Functional Anxiety
Perfectionism, overthinking, burnout, and high-achievement stress
Meet the Team
Anat Cohen, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist, Co-Founder
My Approach
I help people who manage life well on the surface feel more grounded, connected, and emotionally at ease within themselves and their relationships.
Many of my clients are thoughtful and self-aware, yet still find themselves caught in persistent self-doubt, internal pressure, overthinking, or emotional exhaustion. They are often tired of understanding their patterns intellectually while still being pulled into the same emotional reactions, relationship dynamics, or repeated ways of coping.
In therapy, we pay close attention to how these patterns show up in the present moment and explore new ways of responding to them. Through honest conversation, curiosity, and a willingness to explore vulnerability, clients often begin to feel less internally pressured and more flexible in how they navigate life's challenges.
My style is engaged, straightforward, and collaborative. Clients often appreciate that I keep things real. I tend to be direct, and I use humor and our shared humanity to make the work feel approachable, meaningful, and emotionally honest.
More than two decades after seeing my first client, I remain deeply engaged in this work and continue to value the privilege of helping people create meaningful change in their lives.
Beyond Therapy
Outside of therapy, I try to spend my time in ways that reflect what I value most: connection, curiosity, and meaningful conversation. Much of my time is spent with family and close friends, often over long talks and a good cup of coffee.
I enjoy laughing often, greeting every dog I meet on my daily walks, and listening to audiobooks. These small, everyday moments help keep me grounded and connected both personally and professionally.
Specialty Areas of Practice
Functional Depression
Grief and loss, midlife dissatisfaction, emotional numbness, and relational disconnection
Adjustment & Stress Rebuilding after change
Divorce or breakup recovery, career stress, parenting transitions (empty nest), caregiver overwhelm
Women's Issues Across the Lifespan
Role and identity shift at various stages of womanhood (e.g., motherhood, perimenopause and menopause transitions, divorce or breakup)
Background and Education
Dr. Anat Cohen is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY15800) with over two decades of experience in practice. She received her Ph.D. from the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), an institution accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), in 1996.
Dr. Cohen has provided and supervised mental health services in a variety of settings, including psychiatric hospitals and various community mental health centers.
Dr. Cohen has taught, trained, mentored, and supervised numerous therapists and clinical psychologists. She has made significant contributions to the career development of countless therapists over the past two decades.
As a clinical professor at Pepperdine University's Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Dr. Cohen has served as the director of the Pepperdine Community Counseling Center in Encino since 2002. The center, which has transformed into a telehealth clinic, benefits from her proven track record as an experienced clinical supervisor and leader in the field of clinical training in psychology.
Dr. Cohen is invested in community outreach and has developed pro bono parent-education workshops for local schools. She talks to parents about how they can protect their children from bullying and address various mental health challenges impacting their children and teens.
Ready to Work with Anat Cohen?
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