Dr. Costardi works to create a safe space for the client to be able to open up and feel engaged in a deep quest about his or her subjective life. In her experience, therapy is a process of creating knowledge through revisiting client’s history as well as being attentive to current experiences. This knowledge is singular and able to mobilize affects and other processes that happen in the body. Dr. Costardi considers our experiences are processed in different levels, including an unconscious level, so reporting dreams and free association are welcome in sessions. In this approach, therapy helps to create singular strategies for the client to deal with current difficulties as well as addresses long term negative patterns of behavior to promote effective and lasting change.

• Depressive disorders
• Bipolar disorders
• Anxiety
• Fear and phobia
• Feelings of persecution
• Dissociation
• Relationship issues
• Trauma
• Grief
• Life transitions

Psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy, play therapy.

“Terrible is the temptation to be good.”

– Bertold Brecht

Reading, writing, listening music, dancing.

Dr. Costardi is a psychologist who was also extensively trained in psychoanalysis. She had a clinical practice for 5 years in Brazil before moving to the US. She relicensed and has being in practice since 2016 in Los Angeles and Orange County, where she has worked in private practice and in a community clinic. She also has experience with supervision and psychological assessment.

She has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Education, and a Doctorate Degree of Philosophy in Psychology at the university of São Paulo, in Brazil. She has researched on psychoanalysis and contemporary politics, and has published articles and book chapters, as well as presented papers, and edited a book on her field of expertise. 

Dr. Costardi is currently a member of the school of psychoanalysis of the Lacanian field, which is an international organization devoted to the training of psychoanalysts.