Be the change you wish to see in the world.
-Mahatma Gandhi
With more than 25 years of experience, Harriet Boxer specializes in psychodynamic therapy addressing personal and professional development. Areas of treatment include emotional stress, chronic illness, and addictive behavior.
Why People Seek Treatment
Feeling Stuck
Many of us have difficulties making changes that we know would be good for us and we get stuck in unhealthy patterns.
Physical Illness
Personal illness or helping someone else who is ill can be very draining.
Relationships
A great relationship takes work and it is hard keep from repeating unhealthy patterns.
Under Stress
Stress can come from any direction, and it is hard to balance life and prioritize.
Life Transitions
Sometimes life just happens to us and its hard to know how to handle what comes along. Even happy transitions can bring a great deal of stress.
Addiction
Habits affect our daily lives - for better or worse. Learn how to take action to stop unhealthy behaviors.
About Dr. Harriet Boxer
I am a licensed clinical psychologist (CA License Number PSY 12575) with a private practice in Westwood. I have over 25 years of experience helping adults, children and adolescents using individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy.
I am a native New Yorker and have lived in Los Angeles since 1990. I obtained my undergraduate degree at the University of New Mexico where I graduated with honors. I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from St. John’s University in New York. While in New York, I had the privilege of training at prestigious training institutions such as Long Island Jewish Hospital and Albert Einstein/Bronx Psychiatric Center. My internship was at The Children’s Hospital of the University of Colorado. I completed a post-doctoral Fellowship at The UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. I also have a doctorate in Psychoanalysis from the Los Angeles Institute and Society of Psychoanalytic Studies.
I have worked with clients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. I have experience in medical centers helping physicians and their patients understand the psychological meaning of their health behaviors and medical illnesses so that they can achieve maximum wellness. I have collaborated with parents and teachers to optimize the education of their children. In addition to my private practice, I am a consultant to the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. I also have taught and supervised students at UCLA and Pepperdine Universities.
“ Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears. ”
— Les Brown
Psychological Services Offered
In collaborating with my clients, I use a combination of psychoanalytic, systems and interpersonal approaches. The goal is to uncover emotional blocks to success in a confidential and safe atmosphere. Your individual personality and emotional issues are understood in terms of their historical, biological, cultural, interpersonal, cognitive and emotional components. The client therapist relationship is a central tool to discover and address these issues. People find me personable, open and responsive. I am interested in helping people fulfill their potential and live full satisfying lives.
Individual Therapy
People seek therapy for any number of reasons. Frequent reasons to seek therapy include problems in a relationship or with intimacy, dissatisfaction with a job or career, getting past a traumatic event, loss of a loved one, feelings of depression or anxiety, social phobia, substance abuse and behavioral addictions, trouble adjusting to changes in life.
I work in collaboration with you to design a treatment plan. Depending on your need, we can work in a brief or long-term therapy mode. My approach to therapy includes developing better coping skills while increasing understanding of the underlying factors that are at play. I also offer psychoanalysis for those who want to explore unconscious factors and make fundamental changes in their lives.
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is an intensive form of therapy that requires a commitment of meeting three to four times a week with a specially trained analyst for the purpose of exploring the unconscious factors that are influencing an individual’s behavior. Psychoanalysis can be very effective in helping an individual where more typical therapy has not because of its focus on the unconscious. Often people experience unhappiness or dissatisfaction in their lives but are unaware of the unconscious factors that are influencing their thoughts and feelings. Once an individual becomes aware of these factors he or she has much more ability to make conscious choices on how he or she wants to live life.
Psychological Assessment
Psychological Assessment, or Psychological Testing, is a way to quickly and thoroughly assess various dimensions of a person’s cognitive and emotional functioning. Using standardized and well established measures, I can evaluate strengths and weaknesses in cognitive processing and also identify patterns of thought processes and emotions.
Psychological Assessments are useful in identifying specific mental health issues, specific learning disabilities or cognitive matters. Assessments are also indicated in helping identify appropriate educational or vocational paths. They also are often requested in different legal situations or in qualifying for various professions.
Brief Therapy
Have you recently suffered a loss of a job or a change in your relationship? Brief therapy is designed to focus on addressing symptoms you may have in response to these crises. Typical symptoms may include depression or anxiety, sleeplessness or difficulty being motivated to do the things you need to do to get back on your feet. I can help you address these issues so that you can move past the situation and on to the rest of your life.
Long-Term Therapy
Some people see patterns in their lives that have gotten in the way of their ability to connect with others or be productive or creative in the way that they would like to be. I work with people who are interested in exploring their feelings and behavior as well as the underlying roots so that they can make more fundamental changes in themselves, leading to more vitality and authenticity in their lives.
Family Therapy
Families are constantly evolving. Relationships that may have worked at one stage may not adapt well over time. Sometimes an individual’s difficulties impact his or her family significantly. Family therapy provides a safe environment to discuss what is happening between family members so that there can be improved communication. This allows the family to better adapt to changes and challenges over time.
“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”
— George Eliot
Forms
Before your initial appointment, kindly download, print and sign the below forms, and bring them to your first session.
Contact Dr. Boxer
310-838-8210
Office hours are by appointment and are available weekdays and early evenings.
Professional services are to be paid on a cash basis. Medi-Cal, Medicare, or insurance payments are not accepted. However, I will assist clients in obtaining insurance reimbursement when possible.
This contact form is for general questions about my practice. If you are in crisis please contact 911 for assistance.