Jilla Lavian

Jilla Lavian is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of practice in California. She offers calm, practical support for people dealing with stress, anxiety, anger, grief, relationship strain, and life changes. Jilla speaks English and Persian and frames therapy as a place to explore feelings and set clearer goals.

She trained at the University of Southern California, completing a dual master’s in Social Work and Jewish Communal Service, and also works as a transformational life coach. Jilla focuses on helping people notice their thoughts and feelings without judgment. That gentle attention aims to reduce self-criticism and open space for new choices.

Her sessions combine talk and practical steps. She listens, validates emotions, and helps clients identify strengths they can build on. Jilla uses techniques drawn from cognitive behavioral ideas, mindfulness, psychodynamic thinking, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused strategies to match what a person needs.

Clients commonly set goals around coping skills, clearer communication, and restoring direction after a big life shift. Jilla emphasizes small, doable actions and reflection that lead to steady change. Her work blends immediate problem-solving with attention to deeper patterns that affect daily life.

People looking for help with parenting stress, career questions, cultural adjustment, or feelings of emptiness often find her approach practical. She aims to help clients regain clarity, calm, and more ease moving forward.

How her approaches translate to online work

Jilla uses cognitive behavioral ideas and mindfulness work that translate well to online conversation. Cognitive behavioral techniques look at the thoughts that feed strong emotions and teach practical strategies to test and change unhelpful patterns, which can help with anger, anxiety, and sleep problems. Mindfulness therapy focuses on paying kind attention to present-moment experience and learning simple practices that reduce reactivity and increase calm.

She also uses motivational interviewing to help people clarify what they want to change and find their own reasons to take steps forward. Together, the therapist and client decide which methods fit the person's goals, needs, and preferences in a collaborative way rather than prescribing one path up front.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people try different approaches and carry practical exercises into everyday routines with therapist guidance.