Collection of seashells and a crystal arranged on a neutral background, symbolizing the uniqueness and connection within families, used on the Family Therapy page.

FAMILY SUPPORT

Family Therapy in Redondo Beach

At Catherine Alvarado, LMFT & Associates, we offer family therapy that supports healthier communication, stronger connections, and greater understanding among family members. Sessions provide a safe space to work through conflict, navigate transitions, and address challenges together. Our practice is based in Redondo Beach and serves families throughout the South Bay.

BASED IN REDONDO BEACH, CA

Therapy for Families, Parents & Children in the South Bay

At Catherine Alvarado, LMFT & Associates, we provide family therapy for parents, children, and loved ones throughout the South Bay, including Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes, and nearby communities. Families seek therapy for many reasons — from resolving conflict and strengthening communication to navigating transitions and fostering healthier dynamics at home.

We serve families who are:

  • Experiencing conflict or communication struggles

  • Adjusting to life transitions

  • Navigating stress, grief, or generational challenges

  • Blended families working to build harmony and connection

Strengthening Communication & Building Connection

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Family therapy provides a safe space where each person feels heard and understood. With the guidance of a therapist, families learn how to address patterns that may be fueling distance or tension, and practice healthier ways of relating.

Some families come to therapy to manage stress and shifting roles, while others want to deepen their sense of connection and harmony at home. Therapy can help improve communication, resolve long-standing issues, and strengthen bonds across generations.

The goal is not just to work through difficulties but to create lasting change — supporting your family in building trust, resilience, and a more balanced, supportive home environment.

STRONG FAMILIES ARE’T BUILT ON PERFECTION

Rather, they’re built on connection, understanding, and the willingness to grow together.

common concerns

How Therapy Can Support Your Family

Close-up of a person’s hands gently clasped together, symbolizing reflection, support, and the importance of family therapy.

  • Improving family communication and reducing conflict

  • Strengthening parent–child relationships

  • Navigating life transitions (divorce, relocation, blended families)

  • Coping with grief, loss, or major changes together

  • Addressing stress, anxiety, or behavioral challenges within the family

  • Supporting families through trauma or past hurts

  • Building healthier boundaries and mutual respect

  • Creating more harmony in blended or multi-generational households

  • Somatic Therapy

    Focuses on how trauma and stress are held in the body, using awareness, movement, and grounding techniques to support nervous system regulation.

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  • Attachment-Focused Therapy

    Explores early relationship dynamics and how they influence present-day patterns in trust, connection, and emotional safety.

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  • Internal Family Systems & Parts Work

    A gentle method that explores and supports the inner “parts” of a person — including those carrying pain, fear, or protection — to restore balance and healing from within.

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  • Standard EMDR Therapy

    Standard EMDR therapy is delivered in 45–50 minute sessions, giving space to process distressing experiences within the traditional therapy hour.

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  • Intensive EMDR Therapy

    Two-hour EMDR intensive sessions offer additional space for structured reprocessing beyond the standard 50-minute format.

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  • Adjunct EMDR Therapy

    Adjunct EMDR therapy offers the option of standard or intensive EMDR sessions, scheduled as needed alongside ongoing work with a primary therapist.

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  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    A skills-based approach that helps build emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and healthier ways of relating to self and others.

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  • Narrative Therapy

    A collaborative approach that helps separate people from their problems and rewrite the internal stories that shape identity, behavior, and self-worth.

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  • Play & Art Therapy

    Creative, nonverbal approaches that support emotional expression, healing, and self-awareness—especially helpful for children or those who find it hard to put feelings into words.

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  • Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)

    An approach that combines mindfulness practices with cognitive strategies to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and increase present-moment awareness.

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Catherine alvarado, lmft & associates

Experienced Family Therapists in the South Bay Area

At Catherine Alvarado, LMFT & Associates, our therapists provide specialized family therapy designed to strengthen relationships and improve communication at home. We understand the complex challenges families face and offer a supportive, structured environment to explore difficulties, reduce conflict, and build stronger bonds. Our goal is to help each family member feel heard and understood while guiding the family system toward resilience and connection.

We integrate evidence-based approaches such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), structural family therapy, EMDR, and mindfulness practices. These methods help families break unhelpful cycles, repair trust, and create new patterns that foster greater harmony and healthier dynamics across generations.

Family therapy is available in person at our Redondo Beach office and online throughout California, making support accessible to families across the South Bay—including Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes, and El Segundo. Whether addressing long-standing conflict, navigating transitions, or seeking to strengthen family connections, our experienced family therapists provide guidance and tools to help your family move forward together.

  • Catherine Alvarado, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Redondo Beach, providing family therapy and EMDR.

    Catherine Alvarado, LMFT 134744

    OWNER & CLINICAL SUPERVISOR

    Catherine Alvarado, LMFT, is a licensed Redondo Beach therapist, EMDR Certified Therapist & Consultant in Training specializing in anxiety, trauma, and EMDR therapy for adults, teens, and children. Learn More

  • Emily Feldt Shabel, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in Redondo Beach, offering family and couples therapy.

    Emily Feldt Shabel, AMFT 151325

    SUPERVISED BY CATHERINE ALVARADO, LMFT 134744

    Emily is a registered associate therapist in Redondo Beach, specializing in individual, couples, and family therapy for relationships, self-esteem, and creative professionals. Learn More

  • Monika Arana, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in Redondo Beach, supporting families and individuals in therapy.

    Monika Arana, AMFT 140548

    SUPERVISED BY CATHERINE ALVARADO, LMFT 134744

    Monika is a registered associate therapist in Redondo Beach, specializing in individual, couples, and family therapy for trauma, inner child work, and nervous system regulation. Learn More

Meet Our Therapists
EMDRIA Certified Therapist credential badge.
Verified by Psychology Today therapist directory badge.
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) membership logo.
EMDR International Association logo, Creating Global Healing, Health & Hope.

Resources to improve your mental health, increase your self-awareness, and invite growth.

Blog
Debunking Common Myths About Individual Therapy
Individual Therapy
Debunking Common Myths About Individual Therapy
Individual Therapy

Therapy is often misunderstood—and these myths can keep people from getting the support they need. This blog from Catherine Alvarado, LMFT & Associates breaks down common misconceptions about individual therapy and offers a clearer picture of what sessions are really like with a therapist in Redondo Beach.

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Individual Therapy
What to Expect in Your First Individual Therapy Session
Individual Therapy
What to Expect in Your First Individual Therapy Session
Individual Therapy

Starting therapy can feel intimidating when you don’t know what to expect. This guide walks you through what typically happens in a first individual therapy session—from scheduling your appointment to easing first-session nerves—so you can take that first step toward support with confidence.

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Individual Therapy
Finding Time for Therapy
South Bay Therapy, Therapy in Redondo Beach, Starting Therapy, Individual Therapy
Finding Time for Therapy
South Bay Therapy, Therapy in Redondo Beach, Starting Therapy, Individual Therapy

Finding time for mental health can feel impossible when life is nonstop. Between packed schedules, constant demands, and the pressure to always stay productive, therapy often ends up on the back burner. Explore why slowing down feels so hard, practical ways to find a local therapist, and how to make room for individual therapy—even in the busiest seasons of life.

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South Bay Therapy, Therapy in Redondo Beach, Starting Therapy, Individual Therapy