Jilla Lavian , LCSW

Jilla Lavian is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in California with 20 years of clinical experience supporting diverse communities through major life transitions and persistent emotional challenges. She completed dual master's degrees at the University of Southern California in Social Work and Jewish Communal Service and is also trained as a transformational life coach, bringing both therapeutic and coaching perspectives to her work.

Jilla believes that thoughtful self-exploration is an investment in long-term well-being. By attending to thoughts and emotions with compassion, she helps people develop clearer self-understanding and build greater emotional resilience. Her approach emphasizes listening, validation, and helping clients reconnect with their strengths while reducing self-judgment.

She draws from an integrated set of methods including cognitive behavioral techniques with a psychodynamic lens, mindfulness practices, client-centered and strength-based strategies, and coaching tools when appropriate. These tools are applied to issues such as stress and anxiety, relationship and family concerns, parenting challenges, grief and loss, sleep difficulties, career transitions, depression, compassion fatigue, and a range of attachment and cultural concerns. Jilla provides therapy in English and Persian and works collaboratively with individuals to clarify goals, restore direction, and support practical steps toward lasting change.

Approaches and Benefits of Online Therapeutic Care

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and developing practical strategies to change behaviors and emotional responses. It is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep difficulties and helps clients develop skills they can apply between sessions.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and nonjudgmental observation of thoughts and feelings. This approach can reduce reactivity to stress, improve emotional regulation, and support coping with grief, anger, and chronic worry.

Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented method that helps people resolve ambivalence and strengthen motivation for change. It can be particularly useful for career decisions, habit change, and situations where commitment or direction feels uncertain.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Jilla Lavian works collaboratively with each person to explore which methods best match their goals, needs, and preferences, and adjusts the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect with a licensed professional - through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - making it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to maintain continuity of care when in-person visits are not possible.