Athena Carrillo MA, MFT

I suffer depression and I went to Athena to help with that and the bad patterns it was causing. I don’t feel she was much help to me. From the reviews I know that she has helped people, however if you suffer from depression I would advise you to go to a more qualified therapist. I just don’t feel she had any concept of what it is like to deal with depression or how to help someone out if it. I debated about putting in a negative review, however for those who have depression I just wanted to advise them to go to someone a bit more suited for that type of therapy.

This review is so long overdue. I have been seeing Athena for over a year and although all that deserves saying about my experience can not be shared on Unilocal I will say simply: I owe Athena my life, for she truly helped me discover the life I was meant to live.
If you have ever had an experience with a therapist that was less than transformative or if you are embarking on this journey for the first time, Athena will shower you with the wisdom of her namesake and bring into light that which you have been longing to see. She is one of the most amazing people I have ever met I am am blessed to have found her at the perfect time… perhaps now is your time. Good luck :)

Who knew you could find a therapist on Unilocal!I didn’t, until recently. Thank goodness, because my insurance sponsored therapists were not the best, and I’d rather pay out of pocket than waste my time.
At the end of the day, she’s a warm-​hearted, compassionate soul — who happens to be in exactly the right profession. She has helped bring awareness and growth to issues I didn’t even know I had. And as hard as that might be at times, it’s a journey to peace and self-​acceptance I’m happy to be on.
Thanks, Athena!

I agree with the previous reviews that Athena brings a special quality to her work as a therapist. Her somatic therapy, combining mind and body techniques, is especially powerful. In working with Athena, I have been able to explore issues on a much deeper level than in other talk therapy experiences. I always feel I have been changed on a deep level after a session with Athena. In addition to her specialized training in somatic therapy, her incredible warmth and intuitive gifts make her incredibly valuable as a therapist. I have already referred several friends to her and would highly recommend her to anyone seeking a transformative therapeutic experience.

I have heard nothing but good things about Athena. She has helped one of my really good friends become a much better person.

Looking for a therapist can be a very disconcerting process. In my search I encountered several therapists who seemed very impersonal, were eager to take my money for the session fee, and made money off using their title as a licensed psychologist as a way to sell picture books… I was almost ready to give up, when I was referred to Athena through an acupuncturist. Everything that has already been written about Athena on here is true. Her location was convenient for me as I live in the Los Feliz/​Silverlake area, and she also has a West LA office. She is such a genuine and compassionate person and every time I leave her office I feel like an immense weight has been lifted. I also really believe her method of therapy (mind body spirit psychotherapy) is much more effective than just simply talk therapy. I am so thankful to have found her :)

Therapy sessions aside, talking to Athena is in itself both a relaxing and therapeutic experience. She has an incredible talent for making the person in front of her feel at ease and open immediately. I remember the first time I met up with her I felt so comfortable and extremely relaxed. She made me feel okay to open up and talk about things that I am not usually comfortable sharing with others. I’ve recommended a few friends to her and they all salute her calming nature and helpful therapy.
She basically practices what’s called holistic or mind-​body-​spirit psychotherapy which called me to her at first. During therapy, she focused on my source of stress and overwhelmed feelings through a multi-​dimensional lens that looked at the source of the problem from a mind angle, body angle, and, last but not least, spirit angle. I think it’s really difficult to open up to yourself, let alone another person on such an intimate and exposed manner. So Athena really stood out to me personally because she made me feel relaxed in going through that difficult but helpful process. I think she is LA’s best kept secret and she can befriend and help anyone out there, particularly people like me who are stressed out with a million responsibilities a day at work and home. So I want to make sure more people know about her! Thank you, Athena, for being such a great person and helping me find my inner great person. :)

I’ve really seen a big change in my good friend after just a few sessions with Athena. I have also met her. Besides her warm and genuine demeanor, I could tell she really has a great intuitive gift and was able to understand our situation on a deeper level than anyone else ever had. I felt much more clear after speaking with her for just a short time.
Athena also practices somatic psychotherapy, which is a more holistic and body-​oriented approach, and after seeing a clip of her practice this method on a man for the website
, I was intrigued. She was able to sense the part in his body where he had been trapping pain for a long time and helped him to let go of that pain and feel resolved by touch as well as talking him through it. Also, her rates are very reasonable and I find her office soothing. If you have not tried this type of psychotherapy, or even if you have and might be looking for someone new to see, I HIGHLY recommend her services.