees range from $60-$120 for a 50 minute hour.

Contact Info:

• Address: 12722 Riverside Drive,
  Suite 104, Valley Village, CA 91607
• Website: www.sessionscounselinggroup.com
• Email: [email protected]

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.