Meet Helen of Helen Medina Counseling / Helen Medina, LCSW, Inc.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Helen.

Hi Helen, 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?
My story begins with my parents. As a first-generation Latina, they instilled in me a love for knowledge and an understanding that education is a privilege not available to everyone. They also taught me the importance of service and responsibility. When I sat in my first psychology class and found myself utterly fascinated by human behavior, I knew I had found a way to combine my passions with my values.

My path has been winding—taking me from research teams to hospital settings—but today I find myself exactly where I was always meant to be. I was motivated to start my own mental health private practice because time and again I witnessed the barriers that both therapists and patients face in our current healthcare system. While I can’t exist outside that system, I’ve built my practice on three pillars: empathy, honesty, and respect. I strive every day to provide my clients the highest quality of care in an ethical way that stands on that foundation.
This means having honest conversations—offering reduced fees when clients lose insurance benefits or have limited resources, showing up every day with empathy and respect for who they are, and valuing their knowledge. I may be the expert on mental health, but I can never presume to be the expert on them.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road at all. I’ve had to learn everything from being my own tech support to navigating changing laws and regulations to understanding the complex insurance world. As a small business owner, managing slow periods and shifts in the field has also been challenging.

I’m grateful for my husband’s support and his stable career, which provides steady income and relieves some financial pressure during slower periods. I recognize how fortunate I am in this regard—many therapists don’t have that safety net and must navigate the challenges of paying for their own healthcare, which can be prohibitively expensive when purchasing as a small business rather than benefiting from a large corporation’s negotiating power.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
About Your Business:
I earned my master’s degree in social welfare from UCLA and have over ten years of experience working with adults, children, and families. Today, I specialize in working with adults and couples, and I particularly enjoy working with young adults and the Latinx community. I offer in-person services in Torrance as well as virtual options for clients throughout California.
I help clients navigate life transitions—from divorce, job loss, and the death of loved ones (including pets) to entering new relationships and relocating across the country. I work with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma, providing education about what they’re experiencing and giving them actionable tips and tools to use in their everyday lives. Above all, I strive to be a safe space where clients can process their grief and emotions while feeling truly seen and heard.
What makes me unique is that I find everything you share important. I want to hear about what you love to eat, what you watch on TV, what music moves you. These details make us who we are, and they’re all valuable information.
I think people would be surprised by the breadth of conversations I have with clients. Maybe someone comes in for anxiety, but the topic of sex comes up—so let’s talk about it. Sex is an important part of many people’s lives, and there should be no shame in discussing it with your therapist.

What Sets You Apart:
What sets me apart is my unconditional positive regard and respect for clients. I’m honest and empathetic, and I try to be authentic while acknowledging that I’m human too—all while maintaining professionalism. I don’t want to be a robot sitting across from you. I also take a holistic approach because your mind, body, and spirit all work together and need to be treated together.
One area I specialize in is grief and loss. If you’d told me ten years ago, when I lost my father, that I would be drawn to this work, I couldn’t have fathomed it. Grief can be all-consuming, but my personal connection with loss helps me connect with and better understand what my clients are experiencing. I can offer them hope when they may be struggling to find any of their own.
I feel honored and privileged to sit with my clients and walk alongside them—not just through their grief, but through anxiety, depression, trauma, and the many other challenges they face. Their trust in me is something I never take lightly.

Brand Pride:
I’m most proud when clients send me referrals—sometimes even their own children, which is the highest compliment I can receive. To be trusted with someone’s child after working with the parent is truly humbling. Watching clients grow, change, and find joy is what makes this work so meaningful.

I’m also proud of creating a practice where the Latinx community and young adults feel genuinely welcomed and understood. Building a space where clients can bring their whole selves—their culture, their language, their unique experiences—without fear of judgment is something I’m deeply committed to.

What Readers Should Know:

I want readers to know that therapy is for everyone, not just during times of crisis. Whether you’re navigating a major life transition, dealing with anxiety or depression, processing grief, or simply feeling stuck, you deserve support. As a first-generation Latina who understands the unique challenges many in our community face—from cultural expectations to language barriers to the stigma around mental health—I’m committed to creating a space where you feel understood, not judged.
My practice is built on meeting you where you are. That means offering flexible options like in-person sessions in Torrance or virtual appointments throughout California. It means being transparent about costs and working with you when insurance runs out. Most importantly, it means honoring your lived experience and recognizing that you are the expert on your own life.
Healing isn’t linear, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone. My role is to walk alongside you, provide tools and insights, and create a space where you can bring your whole self—your culture, your questions, your struggles, and your strengths. You don’t have to have it all figured out before you reach out. That’s what I’m here for.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I Love About Our City:
I love how diverse it is. I love that we have so many wonderful food options. I love that we can access the beach, the mountains, and beautiful hikes. Nature and food are some things that bring me great joy and I am grateful to have access to both of those things here in LA.

What I Like Least About Our City:
It might sound cliché, but the traffic is just awful. I also wish LA was more walkable—I’m not a fan of having to get in the car for just about everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.helenmedinacounseling.com/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/helen-medina-torrance-2
• Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/helen-medina-torrance-ca/1128083