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Sex-positive & kink-friendly therapy for
poly/ethically non-monogamous,
queer, trans, & non-binary people,
and anyone who is curious about themselves

in-person & online therapy
in the South Bay of Los Angeles
and online across the state of California

(she/her)
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
and Registered Art Therapist

Hi, I’m Allison

Therapist Allison Marx

I am a sex-positive, kink/BDSM-knowledgeable therapist who specializes in working with adults in polyamorous and ethically non-monogamous relationships; queer, trans, and non-binary individuals; and film industry and other creative professionals.

My therapeutic style is client-centered, trauma-informed, and warm but direct. I use a relational approach including Art Therapy, narrative therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), EMDR Therapy, mindfulness, and somatic techniques to help clients manage anxiety, understand themselves better, navigate relationship challenges and changes, and live more fulfilling lives. Laughter, tears, swearing, dark humor, movie references, and stories about your pets are all welcome in sessions with me!

I know it can be challenging to find a therapist you feel comfortable sharing parts of your identity with, without fear of judgement - that is one of the main reasons I decided to go into this work, and why I am passionate about continuing my training and learning to support the communities I work with and am part of.

Learn more about me.

Are you…

Feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed? 

Exploring, questioning, or deconstructing ideas about sexuality or gender?   

Considering opening up your relationship, or struggling with poly relationship dynamics?   

Interested in BDSM/kink but not sure how to talk about it with partners? 

Struggling with shame or fear of judgement about parts of your identity?   

Dealing with new challenges and changes in your life, and looking for a place to sort through it all?     

Stuck in patterns of people-pleasing that you’re frustrated with but can’t seem to change? 

Thinking that you’re just never “enough” (not good enough, not queer enough, not doing enough)?

Feeling so overwhelmed that you can’t relax, can’t sleep through the night without waking up in a nervous sweat, and you’re worried that things will never get better?

Holding it all inside until it bubbles up and you snap at a friend or partner, and then spend the rest of the day mentally beating yourself up because you couldn’t control your emotions?

Have you been doing all the self-care, maybe even been to therapy before, and you’re still feeling stuck? 

Then you’ve come to the right place,
and I’m glad you’re here.

You don’t have to keep trying to hold out until things get better - until you get that promotion, until you find that ideal partner, until life becomes less busy.

Because the truth is life might not slow down; an exciting new relationship may bring old issues up to the surface; you might get that big break and find that it only increases your anxiety. If you’ve been feeling this way for so long, it might even seem normal now, or you may not be able to imagine how it could ever feel differently. The idea of finding balance or peace sounds great in theory, but you don’t even know what that would look like in your own life. That’s okay! Now is the perfect time to start.

I help people figure out where and why they are stuck in patterns that are no longer working for them, get to know themselves better, and take steps to actually make changes in their lives. I work with a lot of people who have tried therapy in the past but didn’t see the changes they were hoping for, and I promise you our work will be more than “just talking”! I listen to what you need, what has or hasn’t worked for you in the past, and how we can collaboratively work together to help you become the best version of yourself. 

We will delve into what stuff from the past may still be affecting you in the present, so you can be more aware of how you respond to it and begin healing. We’ll spend time being curious and exploring, and also focusing on practical skills that you can take home with you to put into practice in your daily life. My clients leave therapy feeling more secure and proud in their identities, confident in themselves, surprised at their newfound abilities to deal with stressors that would have overwhelmed them in the past, and ready to take on new challenges and adventures in their lives.

Ready to get started? Contact me to schedule a free consultation.


I offer in-person therapy for residents of Los Angeles in the South Bay including Torrance, Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale, and Gardena; and online therapy via telehealth throughout the state of California.

Specialities

  • Using art-making and creative processes as part of your therapy. Learn more.

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Learn more.

  • LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy for queer, trans, non-binary folks, and those who are questioning or exploring. Learn more.

  • Kink-knowledgeable therapy for people in the BDSM community. Learn more.

  • Therapy for people who are polyamorous or in other ethically non-monogamous relationships. Learn more.

  • Therapy for Film/TV, Entertainment Industry, & other Creative Professionals. Learn more.

Need more information?

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact me for more information or to schedule a free consultation

allison@allisonmarxlmft.com
424.407.1878