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Jonathan Laski

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
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Jonathan Laski, MA, LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
(949) 386-7178

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), I realize that many of our deepest pains, anxieties, and self-limiting beliefs can go way back in our lives. As a result, we can often be living lives that don’t resemble our ideals or heartfelt dreams because of discouragements from outside or within. However, as a Christian therapist, I also believe that there is a good and ennobling plan of God at work in each individual’s life. My desire as your counselor is to humbly and faithfully pursue that plan with you and assist you with every tool, Scripture, and belief at your disposal.

Newport Beach - Sun, Thu, Fri & SatOnline Counseling - Sun, Thu, Fri & Sat

About

I offer professional Christian counseling for children, teens, adult individuals, couples, families, and groups. As your therapist, I will endeavor to imitate the non-judgmental presence of the Lord as well as motivate you to enjoy the good purposes He has given you to do. Whether you’re looking for support and treatment for anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma or PTSD, abandonment or attachment issues, anger management, or other concerns, I believe transformation is possible when we use the medical and technical wisdom given to us by God and always go back to His Word for instruction and growth.

My Goal as a Christian Counselor

At one point or another, maybe time and time again, we all find ourselves in the mouth of the lion of something like addiction, doubt, disenchantment, interpersonal conflict, or all of the above. I believe our Lord, the Good Shepherd, is one who destroys the lion who attacks His sheep, and is faithful even when the sheep bite at Him. By utilizing concepts from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), systems theory, and existential and behavioral therapies, my goal as a counselor is to participate in the movement of clients from Point A to Point B – from within the mouth of lion to the air that is fresh and free, disconnected from and progressing out of addiction, self-condemnation, etc.

What I Offer in Christian Counseling

I offer a space where you can feel safe and protected as you share whatever is on your heart and mind. My hope is that you will quickly realize that our therapeutic relationship is one in which you can get real and honest while learning about our humanity and areas in which you may need to grow and heal. As your counselor, I will seek to speak Jesus’ words and approach by helping you connect with the truth and life-changing vision He has for you.

My Approach to Christian Counseling

By taking a Christian approach to counseling, I believe there is an objective growth and completing work that God longs to do in all of our lives and that there truly are opponents and supporters in that growth process. When we apply a baseline belief of Christ’s love and God’s handling of the world, then the concepts from psychology like working on changing self-concept, defeating distortions in thinking, changing one’s system dynamics, and improving one’s ability to communicate and cope with anger, for example, have actual grounded reasons why they are important or significant rather than just nice but meaningless thoughts in a meaningless world.

Biography

Qualifications & Experience

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Chapman University in Orange, California and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from University of California – San Diego. I am also intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy through the Behavioral Tech program.

My Call to Christian Counseling

I originally decided to pursue a career as a counselor both because of the idea and debates of psychology that intrigued me and because of my more one-on-one conversational style as a communicator. However, what confirmed my decision over time and experience was the enjoyment and meaningfulness of journeying with people and seeing inspiration, heartbreak, and everything in between that comes in a healing, accepting therapy relationship.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I love to write, play basketball, watch comedies, science fiction, and historical entertainment, play with my dog Romey, go to museums and live concerts, travel, and go to nearby beaches with my wife. I also care a lot about ministering to the homeless, incorporating the teachings of Jesus in a “love first” mentality when processing and talking through charged conversations, doing personal therapy work, and reading to grow as a person.

Services and Specialities

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

  • Abandonment and Neglect
  • ADHD
  • Aging and Geriatric Issues
  • Anger Management
  • Anxiety
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Chemical Dependency
  • Coaching
  • Counseling for Children
  • Counseling for Teens
  • Couples Counseling
  • Codependency
  • Depression
  • Family Counseling
  • Grief and Loss
  • Group Counseling
  • Individual Counseling
  • Marriage Counseling
  • Men’s Issues
  • Online Counseling
  • Personal Development
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Premarital Counseling
  • Professional Development
  • Relationship Issues
  • Sex and Porn Addiction
  • Spiritual Development
  • Trauma

Abandonment and Neglect

Sadly, in this broken world it’s quite common for our lives to be interwoven not only with healthy social experiences but also with hurts, poor modeling, neglect, abandonment, and maybe even abuse. So many cases of depression and anxiety in our mature years are related to feeling absent of love, acceptance, and safety maintained in early social bonds.

But can anything be done after years or maybe a lifetime of abandonment or neglect? With God’s help through Christian counseling, hope and healing are possible.

As your counselor, I will work with you to identify what isn’t your fault and how to hear and then silence the undeserved shame or self-criticism that may come from being left. Then we’ll start to build a healthy view of what you deserve in life and in relationships built on the truth of your worth not at all diminished by others’ faults done to you growing up. Together we will work to find the way out of shame and into your thriving roles, relationships, and experience of freedom from unwanted beliefs.

Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression can be major and majorly definitive human conditions. I commend you for researching treatment options to make your way through them. As your therapist, I will come alongside you and guide you through the process of challenging any untrue, unwanted, or unhelpful beliefs that are running the show. Together we will work to find supports, passions, and meaningful roles in your life to reawaken what’s truly you more than the symptoms of your condition.

By working through these issues and the beliefs and reasons behind them, including any fear of the future and of the uncertain (anxiety) or fear of your history, your weakness, and the inevitability of negativity (depression), you’ll see that you are still there; you can co-exist with reality and not break. With God’s help and direction, you can pursue your desires and purpose for your life again.

Counseling for Teens

Many teens today feel overburdened and weighed down. With all the pressures, temptations, and expectations on teenagers, it’s not surprising. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Through Christian counseling, your teenager can find hope and relief from their daily stress and burdens.

Together in session we would start by locating the areas and beliefs that may be weighing you or your teen down, like unnecessary guilt, a heavy schedule, shame, acting out patterns, or comparison traps. Then we would work to make space for breathing a little more and being yourself, finding your virtues, strengths, goals, and unique passions, and working toward highlighting and elevating them with less dire stress. My hope is that through our time together, you will begin to see yourself blossom and thrive.

Personal Development

How do we develop properly into our God-designed selves? Big question.
In therapy for personal development, we will look at understanding the beliefs, behaviors, and surroundings you find yourself in that disconnect you from the life-giving Savior and may lead you into unhelpful habits, misery, doubt, or despair. We will then use therapeutic methods to reconnect you to your unique gifts, perspectives, attitudes, and faith in the life God has for you. Together we will take steps toward focusing on God and realigning with the areas of life that bring you joy and committing to them more and more. With His help, it is possible to experience personal development as you seek to glorify Him and enjoy your life in His presence.

Spiritual Development

I believe to know God more and more is to begin to know yourself more and more. Yet we must also be aware that in this life we have an enemy who seeks to devour us, tempt us, shame us, and condemn us. When we grow in our knowledge and understanding of who Christ is as our ultimate Savior and Lord, we can also begin to appreciate the truth that He no longer condemns us because we have been set free. When we commit to the growth that He offers us, then we can become better listeners to Him and to the life He provides as we step into all of our gifts, weaknesses, and identity for good.

Payment and Forms

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

  • Newport Beach – Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
  • Online Counseling – Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals, couples, families, and groups looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), most insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction will be added for credit card payments.

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