Steven A. Kandell, AMFT #153238
Prior to getting my master's in clinical psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles, I spent over two decades as a writer and editor in culture journalism—first at magazines, then at whatever has sought to replace magazines. I trained at The Center for Professional Counseling in North Hollywood and am currently apprenticing under David Epston, the co-founder of narrative therapy. In fall 2025, I will begin a year-long program at the Los Angeles Institute & Society for Psychoanalytic Studies.
As I started my practice as an registered associate marriage and family therapist in California, what I once had thought of as a career pivot began to reveal itself as an organic evolution: Understanding people's life stories as actual stories—with parts that could be moved and rewritten in service of a broader underlying idea or value—not only felt like an important connection to my skill set and experience, but a clarifying way of approaching psychotherapy.
As these stories can't really be separated from the cultural contexts in which they were formed, I've gravitated towards theories of practice that embrace them as well. Narrative therapy stresses the importance of this influence to help people feel less defined and trapped by it. At a moment when people's frustrations about their own lives collide with an increasingly volatile and fragile society—and show up as anxiety, depression, or countless other unpleasant experiences—enriching their stories by weaving in these factors is essential.
Meanwhile, existential therapy filters nearly any question through the biggest one imaginable: What does it mean to be a person and how do we want to spend our time? This also dovetails with a central component of storytelling: What are we trying to do here exactly? Learning to recognize a disconnect between how a person is living and their values can lead to profound discoveries.
I currently practice at Larchmont Associates in the Larchmont Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, seeing individual adolescents and adults, as well as couples and families, under the supervision of Larry Zucker, LCSW. Areas of focus include anxiety, depression, trauma response, and issues surrounding major life changes. If you live in California, please do not hesitate to get in touch for a free consultation session.
Contact
P: (323) 250-3771
E: stevekandell.amft@gmail.com
252 N. Larchmont Boulevard suite 202
Los Angeles, CA 90004
