Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Kazarian.
Natalie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always had a fascination with people. I can remember as a young child, sitting in wonder about the adults around me. Always trying to figure out the “why” of their behavior. Perhaps it’s my personality, perhaps it’s my environment-it’s probably both- I learned not to take things at face value. I derive a tremendous amount of excitement in looking beneath the surface. Which is why being able to talk and process with people everyday is the most enjoyable way to spend my life.
I grew up in a conservative part of California. Where “other” seems to scare people. I realized that much of the fear people feel, consciously or unconsciously, comes from not knowing. I’ve been fortunate to grow up with the privilege of being able to travel around the world- and being exposed to different cultures has helped me internalize one of the greatest lessons that helps me as a therapist: in order to cultivate greater self understanding, I’m required sit and relish in discomfort.
Being a therapist means sitting with people in their deepest discomfort. Sometimes the discomfort is so deep, it is unknown to the individual-there are only symptoms. We are social creatures. Both suffering and healing occur relationally. I’m honored to part of the healing process with clients.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Yes, there have been challenges. Challenges are part of my expectation for this work and this life. One of the biggest struggles I had was before I was admitted into graduate school at Pepperdine University. I was living in San Francisco, freshly graduated, with a degree in Psychology and English from University of California, Berkeley. I had no idea what I wanted to do-so like most young people without a clue, I worked in restaurants. I actually really enjoyed working as a bartender/server. I got to talk to strangers all day-which is one of my favorite things to do! (ask any of my close friends or family members.) However, I remember the day I knew I needed to make a change. I was working at a well-known cafe in North Beach during a Sunday brunch shift. It was a very busy morning. A man came up to me and berated me for not seating his party faster. At that moment, I realized- I need to get myself a career. One where I can be in charge of my time. I value freedom above most things in my life. So I quit. On the spot. The problem was I had no idea what I wanted to do.
I had worked in many psychology labs during undergrad and realized that I probably could be happy talking to people all day. So I went home and researched different advanced psychology degrees. I ended up only applying to one school because all of the other deadlines had passed for the fall semester.
The greatest challenge was quitting my job, studying for the GRE, applying to one school, and moving across the state all in 4 months. It was definitely hard in moments and I questioned if I was capable. Would I even be good at this job? But I kept going because trying and failing sounded better than never trying.
Upon completing my master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine I worked at the renowned Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills. This wonderful institution trained me. But it was hard to make ends meet. So I worked several jobs in addition to gaining my hours towards licensure. It worked out, but there were many years of imbalance. Overall, I am happy I have met the challenges of this job, because the benefits far outweigh the struggles.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I treat mood disorders, complex trauma, Autism Spectrum Disorder, OCD, relational trauma, ADHD, familial issues, and many other disorders… I work eclectically using psychodynamic techniques, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Systems Theory, Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I am passionate about helping families and individuals learn how to consciously behave in a more functional way.
I enjoy working with groups (couples, families, etc.) and many times people will call me to work with their children. Something that sets me apart is how I treat children in my practice. In my experience, I found working only with the child is not the best use of resources-I require parents to take an active role in their child’s treatment. Most changes will occur outside of my office. I take great care in working with parents and children.
I am most proud of my business model. In school, they don’t really teach us how to properly run a business, so it’s a lot of trial and error. Two years ago, I partnered with another mental health professional to open up my current office space. We have five other clinicians who work in the office with us. All the individuals specialize in slightly different therapies-in order to create a more comprehensive treatment team for clients. I refer many of my clients to my trusted colleagues, should they need medication management, biofeedback, or other referrals.
I am proud of this aspect of my career because there are many holes in the mental health market, many barriers to entry. I find mental health stigma to be a self-fulfilling prophecy where continued denial creates deeper trauma. I take comfort in creating a space where clients feel welcomed and taken care of. My mind is always working on different ways to help make mental health easier, more accessible, and less stigmatized for everyone.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a shy kid. I was always inquisitive though. I really started to develop confidence through observing the world around me. Noticing those people who were compassionate and emotionally aware tended to gain favor in the world. They were more resilient and better able to make deep and meaningful connections. At a young age, I would mirror the people I admired the most.
Despite my shyness, I loved expressing myself. My parents put me in dance, tennis, and piano starting at a very young age. These three hobbies helped me express myself when I did not know other ways. I found joy and catharsis in moving my body and I still do. The mind body connection is so strong and I realize now how grateful I am for having the opportunity to move as a child.
In terms of interests, I love traveling, meeting strangers, connecting with friends-anything that gets me out of my comfort zone. I find too much comfort to be boring- so I take different classes and try to shake things up every day.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2116 Wilshire BLVD Suite 241
Santa Monica, CA 90403 - Website: nataliekazarianmft.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @nataliekazarianmft
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