Simone Writer Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Simone Writer, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, 136712 is practicing under the supervision of Janine Darwin (California, LMFT, MFC46778) at Marina Counseling Center.

Please, note: A clinician listed as being “clinically supervised” is completing clinical hours toward their licensure. They have one or more fully licensed clinical supervisors that often have special training. They consult with their supervisor(s) on all of their cases.

What Clients Can Expect from Working With Me ✔ A deeper understanding of your relationship patterns – We’ll uncover the unconscious dynamics shaping your love life, so you can stop repeating the same painful cycles. ✔ Real tools for lasting change – This isn’t about quick fixes or surface-level advice. You’ll gain practical, evidence-based strategies to break toxic patterns, rebuild trust, and create healthier, more fulfilling relationships. ✔ More than “just better communication” – While improving communication is important, true transformation comes from healing attachment wounds, nervous system responses, and unspoken relational dynamics. ✔ A space for honesty, humor, and real growth – Therapy with me is deep work, but it’s also human. I bring warmth, humor, and directness into the process so that even the hard conversations feel manageable. ✔ Clarity on whether to repair or release a relationship – Not every relationship is meant to be saved, but every person deserves healing. Whether you’re working on a relationship or rethinking one, I’ll help you gain the clarity you need to move forward with confidence. ✔ A therapist who will both challenge and support you – I won’t just nod and take notes. I’ll gently challenge you when needed, support you through the hard moments, and help you do the real, deep work that leads to transformation. Bottom line? You’ll walk away with greater self-awareness, relational insight, and the tools to create the love and connection you deserve.

Relationships aren’t just personal—they’re shaped by power, trauma, culture, and deep unconscious patterns. The clients I work with, especially high-achievers and trauma survivors, often struggle with issues that go far beyond what traditional relationship advice can address. Some of the most unique challenges I see include: ✔ High-achievers struggling in love – Many of my clients are driven, successful people who excel in their careers, yet relationships feel like the one area they can’t “figure out.” They are often highly competent in problem-solving but struggle with emotional intimacy, vulnerability, and trust in ways that deeply frustrate them. ✔ Attachment wounds & nervous system responses in relationships – Many people believe they “just need better communication,” but the truth is, relationships are shaped by early attachment experiences, nervous system reactions, and deep emotional patterns that operate beneath the surface. I help clients work at this deeper level to create real, lasting change. ✔ The myth of codependency & outdated relationship narratives – Many of my clients, especially women, have internalized harmful messages about love, self-sacrifice, and emotional responsibility. I take a feminist, trauma-informed approach to relationships, helping clients challenge outdated models of “fixing” love and build relationships that feel mutual, conscious, and fulfilling. ✔ Power, gender, and trauma in relationships – Love doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Many of my clients are navigating unconscious power imbalances, past trauma, or systemic influences that impact how they relate. My work helps bring these dynamics into awareness so clients can make more empowered choices in their relationships. In therapy, we don’t just talk about feelings—we unpack the deeper emotional, psychological, and systemic forces shaping love so my clients can experience real, sustainable change.

I didn’t become a therapist by accident—this work is deeply personal to me. My life experiences, background, and academic studies have shaped my approach in ways that go far beyond just clinical training. ✔ As an immigrant woman of color, I understand relational complexity. Having lived between cultures, I know firsthand how cultural expectations, trauma, and identity shape relationships. Many of my clients, particularly women and BIPOC individuals, struggle with internalized expectations, generational trauma, and navigating power in relationships—things I also had to unlearn and heal. ✔ My journey into feminist thought changed everything. Before I fully stepped into therapy work, I immersed myself in feminist theory, depth psychology, and social justice studies—which completely transformed how I see love, attachment, and emotional healing. I don’t just apply psychological theories; I critically examine how systemic forces shape our understanding of love and relationships. ✔ I have been both the therapist and the client. I’ve done my own deep work to heal attachment wounds, navigate trauma, and rethink love. I know what it’s like to sit in the client’s chair and do the messy, painful, beautiful work of transformation. This makes me a therapist who doesn’t just “guide” my clients—I deeply get what it takes to do this work. ✔ I challenge traditional therapy narratives. I don’t believe in pathologizing emotions, labeling people as “too sensitive,” or pushing outdated ideas of codependency and healing. Instead, my work is about empowerment, self-awareness, and creating relationships that feel alive and mutual. My personal experiences have made me the therapist I am today—compassionate, direct, and deeply committed to helping my clients rewrite the stories that no longer serve them.

For nearly 20 years, I’ve worked with high-achievers, complex thinkers, and couples in crisis—helping them untangle relationship struggles, heal deep emotional wounds, and reconnect in ways that feel real and lasting. My background blends psychotherapy, executive coaching, and trauma-informed relational work, giving me a unique perspective on why ambitious, successful people often struggle the most in love. I’ve worked with everyone from corporate leaders to trauma survivors, helping them navigate the intersection of attachment, power, and emotional intimacy. Throughout my career, I’ve specialized in: ✔ Couples therapy for high-achievers—helping partners break toxic cycles & rebuild trust ✔ Relational trauma & attachment wounds—understanding how early experiences shape love ✔ Somatic & depth-oriented work—because relationships live in the body, not just the mind ✔ Feminist & social justice frameworks—helping clients redefine love beyond outdated models ✔ Executive coaching & leadership work—because how we lead often mirrors how we love My approach is direct yet deeply compassionate—challenging clients to grow while providing the safety needed to heal. Whether working with individuals or couples, my goal is always the same: to help you create relationships that feel secure, alive, and aligned with who you truly are.