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Anxiety and depression are among the most common challenges adults face — and among the most treatable with the right support. Whether you experience constant worry that won’t quiet down, a persistent low mood that colors everything gray, or a combination of both, psychotherapy can help you understand what’s driving these feelings and develop real, lasting tools for relief.
Dr. Sally Hackman, PhD, MFT, has specialized in treating anxiety and depression in adults for over 35 years in Santa Monica and the greater Los Angeles area. She works to understand the unique roots of your experience — not just the symptoms — so that the change you achieve in therapy stays with you.
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Anxiety and depression often have roots in early experiences and unconscious patterns. Dr. Hackman helps you identify these patterns so you can unhook the past from the present and respond to life from a place of strength rather than fear.

Sessions are completely confidential, non-judgmental, and available in-person in Santa Monica or via Zoom — so you can get support in the way that works best for you.

Using an integrative approach — drawing on psychoanalytic insight, CBT, attachment theory, and current brain research — Dr. Hackman tailors treatment to you specifically, not a generic protocol.
Anxiety and depression affect how you think, feel, sleep, work, and relate to the people you love. Left untreated, they can narrow your world significantly. But with the right therapeutic relationship, many people find not just relief — but a fundamentally different relationship with themselves and their lives.
Dr. Hackman’s approach begins with listening — deeply, without judgment — to understand not just your symptoms but who you are, your history, and the life you want to build. From there, therapy becomes a collaborative journey toward the clarity, energy, and wellbeing you deserve.
Yes — research consistently shows that psychotherapy, particularly approaches like CBT and psychoanalytic therapy, produces significant and lasting improvements in anxiety and depression for most people.
It varies by person and the depth of the work. Some clients notice beginning improvement in a few months; others choose to continue longer-term therapy for deeper exploration and more meaningful and longer -lasting improvement. Dr. Hackman discusses this openly with you and follows your pace.
Not necessarily. Many people manage anxiety and depression effectively with therapy alone. Dr. Hackman does not prescribe medication, but she collaborates with prescribing physicians when medication is part of a client's care.
Stress is typically triggered by an external cause and eases when the situation resolves. Anxiety often persists even when there is no immediate threat — it can feel like a constant undercurrent of worry, dread, or physical tension that doesn't have a clear off switch.