About Avery McDowell, LMFT (she/her)
CA #165161

I believe that…

Therapy can look a number of different ways depending on what a person needs and responds to. The ultimate goal is to strike a balance between bold exploration that is genuinely impactful and evocative, while simultaneously honoring the pace that allows safety and trust to grow between us and within yourself. Learning to trust and respect yourself and make room for new understandings about who you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going is how hope grows and healing happens.

My approach is…

…relational, trauma-informed, and attachment-based. I lead with authenticity and curiosity, and I invite clients to join me in being creative so our work reflects their individual uniqueness.

Depending on your goals and preferences, we can explore a variety of approaches that support healing and growth. I encourage clients to be courageous and open-minded, because we often don’t know what will resonate or spark change until we try. The specific therapeutic modalities I most reference include internal family systems (IFS), narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and solution-focused therapy. As our work together unfolds, I check in regularly about how the process is going for you, including whether you are noticing meaningful changes. This feedback allows us to evolve and adapt intentionally, while practicing healthy interpersonal dialogue. Whatever you want to address in sessions, and wherever in your life you would like to explore, I’m on board and ready to go with you.

Specialty areas

I love working with young adults who are navigating identity, trauma, and relationships. Many of my clients notice a harsh inner critic that affects work, romance, and family dynamics. In therapy, we become curious about recurring thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and behaviors, and explore when, how, and why these patterns developed. I don’t shy away from big questions and offer balance of depth-oriented therapy and trauma-informed education. With warmth and authenticity, I gently challenge negative self-narratives and support clients in building insight, self-compassion, and hope. Over time, clients experience less shame, greater emotional resilience, and more authentic, fulfilling connections with both themselves and others.

I also enjoy working with teens struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, and self-criticism. My approach with adolescents is nonjudgmental, warm, and collaborative – I highlight their strengths and provide support for sources of pain and stress. I meet them wherever they’re at with respect, patience, and appreciation for exactly who they are and what they need. In therapy, we identify what areas of life need support and what barriers interfere with effective, compassionate coping. We engage in self-exploration and practice evidence-based coping strategies, along with creative skills to manage emotions and stress. I also explore family dynamics and offer parents regular check-ins to coordinate care and answer questions. My work with teens builds self-efficacy, confidence, and insight, supporting healing, personal growth, and stronger functioning at home, at school, and in relationships.

My credentials

I am a licensed marriage & family therapist (LMFT) and completed my masters in counseling psychology at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California. I am a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, as well as Gaylesta: The Psychotherapist Association for Gender and Sexual Diversity.

I have experience working with tweens, teens, and young adults in a variety of settings, including on-site as a high school therapist, at a mental health residential treatment center for young women, and in private practice settings.

I love…

…foxes, unique laughs, weather that matches my mood, washing cold hands in warm water, walking, running, all things art, cats acting weird, carbonation, driving with the windows down, succulents, and golden hour.