Claudia Lechner, PhD

About My Clients

My target population is toddlers, young children, teenagers, and young adults on the Autism Spectrum, as well as the intersection of ASD and Queer/Trans identities. I have worked with children and young adults with frequently co-occurring diagnoses of ASD, including anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. I also enjoy providing treatment to the 0-5 age group, with a focus on decreasing disruptive behaviors and strengthening the caregiver-child relationship. Additionally, I have experience working with adults diagnosed with a variety of severe mental health disorders (e.g., mood, psychotic spectrum, and personality disorders) and co-occurring substance use disorders.

My Background & Approach

I completed my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology, under Alliant International University in Los Angeles. My dissertation, “The Development and Validation of the Identity Instability Scale,” focused on redefining Borderline Personality Disorder as an issue of identity and selfhood. I function primarily as a relational therapist, one who acknowledges that it is within the living and breathing dynamic that forms between two people who choose to be vulnerable that genuine change can be made. I view my clients as multifaceted individuals with various complexities and diverse experiences that make them who they are. I hope to provide a safe space to explore the ways in which formative relationships in early childhood and lived moments impact current patterns of behavior and thought processes. I strive to support clients in their process of fostering a cohesive and durable sense of self.

My Personal Beliefs & Interests

Therapy should be a space in which you can feel comfortable to reveal the most vulnerable parts of who you are. Sharing about challenges and opening up about moments of struggle can be particularly difficult for those who have not had the opportunity to do so. I hope to create the space in which it is safe to process past experiences and reflect on the ways in which symptoms can impact functioning, without shame or stigma. I aspire to assist my clients in developing a sense of agency and holding themselves accountable for future change. I aim to be a helpful combination of supportive and challenging, with the ultimate goal being the development of a self-sustaining person able to regulate and be flexible to life’s everchanging situations.

Techniques I Use
Psychodynamic, Relational, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy

Issues I Treat
Autism, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety, Borderline Personality Disorder, Substance Use, LGBTQIA+ Issues

Locations:
Sherman Oaks
13130 Burbank Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91401

Van Nuys
15339 Saticoy St.
Van Nuys, CA 91406

Telehealth