LAYLA Z SCOTT
LICENSED MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST SUPERVISOR
CERTIFIED SEX THERAPIST
CERTIFIED FAMILY LIFE EDUCATOR
Layla specializes in the following areas:
-
Sex Therapy
-
Sexual Health
-
Intimacy
-
Infidelity Recovery
-
Trauma
-
Boundaries
-
EMDR
-
Emotion-Focused Therapy
-
Ethnic Minorities
- Family of Origin
Relational Therapy
"That which is created in a relationship can be fixed in a relationship."
-Murray Bowen
Mother, father, sister, brother, husband, wife, single, partnered, monogamous, poly...what these words have in common is that they describe who we are in relation to others. Our identities and life experiences are shaped, in part, by those around us. Relationships can be the source of our greatest joy, but also our deepest pain or trauma.
Relational therapy focuses on how you are influenced by, make meaning of, and function in connection with others. How you show up in the relationships of your life will also be how you relate with me in the client-therapist relationship. So, even if you come for individual therapy, we'll be doing relational work.
Couples and family therapy is most effective when all parties are present, but sometimes loved ones are reluctant to participate. I encourage the willing partner/spouse or parent to attend therapy alone as it can still benefit the relationship for you to learn new skills and strategies. As your loved ones see changes in you, it may cause them to be more interested and willing to join us in therapy.
Sex Therapy
“When it comes to sex, the most important six inches are the ones between the ears.”
— Dr. Ruth Westheimer (Iconic sex therapist and educator)
Talking about sex can evoke a wide range of emotional responses depending on your culture, religious values, gender, and lived experiences. I am here for it all! I am the daughter of a Mexican-American mother who was raised in the Catholic faith, and a Lebanese, Muslim father who immigrated to the United States in the 1980s. These intersecting identities are key to the messages I received about sex in my family. Their version of sex education was one of avoidance, shame, and unspoken rules about purity, sin, and family honor. This sex-negative atmosphere contributed to feeling as though the topic was taboo.
As a seasoned clinician, I am aware my upbringing is not an uncommon experience amongst other people of color with similar ethnic and religious belief systems. These personal experiences motivate me to serve clients of diverse backgrounds and assist in unlearning harmful attitudes that may contribute to distress in one’s sexual health and behaviors. Whatever your personal background and identities may be, I am here to help you explore and expand your understanding of intimacy. In my office, I openly give permission and invite you to dive into the topic of sex!