Relational & Psychodynamic Therapy in California
Ben Heilveil, MA, LMFT
How I Work
I offer depth-oriented, relational psychotherapy for thoughtful adults across California, My practice is based in Ojai, and I work with many clients in Los Angeles via telehealth. My work is relational and psychodynamic, informed by psychoanalytic thinking, attention to the relational field, and a tolerance for uncertainty rather than quick solutions. My background in liberatory frameworks means that I pay attention to how race, class, culture, and systemic inequity shape inner life and relational experience, often in ways that have gone unnamed in the therapy room.
What is Psychodynamic Therapy?
Most of us are well-trained in the production of answers. Therapy, done seriously, asks for something different. We work with what is unconscious, recurring, and hard to name. I won't collude with your harshest self-assessments, and I won't tell you what you want to hear. What I can offer is a relationship that doesn't require you to perform, and that holds steady through difficulty.
I am attentive to what doesn't work, what gets ignored, defended against, or exiled. Our job is to invite that shit back in, with as much patience and care as it takes. I try to be a trickster. I hold people accountable to their inner life without harshness. I'll only ever ask you to do what you can actually do, even if barely.
I'm curious about the discomfort of inauthentic performance, and about the artistry and soul that become possible when that performance starts to loosen.
We create something together over time: a shared language, a way of paying attention, a space where what is usually unconscious or unspoken can become visible. That requires genuine encounter — honesty on both sides, a willingness to sit with what's uncomfortable, and enough trust to keep going when the path isn't clear.
Who I Work With
I work with adults experiencing burnout, anxiety, chronic stress, or a sense of dissatisfaction that persists despite insight or success. I work with thoughtful, creative, over-functioning adults who look capable on the outside but feel internally strained, restless, or disconnected from themselves. Many of the people who come to see me are successful in their work and relationships, yet sense that something essential is missing, muted, or under pressure beneath the surface.
I've been doing this work for fifteen years, in community mental health and in private practice. I trained at Pacifica Graduate Institute. I work with adults, adolescents, and couples across California via telehealth, with limited in-person sessions in Ojai.
I begin with a 30-minute consultation call at no charge, so we can talk about whether we are a good fit.
FAQ’s
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Individual & Couples Sessions: $200
Family sessions: $250
I offer weekly and twice-weekly sessions.
Please contact for sliding scale or pro-bono work.
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I work on a private pay basis and provide a monthly superbill — a detailed receipt — that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement if you have a PPO plan.
Many PPO clients are reimbursed between 50–80% of session costs after their deductible is met. The process is straightforward: you pay me directly after each session, I provide a superbill at the end of the month, and you submit it to your insurer. If you're unsure whether your plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits, it's worth a quick call to the member services number on your insurance card before we meet.
HMO plans typically do not offer out-of-network reimbursement.
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Before we begin working together I offer a free 30-minute phone consultation. This isn't an intake — it's a chance to talk briefly about what's bringing you in, ask any questions you have, and get a sense of whether working together feels like a reasonable fit. I'll be straightforward with you if I think someone else might serve you better!
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I see individuals, couples, and families. A significant portion of my practice is made up of people who work in film, television, and the arts in Los Angeles. I work primarily via telehealth across California, with a limited in-person practice in Ojai, where I live. I co-founded California Woodland Institute with my wife Ashley, which offers equine-assisted therapy and ranch-based clinical work in Upper Ojai. In addition to seeing clients, I also teach, consult, and supervise.
