Insights into Mental Health

“Art and music are central to my life,” she says. “They help me explore emotion, transformation, and the human condition. I see creativity as one of the most profound expressions of healing and self-understanding.”

At Happier Living, we know that health isn’t just about diagnoses and prescriptions. It’s about creating spaces for human connection, because that is where healing truly begins.

Try and hold on to the lazy days of summer by keeping a slower pace whenever you can. Resting, relaxing, slowing down are like vitamins for mental and emotional wellbeing.

"I meet my clients where they are, always. I make sure there’s trust, safety, and unconditional positive regard."

"My goal is to collaborate with patients to increase their confidence in their ability to change and to enhance their hope that they can become their most authentic selves."

I feel personally invested in helping individuals overcome challenges, build resilience, and enhance their quality of life through therapeutic techniques and guidance.

The P.E.R.Fi.C model offered at Happier Living ensures that all areas of health, including physical and emotional health, are explored and attended to. It also allows us to see how we change over time and where we may need to shift our attention.

“My goal as a therapist is to assist my clients in reaching their full potential,” says Schmidt. “I care a great deal about my clients and want to help them succeed.”

“Winter can be tough, but I find it’s also a season to embrace little habits that make a big difference in feeling balanced and energized,” says Dr. Kinder.

At Happier Living, Dr. Genen has developed an exercise called the P.E.R.Fi.C. System, which allows you to examine different facets of your life.

"If this happened, first I would suggest allowing oneself to feel the emotions that arise from this loss. It is a loss and it is okay to grieve this loss in order to process these emotions in a healthy way. Self-care is very important at this time."

"I'm grateful to be part of the Happier Living team where I'm able to be of service to all of those people who can then go on to be of amazing service and care to all the clients that they see and make a huge impact on their lives.”

“I believe that the most important part about creating and establishing New Year's resolutions is practicing kindness and self-compassion,” says Happier Living licensed psychologist Angela L. Babadjanian.

“It is okay to stay home or spend the time with people in your life who do make you feel good.” 

“It seems so important to keep in mind that there is much more to all of us, and to the relationships we hold dear, than our political differences.”

“I like exercise in any form to help relieve stress, help with sleep, and for overall health,” says Dr. McGuire.

Kids sometimes need help making the shift from lazy days of summer to the school routine.

"Intentionality is the key to establishing a strong family connection with the hustle and bustle of everyday living."

I love psychiatry because much of the care I provide to my patients comes from making a genuine and caring connection of the heart.

While it isn’t a magic bullet, getting outside and getting active can help boost your mood. With the sunny, warm weather, there really is no better time to do it.

Humans are fascinating and I enjoy listening to people and trying to understand their experience and figure out how I can help.

It is crucial to pay just as much attention to both your physical and mental health, and there are numerous signs that can indicate it would be a good time to reach out to a mental health professional.

It's the focus. It's like you switch your attention. So it's paying full attention.

Psychiatry gave me the ability to know people beyond the surface and be part of their journeys in a meaningful way.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we asked four of our clinicians to share their thoughts on how we can all benefit from regular therapy sessions.

It is very important to view self-care as vital (or vitamins) to our emotional well being and to give ourselves permission to take care of ourselves first.

“I know that misery shared is halved and happiness shared is doubled,” says Dr. Klyman. “I like my patients to be able to experience that.”

The connection comes from listening and asking genuine questions so that we can reach new insights that help the patients understand themselves and their relationships with others.

I wanted to better understand human issues and their causes better.

It has been a wonderful experience that I plan to continue as long as my health and my interest in being a psychotherapist continue.

This month we are celebrating the “C” in The P.E.R.Fi.C. System, Happier Living’s roadmap to a more balanced life.

“I have always been curious about how people think and live,” says Maren. “I love hearing life stories.”

Kensie Hoag wasn’t always going to be a social worker. She originally wanted to forgo college and move to a big city and become an actress, writer, and an artist.

With everyone living such busy lives, it is easy to let friendships languish and not get the attention that they deserve. But meaningful friendships are an important part of a happy and healthy life and serve different purposes than romantic and familial relationships.

Meet Julianne Dunn, who was a former deejay and suddenly found herself laid off. It was during this time Dunn realized her true passion and found herself getting her Masters of Science in addiction counseling.

For Happier Living Nutritionist Brittany Bettingen, taking care of one’s health is personal.

For Dr. Karl Gundersen, it was the connections he knew he would make with his patients that led him to psychiatry. Working at Happier Living has allowed those connections to flourish.

This month, we are spotlighting relationships. Happier Living’s Director of Clinician Experience and relationship expert Dr. Alexis Weisinger shares five ways to boost relationships with our partners now and throughout the year.

Dr. Thomas Rankin always assumed he would become a lawyer like his father. After majoring in philosophy as an undergraduate, he went to Stanford Law School, graduated and passed the California Bar exam.“But law never really spoke to me,” he says.

Decades ago and long before he became a psychologist, Dr. Gary Lewis was playing a game with some friends and was asked the question: What do you want your tombstone to read?

At Happier Living, we’ve developed The P.E.R.Fi.C. System to help set goals and track progress in five key areas that are all crucial to the balanced life we help our clients strive for...

Dr. Mark Schlotterback decided to pursue a career in psychiatry during his psychiatry rotations in medical school. While on the rotations, he says he felt strong enthusiasm, interest, and vocational fulfillment.

Jennifer Arzate builds a deep connection with her clients by providing a genuinely caring, warm, and non-judgmental space for them, and an alliance with them.

It was during medical school rotation that Dr. Duy Tran fell in love with psychiatry. Originally, he had been planning on becoming a surgeon.

People often underestimate the importance of the connection they have with their clinician. Instead, they focus on finding a convenient appointment time or they don’t give the ...

Ever wondered why it hurts when you get criticized? Why do we get “defensive”? Our pathways for processing physical pain and emotional pain are the same. That means experiencing loss, trauma...

It’s important to understand the state of Los Angeles Psychiatrists and mental health care today so you can understand and appreciate what our group is about. Access to Outpatient Mental...

When you think of psychotherapy, you might imagine lying on a couch with a psychiatrist sitting poker faced, scribbling notes and occasionally stroking their chin as they contemplate what...

What is The Non-Diet Approach? We are not designed to diet, science says so If diets really ‘worked’, why do people start a new one every year? A growing body of evidence shows that...