

Hi, I'm Paula.
I am a psychotherapist in private practice, (a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker).
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​For over a decade, I have helped clients who suffer from depression and anxiety, relationship strife, self doubt and despair.
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I love working with those who suffer from years (sometimes decades) of dieting, disordered eating, food obsession, internalized weight stigma and body hatred.
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ABOUT ME
ABOUT ME
I'm glad you're here.
I have worked with various populations over a couple decades now, and have a diverse background including people with trauma, disordered eating, body issues, depression, anxiety, grief and loss and relationship problems.
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I am a playful, creative, permission-based, relational therapist. I draw from liberation, somatic, and expressive arts modalities, as well as transpersonal, queer and eco-psychologies.
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I work mainly with adults, young people, members of the LGTBQIA+ community, couples/families/relationships, and anyone hoping to gain some peace, freedom and calm.
I have much experience and training working with gender nonconforming youth and adults.
For a decade I was a professor of Weight & Society at George Washington University, a body justice course that explored current measures of health, our culture's thin idealism, and society's relentless oppression of large bodies.
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I treat clients suffering from body and food issues with a weight neutral, anti-diet approach.

I am a member of The International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals, the National Association of Social Workers and the California Society for Clinical Social Work.
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I am licensed to practice clinical social work in California, Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland.
EDUCATION
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San Francisco State University, Bachelors in Psychology
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Hunter College School of Social Work, Masters in Social Work
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Registered Yoga Teacher, 2003
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Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, 2011
LICENSES
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LCSW, California
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LICSW, Washington DC
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LCSW, Virginia
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LMSW, Maryland



CONTACT ME
Paula D Atkinson, LICSW, LLC is now located in Palm Springs, CA!
I am able to provide in-person sessions here in Palm Springs (limited days/times) &
I am in-network with some California insurance providers.
To learn more about insurance, please click here.
PHONE
213-566-3719