Alyce Waxman Psychotherapist

Hello. I’m Alyce.

I have long been interested in the ways the stories we tell shape our understanding of ourselves and connection to each other. As an art history undergraduate and painter myself, I was drawn to the subject of portraiture as an exploration of identity and human nature.

Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, I had a 25 year career as a creative professional. As such, I can relate to the personal values and passion that lead someone to pursue a creative occupation that is intertwined with individual identity. With that, comes the challenges of living outside of dominant culture without a roadmap forward and the instability that can occur with freelance/consultative work. (Hear more about some of my work with Tracy Sondern for aging creatives on the podcast Beyond Artist’s Block.)

Along the way, I have been fortunate to have the support of a few therapists who helped me confront the stories that were impeding my connection to myself and others in my life. These experiences, as well as my time as a volunteer on the suicide hotline, have deepened my understanding of human nature and inspired me to pursue a career as a therapist. While I work with a range of themes, I am particularly attuned to working with those struggling with the impact of relational or developmental trauma, anxiety & depression, career and other life transitions, feelings of overwhelm & performance anxiety, grief and loss, shame, loss of identity, or creative blocks.

I believe our stories are shaped by structures of power, language, and context, and I hold space that is informed by cultural sensitivity and allyship. I am LGBT-affirmative, sex positive, and support all relationship structures. I identify as an ally of the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.

How I Work

My exploratory and collaborative approach is informed by the idea that in order to change, we must first cultivate self-acceptance. I am passionate about relationships and exploring the ways past experiences block us from building meaningful connections in the present. I believe that we all possess an inner strength and resilience that, with support and increased self-awareness, can empower us to live authentic, fulfilling, and meaningful lives. Together, we will explore your story to uncover the patterns that stifle connection and growth, creating the space for positive changes to unfold. 

 Experience & Credentials

  • Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) Registration #143934

    Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) Registration #15521

    Supervised by Tali Catz, Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) License #90927

  • Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles (additional Professional Development Coursework (PDC) to develop workshops to support creatives coping with blocks, ageism, burn out, or loss of identity)

    Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Carleton College

  • Volunteer counselor working with individuals, teens, couples, families, and groups at Southern California Counseling Center (SCCC), a non-profit community mental health center

    Volunteer Supervisor/Resource Associate at Teenline, a peer-to-peer crisis hotline staffed by teens supervised by associate therapists

    Group facilitator at SCCC Personal and Relationship Support Group

    Group facilitator/co-developer at SCCC Ageism and the Creative Professional (Hear more here.)

  • Relational Gestalt Therapy: Integration of Theory and Practice from Pacific Gestalt Institute (PGI) (post-graduate advanced training) (in progress)

    Center for Group Studies Weekend Training Program (post-graduate advanced training) (in progress)

    Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy from the Institute for Creative Mindfulness

    Community Resiliency Model (CRM) from the Trauma Research Institute

    Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) from Medical University of South Carolina

    Southern California Counseling Center (SCCC) 3-Year Training Program: Clinical Skills, Family Therapy, Trauma and Resiliency

  • California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)

    International Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy (IAAGT)

    Los Angeles Institute & Society for Psychoanalytic Studies (LAISPS)

    American Psychological Association (APA)

    Group Psychotherapy Association of Los Angeles (GPALA) - Outreach Committee