Every moment is a new opportunity.
A Sanctuary for the Self
Come home to yourself.
I'm Maya Rasak, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. I've spent more than 25 years in this chair, and what I've learned is that real change rarely comes from being told what to do — it comes from finally being heard. My work blends clinical training with mindfulness, breath, and the body's own wisdom, because I've seen, again and again, that we are never just the symptom we walk in with.
Her Framework
The Six Pillars of Wellbeing
Every session is guided by six interconnected pillars — a framework Maya has refined over two and a half decades of clinical practice.
Presence
Cultivating awareness of the here and now.
Mindfulness-based techniques help clients quiet rumination and stay grounded in the present moment.
Connection
Building secure, authentic relationships.
Work focuses on repairing communication patterns between partners, family members, and within the self.
Embodiment
Honoring the mind–body bond.
Breathwork, movement, and somatic awareness are woven into sessions as certified body–mind practice.
Emotional Freedom
Releasing old patterns that keep you stuck.
Clients learn to identify and interrupt limiting narratives formed early in life.
Resilience
Building inner strength through stress and change.
Evidence-based tools support clients navigating grief, transitions, and setbacks.
Purpose
Aligning daily life with your deepest values.
Sessions help clients clarify what matters most and build a life that reflects it.
Ways to Work Together
Relationships & The Self
Meet Maya
A therapist's path, once lived in front of the camera.
Before I ever sat in this chair professionally, I spent eight years working in film and television — an unlikely beginning that taught me to really watch people, and to trust what's happening underneath the words. I hold a master's degree from Antioch University, I'm a Certified Integrative Body Psychotherapist, and a certified yoga and meditation teacher. I'm also the author of Transformational CPR: A Guide to Awaken Your Heart. This is real, lived work — not a script.
Read Maya's Full Story
Live Circle
Quiet the noise. Meet yourself — together.
Live Circle is a live, on-camera group gathering — $150–$250 per person, never more than 15 guests — where Maya leads discussion on an announced topic. It's an intimate, educational offering, not group therapy, for anyone drawn to the Six Pillars framework.
Learn About Live Circle
Retreats
Step away. Come back to yourself.
For those ready to go deeper, Maya hosts small, in-person retreats — the most intimate way to work with her, grounded in the Six Pillars. Dates and location are announced soon; join the list to hear first.
Learn About RetreatsAs Featured In
VoyageLA & LA Yoga
“Real change almost never comes from being told what to do. It comes from finally being heard.” — Maya's story, from the film set to 25 years in the therapy room.
In Their Words
"My partner and I have been working with Maya for 5 months and we have the utmost respect for her practice, advice, and talent as a therapist. She has been able to help us understand our core issues personally, and as a couple, in a way that has improved our communication dramatically. Maya has taught us skills to address the challenging conversations between us as a couple that used to escalate quickly; slowly but surely, we seem to have fewer heated discussions and more fruitful dialogue due to the work in her practice. Highly recommend!"
— Braden S., San Francisco, CA · Yelp, July 2019
"My partner and I have been seeing Maya for almost a year now, and it's really transformed our relationship for the better. Finding a couple's therapist that you both can trust and feel seen with is daunting, but we both immediately felt at ease with Maya and her approach to working with couples. The sessions really inspired us to step up to the needs of our relationship. Our communication is better than ever, our arguments are more respectful, and our desire to just enjoy one another and have fun feels... natural and easier. Maya made me feel so comfortable being honest in our sessions, which was incredibly freeing. Her sessions allowed me bring up things I had been holding back from my partner, and inspired me to be honest with myself. My partner and I are so grateful for Maya and the impact she's had on us. It's become second-nature for us to bring the practices we've learned into our day-to-day, both at an individual level and as a couple. I highly recommend Maya to anyone who's looking for guidance in their relationship. Don't overthink this one - reach out already!"
— Caroline T. · Yelp, March 2024
"Seeing Maya has completely changed my life. At the start of 2022 I was in the darkest place I have ever been in life. Maya gave tools and the guidance needed immediately to help me out of the hole I was in. Over the past 11 months I have learned my tendencies to situations and gained perspective on events in my life and how they have affected me in the present day. Maya has helped me turn my life around and I will be forever grateful for what she has done for me!"
— Taiki G. · Yelp, December 2022
Read more reviews from Maya’s clients over the years on Yelp.
From Maya
Transformational CPR: A Guide to Awaken Your Heart
Maya's book distills her Six Pillars framework into a practical guide for anyone ready to move from surviving to truly thriving — available now on Amazon.
Words from Maya
Insights & Journal
Insights
The Myth of the Soulmate
Why the search for "the one" often keeps us from the relationship in front of us.
Insights
The Mind–Body Connection
How unresolved emotion lives in the body — and what to do about it.
Journal
Short Reflections from Maya
Brief, poetic notes and mindfulness prompts for the everyday.
Stay Connected
Join Maya's Insider List
Occasional reflections, new articles, and early access to upcoming resources — no spam, ever.
Begin Today
Your Transformation Begins.
A free 15-minute consultation is the first step. In person in Santa Monica, or by secure telehealth video anywhere in California.
Book Your Free Consultation