About Dr. Williams
Dr. Angela Williams is a licensed psychologist whose respect, compassion, and humor creates a safe space for people to embark on a supported journey towards healing. She incorporates somatic and values-based approaches to help people identify and release longstanding patterns and beliefs that are no longer serving them and move towards a more balanced, satisfying, and values-based life.
As a Level II Certified Sensorimotor therapist, she understands the wisdom of the body in processing trauma and childhood wounds, as well as serving as a source of healing and creativity. In addition to “bottom up” somatic processing, Dr. Williams also has extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Her therapeutic style blends strength-based acceptance with practical skill development. Incorporating mindfulness-based interventions, she helps her clients move through difficult experiences and be more present in their lives.
Over the past fifteen years, Dr. Williams has cultivated a therapeutic approach that centers on individual treatment needs while utilizing evidence-based practices. Her experience, both professionally and personally, has led her to collaborate with like-minded colleagues to create a warm, nurturing, and healing environment that facilitates integrated treatment of the mind, body, and spirit.
Areas of Expertise and Treatment Modalities
- Anxiety (generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, illness anxiety)
- Depression
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Trauma (physical, emotional, sexual)
- Bipolar Disorder
- Anger Management
- Relationship Difficulties (eg. marriage, codependency, communication)
- LGBTQ+
- Aging
- Life Transitions and Adjustments
- Infertility and Family Planning
- Chronic illness and Adjustment to illness (eg. cancer and other medical conditions)
- Grief
Dr. Williams’ therapy treatment modalities include:
- Individual & Couples Therapy for ages 18+
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Humanistic Therapy
- Existential Therapy
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (for trauma)
- Somatic and Trauma-focused Therapy
- Strength-Based Therapy
Background
Dr. Williams received her masters degree in psychology from California State University, Northridge. She went on to obtain her doctorate in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. Dr. Williams completed her American Psychological Association (APA) accredited internship at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, a leader in community mental health treatment in Los Angeles.
Dr. Williams has extensive experience working therapeutically with adults, both individually and in groups. She has successfully helped clients presenting with a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorders, relationship problems, psychotic disorders and personality disorders. She has worked in diverse settings, from private practice to community mental health centers.
Assessment is another area of particular interest to Dr. Williams, who has been provided with multiple opportunities to develop her testing skills. She coordinated and provided supervision for the assessment program within the APA accredited internship at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. Since leaving that position to pursue private practice opportunities, Dr. Williams has been providing cognitive and neuropsychological assessments to older adults in assisted living communities through Memory Training Centers of America.
In addition to her psychotherapy experience, Dr. Williams has an extensive background in supervision, program development and training. Along with clinical supervision for staff and trainees, she provided leadership and guidance to multiple adult and older adult programs within a large, county contracted community mental health center. She also developed and presented MCEP accredited trainings across multiple Department of Mental Health sites on Brief Crisis Intervention and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Specified Populations.
Dr. Williams is licensed by the Board of Psychology in the state of California and her license number is PSY23374.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
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American Psychological Association
- Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, Professional Staff
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California Psychological Association
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Los Angeles County Psychological Association
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International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies
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Golden Key Honor Society
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Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society