Stefani Reitter

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist 

Therapy isn’t just a job for me – it’s a deeply fulfilling opportunity to connect with others and help them manifest lives of confidence and peace.

My journey began by helping myself. As a 21-year-old, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. My feelings of sadness could also morph into anxiety at times, as often these emotional states go hand in hand. My biggest fear was failure, and the chance I wouldn’t achieve my personal and professional goals. That’s when I decided to start therapy.

I found therapy to be a safe place to explore who I was, who I wanted to be, and how to get there. It took a couple of tries, but I finally found a therapist I worked well with and I made a commitment to the process. Since then, I have spent much of my life engaged in personal growth practices that have helped me conceptualize how to manage mental illness and live comfortably in my own skin. In exploring what worked for me, I enlisted therapy, spiritual practices like yoga and meditation, yoga therapy, creative pursuits such as art, performance, and writing, and traditional psychiatry, to name a few. I became a therapist in my 30s after pursuing a career in dance and yoga for over 10 years. From this body-based foundation, I came to understand that much of healing is about balancing our action with inaction or our “doing” with “being.”

We live in a constantly changing environment, so having a designated practice that slows everything down and connects us with our inner stillness is imperative. I have felt my life improve tremendously when I was able to sit with negative emotions rather than react to or ignore them. This is where so many of us get stuck. When I notice my mind react to negative emotions, it’s often in the form of a problematic narrative. When I become aware of this narrative, I actively practice letting it go.

Rosy

stefani reiter psychotherapist - Family counseling and therapy - Santa Monica, CA

Stefani Reitter, LMFT

stefani-reiter-best-psychotherapist-near-me-santa-monica-ca

Santa Monica, CA

stefani reiter psychotherapist - Family counseling and therapy - Santa Monica, CA

When I find myself focusing on the externals like what other people think of me and how my life looks on the outside I know it’s time to reconnect to reality. That truth is the process of honoring and accepting myself and others where we are right now. I wouldn’t give up this journey for anything, as it has given me the ability to live life to its fullest, take risks, and find meaning in even my biggest mistakes.

I won’t lie. My life is complex and imperfect and I can’t promise you the hallmark card version of your life. I can assure you, however, that our work together will help you to land more fully and authentically in your life’s journey.

SPECIALTIES
I offer individual and couples therapy in Malibu and Santa Monica. My specialties include: Young adults (20’s and 30’s), Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar, Trauma and Abuse, Transgender, Addiction recovery, Perinatal, Grief and bereavement, Life transition/divorce/blended family.
Relationship Therapy

Have arguing and tension become the new norm in your relationship? Are you exhausted from trying to make it work? Do you just want peace and connection with your partner? Even healthy relationships can be rocky at times. You are not alone! Relationship therapy can help you identify what you and your partner need, and how to fulfill those needs in a mutually satisfying way. Remember, don’t give up until you get some help.