About Sage Raval
I am Chelsea Sage Raval, a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (#165603) in Santa Monica, working under the supervision of Shelby Stone, LMFT (#112223). I work with children, families, adults, and couples.
I believe that each person is unique and has an innate capacity for growth, healing, and self-discovery. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in respect for the complexity of each person’s experience. Together, we explore the patterns, relationships, and experiences that have shaped you while building greater insight, resilience, and connection in the present.
Guided by a humanistic lens, I prioritize the therapeutic relationship, open communication, and collaboration. I work with each client to find the approaches that best support their individual needs, building a trusting relationship through warmth, patience, and openness.
Approach
My therapeutic style is integrative, strength-based, and client-centered. I draw from art therapy techniques, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and family systems approaches, tailoring treatment to best support each client.
I am also trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, an evidence-based approach that can help clients process distressing or traumatic experiences and move through places where they may feel “stuck”.
My practice includes a special focus on working with:
Children, parents, and caregivers: I recognize the trust and vulnerability involved in entrusting someone with the care of your child, and I take that responsibility to heart. I approach each child and family with sensitivity, while using developmentally appropriate and creative approaches to support emotional expression, build confidence and adaptive skills, and strengthen connection within the family.
Couples & Families: I help couples and family members better understand the patterns and dynamics shaping their relationships, develop healthier ways of communicating, and foster respect, renewed closeness, and connection.
Experience & Credentials
Before joining Shelby Stone Therapy, I worked as a school-based counselor with Counseling Partners of Los Angeles (CPLA), providing mental health support to students and parents navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and significant life transitions.
Prior to becoming a therapist, I spent 27 years as a fine art educator in elementary schools, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and in private homes throughout West Los Angeles. This experience continues to inform my therapeutic work and my understanding of the importance of creating nurturing environments that balance creativity, structure, and freedom. I value fostering self-expression while providing thoughtful guidance through challenging moments.
I received my Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles, where my research focused on diverse strategies and modalities to support children and families.
I also hold an additional Master’s Degree in Art Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, with a focus on art education and accessibility for children and families in museums and school programming, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pepperdine University in Malibu.
I am a fully trained in EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) through an EMDRIA-approved program and have training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).
I am a member in good standing with the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT).
