About Me

She/Her/Hers

Hello!

I’m Sipora and I am a mind-body therapist in Ventura, California. I see clients in person and online all over. With my clients I use cognitive, somatic, and deeper brain learning techniques. Importantly, I am trauma informed and LGBTQ+ aligned. I look forward to hopefully supporting you!

Why I Became A Therapist

From a young age growing up on Long Island, I knew that I wanted to be a social worker and specialize in mental health. In my first year of college, in Buffalo NY, I signed up for a social work course and decided that I wanted to be…a television producer instead. I followed that creative passion and worked within the TV industry for ten years in busy midtown, New York City.

Halfway through my career as a producer, I was faced with a health/life/spiritual emergency. Subsequently, that event launched me on my own healing journey and back onto my original path, which was to be a social worker and therapist. Helping and supporting people to heal became my calling. Therefore, I took a huge leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles California, pursued my studies and I never looked back.

My Clinical Background

I received my Master of Social Work degree with an emphasis in addiction and trauma from Rutgers University. From there I have done a multitude of therapy trainings such as, EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, psychoanalytic theory, trauma certification, chronic pain/illness, and more. Learning is a passion of mine. I have worked in a variety of mental health settings supporting people struggling with substance abuse, PTSD, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, life transitions, chronic pain, and more.

Working With Me

I view therapy as a collaboration between the therapist and the client. Importantly, I am an active participant and do provide insight, reflection, and tools to assist. Above all, you won’t see me just sitting there, not speaking, and nodding my head!

I mainly work Psychodynamically- connecting the dots to understand how our past may be affecting our present. I also am very brain and nervous system informed. Learning to regulate the nervous system can have profound effects on the body and mind. Therapy is not one size fits all, so I pull a lot of tools from Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, and more. 

What I Am Passionate About

One of my subspecialties is working with people with mind-body syndromes/ chronic pain. For info about this please click here.

I also enjoy providing therapy for Misophonia. I do my best to stay up to date on the latest treatment modalities. For more info please click here.

I am fully trained in EMDR therapy and use it for PTSD, trauma, and self-limiting beliefs. For more info please click here.

Outside of Therapy

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, meditating, and spending time in the nature of Ojai, CA (where I reside).  I buy way too many house plants, am constantly reading psychology and wellness literature, and enjoy writing my blog. Lastly, I love trying out new restaurants, and listening to music (George Michael & Sade are my favorites). I am a self proclaimed audiophile!

To sum up, I’m a therapist in Ventura, California, close to Ojai, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, Camarillo. I am seeing clients online all over California and in person at my office in Ventura. It would be an honor to work with you. Reach out!

My Education & Certifications

Registered Associate Clinical Social Worker, license: Sipora Weissman #95374. Supervised by Nyssa Von Doeren, LMFT, License #99807. 3000 clinical hours completed.

Master of Social Work degree, Rutgers University, emphasis in trauma and addiction

Certified Trauma Professional

Internal Family Systems- IFSCA, Stepping Stone, 16 week training

Coherence Therapy training and biweekly consult group with Bruce Ecker

EMDR Training 1 & 2. Institute of Creative Mindfulness (EMDRIA Approved). Fully trained.

Somatic Experiencing: First & second year completed. (Full Training Three Years)

Beyond Pain Management: Treating the intersection of pain and unresolved emotional experience with Dr. Howard Schubiner & Alan Gordon, LCSW

Freedom From Chronic Pain: Practical neuroplasticity and the emerging mind body revolution in chronic pain treatment with Dr Howard Schubiner & Hal Greenham

Emotional Freedom Technique, Levels 1 & 2. EFT Tapping Training Institute 

Easy Ego State Interventions with Robin Shapiro, LICSW

Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis Extension Program

An Introduction to Misophonia for Clinicians with Dr. Jennifer Jo Brout

Comprehensive Misophonia Training for Clinicians with Tom Dozier

Sequent Repatterning Therapy for Misophonia with Chris Pearson

Additional training in- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Phobias, Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors, Coherence Therapy.

Memberships

National Association of Social Workers

Misophonia Association