Balanced Souls

Therapy services in San Fernando Valley | balancedsoulstherapyservices@gmail.com| 747-266-8592

Hello! My name is Brenda Santillan and I am a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist #129832 in the San Fernando Valley. I have experience working with children and teens (0-18), adults (18-60), couples, and families who are currently struggling with communication, depression, suicide ideation, self-harm, parenting skills, and phases of life difficulties. Most of my experience has been working in community mental health, providing services in Spanish and English.

My work as a therapist is centered on providing a positive experience that is tailored to your current needs and stressors. I work from the perspective of helping the individual living within the community. What that means is I look at the collective of events, and stressors that may be impacting you (work, school, family, racism, sexism, culture) to better increase your strengths to manage those stressors. My goal is not to “fix” you, but rather shine the light on the strengths you already own. I see myself not as your teacher, but as an advocate to help increase your self-understanding to get you back to feeling balanced.

My road to becoming a clinician was a bit unconventional. I began working with families as a Special Education teacher and obtained my Masters's in Urban Education at LMU. In my role as an educator, I was often an advocate for families, assisting in agency linkage and providing language translation for resources. I realized that many of these families needed access to competent, caring, and culturally responsive mental health services. At the time, I could not provide them with referrals or even understand the level of their need. This led me down the path of obtaining my MFT from USC.

I am certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Seeking Safety, Nurturing Parenting, Managing, and Adaptive Practices (MAP) and Infant Massage. My specialties include: depression, family conflict, religious trauma, life transitions, anxiety, grief, and educational and learning disabilities.

  • Individual Therapy

    Individual therapy is focused on your current needs and concerns (past traumas, changes in life, grief, anxiety, depression, etc.) It is a collaborative approach to identify your strengths to better handle and manage life stressors. It is an opportunity to explore yourself in a safe and caring environment. Sessions are approximately 1 hour to 50 minutes. Available through telehealth, in Spanish or English.

  • Child & Teen Therapy

    Engaging with children and teens in a safe and collaborative environment to allow room to explore emotions. Therapy may include play, art, music and other interventions to create a space where they are able to express themselves. Sessions may include collaterals. Sessions are 1 hour to 50 minutes. Available in person or through telehealth, in Spanish or English.

  • Infant Massage

    Infant Massage 0-6 months is a way to gently nurture and spend time with your baby through physical touch. It helps you understand your babies’ non-verbal cues, increase communication, and improve sleep behaviors. Classes are for 5 sessions 1 hour each. Available in person or through telehealth, in Spanish or English.

  • Psychological Immigration Evaluations

    These psychosocial evaluations consist of 15-20 pages demonstrating the psychological, physical, financial, spiritual and emotional impact of separating families through deportation or country re-location. Some evaluations require the identification of traumatic experiences. Available via telehealth

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