About
Licensure and Therapy Practice
Licensure: I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, or LCSW, which is a psychotherapy license. I am licensed in the state of California, since 2003. I am practicing in Long Beach, CA. I am bilingual in English and Spanish.
Trauma Healing: The primary focus of my practice is the treatment of trauma, particularly developmental trauma. Along with Somatic Experiencing, I incorporate other therapeutic modalities, including humanistic, behavioral, and psychodynamic approaches. I am trained in EMDR.
Ecopsychology: I am also an Ecopsychologist and Ecotherapist, and a California Naturalist. This means I support healing the relationships between humanity and everyone else (nonhuman) in the natural world.
I help people access and experience their love for nature, and how nature supports self-regulation (and feeling good!) . I also support people in getting unstuck from the grief and pain of eco-anxiety, including fear and other feelings around climate change. This frequently involves developing a more reciprocal (giving back) relationship with the natural world, supporting each person in discovering what feels right for them.
Education
My professional experiences
Andrea Bell, LCSW, SEP
Doctor of Arts
Ecological Psychology
Degrees and Training:
Bachelors in Psychology, University of CA, Los Angeles (1992).
Substance Abuse Counseling and Studies, UCLA Extension (1994).
Masters in Social Work, California State University, Long Beach (2000).
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), California. (2003).
Post-Inductive Therapy, Pia Mellody, The Meadows Treatment Center (2005).
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) certification, Somatic Experiencing International (2011).
Touch Skills Training for Therapists, Kathy Kain, SEP (2015).
Ecopsychology Certificate Program (100 Hours), Holos Institute (2019_.
EMDR Training, Life Development Institute, Minnesota (2020).
Master of Arts, Ecological Psychology, Viridis Graduate Institute (2023).
Doctor of Arts, Ecological Psychology and Environmental Humanities, Viridis Graduate Institute (2024).
Personal:
I was born and raised in Southern California, and I love it here! I grew up here in the 1970’s, and back then I could usually be found riding my bike, a horse or a pair of roller skates. I have been an animal lover for all of my life, and preserving nature and all of its creatures (including us humans!) is one of my foremost passions. Today, I am involved in helping restore ecosystems in the urban environment, by planting California native plants, which support butterflies, bees, birds, and many other native creatures. In my spare time I am learning about permaculture, and you might see me around town picking up litter from the streets. I have also greatly enjoyed my world travels. I’ve visited many other countries, including Mexico, Tahiti, Morocco, Kenya, Australia, Egypt, United Kingdom, Iceland, Spain, Germany, and several other European countries. I love inline speed skating, bicycle riding, weight lifting, California native plants, house music, the company of friends, and (of course) a good cup of coffee.