Mihaela Ivan Holtz
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Meet Dr. Mihaela Ivan Holtz
As a Doctor of Clinical Psychology, I’ve spent more than two decades helping people understand what’s holding them back, heal old wounds, and find greater emotional freedom. At Creative Minds Psychotherapy, I look beyond immediate symptoms to the deeper emotional roots shaping how you live, relate, and create.
Who I work with
My clients are insightful, driven creatives, performers, and purpose-driven professionals whose inner lives may feel very different from how capable they appear to others.
Common concerns include:
- Anxiety, depression, and persistent self-doubt
- Creative blocks, burnout, and performance pressure
- The lasting effects of relational trauma
- Painful relationship patterns that keep repeating
Creative Emotional Space™ is my framework for reclaiming the inner space that supports authentic expression, meaningful connection, and a life that feels fully your own.
My approach to therapy
The work is depth-oriented, relational, and responsive to each client’s history, needs, and goals. It integrates:
- Psychoanalytic therapy to uncover unconscious patterns and understand their emotional roots
- EMDR therapy to access and process traumatic memory networks
- Relational and affective neuroscience to support emotional healing through the therapeutic relationship
- Solution-focused therapy to provide practical tools and clearly defined goals
I’m certified in EMDR and Attachment-Focused EMDR. This integrative approach makes room for profound psychological work while keeping therapy focused and grounded in daily life.
Specialized therapy for healing, relationships, and creativity
Each service offers a focused starting point for understanding the deeper patterns shaping your life.
Therapy for creatives and performers
Each service offers a focused starting point for understanding the deeper patterns shaping your life.
Anxiety therapy
Understand what drives persistent worry, self-doubt, and pressure while developing greater calm and emotional flexibility.
Trauma treatment
Process unresolved experiences that continue to affect emotional reactions, relationships, and your sense of safety.
EMDR therapy
Process distressing experiences through a structured, evidence-based approach that can reduce their emotional intensity.
Relationship therapy
Work through attachment wounds and recurring relationship patterns that affect intimacy, creativity, and authentic connection.
What people say about Creative Minds Psychotherapy
These Google reviews reflect the clinical depth, compassion, and individual attention at the heart of the practice.
“I highly recommend Dr. Mihaela Ivan, founder of Creative Minds Psychotherapy for creatives, deep thinkers, and anyone seeking thoughtful, attuned therapy…”
Dr. Mihaela Holtz is a skilled, compassionate clinician with excellent analytical skills as well as a warm, friendly manner with patients. She develops an individual rapport with each patient and brings genuine concern to the patient’s objectives and goals in therapy. Highly recommended!
I highly recommend Dr. Mihaela Ivan, founder of Creative Minds Psychotherapy for creatives, deep thinkers, and anyone seeking thoughtful, attuned therapy that meets them where they are and helps them move toward lasting growth. Her integrative approach – blending EMDR, contemporary psychoanalysis, and a deep understanding of creative process- makes her uniquely effective for clients who are not only healing trauma but also exploring identity, meaning, and creative expression
How to begin therapy with Dr. Mihaela
At Creative Minds Psychotherapy, reaching out gives you space to discuss what you’re experiencing, ask questions, and decide if Dr. Mihaela’s approach feels right.
1) Request a free consultation
Complete the consultation form with a few details about what brings you to therapy and the best way to reach you.
2) Discuss your needs and questions
Discuss the concerns or goals you want to address and ask questions about the therapeutic approach.
3) Choose the right therapy setting
If the fit feels right, meet at the Beverly Hills office or attend online sessions from anywhere in California.
Frequently asked questions about Creative Minds Psychotherapy
How do I know if I need therapy?
Therapy may be right for you if anxiety, depression, self-doubt, relationship problems, creative blocks, or recurring patterns are affecting your daily life, work, or relationships. You don’t need to wait for a crisis or diagnosis to seek support.
What do creative people commonly struggle with?
The creatives and performers I work with often face perfectionism, rejection, performance anxiety, burnout, self-doubt, creative blocks, and difficulty separating their identity from their work. These pressures can also affect relationships and emotional well-being.
What is creative psychotherapy?
At Creative Minds Psychotherapy, creative psychotherapy is depth-oriented individual therapy shaped around the emotional and professional realities of creatives and performers. It addresses the patterns affecting your well-being, relationships, and creative work; art-making isn’t required.
Can therapy for creatives help with anxiety?
Yes. I help creatives address anxiety by identifying triggers, understanding the emotional patterns beneath performance pressure, and developing more flexible ways to respond. The approach depends on your history, symptoms, and goals.
What are good topics to discuss in therapy?
You can discuss anything affecting how you feel, relate, work, or create. Common topics include anxiety, depression, self-doubt, painful experiences, relationship patterns, creative blocks, performance pressure, major decisions, and personal goals.
What should I expect in my first therapy session?
How much does therapy cost, and do you accept insurance?
You don’t need all the answers to begin
Creative Minds Psychotherapy offers a private, deeply attuned space to understand what’s holding you back and clarify the change you want in your life.
Latest posts
In-Depth Therapy vs. Short Intensives: What’s the Difference – and What Do You Really Need
You’re finally ready to pursue therapy. Yet, instead of feeling clear, you find yourself torn between two very different paths. A part of you longs for relief, now. You want to feel better, move forward, and return to living your life as soon as possible. ...
Long Term Effects of Trauma: How it Shapes Your Mind, Body, and Relationships
Are you noticing subtle changes in how you feel, even though the past seems far behind you? Maybe your body feels more tense in everyday moments, or your reactions feel stronger than the situation calls for. Often, the long-term effects of trauma show up this way,...
Right Before it Matters: How Performance Anxiety Takes Over
You know the moment. Right before it matters, your body tightens. Your heart races. Your hands sweat. A quiet voice asks, “what if I mess this up?” It shows up when something important is on the line. A presentation. A performance. An important moment. The pressure...
