About

As a queer, neurodiverse provider, I know the importance of welcoming and celebrating all aspects of my client's identities.

Dr. Katherine Dautenhahn, Ph.D.

Get to Know Dr. Dautenhahn (she/they)

Hello! I'm Dr. Katherine Dautenhahn (she/they) and I am the founder of Vibrant and Whole Psychological Services.

For the past decade, I've had the privilege of working with clients as they've embarked on journeys of healing, growth, and transformation. I specialize in life transitions, work life balance, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, and perfectionism.

I take an individualized approach to therapy by prioritizing client goals, celebrating client's unique cultural traditions, and integrating relevant diversity and contextual factors into treatment.

Clients who work with me often describe me as compassionate, validating, and a great accountability partner.

More About Dr. Dautenhahn

As a queer identifying clinician, I have extensive experience working with LGBTQIA+ individuals and have developed and led trainings in affirming care across the country. I also have specific expertise in gender issues, where I've helped clients unlearn unhelpful myths about gender and live their most authentic lives. I strongly value a holistic approach to care which includes paying attention to often overlooked aspects of health such as sleep, chronic pain, and finding joyful ways of moving your body. I work from a health-at-every size perspective to help individuals learn to appreciate, love, and thrive in their own body.

I've worked with a diverse range of clients across many healthcare settings. Settings I've worked in include: private practice in Los Angeles, primary care clinics across the country, residential and outpatient PTSD programs in the South, and specialty clinics serving unhoused Veterans in Hawai'i and Los Angeles. From the beaches of Hawai'i to my private practice in Los Angeles, I've gained both advanced certifications in various therapies as well as a profound respect for my clients.

I received my doctorate from Loma Linda University and completed an APA accredited internship at the VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System in Honolulu. I completed an additional APA accredited trauma focused fellowship at the Central Arkansas VA Healthcare System, with a specific emphasis in Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD. I have expertise in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, with certifications in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorder (CBT-SUD). I also have extensive experience with mindfulness-based interventions and suicide prevention.

Credentials

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  • Ph.D. Loma Linda University (APA Accredited)
  • M.A. Loma Linda University (APA Accredited)
  • B.A. University of Dallas
  • Internship at VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (APA Accredited)
  • Trauma Focused Fellowship at Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (APA Accredited)
  • Veterans Health Administration Primary Care Mental Health Integration Competency Training (Case Management and Co-Located Care)
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy VA Provider Status
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use VA Provider Status
  • Prolonged Exposure Fellowship Area of Emphasis
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia training through the US Department of Defense
  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Certification through the Medical University of South Carolina
  • The Body Project: Dissonance-Based Body-Acceptance Training with Eric Stice, Ph.D.
  • Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR)
  • Licensed in the state of California: Psy 31795

Areas of Focus

a woman laughing with her arms in the air on a flamingo water float
  • Life Transitions
  • Stress Management
  • Relationship Skills
  • Self-Esteem
  • Work-Life Balance
  • People Pleasing
  • Perfectionism
  • Anxiety
  • Trauma
  • Depression
  • Gender Exploration
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Insomnia
  • Chronic Pain
  • Joyful Movement

Therapies Used

Evidence-Based Therapies used by our practice:
a joyful man holding a book with a vibrant cover
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use (CBT-SUD)
  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
  • Skills Training for Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR)
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
  • Prolonged Exposure (PE)
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Informed

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