Dr. Yvonne Thomas is a licensed psychologist Santa Monica clients trust who has dedicated over 25 years to helping individuals, couples, and families improve their mental health and well-being. 
Offering her expertise across a variety of issues, Dr. Thomas provides compassionate, and knowledgeable counseling services to clients. With her extensive academic background—holding three degrees in psychology—and her experience treating those struggling with their emotions and life’s challenges, Dr. Thomas is deeply committed to supporting her clients through their issues and difficult moments in life.
Her services include individual therapy, couples and marriage counseling, life transition guidance, and grief counseling.
Prospective clients may begin with a free phone consultation with Dr. Thomas to determine their needs and explore how therapy with Dr. Thomas might benefit them.
Yvonne Thomas, Ph.D. In Brief:
Extensive Experience With a Diverse Range of Specialties
California License # PSY 14489
Flexible Scheduling
Three Degrees in Psychology
Over 25 Years of Experience
Accepts Many Forms of Insurance
Free Initial Phone Consultation
Some of the types of therapy Dr. Thomas offers:
Individual Therapy in Santa Monica
Individual therapy with Dr. Thomas has proven to be highly beneficial for clients dealing with personal issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem challenges, career-related stress, and loss. Her individual therapy always emphasizes the personalized approach. Each client receives a treatment plan tailored to their unique concerns, needs, and goals.
Indeed, by customizing treatment, Dr. Thomas provides therapy that resonates with each client’s personal journey. This customized approach helps her clients come to recognize their own specific issues and feelings, creating a greater understanding of themselves.
In sessions with Dr. Thomas, she devotes her attention to the client, providing a safe and private space where they can openly explore their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment.
Therapy with Dr. Thomas is conducted in an environment that’s as emotionally safe as it is welcoming. She provides a confidential space where clients can share their thoughts and feelings, knowing their discussions will remain private.
Through individual therapy, clients gain resilience, learn effective coping mechanisms, and improve their emotional well-being. Dr. Thomas guides her clients through stress management techniques and helps them cultivate a stronger sense of self-awareness. This process allows them to approach life’s challenges with more confidence and to develop strategies for situations a person may encounter both today and into the future.
Enhancing Self-Discovery and Personal Growth
Therapy can be a transformative journey that extends beyond addressing immediate mental health concerns. Clients who work with Dr. Thomas may find themselves on a path of self-discovery, allowing them to better understand their values, motivations, and goals. As they gain insight into their inner world, they can become more empowered to navigate life’s complexities and realize personal growth.
Dr. Thomas provides her clients with a consistent, empathetic therapeutic relationship. This support acts as an anchor, giving individuals a reliable partner in their healing journey. Her therapy is rooted in a foundation of trust and empathy, allowing clients to build their emotional resilience and overcome challenges in a healthy, constructive manner.
Psychologist in Santa Monica Offering Couples Counseling
For couples experiencing relationship issues or those who just want to build up their relationship, counseling offers a way to communicate openly, resolve conflicts, and strengthen their bond. Dr. Thomas creates a neutral and supportive environment where couples can openly discuss their concerns, gain insights into their relationship dynamics, and learn skills to enhance their connection.
What Can Couples Gain From Counseling?
Conflict Resolution: Many relationships struggle with unresolved conflict. Dr. Thomas helps couples develop skills to handle disagreements constructively, fostering understanding rather than escalating arguments.
Self-Awareness: Couples counseling also provides individuals with insights into their own emotions, behaviors, and communication styles. This increased self-awareness can improve not only the relationship, but also personal happiness and growth in both parties.
Building a Deeper Bond: Therapy allows partners to explore topics that may not arise in everyday conversation, such as family backgrounds, past traumas, or personal vulnerabilities. This exploration can lead to a stronger emotional connection between the partners.
What May Cause Couples to Consider Counseling?
Every relationship is unique, and couples seek therapy for various reasons. For example, counseling can help couples understand how patterns in their relationship, such as power imbalances or communication habits, may be contributing to conflicts. By exploring these dynamics, couples can gain clarity and learn to make necessary adjustments.
Dr. Thomas acts as a neutral party, offering unbiased knowledge-based guidance and helping couples view their relationship from a fresh perspective. Therapy encourages partners to understand each other’s viewpoints and avoid miscommunication, while increasing empathy and mutual respect.
In addition, Dr. Thomas equips couples with skills to navigate conflict in a constructive way. Learning to communicate feelings such as jealousy, anger, or sadness productively is essential for a healthier relationship.
Psychologist in Santa Monica: Life Transition Counseling for Major Life Changes
Life transitions—such as job changes, relocations, illness, or alterations in family structure—can be overwhelming and may bring up a range of emotions. Dr. Thomas offers life transition counseling to help clients navigate these periods in a healthier, more positive fashion.
This therapy can help clients devise effective strategies such as stress management techniques, goal-setting, and relaxation exercises to help clients adapt to their new circumstances.
Everyone’s life transition counseling will be different, just as their life transitions are. To that end, Dr. Thomas creates individualized treatment plans for each of her clients. That said, these may very well include accepting that change is a part of life, and helping clients develop a more healthy and positive outlook.
She may also work with her clients to view changes from a balanced perspective and can assist individuals better cope with the uncertainties that transitions often bring.
Furthermore, Dr. Thomas helps her clients navigate relationships and identify people who support their growth and well-being. For those going through a major change, therapy can provide a stable environment to address these big changes and to reflect on how internal and external influences impact their journey.
With Dr. Thomas’s support, clients can learn to identify their core values and align their actions with their personal goals. This approach fosters resilience, helping clients make decisions that support a fulfilling and purposeful life. Dr. Thomas also guides her clients in building habits that provide stability during times of upheaval.
Psychologist in Santa Monica: Grief Counseling for Loss and Healing
Grief counseling is a critical service for clients facing loss—whether due to death, separation, or similar changes. Dr. Thomas supports clients through the complex emotions associated with grief, offering a compassionate space where they can process their feelings and find a path toward healing.
Grief is a highly personal experience that can stem from various types of loss. For example, the end of a friendship or romantic relationship can trigger grief and a sense of instability. By that same token, losing a job or letting go of a long-held dream can create a sense of loss that requires healing.
Even changes in support systems, such as friends or family, can lead to feelings of grief and disconnection.
People experiencing grief may cycle through multiple emotions, such as sadness, anger, guilt, or denial. Dr. Thomas helps clients recognize these signs and understand that grief is a natural response to loss. Additionally, she provides guidance for individuals who may be experiencing intense or prolonged grief.
Grief can manifest as physical symptoms, including fatigue, insomnia, or changes in appetite.
Dr. Thomas’s counseling addresses both emotional and physical aspects of grief, recognizing that this process affects clients holistically.
Dr. Thomas uses a variety of therapeutic techniques to support clients through their grieving process, helping them find ways to cope healthily and sustainably. Everyone’s therapy will be different, but they very well may include validating feelings of grief and giving clients a space to express their sadness.
Also, Dr. Thomas helps clients explore support networks and identify loved ones who can provide encouragement and understanding during difficult times. Encouraging clients to prioritize self-care as a way to cope with grief’s physical and emotional toll is one more way she can help.
Psychologist for Those in Santa Monica
Finding the right psychologist is an essential part of the therapeutic journey. Dr. Thomas believes that a strong client-therapist relationship is foundational to successful therapy outcomes. For those in the Santa Monica area, Dr. Thomas provides a warm and welcoming space in which her clients can feel safe, supported, and empowered.
If you’re considering therapy, taking the first step can make a transformative difference. Dr. Thomas offers a free initial consultation by phone to discuss potential treatment options. To schedule an appointment or learn more, call (310) 359-9450 or request a consultation through our website.