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North Shore 

Psychotherapy

Change is hard—but staying stuck is often harder. I specialize in working with individuals who are ready to stop surviving and start thriving. If you're tired of feeling controlled by your emotions, struggling in your relationships, or repeating patterns that no longer serve you, therapy can be a place to create real, lasting change.

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About me

I'm Alexis DeFendis, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and I believe that healing happens through genuine connection, curiosity, and feeling truly understood.

My path to becoming a therapist wasn't a straight line. Before entering the counseling profession, I spent years working in neuroscience research and health technology, where I led clinical research initiatives on multidisciplinary teams. While that work was meaningful, I eventually realized what fulfilled me most wasn't looking at data—it was understanding people and their experience in the world.

Becoming a therapist became more than a career change; it became part of my own journey of healing and discovering my purpose. That experience allows me to sit with clients not only as a clinician but as someone who understands what it feels like to question your direction, navigate life's unexpected challenges, and create meaningful change.

Today, I work with adults, couples, and individuals facing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship concerns, life transitions, stress, and burnout. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and systems-based interventions. I am entirely strengths-based and client-centered; I believe therapy isn't about "fixing" who you are—it's about helping you better understand yourself, build resilience, use your existing strengths, and create a life that feels authentic and fulfilling.

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply looking for a space where you can be yourself without judgment, I'm honored to walk alongside you. My goal is to create a therapeutic relationship where you feel safe, supported, and empowered to make lasting change.

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THERAPEUTIC APPROACH

  • Close-up of an incandescent light bulb hanging, with blurred background lights creating a bokeh effect.

    Thoughts

    It all starts by identifying the thoughts and beliefs about yourself, others, and the world that are no longer working for you.

  • A cluster of pink and yellow balloons with smiley face designs, set against a blue sky with a few clouds.

    Emotions

    Next, we will examine how your thoughts are negatively affecting your emotional experience and work to challenge and reframe them into ones that better align with your reality.

  • Visual representation of a plasma ball with purple and pink electrical discharges emanating from a central sphere against a dark background.

    Strengths

    Lastly, we will build on the strengths and coping skills you already have and practice using them in new ways that benefit you and support your personal growth and positive emotional experience.