Meet Dr. Chantel
My name is Dr. Chantel Cortinovis, but most of my patients call me Chantel. I am a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY28895) in private practice and am located in the heart of Los Angeles. I have been in private practice for over a decade, and have over fifteen years of experience as a clinician.
By the time you get to my website, chances are you were referred by a trusted friend, professional or colleague. I take great pride in building a practice that is based entirely on word of mouth… constructed on the bedrock of trust and the reciprocity of respect.
One of the things I hear most consistently from my patients is that they are drawn to my warmth and authenticity. What keeps them coming back is the impact of meaningful change in their lives.
Each day, I get the opportunity to sit across from others as they retell the stories of their lives. I am given the privilege to share in their pain, happiness, sadness, grief and joy as they find the courage to allow themselves to remember.
The view from my end of the room has given me the opportunity to learn a few things about this phenomenon we call change:
I’ve learned that healing is not about someone coming to save you: a more healed version of you is the person you’ve been waiting for. I’ve learned that the behaviors that kept you safe as a kid (control, escapism, avoidance, people pleasing, silence) are the exact behaviors holding you back from living a happy life. And finally, I’ve learned that the majority of change has to do with feeling worthy of a better life, a better career and better relationships.
My therapeutic foundation is one of genuine understanding, acceptance and empathy. Although active listening and reflection are core features of therapy, I pride myself on being an active clinician that works hard to understand all the puzzle pieces, both missing and apparent. As a clinician, I will offer many conceptualizations and hopefully navigate several new and deeper understandings of your life and your future. My goal is to create and sustain an environment to explore and actively pursue emotional growth. With each session, I strive to create a balance between challenge and support.
Throughout the years I have had the humbling opportunity to hear hundreds of stories and be a part of meaningful change and growth. Most (if not all) of my clients stay with me for a long time, and often return after breaks. As soon as we meet, I hope you will get a feel for how much I care, how hard I work to be honest and authentic, and how much of a psych geek I really am.
In all honesty, I consider myself incredibly lucky to have a career where I get the opportunity to be doing something so special. Regardless of whether or not our paths ever cross, I hope you find the courage and compassion you deserve to heal from the things you don’t talk about.
Specializations
I currently treat adults, adolescents and children. In addition to these populations, I have specialized training and experience in working with parents, trainees and those going through meaningful change in their lives.
Life Transitions
I specialize in working with adults going through a life transition/crisis
Therapy for Parents
I offer parenting sessions to parents who are in need of extra guidance
Supervision for Therapists
I provide supervision for both licensed and unlicensed clinicians.
My Office
Education & Experience
I completed my undergraduate degree at California State University, Northridge. I then went on to earn both my Masters and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology at the APA accredited graduate program at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with a clinical emphasis in children, adolescents and families.
Prior to opening my private practice, I was a mental health intern at a variety of sites that included extensive doctoral training with diverse populations. My experience centered on working with individuals and families overcome past and present obstacles associated to their emotional and psychological growth. I interned at Santa Anita Family Services, a non-profit agency working with a wide variety of diagnoses and populations. Later, I was an intern at Childrens Institute Inc. where I worked in a large corporation with at-risk youth and families.
Finally, I was a mental health intern at California State University, Dominguez Hills where I worked with college students at their university counseling center. After obtaining my doctorate degree, I completed all of the required post-doctoral hours for licensure starting my own private practice.