About Me
Hello and welcome, my name is Elsa Gueziec. I am a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in Los Altos, California.
I enjoy working with a variety of clients and ages, I also specialize in counseling parents of children with special needs. I strive to create a safe, warm and confidential environment, using an empathetic and collaborative stance. I strongly believe that a good fit between therapist and client is essential for a positive experience in therapy. As a therapist, I take pride in my unique mix of professional training, psychological insight and life experience.
Credentials I hold a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University. I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (California license # 126442) which requires completion of over 3000 hours of supervised training, in addition to graduate level coursework.
Experience I have experience counseling adults, couples, high school students and middle school students. Prior to my private practice I served as a counselor at Adolescent Counseling Services in Palo Alto, CHAC - a local community mental-health agency- in Mountain View, and the Sunnyvale school district. I have worked with clients from diverse backgrounds: multicultural, ethnic and racial minorities, minority sexual orientation.
Languages I offer therapy in English and in French.
Background I was born and raised in France, I emigrated to the US as a young adult. Prior to becoming a therapist, I studied Law in France and in the US and worked for over a decade in the legal field, first in New York and later in Silicon Valley. I discovered my calling to become a psychotherapist after becoming the parent of a special needs child. This experience - unexpected, challenging and yet rewarding - combined with my passion for mental-health has led me to embrace my work as a psychotherapist. I am a white, cysgender woman, my pronouns are she/her/hers.
My Therapeutic Approach I adapt my approach to each client’s unique needs, and use an ecclectic mix of approaches. I am influenced by: Cognitive-Behavioral Theory (CBT), positive psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, emotionally-focused theory, object-relations theory, systems theory and existential theory. I work collaboratively with clients to develop goals for their therapy, I offer clear and direct feedback while having an empathetic stance.
My Values I believe each individual has strengths and resilience that can be tapped into to overcome psychological issues. I strive to exhibit cultural sensitivity in my work, I’m always curious and open to learn about my client’s diverse cultural backgrounds. My goal is to ultimately enhance your ability to uncover what emotional roadblocks stand in your way to be able to make choices and take actions that are related to your values and your aspirations.
