Brian Nussbaum, MA, AMFT

As someone who spent a lot of time in a therapist’s office during my formative years, I became familiar with many modalities of psychotherapy — some more effective than others. Those early experiences, along with my own lived experience, ultimately led me to become the therapist I am today. I’m grateful for the growth I’ve made and continue to pursue both personally and professionally.

Who I Work With

Many of the people I work with seek therapy while navigating trauma, identity exploration, anxiety, or the lingering emotional impact of past experiences. While I work with individuals of all ages and identities with varying support needs, I specialize in working with LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent populations. I find the intersection of these identities and trauma is common and many of my clients are seeking a therapeutic space where their identities and this intersection is affirmed and understood. Together, we work toward healing that allows the past to be integrated rather than carried as an ongoing burden.

Professional Path & Training

I began working in Los Angeles after receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York in 2014. Hoping to find more meaning and purpose in my life, I reevaluated my direction and decided to return to school.

In 2023, I received a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles, specializing in LGBT-Affirmative Psychology. I completed my traineeship at COLORS LGBTQ Youth Counseling Services using a trauma-sensitive, queer-affirming model and continued my associateship at Maple Counseling, one of Southern California’s most respected psychodynamic training institutes.

At Maple, I worked with individuals of all ages and identities with varying support needs, and I continue this work in my private practice.

Trauma-Focused, Integrative Therapy

I believe true growth occurs on a holistic level. My therapeutic approach is trauma-focused, integrative, and affirming of all identities (race, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, and physical difference). I incorporate different psychological theories while also providing somatic and skill-based interventions that support emotional regulation and self-understanding.

EMDR and Trauma Healing

I am EMDR-trained (as recognized by EMDRIA) and find it to be an incredible vehicle for healing trauma and self-discovery. Many of us are able to talk about different aspects of our lives yet continue to carry the emotional weight of our past.

Through EMDR, we are able to revisit and reprocess experiences so the nervous system can respond differently to past stimuli. This often creates lasting change that allows clients to release old emotional patterns and integrate their past into the present in a healthier way.

Growth, Accountability
& Authentic Living

I work to empower clients with the understanding that all individuals have an inherent capacity to heal. The real therapeutic work involves developing the strength, courage, and vulnerability to not let the past define the present and to approach life from a different perspective.
I’m deeply passionate about the work I do, and my hope is that through our collaboration clients begin to live lives that feel more authentic, aligned, and true to the person they are becoming.

~ BRIAN