Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Linda Vermeulen

LMFT · Depth Psychology · Shadow Work · Inner Child

Thirty years as a clinician. Thirty-one years as an educator. I practice therapy and write about depth psychology and the patterns worth paying attention to.

California MFC33159  ·  Idaho LMFT-8508

Linda Vermeulen, LMFT

The work behind the practice

I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California and Idaho with thirty years of clinical experience working with veterans, families in crisis, and individuals navigating profound life transitions. Before that - and alongside it - thirty-one years in K-12 education, from elementary through high school, where I learned that the most important things people need to understand aren't in the curriculum.

My clinical work is grounded in depth psychology - the tradition of Jung, object relations, and psychodynamic practice. That means I'm less interested in what you're doing and more interested in why you're doing it. The patterns you repeat. The parts of yourself you've put away. The story underneath the story.

I write here, in Field Notes, about what depth psychology can teach us about being human. No fluff. No hustle content. Just the patterns worth noticing.

Latest writing: Dear Therapists, Your Clients Are Already Using AI — Linda's latest writing on AI and clinical practice.

Clinical

LMFT · California MFC33159 · Idaho LMFT-8508 · 30+ years depth practice

Education

Lifetime Multiple Subject Credential (CA) · 31 years K–12 · Master Teacher

Credentials

PPS Credential · Single Subject English (CA) · Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Volunteer

Building


What you want to know before you begin

Answers about depth psychology, inner child work, shadow work, pricing, and how this practice works.

Approach & Methods

What is depth psychology therapy?

Depth psychology is a therapeutic approach rooted in the work of Carl Jung that explores the unconscious - the parts of yourself you can't see directly but that drive your emotions, relationships, and choices. Unlike behavioral approaches that focus on changing what you do, depth psychology asks why you do it. In my practice, this means working with dreams, shadow material, inner child wounds, and archetypal patterns to help you understand yourself at a level most therapy never reaches.

What is inner child therapy and how does it work?

Inner child work is a therapeutic process that reconnects you with the younger parts of yourself that were wounded, neglected, or forced to grow up too fast. These parts don't disappear in adulthood - they drive your emotional reactions, relationship patterns, and self-sabotage. In sessions, we work through reflective conversation to identify, understand, and integrate these parts so they stop running the show from backstage.

What is shadow work in therapy?

Shadow work, from Jungian psychology, is the process of identifying and integrating the parts of yourself you've hidden, denied, or projected onto others. Your shadow isn't your "dark side" - it's everything you've been told is unacceptable, including positive qualities you were taught to suppress. Shadow work isn't about becoming a better person. It's about becoming a whole one.

How do you use the Enneagram in therapy?

I use the Enneagram as a clinical framework - not a personality quiz or social media trend. The Enneagram maps your core motivations, defense structures, and growth edges in a way that integrates beautifully with depth psychology. In sessions, it helps us understand not just your type but the fixation driving your suffering, the pattern you keep repeating, and the specific invitation for growth your type offers.

Comparisons

What is the difference between depth psychology and CBT?

CBT focuses on identifying and changing thought patterns and behaviors. It's effective for specific symptoms. Depth psychology goes underneath - it asks what's driving the thought patterns in the first place. Where CBT teaches you to manage your reactions, depth psychology helps you understand what in your unconscious, your history, your shadow, or your inner child is creating those reactions. They're not enemies - but they operate at different levels.

How do I know if depth psychology is right for me?

Depth psychology tends to be the right fit if you're asking questions like: Why do I keep repeating this pattern? Who am I beneath the role I play? What have I lost or exiled in myself? If you've done therapy before and found it helpful but incomplete - or if you know you need something substantial, not surface-level - this approach was designed for that kind of readiness.

Logistics & Pricing

How much does therapy cost?

Individual therapy is $200 per hour, cash pay only. I do not offer a sliding scale. If cost is a barrier, I'm happy to provide referrals to colleagues who may be a better fit.

Do you accept insurance?

No. I am a cash-pay only practice. I do not accept insurance, nor do I provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement. This allows me to focus entirely on the clinical relationship without the constraints of managed care, diagnostic requirements, or session limits imposed by insurance companies.

Do you offer remote therapy?

Yes. All individual therapy sessions are conducted remotely via secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth. I am licensed in California and Idaho and serve clients statewide in both states.

What should I expect in a first session?

The first session is a conversation, not an intake form. I want to understand what brought you here, what you've tried before, and what kind of work you're looking for. I'll share how I work, and we'll both decide if this is the right fit. There's no pressure, no hard sell, and no obligation to continue. Depth work requires trust, and trust starts with honesty on both sides.


The Deep Cut

Depth psychology, pop culture as case study, and the patterns worth noticing.

Writing on shadow work, attachment, the Enneagram, and what depth psychology can teach us about being human. No fluff. No hustle content.

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3 Days With Your Anxious Inner Child

A free three-day guided exercise for working with the anxious inner child. Grounded in depth psychology. Gentle, structured, and designed to be done on your own.

3 Days With Your Anxious Inner Child

PDF · Free · Personal use

Download Free PDF →

Inner Child Protection Workbook

PDF · $19 · 10 guided psychodynamic activities · Tools to See, Hear, and Meet Your Younger Self

Get the Workbook → $19

Private Practice

I see a small number of individual clients in private practice. Sessions are $200/hour, private pay only - no insurance. If you're interested in working together, email me to inquire about availability.

Book Linda

I'm available for keynotes, panel discussions, university lecturing, clinical trainings, and short-term consulting engagements. I work best in rooms that value depth over convenience and questions over answers.

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