About
Irena Shwartzman, LMFT — Los Altos, CA
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in couples therapy, trauma, infidelity recovery, and EMDR.
Irena Shwartzman
LMFT #145911 · Los Altos, CA
Professional background
I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #145911) based in Los Altos, CA. My practice focuses on couples therapy, trauma treatment, EMDR, and infidelity recovery — areas I've found to be deeply connected in how I work.
My training spans multiple modalities — EMDR, CBT, psychodynamic approaches, attachment theory, and emotionally focused work — but my approach in practice is integrative. I use what fits the person and the problem, not a fixed protocol.
Starting therapy can feel uncertain — especially if you've tried before and it didn't help. Finding the right therapist makes all the difference. That's what the free consultation is for.
Credentials
- License LMFT #145911, State of California
- Specialization Couples, Individual, Trauma, Anxiety, Infidelity Recovery, Intensive Therapy
- EMDR EMDR-trained
- Languages English, Hebrew, Russian, Ukrainian
- Location Los Altos, CA — in-person & telehealth
Therapeutic approach and philosophy
I take a structured, insight-focused approach to therapy that helps you understand what's happening beneath the surface. We identify patterns, make them visible, and connect them to past experiences — so you can begin making meaningful changes sooner rather than staying stuck in the same cycles.
I use simple visual explanations and psychoeducation to make sense of emotional reactions, communication breakdowns, and recurring dynamics. Most clients leave sessions understanding something they didn't before — which is usually what makes the work stick.
My approach is efficient and proactive. I don't work by sitting back and reflecting what you say. I engage, I direct, I offer frameworks that make complicated things feel clearer. This fits some people very well — and it's not the right fit for everyone.
"I help my clients untangle the complicated parts of life — making the confusing feel clearer and the heavy feel lighter."
A personal note
I've been married for over 25 years and have two children. I know firsthand that relationships take effort, communication, and humor — something I bring into sessions when it's appropriate. The work doesn't have to be heavy the entire time.
I speak English, Hebrew, Russian, and Ukrainian, and work with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. I enjoy traveling and exploring new places — and I find that the curiosity that makes travel rewarding is the same curiosity that makes therapy work.
Training and modalities
Client reviews
What clients say
Irena stands out from the crowd as a compassionate, well-versed trauma therapist! We have worked together on multiple occasions, and I have consistently found her to be insightful, knowledgeable, and empathic. She has a gentle yet firm nature that is both comforting and appropriately challenging. The way she balances these energies is inspiring as a provider and highly effective in helping clients move toward the change and healing they desire in their lives. I would recommend Irena a million times over, and have found it a true pleasure to work with her.
— Google Review
I was really impressed by how attentively Irena listened and how thoughtfully she approached the conversation. Rather than simply giving me advice, Irena asked thoughtful, guiding questions that helped me get to the root of what I was experiencing. She encouraged me to work through my own answers before offering her perspective, which made me think more deeply about myself, my feelings, and the underlying issues I was dealing with. I found her approach insightful, compassionate, and genuinely helpful. Irena has a way of creating space for you to understand yourself rather than simply telling you what to do. I came away from our conversations with a much deeper understanding of myself and things I hadn't previously considered.
— Google Review
There are very few people in life who can hold space for you in a way that makes you feel completely seen, heard, and accepted. Irena is one of those people. From the very beginning, I felt a deep sense of trust and safety in our conversations. No matter what I brought to her — whether it was something personal, painful, confusing, or deeply vulnerable — I never felt judged. Instead, I felt met with compassion, understanding, and genuine care. What makes Irena truly special is her ability to combine insight with humanity. She has a remarkable intuition and often helps me see things from perspectives I would have never considered on my own. Yet she never tells me what to think or do. The process feels collaborative, as though she is walking alongside me, helping me find my own way forward. She is an exceptional listener, thoughtful in her reflections, and deeply present in a way that makes you feel valued and understood. She also has a wonderful sense of humor and lightness that makes difficult conversations feel less overwhelming. Even when doing deep emotional work, I leave feeling more hopeful, more grounded, and more connected to myself.
— Google Review