Anna Asefi, LMFT

I urge people to listen to the other negative reviews and avoid this place, especially if you are already having any emotional issues. The intake specialist is incredibly rude and thoughtless (Anna Asefi Shumway), and won't hesitate to insult and scold you on the phone. It's disappointing that a counseling practice doesn't ensure their employees are kind to the patients, who might be going through a variety of issues

Anna Asefi Shumway is horrible. I went to see her practice about a year & half ago. It was the worst experience I had, when it comes to therapist. Anna Asefi Shumway only saw me twice. I realized she doesn't have much experience and is a liar.

Anna Asefi took advantage of me, my time, and money. DO NOT work with her. Is she a "good" therapist? I don't know, but I can only guess that if she broke my trust during the initial free consultation, it's not going to be good thereafter. Upon arriving to her office in Sherman Oaks I let her know I ONLY wanted to spend the 1/2 hour with her because I didn't want to pay $125 for an hour of "getting to know each other". I'd rather invest that $50 toward an actual therapy session. After asking a few times to confirm the 1/2hr, she continued to say "why don't we talk first?" Given I had already expressed my clear request, I went ahead with the initial consult. The clock on the wall sat directly in front of her (behind me), so I trusted her to keep track of time and to honor my request for the 1/2hr consultation. 20min into it I turned my whole body toward the wall behind me to look at the clock and told her I wanted to STOP at 1/2 hr and she said "yes, I know you have to go soon." She

Unfortunately I ended up needing therapy to get help. I had the unfortunate luck of finding Anna Asefi. She made me believe I had been verbally and psychologically abusive to my partner and that I had traumatized him -- which I believed at the time and felt awful about, like I was the worst person in the world and unfit for a man like him. My partner got angrier and angrier at me after the sessions with her, and she kept saying that that was normal, that he had repressed that anger and needed to let it out. When in fact that wasn't the issue at all, so it only made things worse. The relationship became unbearable, it became worse than it was before the sessions. Anna Asefi is unexperienced and will ruin your life.

I wish I did some research online before I hired this low life. Anna Asefi appeared to be experienced but she only has two years of experience and works under another therapist with horrible reviews online. I had to call her many times to even get a response. What does it take to get a professional to call you back? Especially a therapist. It can often take a lot of strength to reach out and admit you need help in certain areas. And then when you finally muster up the courage to do so, ready to make yourself vulnerable only to see the person helping you has no life experience whatsoever. It seems like that person doesn't even care because you can't get a call back or email back.

My experience has been mixed but ultimately bottom line. Its hard to build trust with a therapist that is condescending and doesn't respect my values. I don't get my therapist and her steps. Definitely have a new one that works with helping me process vs laugh and poke fun in inappropriate times. I had this thought over the course of 5 months. I figured its my first therapist and i need to be open minded. Granted their job is difficult...i have no sympathy really especially with her education. The last secession just sealed it for me. I told Anna Asefi that she's unexperienced and her advice does more harm than good.

Anna Asefi Shumway has no experience. She talked more about her problems then I did. Okay, you saved your drug abuser husband. Who cares about you or your personal life!! I was so turned off by this whole experience that I did some more research and found the perfect match at another center with a more experienced MFT. I would never refer anyone to this service and recommend that the staff get more experience before picking up new clients. Geez, get a real life and some experience.

Anna Asefi Shumway horrible therapist. Just the most horrible 'help', and I use that term loosely. I've never thought I'd be talked down to and given the most negligable advice imaginable. That adive being basically get over it and your problems are all your fault. Their so called experts' way of dealing with an emotionally vulnerable person is to talk to them like a four year old for half an hour and sending them on their way. The root of problem wasn't found and they disregarded hurtful past experiences. Please if you value your time and mental health avoid coming here as it will only leave you feeling worse than before. It's clear they aren't equipped to deal with real mental health problems and offer only bandaid solutions. This place has damaged my perception on therapy, I open myself emotionally and they end up using that to hurt me more. What a horrible way to treat people your supposed to help.

I recommend asking a lot of questions up front. Did not find her to be a good listener and it was not a professional experience. She talked more about herself.

This review is a long time in coming. At first I felt Anna Asefi had a very soothing communication style, but after the third session I sensed a judgmental tendency in her demeanor. That is a personal thing. What is not personal, not to mention outrageous, is her business practices. I remember talking to her over the phone prior to booking with her. I very specifically asked for her rates and she distinctly told me $175/hr. I thought to myself "STEEP, but I'll give it a try." I'd never sought therapy before and didn't really know the prevailing rates. Once I got there and reviewed the contract, I noted her rate was actually $175/50 minutes! It was even steeper than she had assured me. I questioned her about the discrepancy and she said something to the effect of "Yes, it's actually $175/50 minutes, but I always go over the allotted time." Okaaaay? If that's your rate then that's your rate. I do NOT recommend Anna Assefi Shumway.

The absolute worst marriage and family therapist. Lacks understanding, compassion, cold hearted and there is no privacy with her. Anna Asefi is one of those therapist who cannot hold secrets and will let the other person know what you said. Avoid this loser at all costs.

No star - DO NOT RECOMMEND I filled out the intake paperwork 24 hours in advance like asked. Two hours before my appointment I was notified by an "assistant" that she was unable to meet. For some of us, since we are seeking mental health help, are terrified of leaving their house and getting sick and she cancels on me!! When I spoke to Anna Asefi Shumway about the matter she was unprofessional and defended herself and attached my character. It really makes someone who clearly needed help feel even more trapped when a doctor, whose job it is to evaluate people, turns you down. I've noticed The Clinic has been responding to posts to lie and cover up their actions. Please don't bother responding to mine. This is what happened. People deserve to make their own decisions based off of your bad evaluations, not your excuses.

My ex-husband and I saw Anna Asefi after I moved out. The reason I moved out was because my ex-husband pinned me against the wall with dining table and in order to stop me to go to police he kicked me in stomach. He found Anna after I ran away from him. I thought talking to a therapist might be helpful to make him understand that I am over him but she was extremely pushy in sessions that I should work on our relationship. I was shocked how a woman can not be supportive of another woman when she has been physically abused. As I mentioned in the sessions it was not the only time I was physically abused by him. yet she put so much pressure on me to attend the sessions and work on the relationship. The conversations she made me go through was extremely painful for me.