Therapy starts with the willingness to call "B.S." on your stuff.
Let's clear the static and have real conversations about what’s holding you back .
We don't seek therapy because everything feels fine.
We reach out for help when something deep inside feels unsettled — when we feel disconnected from who we are and who we’re meant to be.
I’m here to help you bridge that gap. Not to fix the version of you that you're ready to leave behind — but to build the version you’ve always envisioned. One shaped by your emotions, your experiences, and the vision you hold for your life.
Together, we’ll uncover what’s been missing and create the foundation for your most whole, authentic self.
I'm ready when you are.
I’m Steph Machado-Jenkins, LCSW — a licensed mental health professional with over 25 years of clinical experience. Based in Whittier, California, I offer both in-person sessions and virtual therapy statewide in English and Spanish.
I specialize in trauma-focused care, bringing two decades of expertise in working with complex trauma. I use evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Attachment Focused EMDR, along with Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples navigating emotional and physical infidelity.
As a body-positive, identity-affirming therapist, I support emotional and physical wellness at every size. I also provide compassionate care for individuals facing eating disorders, body image concerns, and identity-related challenges.
I am committed to honoring all aspects of who you are — including your cultural background, spiritual practices, and lived experiences. My practice is a safe, welcoming space, and I proudly affirm kink and LGBTQ+ identities.
Services (Offered in English and Spanish)
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Individual Processes
This is your time to take your power back. In our one-on-one work, we’ll go straight to the root of what’s holding you back — whether it’s old wounds, limiting beliefs, or patterns you’re ready to outgrow. You’ll leave each session with greater clarity, stronger boundaries, and a deeper connection to who you truly are. This isn’t about quick fixes — it’s about lasting transformation.
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Couples Processes
Real connection takes real work — and that’s exactly what we’ll do together. In couples sessions, we tackle the hard conversations head-on, breaking through old patterns and rebuilding trust from the ground up. I’ll guide you and your partner toward stronger communication, deeper intimacy, and a renewed sense of partnership. If you’re ready to stop surviving and start thriving together, let’s begin.
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Professional Wellness Sessions
When your career demands everything, it’s easy to lose sight of yourself. These sessions are designed for professionals who are ready to reclaim their balance, build healthier boundaries, and reignite their sense of purpose. Together, we’ll address burnout, sharpen your communication skills, restore your confidence, and help you navigate career transitions with clarity and courage.
What is Individual Therapy with Trauma-Focused Care?
Individual therapy with trauma-focused care means you meet one-on-one with a
therapist who understands how past hurtful or scary experiences can affect your life
today. The goal is to help you feel safe, supported, and able to heal.
What to expect:
1. Safety first – Your therapist will make sure you feel comfortable and won’t push
you to share more than you’re ready for.
2. Understanding your story – Together, you’ll look at how past experiences may
be showing up in your thoughts, feelings, body, or relationships.
3. Learning coping skills – You’ll practice ways to calm strong emotions, manage
stress, and feel more in control.
4. Working through memories – When you’re ready, your therapist will help you
talk about and process the tough experiences in a safe and gentle way.
5. Healing and growth – Therapy helps reduce the power of painful memories,
build confidence, and find healthier ways of moving forward.
The most important part:
You are in charge of your healing journey. Therapy moves at your pace, respects your
culture and values, and focuses on your strengths.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based approach that helps couples strengthen their emotional bond, improve communication, and move out of stuck or painful patterns.
At its core, EFT recognizes that relationship challenges often stem from unmet emotional needs and cycles of disconnection — not from a lack of love or effort. When partners feel unheard, unsafe, or disconnected, conflict can become repetitive and exhausting.
In EFT, partners are guided to:
Identify and express deeper emotions and needs
Respond to one another with empathy rather than defensiveness
Shift negative interaction patterns into more secure, supportive connections
Couples often experience:
Reduced conflict and fewer recurring arguments
A stronger sense of emotional safety and trust
Deeper connection and more effective communication
EFT is widely researched and shown to be highly effective in improving relationship satisfaction and repairing emotional attachment.