Abijah “Abee” Israel, AMFT
Registered Associate Marriage & Family Therapist

Supervised by Olivia York, LMFT

Hi, my name is Abijah (Abee), and I am a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT158887). supervised by Olivia York, LMFT (LMFT140939). I have obtained a Master of Arts in Counseling with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from National University. As a therapist, I am passionate about understanding each client as an individual and creating a safe, supportive, and collaborative space where they feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I believe therapeutic interventions should be flexible and individualized, allowing me to adapt my approach based on each client’s unique strengths, challenges, and goals. Building a strong therapeutic rapport is an essential part of my practice, as establishing trust and a sense of safety allows clients to feel supported, engaged, and empowered throughout the therapeutic process.

Clinical Experience

I have extensive experience working with children and adolescents through both personal and professional experiences, including volunteer roles and my clinical career. As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), I have continued to provide individualized therapy to children and adolescents ages 2–21 from diverse cultural backgrounds and with a wide range of mental health needs.

In addition to working with children and adolescents, I have experience providing therapy to adults, elderly, and families. I am eager and open to further develop my skills and experience in couples therapy. My therapeutic approach draws from a variety of evidence-based and client-centered modalities, which I thoughtfully integrate based on each client’s unique needs, experiences, and therapeutic goals. I frequently utilize Humanistic Therapy to foster a therapeutic relationship grounded in openness, honesty, and genuineness. I also incorporate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), particularly when supporting clients with emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal challenges. When working with children, I utilize Play Therapy to create a developmentally appropriate and engaging environment that allows them to express themselves, build emotional awareness, and process their experiences.

Additionally, I value Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) as a collaborative approach that helps clients identify their strengths, envision desired outcomes, and develop practical steps toward meaningful change. I also incorporate Somatic Therapy techniques, particularly when working with trauma survivors, to support awareness of the mind-body connection and help clients explore how emotional experiences may be expressed through the body.

Overall, I strive to provide a flexible and individualized therapeutic approach that meets clients where they are and supports them in working toward meaningful growth and lasting change.

Pronouns: She/Her

Languages: English, Spanish, Tagalog

Location: University city

Licensure

California - AMFT158887 Expiration , Supervised by Olivia York, LMFT

Education

Master’s degree in Counseling
National University, San Diego, CA

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Please note: Each individual therapist is responsible for the legal and ethical psychotherapy treatment of their own clients. The therapist on this page operates independently from other providers in this office.