Alitta Kullman, PhD, PsyD, LMFT

There is no judgment or ‘right or wrong,’ only what is meaningful at the core of your being.

• Web
• Google Places

Alitta Kullman, PhD, PsyD, LMFT's style

Why Alitta Kullman, PhD, PsyD, LMFT chose to be in the helping profession

I love what I do. Helping others make sense of their lives, and supporting them as they move through obstacles and traumas that have limited them or caused deep distress, feels like a true blessing in my work. There is something meaningful about sitting with people as they begin to untangle what has felt confusing, heavy, or stuck for a long time. I don’t take for granted the trust it takes for someone to open up in that way, or the opportunity to be part of that process.

I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the work I do and for the chance to build real connections with people in our community. Every relationship is unique, and I value being able to meet people where they are while walking alongside them as they move toward greater clarity and relief. This work is not just a profession for me, it is something I feel genuinely connected to on a human level. I am honored to be part of each person’s process in whatever way I can be helpful.

Alitta Kullman, PhD, PsyD, LMFT's approach

My approach is primarily integrative, combining the “talking cure” of contemporary relational psychoanalysis with state-of-the-art developmental research, and a relationship with Hashem alongside it. I draw from these different lenses in a way that supports a fuller understanding of each person’s inner world, emotional patterns, and lived experience. In my work, I make a lot of room for questions, uncertainty, and confusion, since those are often the places where deeper truth begins to emerge. I see therapy as a space where someone can safely begin to listen inwardly and discover more of their deepest self.

There is no judgment or sense of “right or wrong” in this process, but rather an emphasis on what is truly meaningful to each person at the core of their being. In the case of an eating disorder, I understand the eating disorder itself as holding a profound blueprint for unspoken and even “unthought” longings. Rather than viewing it only as something to eliminate, I am interested in what it is communicating and what needs may be trying to find expression through it. My hope is that together we can make sense of these inner experiences, and find more fulfilling and meaningful ways of meeting hunger, longing, and emotional need.

What you can expect from sessions with Alitta Kullman, PhD, PsyD, LMFT

Our sessions will follow your lead and focus on what feels most important to you at any given time. I am here to help you make sense of your life in a way that feels grounded, thoughtful, and attuned to your experience. I do not work with “protocols,” or offer 10-point programs or one-size-fits-all solutions, because I believe each person’s process is unique and deserves to be met that way. Instead, we will slow things down and listen closely to what is unfolding for you in the moment.

Together, we will look at the ways your body may be expressing what your mind is holding, and how certain patterns, including an eating disorder or other behaviors that feel distressing, can sometimes be attempts to cope or communicate something deeper. Rather than seeing these parts of you as simply problematic, we will try to understand what they are trying to do for you, even when it feels painful or confusing. We will work together to sort through the confusion, anxiety, and despair that may be present, with care and curiosity rather than judgment. You do not have to do this alone, and we will stay with it together as it unfolds.

Alitta Kullman, PhD, PsyD, LMFT's experience working with the Jewish community

In my many years of practice, I have most deeply valued and appreciated the work I have done within the Jewish community. I feel a strong sense of connection to this work, and I am grateful for the trust I have been given within it. I love helping people dig deeply within their own core, discover their essence, and, when it is meaningful for them, support them in discovering or re-discovering a relationship with God that helps them thrive. There is something very meaningful to me about accompanying people as they reconnect to parts of themselves that may have felt distant, quiet, or forgotten.

I also find deep value in helping people notice new meaning and find genuine support within ways of being or thinking that may have become routine or rote over time. Sometimes what has felt automatic can begin to feel more alive again when it is examined with care and openness. In many ways, I experience this as some of the most important work I have done in my life. I am grateful for my own teachers and mentors who have imparted so much to me, and I hope to continue passing forward what I have received in a way that is faithful, grounded, and meaningful.

Alitta Kullman, PhD, PsyD, LMFT's Book Recommendation Zone

• "Hunger for Connection: Finding Meaning in Eating Disorder"
  by Alitta Kullman, PhD
• "Ra"av La"Kesher"
  The Hebrew translation of my book, Tel-aviv, Israel, 2021
• "Sha'ar HaBitachon"
  A most meaningful text for me

Approaches

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Attachment-based
• Career Counseling
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Couples Counseling
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Family Therapy
• Inner child work
• Intuitive Eating
• Mindfulness and Meditation
• Psychoanalytic Therapy
• Psychodynamic Therapy

Concerns

• Body image
• Depression
• Eating disorders & disordered eating
• Emotion regulation
• Mood Disorders
• Obesity
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Personality issues & disorders
• Relationships
• Religious Identity Issues
• Stress management
• Trauma
• Weight Management

40 years in practice

Licenses

• LMFT by CA 1972. License number 5793
• LMFT by MD 2025. License number LCM1113
• LMFT by VA 2025. License number 0717002386
• LMFT by DC 2025. License number 200001358

Degrees

• PhD, Psychoanalysis by Newport Psychoanalytic Institute 1995
• PsyD, Psychology/PsychoanalysisBest E by Newport Psychoanalytic Institute 2007
• MA, Clinical Psychology by Pepperdine University 1972

Awards

• Scholarship by Columbia School of Social Work 1968
• Best eating disorder books of 2018 by Best Eating Disorder Books 2019

Certificates

• Resume available on request

Trainings

• CA CEU's by State of California 1972-2026
• Multiple trainings/workshops over the years

Affiliations

• Resume available on request

Average costs per session

$300 - $400

Payment Methods

• Sliding Scale
• Free consultation
• Check
• Zelle Quick Pay
• ACH Bank Transfer