Grace's in-person office
Grace's virtual office
Dr. Grace Hazeltine, Ph.D.
Registered California Psychological Assistant, PSB 94023742
Education, Experience, & Publications
Hello there,
We all need help sometimes. Trying to address the problem on our own isn't always enough and when that's the case, asking for help from someone else can be an important and productive step towards improving what's going on. I hope this page provides a straight-forward description of my approach to therapy and gives you a sense of how I think about things. Right now I'm working in person in Culver City and virtually via Zoom. Let me know if I can answer any questions. I'm happy to help.
- Grace
ADOLESCENTS
In adolescence, boundaries about independence change and develop. This means that relationships with parents, siblings, and extended family members change, too. It's also a time when there can be anxiety about school performance, social relationships, or just what it's going to mean to turn 18.
Some teens have questions about their gender, sexuality, or just generally how to make sense of their experiences and feelings. For some it’s hard to know what they like or what they’re good at—and not knowing can lead to feelings of insecurity. Exposing these unknowns can feel vulnerable and risky, but keeping them inside can feel heavy and worrisome. Therapy can be a safe place to talk about whatever is going on, inside and out, and have some help sorting through all of it.
Whether you are a teen or parent of one, if what I have written here speaks to you I encourage you to contact me so that we can figure out if working together might be helpful.
Back to Top
ADULTS
I believe we are born into the world ready to experience life with all of the goodness, capability, and vitality inherent to our nature. And yet we might find ourselves struggling to feel good enough, safe enough, or connected enough to those around us. The reasons why may be confusing or obvious to us. Regardless, we may have difficulty freeing ourselves from these limiting patterns and returning to a more natural state of being. As a therapist, I believe that a relationship with a caring, trustworthy, and present person can shift these patterns in ways that surprise us, allowing our full potential to emerge.
Whatever your presenting concerns, we will work together to create a therapy that is unique to those concerns and the landscape of your life experiences.
Back to Top
SOCIAL ANXIETY
In relationships, it's pretty normal to wonder about what someone else thinks about us. Sometimes, though, this wonder might turn to worry and, for some of us, the worry might be hard to stop.
We might worry about being rejected, excluded, or made fun of. We might never feel sure whether or not other people are secretly mad at or judging us. To deal with these worries on our own we might try to avoid people or situations or try not to care about what they think.
The idea that getting help means coming to therapy, which involves meeting someone new, might seem like a cruel joke. It may feel counter-intuitive, but talking to someone about these worries can be just the thing that creates more breathing room in life.
Back to Top
LGBTQ+ IDENTITIES
The field of psychology got it wrong when it pathologized the diversity of sexual expression and orientation. Couple that wrongdoing with the state of heteronormativity and abuse towards the LGBTQIAP community and the challenge LGBTQIAP people face when finding a therapist becomes clear.
Some LGBTQIAP people feel solid in their identities and the task when starting therapy is to make sure that they're working with someone who will be present and affirmative of their dynamic aspects.
Other LGBTQIAP people might have doubts or curiosities—about their gender, expressions, sexuality, or attractions. In this case therapy can create an environment that allows for the kind of healthy development and solidification of identity that LGBTQIAP people deserve. At its best, therapy provides a space of ease and freedom for this deeply personal exploration.
Back to Top
EDUCATION
-
Certificate of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Wright Institute Los Angeles
-
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology
-
M.A. Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology
-
B.A. Psychology with Neuroscience Concentration, Grinnell College
EXPERIENCE
-
Post-doctoral Fellow, Wright Institute Los Angeles
-
Pre-doctoral Intern, Wright Institute Los Angeles
-
Practicum Student, Airport Marina Counseling Service
-
Practicum Student, UCLA Anxiety Disorders Clinic
-
Practicum Student, UCLA OCD Adult Intensive Treatment Program
-
Practicum Student, LA LGBT Center
PUBLICATIONS
-
Hazeltine, G. E. (2019). Omitting language of identity: Relationships between demographic questionnaire design and participant affect. (Publication No. 13877999). [Doctoral dissertation, Alliant International University Los Angeles]. ProQuest.
-
Hazeltine, G.E. (2018). Asexuality in research and clinical practice. Perspectives on Gender and Sexual Orientation, 5(1), 13-15.
-
Hazeltine, G.E., and Gasbarrini, M.F. (2017). Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy. In The encyclopedia of couple and family therapy. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_843-1
-
Tracy, A.L., Wee, C.J.M., Hazeltine, G.E., and Carter, R.A. (2015). Characterization of attenuated food motivation in high-fat diet-induced obesity: Critical roles for time on diet and reinforced familiarity. Physiology & Behavior, 141, 69-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.01.008
-
Tracy, A.L., Wee, C.J.M., Hazeltine, G.E., and Benoit, S.C. (2013). Regulation of energy intake in humans. In M.O. Weickert (Ed.), Obesitext. http://endotext.org/obesity
SUPERVISED BY DR. MEGHAN MOODY