#Couples Counseling Los Angeles

[cbtherapyla]

Finding the Best Therapists in Los Angeles: A Comprehensive Guide to Couples Counseling and Affordable Therapy Options

Los Angeles, known for its vibrant culture and dynamic lifestyle, is also home to some of the best therapists in the country. Whether you’re seeking help for individual issues, couples counseling, or looking for affordable therapy options, the City of Angels offers a multitude of resources. This guide will help you navigate the landscape of mental health services in Los Angeles, ensuring you find the support you need.

Best Therapists in Los Angeles

Los Angeles boasts a plethora of highly qualified therapists specializing in various areas of mental health. From anxiety and depression to trauma and grief, you can find a therapist who meets your specific needs. Some of the most acclaimed therapists in the city are known for their empathetic approach, comprehensive treatment plans, and proven track records. When searching for the best therapists, consider factors such as their credentials, specialties, client reviews, and therapeutic approach.

Couples Counseling Los Angeles

Couples counseling is a valuable resource for partners seeking to improve their relationship, resolve conflicts, and strengthen their bond. In Los Angeles, you can find numerous therapists who specialize in couples counseling, offering techniques such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Gottman Method Couples Therapy. These therapies are designed to help couples communicate more effectively, rebuild trust, and foster a deeper connection. Whether you’re dealing with communication issues, infidelity, or simply want to enhance your relationship, couples counseling in Los Angeles can provide the support you need.

Affordable Therapy Los Angeles

Mental health care can be expensive, but Los Angeles offers several affordable therapy options to ensure everyone has access to the help they need. Many therapists offer sliding scale fees based on your income, making therapy more accessible. Additionally, community clinics and non-profit organizations provide low-cost or even free therapy services. Universities with psychology programs often have training clinics where supervised graduate students provide therapy at reduced rates. Don’t let financial constraints prevent you from seeking the help you deserve.

Low-Cost Therapy Los Angeles

For those on a tight budget, low-cost therapy options in Los Angeles are a lifesaver. Community mental health centers, such as the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, offer services on a sliding scale fee. Non-profit organizations like The Wright Institute Los Angeles and Open Paths Counseling Center provide quality therapy services at reduced costs. These centers often have licensed therapists and interns who are committed to making mental health care accessible to all. Additionally, online therapy platforms can be a cost-effective alternative, offering flexibility and convenience.

Finding the right therapist in Los Angeles doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a myriad of options for couples counseling, affordable therapy, and low-cost therapy, you can find the support you need to navigate life’s challenges. Whether you’re seeking individual therapy or couples counseling, remember that taking the first step towards mental health care is a courageous and vital decision. Los Angeles is home to some of the best therapists who are ready to help you on your journey towards healing and growth.

[lboogie1906]

Attorney Nina Mitchell Wells (September 9, 1950) is an attorney and politician (D) who served as the 32nd Secretary of State for New Jersey. She was born in DC. He attended Immaculate Conception Academy. She enrolled in Mount St. Joseph College, but transferred to Newton College of the Sacred Heart, before the end of her freshman year. She earned her BA and married her longtime beau, Theodore V. Wells Jr. (1982). The couple have two children.

She earned her JD from Suffolk University Law School. The family relocated to Los Angeles for a short time before returning to the East Coast, where they settled in New Jersey. She began her career as Assistant Corporation Counsel in the city of Newark’s Law Department and legal advisor for the Newark Central Planning Board and the Real Estate Commission. She worked at Bell Communications, and served as the head of the Division of Rate Counsel in the Department of the Public Advocate, before serving as Vice President and Senior Counsel at the CIT group. She worked at Rutgers University as the Assistant Dean for the Minority Student Program, before she became the Vice President of Public Affairs at the Schering-Plough Corporation.

She was appointed by New Jersey’s 54th Governor Jon S. Corzine, as the Secretary of State. Her duties included overseeing state elections as chief elections officer, as well as the state archives, historical affairs, cultural and arts programs, literacy, Native American Affairs, and tourism. She held the position of Secretary of State until 2010. She served as a Board member for numerous secondary and collegiate institutions, cultural foundations, and community organizations including the College of St. Elizabeth, The Newark Museum, and the Victoria Foundation.

She has received numerous awards for her legal work and philanthropy over her more than 32 years as a public servant. She has been inducted into the New Jersey Business Hall of Fame and holds honorary degrees from the College of St. Elizabeth and Drew University. She serves as the President of the Schering-Plough Foundation. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[coochiequeens]

Maybe now that the people with the money to buy babies are being scammed even IVF proponents will admit that there needs to be regulations in the Buy a Baby Business

Dominique Side, the owner of Surrogacy Escrow Account Management, poses in 2023 at Vegan Fashion Week in Los Angeles.

(Gilbert Flores / WWD via Getty Images)

By Matt Hamilton Staff Writer June 30, 2024 

They scrimped, and they saved. Some asked family and friends to pitch in. Others took out loans for tens of thousands of dollars.

Their goal was twofold: To raise the small fortune necessary to pay for a surrogate mother. And to realize a dream previously impossible — having a child of their own.

Hundreds of people across California, the U.S. and around the globe put their money, sometimes $50,000 or more, into the hands of a Texas-based escrow company so the funds could be held in trust and doled out to a surrogate for healthcare costs, insurance and compensation.

But this month, expectant parents and their surrogates learned the money they had set aside at Houston-based Surrogacy Escrow Account Management, or SEAM, is inaccessible and likely gone.

“We want answers,” said Chris Kettmann of Fair Oaks, Calif., a suburb of Sacramento. “Is there recourse to get the money back? If not, what can we do?”

Chris Kettmann and his wife with their ultrasound in an undated photo. (Chris Kettmann)

Kettmann, 33, said he and his wife had about $45,000 in their escrow account, money owed to their surrogate mother, who is pregnant with their baby boy and due in October. “We don’t know enough to say what happened,” he said. “We just know there’s something crazy going on.”

Police in Houston have opened a wide-reaching investigation. Christina Garza, a spokeswoman for the FBI’s Houston field office, confirmed last week that the agency also is investigating SEAM. The FBI has developed a public portal for SEAM clients to report their account information and how much money they believe they are owed. Garza, however, cautioned that the inquiry was in its early stages and said, “We’re trying to compile as much information as possible.”

A married same-sex couple in Washington, D.C., says they are out $55,000. A Los Feliz couple said they demanded their $40,111 be returned and believe it is gone. Arielle Mitton, an L.A. native who recently moved to Bellingham, Wash., can recite the amount that she and her husband are missing down to the cent: $37,721.44.

“I assumed naively that an escrow account was a safe thing,” said Mitton, whose surrogate mother in Indiana is pregnant with their daughter and is due to deliver on Christmas Eve.

Mitton has joined hundreds of affected parents and surrogates in a private Facebook group that has become a forum for venting, grieving, exchanging information and trying to answer the overriding questions: What happened here? And where did all their money go?

Scrutiny has centered on the sole owner of SEAM, Dominique Side, who has told customers that she had once been a surrogate. The 44-year-old billed herself as an entrepreneur of multimillion dollar businesses in the Houston area, including a vegan grocery store, a nonprofit school, a vegan music studio, and the surrogacy escrow outfit. She walked the red carpet in L.A. for vegan fashion events and ran a concierge service for those seeking a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

“One common thread runs through all my businesses: each is based firmly on a foundation of compassion — for others, for myself and for the planet,” she told a Houston publication in 2022.

Side did not respond to calls or written questions. Emails to Side triggered an auto-response that doubled as a press statement. Citing the “active investigation by federal authorities,” Side wrote in the email, “Under the advice of counsel, I am not permitted to respond to any inquiries regarding the investigation.”

On Thursday, Side and SEAM were hit by a lawsuit from a merchant cash-advance lender, the third such lawsuit this year. Merchant cash advance lenders provide small businesses with quick infusions of money at high fees akin to interest rates of 50% to 100%.

A judge in Texas also froze all of the company’s accounts along with Side’s other businesses after a SEAM client, Marieke Slik, sued over her “vanished” $28,000.

Calling herself a “victim of a scam,” Slik alleged that Side and her company had lured her and others “into a fiduciary relationship in order to steal their escrow funds,” according to her lawsuit, which was filed in Texas. “The Defendants have left hundreds of surrogates throughout the country — who are pregnant with a child that does not belong to them — with no way to pay for necessary prenatal care.”

Sides’ actions, according to the lawsuit, “are nothing short of evil.”

Struggling parents

Many surrogacies often involve LGBTQ+ couples who want children, or older couples for whom childbearing is no longer a viable possibility.

For others, the road to surrogacy is one of heartbreak and tragedy.

The married woman in Los Feliz said she had had multiple miscarriages. She was recently pregnant but gave birth in the second trimester. The newborn died at Cedars-Sinai in his parents’ arms.

The couple turned to surrogacy after exhausting all other options. They selected a surrogate mother, completed the necessary contract — which often requires using an escrow firm — and put more than $40,000 into the account, a portion of the overall cost. But their embryo had yet to be transferred into the surrogate mother.

“Nothing is clear,” she said, explaining that she and her husband demanded their funds weeks ago. “Obviously that fell on deaf ears — we didn’t get our money back,” she said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because their extended family remains unaware of their attempt at using a surrogate.

“I’d love to carry this child,” she said, and “not spend any money on a surrogate. There’s a level of that, where you feel so terribly sad. You feel sad about the money, but you feel sad about the situation.”

‘Something really bad has happened’

For intended parents and surrogates, trouble emerged around late May, when surrogates did not receive their usual payments.

Arielle Mitton gives surrogate mother Tena Doan’s belly a kiss. Doan is carrying Mitton’s baby.  (Arielle Mitton)

In early June, Tena Doan — a 42-year-old surrogate mother in Indiana — said she noticed her bank account balance was lower than expected and realized her monthly payment and allowance had not come through. Her surrogacy agency told her that banking issues at SEAM had delayed the arrival of the money.

“I said, ‘No problem, they’ll get it fixed,’” Doan recalled, figuring that banking issues happen. When she logged into SEAM’s portal, she saw that the money listed as due her was still there.

Then came a June 12 email from Side claiming that fraudulent charges had prompted Capitol One to freeze SEAM’s account.

“Some payments were able to go through before the accounts were frozen,” Side wrote in the email. She stated that new bank accounts were established and promised service would be restored.

Two days later, however, Side sent another email indicating that “all operations have been placed on hold” due to legal action.

Doan said that the email stopped her in her tracks.

“That’s when we were like, ‘Oh s—, this is not good. Something really bad has happened,’” Doan recalled. “From there, it’s been a whirlwind.”

Mitton — the mother of the child that Doan is carrying — was at home more than 2,000 miles west.

“The first few days, I barely slept, I was nauseous from all the emotional aspects and had vertigo,” Mitton remembered.

She contacted the FBI, Houston police, the Texas attorney general. Mitton even emailed the CEO of Capital One, questioning how the money could apparently vanish.

Tena Doan, left, and Arielle Mitton. (Arielle Mitton)

Both Doan and Mitton joined the Facebook group and realized they were part of a club they never wanted membership in: those affected by SEAM’s financial collapse.

An informal poll among members suggested that about $10 million was unaccounted for. Parents and surrogates from across the country and around the world have traded information in the Facebook group about current police investigations and become sleuths themselves.

They’ve pored over Side’s various businesses — the Vgn Bae Music Studio, and Nikki Green, a luxury vegan fashion line. They’ve also mined her social media accounts.

A recent post on Side’s Instagram page VgnBaeDom, which has since been deleted, recounted her birthday week in June: Side said she flew to L.A., enjoyed a vegan dinner at the upscale Culver City vegan restaurant Shojin, dined at Crossroads Kitchen and Craig’s — both frequent celebrity hotspots — enjoyed a “full day of spa and cabana” at the Four Seasons, before doing fittings at Celine, the luxury French fashion house.

“The week this was going down was also her birthday week,” said Mitton, who recalled thinking, “She’s probably spending our escrow money there.”

Signs of financial difficulty SEAM was first registered in Texas in 2014. Testimonials from 2017 onward show glowing reviews, and one parent told The Times he had used SEAM for their first child without issue.

Lawsuits from cash advance lenders filed against SEAM and Side in New York this year indicate mounting financial trouble in recent months.

So-called merchant cash-advance lenders send sums of money to distressed businesses, often with a rapid turnaround, and, in exchange, a business lets the lender withdraw a portion of future receipts directly from the business’ bank account to pay off the debt. Cash-advance lenders often insist they aren’t lenders and that cash advances against future revenue aren’t technically loans — but New York’s former attorney general had lambasted the industry for predatory debt-collection practices.

In January, Side received an unspecified sum from Pearl Delta Funding and agreed to pay back $69,500. But she defaulted the next month, prompting the lender to sue her in New York in March. (Pearl Delta’s attorney did not respond to an email seeking comment.)

On May 6, Side secured $650,000 from Dynasty Capital and agreed to pay $975,000, or 150% of the amount borrowed, according to court records.

Under the agreement, the lender was allowed to debit $12,500 per day from SEAM’s account until the full amount was paid back. On May 31, Dynasty Capital said in court papers, SEAM “breached the agreement” and either failed to put revenue into the business account or diverted it elsewhere, leaving Dynasty unable to recoup its money.

Dynasty Capital sued Side, SEAM and her various businesses on June 18. Dynasty’s lawyer declined to comment.

On May 29, Side obtained $100,000 from Arsenal Funding and agreed to allow Arsenal to deduct 1.25% of SEAM’s daily revenue from its business bank account until $149,000 was paid off.

Arsenal sued Side and SEAM last week after Side stopped making payments on June 21 and defaulted, according to the lawsuit filed in New York, which demands about $190,000 to cover the outstanding debt and fees.

To secure the loan from Arsenal, Side had to disclose her largest revenue sources. She listed three companies, all in Southern California: US Harvest Babies Surrogacy in the City of Industry; Mle & Mlang International Surrogacy in L.A.; and a Shady Grove Fertility office in Solana Beach.

But there is reason to doubt the accuracy of what Side told the lender. In a statement, Shady Grove said it had no financial relationship with Side or SEAM and did not refer patients to the company, explaining that “some patients may have independently engaged with SEAM.”

Further, the name that Side had listed as her contact has never been an employee of Shady Grove, according to a person familiar with the company’s operations. And the address she listed for Shady Grove is a small branch in the San Diego area that’s been open for only a few months; Shady Grove is headquartered in Maryland and has 49 locations nationwide.

Neither Harvest Babies or Mlan responded to requests for comment.

Side told Arsenal that she was the 100% owner of SEAM and projected an average monthly revenue of $2.78 million, according to a copy of the financial agreement that Arsenal included with its lawsuit.

Lori Hood, a Houston-based attorney who is representing Slik — the client who sued Side this month in Texas — said she was confounded by SEAM’s financial practices. She said the lawsuit from Dynasty Capital indicated that escrow money was used to secure the $650,000 cash payment.

“How do you put up escrow funds as collateral?” said Hood. “That’s my first indication that something’s desperately wrong. You don’t recognize escrow funds as revenue.”

Second, Hood said, SEAM’s tax records that she’s reviewed also showed revenue of “millions of dollars.”

“Did her company make millions of dollars, or is she putting into the tax returns that the escrow money was her revenue?” Hood asked.

To press their client’s lawsuit against SEAM, Hood and her law partner, Marianne Robak, petitioned a judge to freeze all of SEAM’s accounts at Capital One along with other accounts owned or controlled by Side.

“The evidence shows that SEAM’s escrow account with Capital One ... has no funds available,” notes the request for a restraining order to freeze all accounts. “SEAM is insolvent.”

In the filing, Hood also accused SEAM of diverting money into accounts in the name of Life Escrow LLC, a company registered last year to Side’s business partner, Anthony Hall, who is also a defendant in the suit filed by Slik.

Side’s “actions appear to be to avoid having to face the clients she defrauded. It appears she had absconded,” states the restraining order, which a Harris County, Texas, judge signed off on June 21.

Reached by phone on Thursday, Hall said he “had no connection with SEAM,” adding, “I wish I had answers.” Hall said he was a business partner of Side in the vegan music studio, Vgn Bae Studios, adding, “Everything was great until it wasn’t.”

Hall said he did not know if Side had an attorney and said that he was speaking only for himself.

“She’s not gonna respond,” he said of Side. “I’m defending myself. I don’t know what they have going on.”

Pregnancies don’t wait

For Hood and hundreds of surrogate mothers and parents, questions mount.

“I won’t cast blame on any of the parents. They did everything they were supposed to do,” Hood said.

Time is short, however, for ongoing pregnancies and those couples who hope to have a surrogate receive an embryo soon.

Kettmann, from the Sacramento area, said their surrogate mother is 22 weeks pregnant. Of the $57,000 they put into SEAM, he said, $45,000 is missing. The rest had already been distributed to the surrogate.

“It’s a scramble,” he said. He and his wife had some money saved for additional expenses, which they’ve used to cover the June payment that never arrived from SEAM. He’s now fundraising from family and friends.

“We told her we’ll do everything we can to keep her up to date on payments,” he said, “but [we’re] asking her to be patient.”

Mitton and her surrogate mother, Doan, have started collecting donations through GoFundMe and plan to extend the payment terms two years, rather than having all the money sent to Doan shortly after delivery.

“I’m growing a healthy baby girl for them,” Doan said, “and that’s all that matters.”

[dominickeating-source]

An Interview With Enterprise Star Dominic Keating

By Marakay Rogers

Dominic Keating relaxing with his Union Jack newspaper. Photo by LA Hale

IT NEVER rains in Southern California, but the state has its advantages as well, including all the snack food one might want. So says actor Dominic Keating, who has lived primarily in the Los Angeles area for the past decade. Keating, remembered as “Tony” from the popular Channel Four programme Desmond’s, is now a star of the current Star Trek franchise, Enterprise, which airs on Sky as well as on UPN in the United States, where it has begun its third series. The actor spoke about Desmond’s and his work in America after a charity event in Monrovia, California.

Despite his current popularity as armoury officer Malcolm Reed on Enterprise, Keating fondly remembers his days on Desmond’s. “We were pretty hard-hitting at the time. You hadn’t seen a show with a Black cast being portrayed in a very realistic light. Up until Desmond’s the Black community in London had been marginalised. It really was a great place to cut my teeth.” He recalls with particular enthusiasm working with the late Norman Beaton. “He was an extraordinary figure, Norman. I learned so much standing next to him for five-and-a-half years. He was a very colourful character. He lived life, truly, to the hilt and beyond. God bless you, mate.”

STAGE

Keating began his career on stage, originating the role of Cosmo in The Pitchfork Disney. However, he has done only one stage play in the United States, Adam Faith’s revival of Alfie. He recalls cheerily, “I taught Adam to roller-blade while he was over here.” Keating looks forward to more theatrical work, but aims once again for the London stage. “I’ve been in some talks with an old colleague of mine… making steps to bring a couple of cast members from Enterprise over one hiatus. I think Connor (Trinneer) and a couple of the others would want to come over and live in London for six weeks.”

Although he spends far more time in Los Angeles than at his London flat, Keating has never quite adjusted to California weather, which he does not find perfect. “I like the sun, but I don’t perform well in heat.” Unlike many who have transplanted themselves to California, he misses the rain back home – but not soccer; he doesn’t follow team sports, although he recently attended a Manchester United exhibition match against Club America.

ADVICE

Keating’s advice for English actors planning to try making a go of it in Hollywood: don’t. “If you ride in on the back of something America has taken to heart, like Lord of the Rings or Four Weddings and a Funeral, it’s still not a plus. I wouldn’t come again as an unknown.” He counsels an aspiring actor not to try running the Hollywood gauntlet “unless he really wanted to live in Southern California.”

And what does Southern California have to recommend itself to an English actor? The first experience with the American delicacy called a “corn dog” may be startling, but once survived, there is “one thing you can say about Southern California – good munchie food.”

This article was first published in Autumn 2003

Source: Union Jack

[necarion]

A couple minority opinions I have on voting rights:

There shouldn't be a minimum voting age There really isn't any principled reason you can/should cut the voting age at 18. Obviously, we arbitrarily cap some things at 18, like military service and (in some places) age of consent laws. But "ability to make decisions that affect all of society" is one of those things where people can make informed, good decisions at a way younger age (and people can fail to make those at a much older age). 14 year olds are affected by their school board choices or state superintendent. Wildly more so than I am as a childless 30-something. They're obviously affected by education policy in general which means choice of other state government officials. There's a common counter-argument that kids will just do what their teachers tell them. And really? 14 year olds don't even do what their parents tell them to. But if you lower the age past 14, it remains another arbitrary line. What I'd probably do is have a policy where parents can vote for their children until the children attend school, and then have a secret ballot for all children over the age of 5 or something. You'd get a lot of ballot spoiling from younger kids not doing anything right, but that would also be essentially random and probably wouldn't affect the overall vote much (especially if you randomized ballots). (You should probably provide some of the same accommodations you would for blind or otherwise disabled individuals, though. Not sure what those are.) There's the argument where "parents with lots of children will get more votes" and, yeah, probably. I just don't think "I don't like the politics of those people" is a good principled reason to make these rules.

Non-citizens should be allowed to vote in municipal elections (probably given permanent residency and X years). A non-citizen who has lived in New York City for 20 years has a hell of a lot more ties to the city than I would were I to move there for 3 months between October and December 2024. But I would be allowed to vote as a US citizen and they would not. And yet they can probably make more informed decisions than I possibly could with that little time. They've been paying taxes for ages to the city, they've been using the services, they're affected by corruption and police and gang violence. And often, they're concentrated in neighborhoods that therefore get wildly under-serviced because they can't vote. I'd probably also open municipal juries to them as well, because an immigrant can be arrested and given a trial of their peers which includes none of their actual peers. (And the same problem as above, where immigrant neighborhoods will have relatively fewer peers and probably more people drawn from outside it).

People should be able to vote in the municipal elections of the largest city in the metropolitan area. The shit that San Francisco pulls with policing, housing, homelessness, transit affects the entire Bay Area. But the only way I could seriously influence that is if I were wealthy enough to move there (or lucky enough to already have lived there). (Mind you, I think housing policy should be regional, because there are weird incentives to splitting cities up. Which is also a thing that should be unwound; San Francisco and South San Francisco shouldn't be separate cities, but that's a very different issue to resolve. There also needs to be a "Complete Bay Area" government, equivalent to the Los Angeles County government). I don't think people outside the city should be able to vote on, like, the school board or whatever. But there should be city counsel representatives for other regions of the Bay Area (East Bay, Peninsula, etc.) This would actually also be a totally reasonable place to violate one-person one-vote rules. The people who are outside the city should get proportionally fewer representatives. The SF council has about 10 members for 800k residents (1/80k). Another 5 representatives for "rest of the bay" would be 1/1400k, and yet would be enough for a very dramatic voice in the governance of the city.

Some of these things are obviously subject to implementation haggling.

[jbird5x5]

Devastated by the news of the passing of Actor Matthew Perry (1969-2023)

Matthew Perry, who starred as sarcastic-but-sweet Chandler Bing in the hit series “Friends,” has died.

He was 54.

The Emmy-nominated actor was found dead of an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home.

Perry, the son of actor John Bennett Perry and Suzanne Marie Langford, onetime press secretary of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, was born August 19, 1969 and grew up between Montreal and Los Angeles after his parents separated when Perry was 1.

He got his start as a child actor, landing guest spots on “Charles in Charge” and “Beverly Hills 90210” and playing opposite River Phoenix in the film “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon” in the 1980s and early 1990s.

While Perry was best known for his role in Friends, he appeared in scores of other television shows — including Studio 60 and the Sunset Strip, The Good Wife, and the revived The Odd Couple — and comedic films, including Fools Rush In, The Whole Nine Yards, Three to Tango, The Kid, and many more movies.

Perry received one Emmy nomination for his “Friends” role and two more for appearances as an associate White House counsel on “The West Wing.

Perry was not married and had no children.

My Condolences to Family and Friends

#R.I.P. 😔👏🥀

[dancergurl3000]

Book review time! “Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.” A love story between two people who were right for each other but were I guess just meant to make video games together and not have sex? An essay.

This book I will say took me over three months to read. It took me literally all summer to read this book, and while it is sad as much it is true, I found it dizzyingly frustrating that the two main characters never end up together. It tells of the story of two childhood sweethearts: Miss Sadie Green and Sam Mazer, two programming students at MIT who find each other after a long time of just not wanting to talk and or see each other. Sam’s college room mate Marx also offers his apartment in the beginning of the book because Sam and Marx start off playing video games that Sadie has made as a joke; and then they start to realize not unlike the founders of Facebook that they should all go into business together to make video games, for real. They all move to Los Angeles to pursue this dream for real, and to Sam’s dismay, Marx and Sadie start seriously seeing each other and sleeping with each other. Their video game company is called “Unfair”, and the two co executives find two more cochairs Simon and Ant, a gay male couple in love who write their own high school experiences into an actual video game, brilliant! Called “Counterpart High.” Sam and Sadie made “Ichigo” and “Ichigo two” together, a Japanese children video game in which the player has to survive a massive tsunami and find his parents. I liked the quality of the friendship that Sadie and Sam have, but one of the reasons I guess the book depicts the two of them never becoming lovers are their ultimate grievances with each other getting in the way of let’s say a workplace romance. Sam was angry with Sadie in childhood, he finds out that he was merely nothing more than community service to Sadie, not really a friend, she was only pretending to be Sam’s friend because he was seen as “charity” to Sadie. They don’t speak for twelve years after that. Then Sadie at MIT falls for an abusive professor, he handcuffs her to his bed whenever she refuses to tell him anything he doesn’t want to hear, and Sadie stops speaking to Sam and proceeds to make video games of her own when she finds out that Sam all along has been playing the video games of her abusive ex boyfriend’s, and that it meant to Sadie that Sam knew that she was in an abusive relationship and did nothing. Then Marx, their cofounder is shot during a mass shooting with two gun men looking for Sam when Sam and Sadie are traveling for a work conference. Sadie is pregnant at this time with Marx’s baby and doesn’t even know it. It was brave, and courageous but ultimately dumb in my opinion for Marx to put himself in front of his openly gay employees but was deeply personal to me: if someone had come in with a shot gun looking for my gay ex boyfriend from my high school? I would have put myself in front of that shooter and probably done exactly what Marx did: put myself in front of someone trying to kill someone they hate. Marx is shot three times in the stomach and lasts almost a month on life support. Hangs on in a coma. Then Sadie takes him off of life support, and retreats into her home; has the baby and has postpartum depression. What I didn’t like was the distance the book I guess had to write about with Sam and Sadie, but it made the book drag on and on. I would never want my work life partner to feel like they should go back to work, but I also wouldn’t want to continue working at my company, even if I had started it after a mass shooting. The book should have written more about how the survivors should have gotten professional counseling and support, instead they all disappear more and more into their work. I would change the ending of this book if I had to direct it into a film. It ends with Sam and Sadie promising each other to be more openly communicating even though the book has them hating each other privately and personally I was getting a little tired of that. Instead of promising something to your best friend that obviously is a lie, I would have asked Sam to be braver. “Maybe I want to start over again back at MIT.” I couldn’t see Sam staying in LA. Especially if Sadie was teaching at MIT.

[90363462]

‘Unable To Meaningfully Communicate’: Kanye West’s Lawyer Drops Him In $7 Million Battle, ANOTHER Team Member Leaves Over Anti-Semitic Attack

Walker

November 02, 2022 10:39 AM PST

Kanye West got dropped by another attorney after he made it “unreasonably difficult” for her to continue working for him.

via: Radar Online

According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, attorney Nina D. Boyajian from the law firm Greenberg Traurig has informed the court she will be withdrawing as West’s lawyer.

Boyajian explained in court that West had “publicly made improper antisemitic remarks, resulting in his condemnation by and disassociation from various entities and persons that previously worked with or represented him.”

The attorney said as a result of team members leaving, she has been “unable to meaningfully communicate with [West] in order to represent them in this matter.”

Boyajian said West had “made it unreasonably difficult to continue as their counsel.”

She said West was “further in breach of their obligations to defense counsel.” The attorney said, “there is good cause to withdraw as counsel in this action, and defense counsel will be moving to withdraw.”

As RadarOnline.com previously reported, earlier this year, a production company named Phantom Labs sued Kanye for $7 million.

The company said it worked on multiple large-scale projects for West between June 2021 to March 2022. Phantom said it helped West with his Sunday Service, a listening party for Donda 2, his scrapped Coachella show, and the Free Larry Hoover event with Drake in Los Angeles.

Phantom said West and his company paid the first couple of bills without issue. However, they said in February 2022, the number of outstanding invoices totaled $6 million.

The company, which is represented by powerhouse attorney Howard King, said West agreed to pay them from the $9 million he was to be paid from Coachella. However, Phantom became extremely concerned about payment after he canceled his set at the music festival.

The company said on top of the $6 million owed for work completed they were hit with another $1.1 million in fees related to the Coachella cancellation.

As RadarOnline.com first reported, Kanye responded to the lawsuit by denying all allegations of wrongdoing. He said Phantom had “failed to perform the services” it was suing for.

He said the company had “performed so poorly that any further payment would be unreasonable and unfair.”

Further, West’s lawyer said, “There is an original contract between [Phantom] and [West],” but “the original contract with [Phantom] cannot be enforced because the parties substituted a new and different contract for the original, and all parties agreed, by words or conduct, to cancel the original contract and to substitute a new contract in its place.”

The rapper argued, “there was no agreement, no meeting of the minds and/or no consideration for an agreement for payment of services already covered under separate agreements.”

West demanded the entire lawsuit be thrown out claiming he was “not responsible or liable.”

[novumtimes]

Former high-ranking L.A. city attorney charged by State Bar over DWP billing scandal

The State Bar of California filed disciplinary charges Thursday against a former high-ranking official in the Los Angeles city attorney’s office for his alleged role in a Department of Water and Power scandal. Jim Clark, a top deputy under then-City Atty. Mike Feuer, secretly directed other attorneys to orchestrate a class-action lawsuit so that claims over a botched DWP billing system could be settled on terms favorable to the city, State Bar prosecutors allege. Clark “directed and authorized a scheme of collusion and deceit that was a blatant betrayal of his duties as an attorney and public official,” George Cardona, the Bar’s chief trial counsel, said in a statement. Erin Joyce, an attorney for Clark, said the Bar was attempting to “tarnish Mr. Clark’s record and good name” based on unfounded allegations. “Mr. Clark is a highly respected attorney who has enjoyed a distinguished legal career over the past 49 years, unblemished until now by a single complaint to the State Bar or by any allegation of ethical impropriety,” Joyce said. If the charges are upheld by the State Bar Court, Clark faces disbarment, suspension or probation. A partner for 30 years at the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Clark joined the city in 2013. He left to pursue mediation work in 2020, a year after the FBI raided his office and others as part of a criminal investigation into the sham lawsuit. Clark, who wasn’t charged in the criminal probe, collects a city pension worth nearly $4,000 a month. The State Bar complaint alleges that Clark “instructed” three attorneys working under a city contract to find “friendly counsel” to file a class-action lawsuit against the city over the faulty DWP billing system, which had issued erroneous bills to thousands of customers. One Van Nuys couple was billed nearly $52,000. With an attorney on the plaintiffs’ side of the lawsuit colluding with the city’s team, the claims could be settled on terms favorable to the DWP. Bar prosecutors also allege that Clark gave “false and misleading statements” in another lawsuit by denying his role in the sham lawsuit in a signed declaration. Clark also concealed information from the civil court overseeing the DWP lawsuits, prosecutors said. Clark knowingly committed “acts involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, and corruption” in violation of the California Business and Professions Code, which is part of the State Bar Act, prosecutors said. Clark faces additional State Bar charges for accepting $640 worth of tickets to a 2016 Who concert from an attorney involved in the collusive lawsuit and failing to report the gift as required under city law. The State Bar has also filed charges against a former DWP commissioner and an outside attorney and has proposed a temporary suspension for a city attorney who works at the DWP — all in connection with the massive scandal. Clark’s name appeared extensively in FBI search warrant affidavits made public in May after The Times sought their release from a federal court. Former DWP general manager David Wright accused Clark of lying about his role in the collusive lawsuit, one affidavit stated. Marisol Mork, another Clark attorney, told The Times in May that Wright’s “allegations are riddled with inaccuracies” and denied that Clark did anything wrong. Multiple witnesses told FBI agents that Clark suffered from an unknown condition in 2017 and 2018 that affected his “functionality” at work and prompted him to take a medical leave, one of the affidavits said, with partial redactions to protect Clark’s privacy. In the affidavits, an FBI agent also said he believed Feuer, who served as city attorney from 2013 to 2022, had lied to government investigators and probably obstructed justice. Feuer disputes the agent’s allegations and maintains his innocence. Four people, including onetime DWP general manager Wright and high-ranking officials in the city attorney’s office, pleaded guilty to various federal crimes, including bribery. Source link via The Novum Times

[expertveneersla]

Granada Hills Veneers: A Guide to a Beautiful Smile

Nowadays, a magnificent grin can gigantically affect one's certainty and outward presentation. For those seeking to work on their grin, veneers offer a notable and compelling plan. Granada Hills, a vigorous neighbourhood Los Angeles, is home to a couple of skilled dental experts who invest critical energy in providing extraordinary veneers. This article will jump into the universe of Veneers Granada hills, exploring the benefits, processes, and factors to consider while choosing a veneer dental expert. UnderstandingVeneers Veneers Granada hills are thin, uniquely planned shells that are connected to the front surfaces of teeth. They can be created using various materials, including porcelain and composite resin. Veneers are a significant part of the time used to address an extent of supportive dental issues, for instance,

• Stained or stained teeth • Chipped or broken teeth • Gapped teeth • Twisted teeth • Unbalanced teeth The Benefits of Granada Hills Veneers Choosing veneers in Granada Hills offers a couple of advantages: • Further created Appearance: Veneers can earnestly work on the presence of your grin, giving you a lift in certainty. • Sturdiness: Porcelain veneers are known for their solidarity and assurance from staining. • Typical Look: When suitably arranged and applied, veneers can blend faultlessly with your normal teeth, creating a beautiful and friendly grin. • Minimal Planning: Diverged from other helpful dental methods, veneers habitually require minimal tooth game plan, preserving a more prominent measure of the standard tooth structure. The Veneer Process The process of getting veneers in Granada Hills ordinarily involves the following advances: 1. Consultation: You will meet with a dental expert to examine your goals and presumptions. The dental expert will examine your teeth and determine assuming veneers are the best choice for you. 2. Preparation: The dental expert will set up your teeth by removing a thin layer of clean from the front surfaces. This is finished to set aside a room for the veneers to bond securely. 3. Impressions: The dental expert will take impressions of your teeth to cause a model that will to be used to make your veneers. 4. Veneer Assembling: The lab will use the impressions to make exceptionally planned veneers that match the shape and size os your teeth. 5. Bonding: The dental expert will bond them to your teeth using an extraordinary dental cementafter the veneers are ready. Choosing a Veneer Dental expert in Los Angeles While selecting a veneer dental expert in Los Angeles, taking into account the following variables is critical: • Experience and Dominance: Quest for a dental expert who has wide involvement with providing veneers. • Abilities: Assurance that the dental expert is approved and has the indispensable training and affirmations. • Patient Reviews: Read overviews from past patients to find out about the dental expert's standing and the idea of their work. • Counsel: Schedule an interview to examine your necessities and presumptions. A fair dental expert will cut out an open door to get a handle on your goals and give modified direction. Granada Hills veneers offer an extraordinary response for individuals seeking to work on their grins. By addressing different remedial dental concerns, veneers can uphold certainty and work on commonly oral wellbeing. While considering veneers, it's major to pick a skilled and experienced dental expert in Los Angeles who can give superb results. By following the means outlined in this article, you can set out on a trip towards a more wonderful and splendid grin.

[couplescounselinginlosangeles]

The Role of Communication in Successful Relationships

Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful relationship. Whether you're navigating the early stages of a partnership or working to strengthen a long-term bond, the ability to express yourself clearly and listen actively can make a significant difference. For couples seeking to enhance their communication skills, couples therapy in Los Angeles offers valuable resources and support.

Understanding the Importance of Communication

Communication is more than just exchanging words; it involves understanding, empathy, and connection. Poor communication often leads to misunderstandings and conflicts, which can lead to frustration and disconnection. Couples can address issues before they escalate and foster a deeper emotional connection by prioritizing open and honest dialogue.

Communication is essential for resolving conflicts, building trust, and expressing needs and desires. Effective communication helps partners navigate challenges, whether they're related to finances, parenting, or personal growth. For those struggling with communication barriers, Los Angeles couples therapy provides a supportive environment to develop these crucial skills.

The Role of Couples Therapy

Couples therapy is valuable for addressing communication issues and enhancing relationship dynamics. In Los Angeles, couples therapy options like those provided by Couples Healing Center can offer tailored support to meet specific needs. Therapists in this area help couples identify communication patterns contributing to conflict and provide strategies to improve interaction.

One effective approach used in couples therapy is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). EFT is grounded in the science of adult attachment and focuses on the emotional bonds between partners. This therapy prioritizes emotion and emotional regulation as central to individual experience and relationship interactions. EFT has been validated by over 30 years of empirical research and is known for its collaborative and respectful approach, making it an excellent choice for couples seeking to strengthen their connection.

Addressing Communication Challenges

Common communication challenges, such as misinterpretations, emotional disengagement, and difficulty expressing needs, can often feel overwhelming. However, with the help of EFT, couples can address these issues and experience a sense of relief. EFT emphasizes the importance of emotional responsiveness and validating each other's feelings, helping couples navigate their emotions more effectively and enhancing their overall communication.

Los Angeles couples therapy, including the services offered by Couples Healing Center, often addresses topics beyond communication. These may include premarital counseling, intimacy issues, trust and betrayal, and more. This comprehensive approach ensures that all relationship aspects are considered, providing a holistic solution to communication problems.

Enhancing Your Relationship

Couples should strive for ongoing communication improvements to build and maintain a healthy relationship. By engaging in regular check-ins, active listening, and expressing appreciation, couples can gain a sense of empowerment and control over their relationship dynamics. Couples therapy can provide additional support and strategies to help partners stay connected and address emerging issues, further enhancing this sense of empowerment.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is one of the many tools available to couples seeking to improve their communication. By focusing on emotional bonds and attachment, EFT helps partners better understand each other and resolve conflicts more effectively. Couples Therapy Los Angeles offers various options for exploring this approach.

Conclusion

In summary, communication is crucial for the success of any relationship, and couples therapy can provide the support needed to enhance this vital skill. Couples Healing Center offers specialized services for those in the Los Angeles area, including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), to help couples improve their communication and overall relationship dynamics. With over 30 years of research backing EFT and a range of therapeutic options, Couples Healing Center is dedicated to helping couples achieve a healthier, more connected partnership. By improving their communication, couples can experience a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment in their relationship. Contact them today to start your journey towards better communication and a stronger relationship.

[cbtherapyla]

couples counseling Los Angeles

Find a best therapist Los Angeles, Child psychologist, marriage therapist, best couples therapist, Low-cost therapy? Los Angeles.? Ms. Eshaghian is currently only offering video and phone telehealth appointments using a HIPAA-compliant video platform which ensures client privacy. Ms. Eshaghian offers a free 15-minute phone consultation to prospective clients in order to discuss any questions that you may have prior to treatment, and ensure that the provider is the right fit for you. visit us : https://www.cbtherapyla.com/

[quiet-mind-mountain-lodge]

Unwind and Reconnect: The Ultimate Guide to Wellness and Romantic Retreats in California - Quiet Mind Mountain Lodge

California is a haven for those seeking rejuvenation, relaxation, and romance. Whether you're looking for a mental health retreat in San Diego to heal your mind and soul, a wellness retreat in Orange County to rejuvenate your body, or a romantic getaway in Los Angeles to reconnect with your partner, California offers a myriad of options. Let’s explore some of the best wellness and romantic retreats that Quiet Mind Mountain Lodge and other locations in California have to offer.

1. Mental Health and Trauma Retreats in California

For those looking to focus on mental well-being, a mental health retreat in San Diego provides a serene environment to focus on healing and personal growth. These retreats offer various therapeutic services, including mindfulness meditation, counseling, and stress management techniques. Similarly, a trauma retreat in California provides specialized programs to help individuals heal from past traumas in a supportive and nurturing setting.

2. Wellness Retreats in Orange County and Beyond

If you're seeking a more general wellness experience, wellness retreats in Orange County and throughout California offer a variety of programs designed to boost overall health. These retreats often include activities such as yoga, nutrition workshops, and guided meditations, allowing you to restore balance to your life. For a truly comprehensive experience, consider the wellness getaways in California, which blend luxury with wellness to provide an all-encompassing rejuvenation experience.

3. Spa Retreat Packages for Ultimate Relaxation

For those looking to indulge in relaxation, spa retreat packages in Los Angeles and spa retreat packages in Orange County provide luxurious settings with top-notch amenities. Whether you're in Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Fullerton, or Tustin, there are spa retreat packages that cater to every preference, from deep tissue massages and hydrotherapy to personalized skincare treatments. These packages are perfect for unwinding and rejuvenating your body and mind.

4. Romantic Getaways and Couple's Retreats

California is also home to some of the most romantic destinations. Whether you're planning a romantic couple getaway in Los Angeles or a romantic couple getaway in Orange County, you can find beautiful resorts and hotels that offer special packages to make your stay memorable. For a unique experience, consider a Romance Wellness Retreat in California where you and your partner can enjoy spa treatments, gourmet meals, and private wellness sessions.

5. Specialized Wellness and Stress Relief Retreats

For those dealing with stress, a stress relief wellness retreat can be an ideal way to unwind and regain peace of mind. These retreats focus on relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and nature walks to help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. Many retreats also offer romantic getaways with spa baths for couples looking to relax together.

6. Spa and Resort Packages in Los Angeles and Beyond

For those looking for a blend of luxury and wellness, spa and resort packages in Los Angeles provide an all-inclusive experience with world-class amenities. These packages often include everything from luxury accommodations and gourmet meals to spa treatments and wellness activities, ensuring that every aspect of your stay is designed for relaxation and rejuvenation.

7. Romantic and Wellness Retreats in San Diego and Julian

San Diego is a popular destination for those seeking a romantic and wellness-focused escape. A Romance Couples Retreat in San Diego offers a perfect blend of romance and relaxation, with options for couples spa treatments, private dinners, and sunset walks. For a quieter, more intimate setting, a Julian wellness getaway provides a peaceful mountain retreat with opportunities for hiking, stargazing, and enjoying nature. Romantic hotels in Julian offer cozy accommodations that are perfect for a couple's retreat.

Plan Your Perfect Retreat with Quiet Mind Mountain Lodge

At Quiet Mind Mountain Lodge, we offer a range of wellness and romantic retreat packages designed to help you unwind, reconnect, and rejuvenate. Whether you're seeking a spa and wellness package in California or a romantic couple's spa package, we have something for everyone. Enjoy breathtaking views, luxurious accommodations, and personalized services that cater to your every need.

Ready to escape and find your perfect retreat? Contact us today at Quiet Mind Mountain Lodge to book your stay and experience the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation!

[mattportermft]

Matt Porter, MFT - Trauma EMDR Family Therapist | Couples Psychodynamic Therapy | Mindfulness Coaching | Dialectical Behavior

Matt Porter, MFT, offers top-notch therapy services as a licensed Psychotherapist in Beverly Hills CA. We provide supportive and effective counseling solutions designed to address a wide range of emotional and relational issues. Our approach is grounded in compassion, helping clients navigate their personal journeys toward healing and self-discovery. Moreover, we are also recognized as the best Marriage Counselor in Los Angeles CA. Our dedication to fostering healthy relationships makes us a trusted partner for couples at various stages of their partnership. By applying proven therapeutic techniques, we aid partners in improving communication, resolving conflicts, and strengthening their emotional bonds. Book a session with us today!

[rachelthomasian]

Playa Vista Counseling

Playa Vista Counseling provides individual, couples and family therapy serving all Los Angeles, CA. Our team of experienced therapists offer caring and professional psychotherapy including marriage counseling. Our therapists are trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, DBT, Mindfulness and many other evidence-based therapy modes. Our therapists provide therapy for children, adolescents and adults. We work with life challenges such as postpartum depression and anxiety disorders such as panic attacks, OCD, phobias and generalized anxiety disorders, depression and grief. Within relationships, our therapists work to improve connection while reducing conflict, healing infidelity and trust issues as well as helping process breakups.

Business Hour: Mon-Fri: 8am-7pm | Weekend: 8am-5pm

Contact Us: Playa Vista Counseling 5585 Uplander Way, Los Angeles, CA 90230, United States Phone: (310) 754-5304 Mail: help@playavistacounseling.com Website: http://www.playavistacounseling.com

Follow On: https://www.facebook.com/playavistacounseling https://www.instagram.com/playavistacounseling https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelgouk

[sandymarshtherapy]

Counseling services for Couples Los Angeles

Experience transformative counseling services for couples in Los Angeles with Sandy Marsh Therapy. Our seasoned therapists specialize in strengthening relationships, fostering communication, and navigating challenges. Whether you're facing conflicts or seeking enrichment, we provide a supportive environment to enhance your bond and cultivate lasting intimacy.