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Chris Meehan

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
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Chris Meehan, MA, LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
(424) 361-6197

As a Psychotherapist and Integrative Trauma Recovery Trained Specialist, I treat the whole person—body, mind, and soul. Life ebbs and flows, and at times, we can find ourselves in the rapids of despair and confusion. It’s easy to fall into the trap of defining ourselves by our struggles, which only leads us to forget our true story and diminish who we really are. As your counselor, I will help you clear the fog of dysfunction and doubt so the light of Christ can shine through you to illuminate your path and guide you to God’s purposes for your life.

Santa Monica - Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat

About

I have extensive experience treating clients with a wide variety of concerns, including treatment-resistant clients suffering from severe depression, anxiety, complex trauma, and substance abuse. I have a deep empathy for human suffering, and seek to offer warmth and relatability to each client. I work with teens and adult individuals, and find it very fulfilling to journey with my clients toward healing and transformation through the therapeutic process. I will listen intently to your story with the desire to authentically connect with you throughout the course of your treatment. No matter what you might be dealing with, I would be honored to help you find true restoration and hope.

My Goal as a Christian Counselor

One of my goals as your counselor is to help you become your authentic God given self—to develop and reveal the person you truly are and were meant to be. Through an individualized treatment plan, my aim is to help you find meaning in the midst of your challenges and ultimate relief from your pain. I will respectfully walk with you on your journey, offering proven therapeutic methods combined with comfort and hope from the Lord.

What I Offer in Christian Counseling

I offer a safe place where you can find peace, solve problems, and be challenged when necessary. My primary approach is to treat you as a whole person, not just the problem you’re currently facing. Through our sessions together, I provide space for your true, God-given identity to be discovered and revealed—an identity that is uniquely yours, and not defined by society or your family system. As your counselor, I offer unconditional permission for you to fully exist as yourself, and to delight in the way God designed you to be as His beloved child.

My Approach to Christian Counseling

In life, pain and suffering are inevitable. We have all been wounded in one way or another. At times, we all have our own cross to bear—but the story doesn’t end there. The resurrection is the other side of the same coin. The story doesn’t end on Good Friday. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). As Christians, we have the healing power of Christ. Together we can illuminate the healing power of faith, hope, and love. My clinical experience integrated with faith will help heal and then reveal your full, authentic, unique, God-given identity.

Biography

Qualifications & Experience

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco and a Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychotherapy from Antioch University Los Angeles. I am also trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy. My additional training and experience includes working in various clinics and treatment centers helping clients with a wide range of issues, including treatment-resistant patients, severe depression, trauma, substance abuse, and at-risk youth.

My Call to Christian Counseling

I come from a family of teachers, writers, builders, and artists. All of us were raised to be of service. So naturally, whatever I was doing, or wherever I was, I was serving. To walk with someone on their journey is a privilege and a gift. I have always been and will remain a person of service. Several years ago, I came across an article about Albert Ellis, a famous psychologist, and he was still seeing patients on his deathbed. That is a fulfilling life!

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I am a fourth generation Californian and native San Franciscan. I’ve also lived in the Colorado Mountains, New York City, and San Diego. My personal interests and hobbies include writing, reading, theatre, hiking, anything outdoors, film, ocean swimming, woodworking, and performing.

Services and Specialities

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

  • Abandonment and Neglect
  • Anger Management
  • Anxiety
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Chemical Dependency
  • Coaching
  • Counseling for Teens
  • Codependency
  • Depression
  • Family Counseling
  • Grief and Loss
  • Group Counseling
  • Individual Counseling
  • Infidelity and Affairs
  • Men’s Issues
  • Online Counseling
  • Personal Development
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Professional Development
  • Relationship Issues
  • Sex and Porn Addiction
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Spiritual Development
  • Trauma

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

I am trained in the RITTM model from the well regarded Reconnect Integrative Trauma Treatment Center. I have experience processing such traumas ranging from abandonment to sexual assault to kidnapping. I use a hybrid of brainspotting, grounding, resourcing, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, Gestalt, Trauma-Focused CBT, and general unconditional positive regard, creating a safe place to heal.

Addiction and Chemical Dependency

I have a broad knowledge of recovery including experience working at Clear Recovery Center, 52 week 12-step program with Herb Kaighan, Al Anon, CoDa, SLA, ACA, AA, and more. If you’re struggling with addiction, hope is available. You don’t have to battle alone. I would be honored to walk the journey with you toward wholeness and lasting change.

Grief and Loss

Grief and loss are issues that we all have to face at certain points in our lives. My training and personal experience have given me insight and sensitivity into this life-changing wound. It would be my privilege to work with you as you seek to navigate through your grief and learn to live in the new normal after your loss.

Depression

Depression and anxiety can hijack the brain. Convincing us that we are hopeless, worthless, trapped, we then develop a myopic point of view and only find evidence to reinforce this false narrative. “I’m no good.” “I haven’t accomplished anything in my life.” “I’m worthless.” But this is not true. It’s a lie. Together we will challenge this lie that denies you as a person, a child of God, unique, made in the image and likeness of God, re-establishing hope, faith, clarity, and confidence.

Relationship Issues

Most of our wounds come from relationships, usually our primary family relationships. We unconsciously carry these wounds into our current relationships in hopes of healing and mistakenly assuming we will find ourselves in something other than ourselves. This belief keeps us continually seeking and outsourcing identity to the other. Naturally, these wounds surface in relationship. The answer is not to avoid relationships, but rather to work on ourselves so we can fully bring our true selves to our relationships. Ultimately our goal in therapy is to reveal and work at healing this wound with God’s help.

Payment and Forms

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

  • Santa Monica – Monday – Saturday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), some insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction will be added for credit card payments.

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