Tamala Poljak, LMFT (they/them)

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #123288
Clinical supervisor / Professional consultant

I’m a trauma-informed, relational, psychodynamic therapist who views their work with patients through a feminist, queer, LGBTQ-affirmative and anti-racist lens.

I work with individuals and with people (two or more) in all kinds of relationships, eg: sexual, romantic, professional, plutonic and/or nesting partnerships, intimate friendships, creative collaborators, bands and families (of origin, blended or chosen). Together we will listen to everything that is hard to feel, say and do.

My approach is warm, direct, non-judgmental, and compassionate. I invite all big feelings, rigorous curiosity, and risk-taking. I am equally interested in what causes you pain as I am in what brings you hope, and joy, or makes you laugh. Your strength and ability to feel and heal hold the same weight as your beautiful darkness, fears, and confusion. 

People seek therapy for so many reasons, but mostly we all want to feel loved, safe and understood. We want to feel a sense of purpose and feel good enough as we are, and yet so many of us struggle to feel these ways. Sometimes our lives and relationships look very different than we imagined and we need help making sense of things, finding our truth, understanding our feelings, learning how to communicate and improving our relationships. We might be feeling disconnected or numb, uncertain or alone. We might be questioning the direction we are heading and need to find some clarity, connection or hope. We might be questioning our identities, our purpose, our beliefs, our relationships or ourselves and in search of inner wisdom, confidence, acceptance and/or clarity. 

I am committed to helping my clients access a greater self-awareness and connection to their personal agency and choices and setting healthy boundaries with others. With couples, families and people in relationships I am committed to helping them learn to put their thoughts and feelings into words with each other so that better listening, understanding and connection can unfold.

I believe wholeheartedly in everyone’s capacity to love, heal and thrive. I aim to provide a safe and connected space for my clients to explore what gives their lives and relationships meaning, value, and purpose and to find authenticity and wholeness within oneself.

Self-compassion, mindful awareness and radical self-acceptance are cornerstones in both my own life and my work, which I will help you with should you choose.

What I specialize in

Although not exclusively, I specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ individuals, couples & families. This includes expansive sexualities, non-monogamous or polyamorous relationship structures, gender identity / gender non-conformity & queerness and folx questioning their sexuality and/or gender. 

I specialize in relationships of all kinds including sexual and/or romantic lovers and/or partners, creative collaborators (including bands), professional and or business partners, plutonic and/or nesting partnerships, intimate friendships, families (of origin, blended or chosen), co-parents and siblings.

I very much enjoy working with artists, writers, musicians, and other creatives. I conceptualize the process of psychotherapy as an illuminating portal to the creative process and overall self-awakening. I believe that creativity is inherently a part of each human being even if you don’t consider yourself an “artist.”

Although I am not facilitating any groups right now, I am trained in psychoanalytic interpersonal process groups. I’m very much looking forward to running another group in 2025. I find group work to be profoundly healing for most.

On a personal note

My personal background is in the arts and music. Before studying psychology, my education was centered around queer and feminist studies and existential inquiry. I’ve spent most of my life seeking and healing, finding purpose, meaningful connections and sincere ways to love and accept myself and others. I am a lover of humanity, the arts, animals and nature.

Consultation and trainings

I offer consultation and training to professionals looking to build competency and understanding in working with LGBTQ+ individuals, families and communities. I also offer consultation to parents and families of transgender, gender-variant and/or gender questioning and queer kiddos, teenagers and young adults.

I facilitate workshops and trainings related to understanding the expansiveness of gender and sexuality and how to work skillfully with LGBTQ+ individuals and communities.

Clinical training 

I completed my graduate training at the Antioch University Counseling Center, a community clinic that prioritizes social justice, equality & intersectionality, and at Colors LGBTQ+ Youth Counseling center, which offers very low fee and free therapy to LGBTQ+ youth under the age of 25.  Before becoming a licensed psychotherapist, I was an addiction counselor and mindfulness instructor at multiple, highly-regarded treatment facilities centered around healing trauma and addiction with individuals, partners and families.

Further education and training 

Eye-Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR): Trauma Recovery/HAP  - Level 1 & 2 Trained 

Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM): Trauma Resource Institute  Level 1 & 2 Trained

Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy (EFT): ICEFT - Externship

Group Psychotherapy Association of Los Angeles (GPALA) - multiple trainings in group process work

Graduate education

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology 
Antioch University, Los Angeles

Professional organizations

Clinical Member of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

Member of the Group Psychotherapy Association of Los Angeles (GPALA) and the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA)