About:

Nelly Shahbazian, MA, AMFT, is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist dedicated to supporting adolescents, adults, couples, and families as they navigate life's emotional and relational challenges. She provides a warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental environment where clients can explore their experiences, strengthen self-awareness, and develop healthier ways of relating to themselves and others. Her areas of focus include trauma, attachment-related concerns, anxiety, emotional regulation, relationship difficulties, life transitions, grief, and creative expression. She recognizes that healing is a deeply personal process and works alongside clients to foster resilience, self-compassion, and meaningful growth.

Therapeutic Approach:

Nelly takes an integrative, client-centered approach to therapy, tailoring treatment to each client's unique needs and goals. She incorporates Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), attachment-based interventions, trauma-informed care, psychodynamic principles, and expressive arts techniques to support emotional healing and lasting change. She helps clients build practical skills for mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and effective communication while exploring the deeper patterns and experiences that influence their current relationships and emotional well-being. By integrating creativity into the therapeutic process, she encourages clients to use artistic expression as a tool for self-discovery, emotional processing, and healing. Whether through traditional talk therapy or creative exploration, she strives to help clients reconnect with their strengths, cultivate insight, and move toward a more authentic and fulfilling life.

Education & Professional Experience:

Nelly earned her Master's degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. Her clinical training has focused on attachment, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based therapeutic practices. She is committed to ongoing professional development and remains dedicated to providing culturally responsive, compassionate, and ethical care to individuals, couples, and families.

Outside of Therapy:

Outside of the therapy room, Nelly values creativity as an important avenue for self-expression and personal growth. She enjoys engaging in artistic practices and believes that creativity can foster healing, resilience, and deeper self-understanding. She also appreciates spending time in nature, exploring new experiences, and nurturing meaningful connections with family, friends, and her community.

Additional languages:

Farsi, Armenian

Legal name: Nareh Nelly Shahbazian, AMFT in CA #163351 is employed as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at Leavitt Marriage and Family Therapy

Supervisor: Nadezda Leavitt, LMFT in CA #141910