Supervised by Amy Gandin, LMFT #40831
At A Place to Turn, we are honored to welcome Julia Mariko Shannon, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, to our Westlake Village clinical team. Julia believes therapy can be creative, dynamic, and empowering. She brings a warm, client-centered, strengths-based, and holistic approach to her work, grounded in the belief that every person has the capacity to create meaningful and positive change in their life.
Julia works with young adults, adults, and relationship partners navigating anxiety, depression, stress, identity development, relationship challenges, changing roles, and major life transitions. She helps clients clarify what feels difficult, recognize existing strengths and inner resources, and explore new ways of responding to unexpected challenges and opportunities.
Her therapeutic approach is collaborative and integrative, drawing from Mindful Self-Compassion, Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and somatically informed practices. Julia supports clients in recognizing patterns, developing greater emotional balance, deepening self-understanding, and creating healthier relationships with themselves and others.
Julia has a special interest in working with BIPOC, biracial, and multicultural clients, individuals with family histories of immigration or intergenerational trauma, and young adults exploring the complexities of identity, values, career, family, and relationships. She also welcomes relationship partners from diverse relationship structures, including ethical non-monogamy (ENM) and polyamorous relationships. Her goal is to create a nonjudgmental, affirming environment where clients of all cultures, identities, and backgrounds feel safe, respected, and genuinely heard.
Julia’s work is also informed by her experience as a practitioner of Buddhism and student of traditional healing approaches. When appropriate and aligned with a client’s preferences, sessions may incorporate mindfulness practices, gentle breathwork, visualization, exploration of spiritual themes, and attention to the relationship between the mind and body. These practices complement her clinical work and support greater awareness, resilience, and connection.
Julia holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Columbia University and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from William & Mary. She brings intellectual curiosity, cultural humility, and genuine compassion to the therapeutic relationship, helping clients move toward lives that feel more authentic, connected, and aligned with their values.
📍 In-person in Westlake Village, CA
💻 Virtual sessions available throughout California
Julia is currently accepting new clients for in-person therapy at our Westlake Village office as well as secure telehealth sessions throughout California. Whether you are navigating anxiety, identity, relationships, cultural or intergenerational experiences, or an important life transition, Julia would be honored to support you.
To schedule a session with Julia, contact us at info@aplace2turn.com or call 818-643-1553.
📍 Begin your healing journey with Julia in Westlake Village, CA, or virtually from anywhere in California.
Julia works with young adults, adults, and relationship partners navigating anxiety, depression, stress, identity concerns, life transitions, and relationship challenges.
Yes. Julia is committed to creating an affirming therapeutic environment for clients across cultural backgrounds, racial and ethnic identities, gender identities, and relationship structures. She has a particular interest in supporting BIPOC, biracial, multicultural, immigrant-family, and intergenerational experiences, as well as partners in ENM and polyamorous relationships.
Julia integrates Mindful Self-Compassion, Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and somatically informed practices. Her approach is collaborative and tailored to each client rather than based on a one-size-fits-all model.
Julia combines evidence-based psychotherapy with a holistic awareness of the mind-body connection, culture, identity, relationships, and spirituality. When helpful to the client, sessions may include mindfulness, gentle breathwork, visualization, or exploration of spiritual themes.
Yes. Julia offers in-person therapy in Westlake Village and secure virtual therapy throughout California.
To schedule with Julia, email info@aplace2turn.com or call 818-643-1553. Our intake team can answer questions and help you find an appointment that fits your needs.
"Healing can be an invitation to become more curious about who we are, reconnect with our strengths, and create relationships—with ourselves and others—that feel more authentic, meaningful, and whole."
From anxiety and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we utilize holistic talk therapies and innovative treatments like eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR).
