Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabrina Fish.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I was about six years old, I started my journey with therapy. I remember not wanting to go to sessions and feeling angry that I had to every week. I was young, confused, and felt like no one was on my side. In my teenage years, I returned to therapy; but this time with a different therapist. This experience was more positive than the first time; however, I still didn’t want to be in therapy. I believe that finding a therapist you are comfortable with is incredibly important to the therapeutic process.
Additionally, I think it is extremely important for a teenager seeking therapy to feel that the therapist is there to support them instead of “fix” them. My teenage years were a whirlwind that sparked my interest in one day becoming a therapist – but the challenge was finding the motivation to get there. I couldn’t envision life past high school and had little insight into all the possibilities my life had to offer. During those years, I didn’t feel heard or understood at all. Holding everything in was difficult and I talked to no one. When I did open up to people, I was bullied to the point where I changed high schools. Kids can be cruel to each other and I think that is something that isn’t talked about enough. Being a teenager, especially nowadays, is complex. When you’re a teenager your entire world feels permanent. Your bullies, environment, and struggles feel final. Add in feeling isolated with no healthy outlet and that makes a dangerous mix. I pursued a B.A. in Psychology because I understood how being a teenager labeled as “difficult” was and I wanted to provide a healthy outlet for those teens who felt misunderstood.
My experiences from early in my life to now helped me discover the different populations I am passionate about working with. Transitioning to college after years of bullying was a HUGE adjustment. I wish I had continued with therapy during those first few years of college to help with the transition because it would have been useful to continue building coping skills. After graduating, the “college hangover” was real. I missed the college environment where my social life was built into classes, Greek life, and roommates. After talking to a few close friends about the transition to adulthood and career life, I realized that we were all feeling pretty similarly. Everyone was feeling lonely and disconnected, but rarely anyone was talking about it. That’s when I realized that during these transitional phases of life therapy is incredibly useful and needed!
After graduating college, I began working as a recovery coach at an eating disorder PHP and IOP program with teens and adults. Being around my co-workers who were therapists helped me realize that I wanted to continue with my education. I applied to Antioch University and was ecstatic when I was accepted. I’m so happy that I ended up at Antioch because it was a wonderful experience where I met people of all different ages and backgrounds. During my graduate program, I received training in various settings. I worked at a high school wellness center, residential eating disorder program for teens, and a residential mental health program for teen girls.
As I was attending graduate school, I began to fall in love with being creative and learning about crystals. I wanted to focus more on school and needed a way to support myself for the next two years of my graduate program. One day I gave my friend a custom crystal bracelet as a gift and she had the brilliant idea for me to sell my creations! I started my business and once again fell in love with being a creative entrepreneur. The ups and downs of being an entrepreneur are drastic, especially when you add in all the other pressures of life. Having the experience of starting my own business and understanding the challenges helped me realize that I wanted to work with women entrepreneurs in individual and group settings.
All of these life experiences led me to where I am today – working in Hermosa Beach as an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist. I have the honor of working in a gorgeous office with other therapists who are welcoming, caring, and inspiring. I love meeting with my clients and seeing their progress as they become more comfortable and open in sessions. It’s truly beautiful to see how healing it can be when someone who feels alone or misunderstood has a safe space to talk to another human being.
Has it been a smooth road?
Life is a rollercoaster! I’ve worked on building resiliency in the hard times and cherishing the moment in the good times a lot throughout the years. You never know what is going to happen, so you have to be prepared and equipped with coping tools when the lows come. I’ve had to work a ton on pulling apart the conditioning I learned throughout my time growing up and instead exploring who I truly am. I think growing up we latch onto these labels our family, friends, and teachers give us – “the smart kid”, “the difficult child”, “the sensitive one”, etc. We tend to over-identify with these labels and get lost in who we think people want us to be. A lot of my focus personally and with clients has been discovering who we actually are when we remove all of that pressure.
What has kept me motivated throughout the whole licensing process is I know there are people out there looking for someone to listen to them without judgment. I know there are teens, young adults, and determined women who are getting caught in the shuffle of life and need a safe space to take a deep breath.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Therapy with Sabrina – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in helping girls and women of all ages discover who they truly are and step into their power. I enjoy working with many different kinds of people who are experiencing life’s transitions such as teenagers, young adults, and women entrepreneurs. A lot of the work I do with clients focuses on the Self – meaning building self-confidence, self-compassion, and self-acceptance. Together we explore who you are and what is holding you back from becoming who you want to be. This includes processing depression, anxiety, body image, relationship issues, and more. I help my clients discover coping skills, build resiliency, and strengthen self-awareness.
I’m excited to continue growing Therapy with Sabrina as I discover more populations and topics that I am passionate about. Some ideas I have are creating a strong online presence on social media, as well as creating online courses. I want to speak up more on social media about the issues facing women today and help facilitate conversations that inspire women to be authentic. A big topic I am getting interested in lately is the connection between the gut and mental health. I’m attending an integrative medicine for mental health conference this year and I’m excited to share what I learn on social media. Our physical, mental, and spiritual health are all tied together – which I think is worth exploring more!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
My life has always been scattered around the area – school in Culver City, work in Burbank/Santa Monica and living in Long Beach. Until recently, I drove A LOT to get to where I needed to be. Growing up in LA County, I’ve explored most of the little towns and in the past year, I’ve fallen in love with the South Bay. This year I moved my entire life to the South Bay and it feels amazing. The people have been incredibly genuine, kind, and welcoming. The food is amazing and there is no shortage of gluten-free options (oh, allergies). The beaches are gorgeous and there are activities to do every single weekend. I still have exploring to do, but I love knowing that this is a place where I can build my career, family, and life.
Pricing:
- Individuals: $130
Contact Info:
- Address: 2309 Pacific Coast Highway #207
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 - Website: https://www.therapywithsabrina.com
- Phone: (310) 694-0617
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacredspacewithsabrina/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sacredspacewithsabrina/
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.
