“LMFT, Friend, Advocate”

Varinka Muldawer, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who resides in Santa Cruz, providing telemedicine psychotherapy throughout California. She earned her Bachleors of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of California in Santa Cruz and went on to receive her Master’s in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from John F. Kennedy University in 2002. She has been in the field for 20 years and gained experience working in Outpatient Mental Health Clinics, Community Based Mental Health, Mediation, Social Services, School-Based settings and Dual-Diagnosis Treatment Facilities. 

Varinka’s diverse experience includes working young adults, families, couples and individuals. She brings a “here and now” therapeutic collaboration approach that examines assumptions and beliefs. She is goal-oriented and teaches relapse prevention, healthy communication that addresses interpersonal needs and emotions more effectively.   She believes in the importance of finding a balance in each phase of life, by teaching coping skills, self-awareness, and healthy pathways to achieving interpersonal growth and self-love during life’s many transitions.

Varinka’s feminist/humanistic and client-centered perspective; focuses on empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive/feministic regard. She aims to highlight strengths and create opportunities for growth; specializes in depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia, eating disorder, stress management, family issues, chronic illness and more, Her theatrical orientations includes, art therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, strength-based approaches, mindfulness practices and short-term psychotherapy; solution focused and narrative therapies. 

License: LMFT 100381