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AM Portrait of Annette Malijen
Online therapist

Annette Malijen

Practical, compassionate therapy for life and relationships

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Credentials
LMFT
Experience
25 years
Licensed in
California
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Annette

Annette Malijen is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California with 25 years of professional experience. She focuses on practical support for common concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship struggles, and parenting challenges. Her approach aims to be respectful, sensitive, and compassionate to each person's situation.

In sessions she listens first to understand what matters to you. Then she tailors conversations and the plan to fit your specific needs.

Background and approach

She keeps things straightforward and focused on concrete steps you can try between meetings. Annette uses methods from client-centered therapy to make space for your voice. She also draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to help change unhelpful thoughts and routines.

These approaches are used to address issues like coping with change, grief, sleep and eating concerns, intimacy-related problems, anger, and self-esteem. Over her career she has helped people navigate career changes, compassion fatigue, and the emotional impact of trauma and abuse. She also offers support around LGBT-related concerns and general coaching for life transitions.

The work together is practical and goal-oriented when that fits, and more exploratory when that is needed. Taking the first step can feel hard. Annette aims to make the process clear and manageable, matching the work to what each person wants to accomplish.

She welcomes clients who prefer to meet online or by phone and supports international clients as well.

Therapeutic approaches for online care

Annette commonly uses client-centered therapy to guide her work. This approach means the session centers on whatever you bring, with the therapist listening closely and following your lead to discover what matters most. It helps when someone needs acceptance, clearer self-understanding, and supportive space to talk through life stressors.

She also applies cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT. CBT focuses on spotting thought patterns and behaviors that reinforce distress and then trying practical, small experiments to change them. This method is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep or eating issues, and manageable daily problems.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. She talks with each person about goals, preferences, and how strategies feel in practice, then adjusts the plan over time to better fit what is working for you.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy lives. Video calls let you see facial cues and body language, while phone sessions remove the need for a camera. Live chat and text-based messaging provide shorter, ongoing check-ins and a way to stay connected between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, parenting, or travel schedules and help maintain continuity when needs change.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she address?
She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship concerns, parenting challenges, grief, trauma and abuse, intimacy issues, eating or sleeping problems, anger, self-esteem, career changes, and compassion fatigue.
How would she describe her therapy style?
Her style is respectful and sensitive with a focus on tailoring sessions to each person. Conversations are practical and aim to identify concrete steps between meetings when helpful.
What is her background and experience?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California with 25 years of professional experience working with a wide range of concerns.
What credentials and location should I know about?
She holds the LMFT credential and is licensed in California under CA LMFT 36570.
Which languages and client locations are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different preferences and schedules.
How are fees and billing handled?
Costs vary by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
25 years
Licensed
California
Languages
English

Next step

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