For mental health clinicians across California

Structure, strategy, and direction at every stage of your clinical career.

Mentorship and consultation for California clinicians, from those entering associateship to those building thriving private practices, designed to meet you exactly where you are.

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Structure

The framework you need

Strategy

Decisions with intention

Direction

A clear path through your career

You built this career to move forward, not feel stuck.

Whether you are completing associateship hours, preparing your BBS application, deepening your trauma work, or building a private practice, the structure and support to keep growing are right here. Wherever you are in your career, there is a place to start.

Clear Path Consultation was built for clinicians ready for more than vague advice or quick tips. The work here is direct, practical, and grounded in real clinical and business experience, with the depth that comes from actually walking the same path.

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Built for every stage of your career.

Whether you are starting, applying, refining, or building, there is a service designed for exactly where you are.

Associate & Graduate Mentorship

Build a strong clinical foundation from day one, with support for the early decisions that shape your entire career.

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Licensure Application Review

A thorough review of your BBS application before submission, designed to catch errors, organize your packet, and give your submission the strongest possible foundation.

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Trauma & EMDR Consultation

Trauma and EMDR consultation for clinicians at any stage, focused on strengthening clinical skill, sharpening case conceptualization, and supporting complex work.

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Private Practice Development

Build a private practice that is sustainable, profitable, and aligned with the career you actually want, with practical strategy and systems for long term success.

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Built on years of clinical depth and real business experience.

I’m Lara, an LMFT, EMDRIA approved consultant, and a clinician who has spent 16 years specializing in trauma. I have mentored clinicians through licensure, supported trauma focused therapists with their most complex cases, and built a thriving private practice from the ground up. The approach here is direct, practical, and rooted in the kind of experience that only comes from doing this work yourself.

  • Direct, practical guidance

  • Strategy tailored to where you are

  • Real world clinical and business experience

  • Trauma and EMDR depth

  • Support that actually moves you forward

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  • "Valuable at any stage"

    I felt lost and confused. I do not know how I got through graduate school without understanding what I needed to track along the way. Documentation and forms later became critical when preparing my application to sit for licensure, and some of my supervisors seemed just as unsure, signing forms without fully confirming accuracy. I wish I had known more earlier, but instead I was facing what felt like an overwhelming process without clear direction. Then I was referred to Lara, who supported me through five months of navigating the BBS process. My application was initially denied, and with her guidance, it was eventually approved. Without her support, I would have had to revisit my application multiple times and likely faced significant delays. We spend years working toward licensure, investing deeply in our education and our clients, and the application is the final step. Lara understands what is required and how to move through it effectively, and her guidance is valuable at any stage of the licensure process." - Jerry Levine, AMFT

  • "The greatest initiative of my career"

    The greatest initiative I took for my career was reaching out to Lara Mekhitarian, LMFT and owner of Heal the Hurt Counseling. As I was preparing to graduate, I searched for a licensed and successful therapist who could guide me into the world of private practice. While graduate school teaches theoretical orientations and legal foundations, it does not fully prepare you for working in or launching your own practice. Consulting with Lara turned into an expansive mentorship where she helped me refine my clinical skills through supervision and guided me in building the foundation to eventually open my own practice. She is the only licensed therapist I know in Los Angeles who is truly passionate about actively guiding clinicians through the process of starting a private practice. It is completely because of Lara that I have had my own practice for three and a half years since becoming licensed. She taught me about credentialing with insurance companies, navigating my website for launch, and making sure I was not missing key steps like working with a CPA and completing the right applications. She gave me what graduate school could not and taught me more than any program or supervisor. She is genuinely invested in the success of others in this field, which makes her an exceptional mentor and an invaluable resource for anyone who envisions starting a practice. I would not be where I am today without her.

    — Briana Yedalian, LMFT

  • "A game changer"

    Working with Lara was such a game changer when I was starting my private practice. She helped me take what felt like an overwhelming process and break it down into manageable, actionable steps. Beyond just logistics and business strategy, she really understood the emotional side of building something of your own and helped me feel more confident in my decisions. Her guidance, encouragement, and practical knowledge gave me the structure I needed to start my practice. I’d absolutely recommend her to anyone looking to start or grow their own practice.

    -- Geri Lynn Cesar, LMFT

  • "Helped me prepare opening my own practice"

    Lara did a wonderful job helping me put together my BBS application for licensure. She told me exactly what I needed and set time for us to meet to make sure everything was there so my application would be approved without any hiccups. She also helped me prepare for opening my own practice so that I was ready to launch as soon as I passed my exam!

    -- Jane Diep, LMFT

  • "A Unique Gift"

    Lara has a unique gift. She was a mentor who has deeply shaped the way I understand EMDR work and its nuances. Even the most complex cases seem to unfold more clearly through her perspective to support treatment planning. Lara’s approach never felt formulaic or rigid, which I think makes her a valuable consultant in the realm of trauma-informed care. She brings curiosity, insight, and thoughtfulness into every discussion, creating space that encourages personal growth while offering sufficient guidance. Learning from Lara has not only strengthened my skills as an EMDR therapist but also changed the way I conceptualize cases and integrate compassion into sessions.

    -- Sandra Liu, LMFT

Ready to build something sustainable?

Whether you're starting your associate hours, preparing your licensure application, deepening your trauma work, or building a private practice, this is the place to start. Reach out and we will figure out where to go from here.

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