Meet Efi Pyladaki-Feinstein,
LMFT, BCBA
Therapist in Westlake Village, CA for teens, parents, and adults. 16+ years of experience. Neurodivergent-affirming. The kind of therapist who tells you the truth and gives you tools that actually work.
MY STORY
Hi, I'm Efi.
I became a therapist because I wanted to understand people. Starting with myself.
In college at UCLA, I walked into a behavioral modification class taught by Dr. Ivar Lovaas, and something clicked. Right after graduation, I started working as a behavioral therapist at the Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention. And then I met an 8-year-old boy with autism who changed everything for me. Helping him felt like doing something that actually mattered. That feeling has never gone away.
Sixteen years later, I still get to do work that matters every single day. I help teens figure out who they are. I help parents who are running on empty find their footing again. I help adults who have been white-knuckling through life finally stop and deal with what's underneath.
I didn't become a therapist because it sounded like a nice career. I became a therapist because I believe that when people get the right support and the right tools, they can change their lives. I've watched it happen hundreds of times. It still gets me every time.
WHAT MAKES ME DIFFERENT
Two skill sets. One therapist. That's rare.
I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Most therapists are one or the other. I'm both. And that changes everything about how I work.
The LMFT Side
This is the deep clinical work. Understanding your emotions, your relationships, your patterns, the stories you tell yourself that keep you stuck. I help you process what's happened to you, make sense of what you're feeling, and build insight that leads to real change.
The BCBA Side
This is the practical, evidence-based strategy work. Understanding what drives behavior, designing individualized plans, and teaching concrete skills you can use at home, at school, in your relationships, in your life. Not theory. Tools.
Most people need both. They need someone who understands the why and also knows how to change the what.
That's what you get here.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The credentials behind the work:
𓇼 Bachelor's in Psychology
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
𓇼 Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis
Florida Institute of Technology
𓇼 Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
𓇼 Master of Science in Clinical Psychology
Marriage and Family Therapy emphasis California State University, LA
𓇼 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
State of California
𓇼 UCLA PEERS Certified Provider
Children and Adolescents
Areas of Specialization:
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anxiety
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depression
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ADHD/ADD
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austim
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Life Transitions
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Grief and Loss
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Relationship Challenges
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Health Anxiety
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Women's Issues
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Self-Doubt and Overthinking
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Social Skills
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Burnout
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Trauma and PTSD
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Behavior Management
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Emotional Regulation
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Communication Skills
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College Students
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Family Conflict
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Co-Parenting
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Neurodivergent-Affirming Care
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LGBTQ+ Affirming Care
How I can help:
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𓇼 Individual Therapy
A space where kids and teens can express what they can’t always put into words. Through art, play, conversation, or a walk outside, we explore what’s underneath the behavior, building emotional skills, confidence, and trust along the way. -
𓇼 therapy Intensives
When relationships start to feel strained, therapy helps everyone find their footing again. We’ll work on communication, boundaries, and repair so the home feels calmer, kinder, and more connected. -
𓇼 Parent Support
In high-conflict divorce, kids often carry the weight of decisions that aren’t theirs to make. I work alongside Minor’s Counsel to provide therapeutic support, helping children feel safe, heard, and emotionally protected during the legal process. -
𓇼 EMDR Therapy
The nightmares. The triggers. The way your body reacts before your mind catches up. You've tried to move past it. Your brain hasn't. EMDR works by reprocessing the memories that are stuck so they stop running the show. You can actually get through a day without it sitting on your chest. Weekly sessions or concentrated intensives for faster results. -
𓇼 Group Therapy
There's something that happens in a room full of people who are all in it, right alongside you. Support groups, skills-based groups, and process groups for teens, parents, and adults. You won't just talk about your patterns here. You'll practice changing them, in real time, with people who are doing the same work.