Maryem Irias — LMFT
Body-Centered Psychotherapy
I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in the state of California. I provide in-person therapy from my office in South Pasadena, and virtual appointments for clients throughout California.
Integrative Therapeutic Philosophy
A HUMANISTIC APPROACH IN A CLINICALLY-GROUNDED FRAMEWORK
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Holistic Healing
My approach integrates diverse therapeutic modalities to address the complexities of the human experience, fostering holistic healing and self-discovery.
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Evidence- Based
My practice is firmly rooted in evidence-based principles, my practice utilizes scientifically validated interventions to ensure effective and lasting outcomes in therapy.
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Body- Centered
I emphasize a body-centered approach, recognizing the profound connection between physical sensations and emotional well-being, guiding clients towards greater awareness and integration.
My journey to
becoming a therapist
After having my first child, I decided to make the transition from my career as a teacher to the work I do — and love — today. On my journey to becoming a therapist committed to an integrative and holistic approach, I was privileged to train at Pacifica Graduate Institute where I earned my Masters in Counseling Psychology.
For as long as I can remember, I have had a rich inner world. Spending time alone, reflecting, creating, and visioning have always been appealing to me. Long before I became a therapist in Pasadena, I’ve been fascinated by the complexity of the human experience and why we do the things we do.
The twists and turns of my own life experience have continuously driven my desire to explore human consciousness through different modalities and spiritual practices. I find this drive present in many of my clients as well.
Although becoming a therapist followed a career as an educator, I feel that my entire life has prepared me to be a psychotherapist. Becoming a mother prompted me to follow my long-held desire to study the human psyche and support others on their individuation journey. My children, and my relationship to them, have been my greatest teachers, bringing to light what has been held in the unconscious. My deep love for them encourages me to stay in a relationship with all my parts and continue on this deep journey of integration.
Education & Training
◆ PhD candidate at Pacifica, focusing on integrative healing practices
◆ Master's in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute
◆ Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner certification in 2021
◆ Touch Skills for Trauma Therapists from Somatic Practice by Kathy L. Kain, Ph.D.
◆ Jungian Sandplay Certificate from Jung Institute of Los Angeles
◆ EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) trained in 2019
“The feminine principle attempts to relate. Instead of breaking things off into parts, it says, Where are we alike? How can we connect? Where is the love? Can you listen to me? Can you really hear what I am saying? Can you see me? Do you care whether you see me or not?”
– Marion Woodman
My education and training equipped me with evidence-based techniques while also embracing the mind, body, and spirit in therapy — a cornerstone of my integrative approach to therapy. I am currently a PhD candidate at Pacifica in the dissertation process.
What sets Pacifica apart is its unwavering commitment to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment — one that celebrates cultural diversity and individual uniqueness. Pacifica's guiding principle, "animae mundi colendae gratia" (nurturing the soul of the world), served as the inspirational force driving me to foster this deeply ingrained spark centered on the connection between psyche and body.
In 2021, I completed my three-year Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner certification to develop my skills and further incorporate the intelligence of the body in my work with clients. Somatic Experiencing® blends neuroscience, stress physiology, and indigenous healing practices and is beautifully complementary with psychodynamic and depth psychology approaches, resulting in profound therapeutic outcomes for my clients.
I am also trained through the EMDR International Association as an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Practitioner. For clients who need additional clinical support in healing past traumas, EMDR can be a very effective tool.
My desire is that every woman who walks into my office feels seen, felt and heard for the whole human that they are.
You may have had past experiences in therapy that felt clinical and impersonal. That’s not who I am as a psychotherapist.
I take into account each of my client’s unique strengths and challenges to develop an individualized treatment plan. Working with a comprehensive mind-body approach, I aim to help you experience autonomy, witness the limitless nature of your being, and create a life in alignment with the unique insights our work together reveals.
In doing the deep work of self-discovery, I found the connection to self, others, nature, and community. Are you ready to do the same?
The fast-paced culture we live in emphasizes productivity and achievement above all else. From a very young age, you’re taught that your cognitive ability will determine your success. With this singular focus to tend to, and feed the brain, is it any wonder that so many of us are stuck in our heads?
Operating solely from the mind, with no orientation to the body, creates a sense of disconnection. Disconnection from yourself makes it nearly impossible to feel connected to the people you love, your neighbors, or your communities.
Maybe your parents were so busy providing for the family that they didn’t have the time or space to be present with you as a child. Lack of attunement in childhood (an incredibly common experience) sets a precedent early in life that to some extent, you’re on your own in the world. It’s your job to figure it out and do it without the critical resources and support of other people. This loneliness can breed all of the mental health challenges that often drive people to therapy. Depression, anxiety, discontent, fatigue.
When I was in my twenties, I became aware of my own sense of disconnection from myself and the world around me. That was when I committed to slowing down. Embodiment practices became a pivotal part of my work and slowly I began to transition from living in my head to settling into my body — and my life transformed. That transformation is what laid the foundation for my integrative psychotherapy practice.
ready to sit down and settle into the deeper parts of yourself?
Women’s lives are rich and complex. Without a deep connection to the inner workings of your mind and body, that complexity can lead to confusion and overwhelm. If you’re ready to sit down and settle into the deeper parts of yourself and create coherence throughout your life, we might be a good fit.