Clare Graff

Licensed Associate Marriage & Family Therapist

“Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish. It challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears. Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human.”

— HENRI J.M. NOUWEN

I Specialize In:

About Me

For as long as I can remember, I have been passionate about people. Growing up, we continually welcomed people into our home, setting caring for others at a high priority. Although this instilled many lasting values in me, it also led me to prioritize the wellbeing of others over my own. I received praise for being the “happy and easy” kid. I felt like my emotional needs were a burden and stuffed my feelings. This led to overwhelming depression, anxiety, and perfectionism in my high school and college years, leaving me uncertain of my personal identity. This compounded with struggles in my immediate family, including extreme mental health issues, divorce, and loss. This whirlwind landed me in a therapist’s office at my college. I began unpacking my deep pain and emotions that I never felt comfortable expressing. I gained life changing insight around how my family system molded me both positively and negatively, helping me step into my authentic self. Throughout this process of healing, I worked with children, teens, and community groups which fostered my passion for people, leading me to become a therapist. I spent my graduate internship working with teens individually, with their family, and in intensive outpatient (IOP) settings.

As a therapist, I am passionate about providing compassionate, strengths-based therapy to explore obstacles preventing you from living life to the fullest. I believe working on yourself can be one of the most terrifying but courageous things to do. It can also be rewarding, transformative, and exciting! I work from a systemic perspective, understanding that a person is molded and affected by their familial, cultural, and spiritual circles. I utilize experiential and body-based approaches such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and mindfulness. I also have experience using Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT). I feel incredibly honored to sit with the stories of clients, both of heartache and victory, and believe there is nothing more powerful than owning and sharing our personal journeys.

Education

Azusa Pacific University
Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology

Fuller Theological Seminary
Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy

Training

EMDR trained

Emotionally Focused Therapy- basic and advanced trained

Telehealth for Mental Health Professionals

I am currently working toward independent licensure under the supervision of Kelly Ontiveros (LMFT #15325)