- Stress and anxiety
- Life purpose
- Mindfulness and CBT
About Jilla
Jilla Lavian is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 20 years of experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, parenting challenges, grief, career questions, and life purpose concerns. Sessions are conducted in English and Persian.
She draws on practical approaches like cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness to help people notice unhelpful thought patterns and try different responses. Motivational interviewing tools are used to clarify what matters now and to support small steps toward change. Psychodynamic ideas offer a way to look at recurring patterns that may come from family of origin and attachment history.
Clients can expect a mix of conversation and specific strategies. Jilla pays attention to emotions while also setting goals people can act on between sessions. She frames therapy as a collaboration that balances exploring past influences with problem-solving for the present.
Her background includes a dual master’s from the University of Southern California in Social Work and Jewish Communal Service. She has also trained as a transformational life coach, and she brings that coaching perspective into work about direction, career, and purpose.
Practical concerns she often addresses include caregiver stress, codependency, immigration-related stress, midlife questions, and feelings of emptiness or isolation. Cost varies by location and sessions are offered through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Jilla commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness in her work. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to reduce stress and worry. Mindfulness therapy teaches attention and breathing practices to calm strong emotions and improve sleep and focus. She also uses motivational interviewing to help people clarify values and set actionable goals. These methods are explained and tried together so the client helps choose which approach feels most useful. Finding the right mix is part of the collaborative work in early sessions. Confirm the current online session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Many people find online sessions help fit therapy into hectic schedules, allowing shorter check-ins during a workday break or sessions without travel time. Video work supports seeing facial cues, while phone sessions can be easier when video is impractical. The therapist will discuss which format suits the client’s goals and daily life when arranging the first meeting.Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English, Persian
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and parenting challenges, grief, career questions, and life purpose concerns among other issues.
How does she approach someone who feels stuck?
Her approach blends cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and psychodynamic ideas to notice patterns, set short-term goals, and try new behaviors.
What is her professional background?
She has 20 years of clinical experience and completed dual master’s degrees at the University of Southern California, plus training as a transformational life coach.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in California and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Persian.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to start a session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.