Ready for a change?

Meet Dr. Cayla Minaiy

Licensed therapist in California and Washington state

Stop the “I’m fine” lie

 

From the outside, you appear strong, successful, and put together. But beneath the surface, you’re exhausted by the pressure to keep up, constantly pushing forward while feeling emotionally drained. You’re checking off all the boxes, getting things done, yet there’s an emptiness you can’t quite explain. You’re tired of just going through the motions—you want to feel fulfilled, confident, and truly connected to yourself.

Living in Los Angeles comes with its own unique challenges. The pressure to seek approval, achieve more, and present a perfect image can leave you feeling disconnected and lost in constant comparison. If you're ready to break free from self-doubt, stop seeking validation from others, and start building the life you truly want, therapy can help.

Here’s what you can expect from therapy with me

 

  • I could tell you all about my credentials and give you all the tools but what matters the most is our connection. My priority is to make sure I am a good fit for you. I offer free 20 minute consultation calls to get a clear idea of what is bringing you to therapy and for you to ask me questions about the process. Based on our conversation, we can decide when to schedule our first session.

  • You’ve probably seen it in movies or have had a previous experience where the therapist just takes notes and offers a nugget of wisdom at the very end of the session. This will not be the case for our time together. I’m active in sessions, just like you. My goal is to identify patterns and point them out to you, from the outside perspective.

  • Therapy isn’t me telling you what to do- though that would make life super easy!

    You are making this investment to grow. I work best with clients who are motivated to see this growth. Clients that benefit the most from our time together tend to spend some time out of sessions thinking about previous sessions or what to bring for future sessions. This means we are going to work on digging deeper so that you can reach your goal.

    You are here because you want to feel different and you want different relationships. That's why it’s my priority to create a space where you feel safe, heard, understood, and seen. I want you to experience long lasting change so that you can be happier- not be given a band-aid solution to get you through the next day. I want you to feel that this is your time to just focus on you, with no distractions, and where you can speak freely and openly. Most importantly, I want you to just be you.

You’re tired of feeling stuck and want change.

You’re in the right place.

 
 

You’ve read books, listened to podcasts, followed instagram pages to help you figure out how to feel better. But something is still missing. You’re still not feeling better. We’ll go deeper than coping skills and quick tips. After all, you’ve been taking care of yourself your whole life- you know all the tips but they are not working anymore. We’ll discuss new approaches and work together to create long lasting changes. 

I’m a licensed couple and family therapist with nearly a decade of clinical experience supporting women to reach their desired goals.  Some surprising but helpful things to know about my style: 

  • You don’t have to show up as your perfect self. You don’t have to apologize if your hair is in a messy bun or if you’re not wearing make-up. 

  • We’ll laugh in sessions. We could all use some levity between the heavy work in sessions. 

  • Adult language is welcome and encouraged. Sometimes sh*t really sucks and we need to get it out. 

My guiding principles

 

Vulnerability

Providing my own life examples, when appropriate, so you know you are not alone

 

Examination

Connecting all the dots of the past to the present

 

Honesty

Being direct with you to help you get to your goals

 

Warmth

Creating a space where you feel comfortable to speak your mind and name fears

Grief

Strained relationships

Training & Education

 

  • PhD Couple, Marriage and Family Therapy 

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: CA and WA 

  • Former Associate Chair of Couple and Family Therapy Graduate program

  • AAMFT Approved Supervisor 

  • Gottman Level 1 training

  • American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Fellow 

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Minority Fellowship Fellow

  • Delta Kappa Honor Society Member

  • Editorial Board Member Journal of Feminist Family Therapy