Ani Khodaverdian

Ani Khodaverdian is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. She is supervised by Chrysoula Gkotsi, LMFT 113638, at the Avedian Counseling Center. Grounded in a humanistic, person-centered, and strengths-based approach, Ani provides a warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental space where clients can better understand themselves, heal from painful experiences, strengthen their relationships, and develop the confidence to live more authentic and meaningful lives. Rather than viewing symptoms simply as problems to eliminate, Ani encourages curiosity about what emotions, behaviors, and patterns may be communicating while helping clients develop practical skills for emotional regulation, communication, self-advocacy, and navigating life’s challenges. 

Ani integrates person-centered and existential therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed care, family systems perspectives, psychoeducation, mindfulness, somatic practices, and expressive interventions based on each client’s individual needs. She has extensive experience working with children and adolescents and particularly enjoys supporting young people navigating anxiety, neurodivergence, identity development, self-esteem, friendships, family relationships, perfectionism, school-related stress, and major life transitions. When working with younger clients, she may incorporate art, play, games, and role-playing to make therapy engaging and developmentally appropriate. Ani also works with parents and families to strengthen communication, rebuild trust, and foster healthier and more emotionally connected relationships. 

Cultural identity, diversity, and the broader systems that shape people’s lives are central to Ani’s work. Born in Sweden to Armenian parents from Tehran and later immigrating to the United States, she brings personal insight into the complexities of navigating multiple cultures, identities, expectations, and senses of belonging. She is particularly passionate about providing affirming care to neurodivergent, gifted, highly sensitive, LGBTQIA+, multicultural, and immigrant clients, and welcomes exploration of intergenerational dynamics, cultural identity, historical and generational trauma, relationships, meaning, and self-discovery.

Ani enjoys working with couples and families, helping them strengthen their communication skills, increase understanding and empathy toward one another, and hold space for vulnerable conversations. She is an Armenian-speaking therapist in Los Angeles, practicing in Glendale, Pasadena, and Sherman Oaks.

Before becoming a therapist, Ani earned her Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School and practiced law, including engaging in human rights work in Armenia—experiences that deepened her interest in human behavior, resilience, social systems, and advocacy. She subsequently earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. Across her work, Ani is guided by a commitment to compassion, human dignity, cultural humility, and respect for each person’s individuality. She considers it a privilege to accompany clients through periods of growth, uncertainty, and healing, helping them develop greater resilience, agency, self-understanding, and trust in themselves.

Education

• Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy – Pepperdine University
• Juris Doctor – Southwestern Law School
• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Minor in Armenian Studies – University of California, Los Angeles

Areas of Focus

• Couples therapy and relationship challenges
• Anger management
• Anxiety and depression
• Neurodivergence, including ADHD and Autism
• Giftedness and highly sensitive individuals
• Self-esteem and self-confidence
• Emotional regulation
• Trauma and PTSD
• Grief, loss, and life transitions
• Identity development and self-discovery
• Perfectionism and academic stress
• Workaholism
• Body image concerns
• Relationship and attachment patterns
• Parent-child relationships and family dynamics
• Peer relationships and social challenges
• LGBTQIA+ affirming care
• Multicultural and immigrant experiences
• Intergenerational, cultural, and historical trauma
• Existential concerns, purpose, and meaning-making
• Person-Centered / Humanistic Therapy
• Existential Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Trauma-Informed Therapy
• Family Systems Approaches
• Strengths-Based Therapy
• Psychoeducation
• Mindfulness and Somatic Practices
• Expressive, Art, and Play-Based Interventions
• Culturally Responsive and Affirming Care