Emotional Neglect Recovery Therapist in Venice
You Didn’t Imagine It. You Just Learned to Numb It. Now Let’s Begin to Feel.
In our therapy sessions, we will explore:
• Understanding why you feel empty, disconnected, or “too much”
• Rebuilding self-worth that isn’t tied to performance
• Learning to name, validate, and express your emotions
• Recognizing patterns of self-neglect or emotional avoidance
• Reconnecting with your needs, boundaries, and desires
• Developing healthy relationships based on reciprocity, not invisibility
Childhood emotional neglect isn’t always loud—it’s often the absence of what you needed. Maybe no one ever yelled, but no one ever asked how you were, either. Maybe your basic needs were met, but your emotional world was ignored, minimized, or misunderstood. And now, as an adult, you might struggle to trust your feelings, set boundaries, or even know what your needs are.
As a licensed psychotherapist and former medical doctor who specializes in emotional neglect recovery, I help clients gently reconnect with the feelings, needs, and parts of themselves that were left unseen. This is quiet, deep, life-changing work—and it begins with learning that your feelings matter.
You didn’t fail to thrive. You adapted to survive. And now, it’s safe to feel again. Let’s help you rebuild the emotional foundation you didn’t get as a child—so you can live as a fully seen and supported adult.
I provide therapy in Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Venice, Marina Del Rey, Culver City, Mar Vista, Playa Del Rey, West Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades, Palms, and Santa Monica.
Feeling emotionally disconnected, empty, or unworthy, but can’t figure out why? These feelings often trace back to a hidden root — childhood emotional neglect. Steven Kilmann, LMFT, a licensed Emotional Neglect Recovery Therapist based in Venice Beach, helps individuals identify and heal these unseen wounds to regain their emotional clarity, confidence, and capacity for connection.
Unlike physical abuse, emotional neglect is silent. It happens when a caregiver fails to respond adequately to a child’s emotional needs. This omission leaves no visible scars but can lead to long-term emotional struggles that manifest well into adulthood. Many adults who experienced emotional neglect as children report a constant sense that something is wrong with them, even if they can't explain why. Steven helps clients address that unresolved past, reconnect with their emotions, and finally feel whole.
What Emotional Neglect Looks Like in Adulthood
Adults suffering from childhood emotional neglect often experience:
Difficulty identifying or expressing emotions
Feeling unfulfilled in relationships
Chronic low self-worth
Emotional numbness or suppression
Guilt or shame without a clear cause
Perfectionism or people-pleasing tendencies
A belief that their emotions don’t matter
These signs often go unnoticed because emotional neglect doesn’t leave obvious damage. But the emotional gap it creates can influence every area of life — relationships, work, and even physical health. That’s where Emotional Neglect Recovery Therapy can help.
Steven Kilmann’s Therapeutic Approach
With a rare blend of medical and psychological insight, Steven Kilmann, LMFT, brings over two decades of experience to the therapy room. His approach combines empathy, science-backed techniques, and real-life understanding to support clients in overcoming the invisible impact of emotional neglect.
He uses a variety of therapeutic methods, including:
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Mindfulness-based stress reduction
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Somatic awareness techniques
Inner child and self-compassion work
Every therapy plan is customized. Whether you're dealing with relationship challenges, self-doubt, or internal numbness, Steven helps you address the core issue, not just the symptoms.
Clients working with Steven report feeling seen and supported for the first time. Many experience breakthroughs in understanding their past and develop the emotional tools needed to move forward with strength and clarity.
Why Emotional Neglect Recovery Therapy Matters
Therapy for emotional neglect focuses on helping you identify how emotional needs were unmet during childhood and how those unmet needs still affect you today. Once this awareness is gained, therapy supports:
Developing emotional language
Validating and honoring your feelings
Releasing internalized shame or guilt
Rebuilding trust with yourself and others
Setting healthy emotional boundaries
Steven’s role as an Emotional Neglect Recovery Therapist in Venice Beach is to walk alongside you in this healing process — never judging, always encouraging, and providing tools to foster long-term growth.
Why Clients in Venice Beach Choose Steven Kilmann, LMFT
People from Venice Beach and nearby areas seek Steven out not just for his qualifications, but for his results. His therapy practice provides a calm, private space where clients feel comfortable unpacking difficult emotional histories. The combination of his medical background and trauma-informed care allows him to support the full scope of your emotional and psychological health.
Steven is highly rated for his insight, patience, and clear communication. Clients appreciate that he not only listens but also guides them toward transformation, often integrating their therapy with wellness practices from the local community.
Sessions are available both in person and via secure telehealth for convenience. This flexibility has made his Emotional Neglect Recovery Therapy accessible to clients throughout Venice, Marina del Rey, and greater Los Angeles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Emotional Neglect Therapy
Is emotional neglect the same as abuse?
No. Emotional neglect is often unintentional and lacks the presence of direct abuse. It involves a consistent failure to respond to emotional needs, which can still leave deep psychological effects.
How long does recovery take?
Everyone’s timeline is different. Some clients begin feeling relief within a few months, while others benefit from ongoing support over a longer term. The key is steady progress and emotional reconnection.
Can therapy help with something from so long ago?
Yes. Emotional patterns established in childhood continue to affect behavior and feelings until they are consciously addressed. Therapy provides the space and support needed to identify, understand, and shift those patterns.
Do you work with couples, too?
Yes. Emotional neglect can impact romantic relationships deeply. Steven offers couples therapy to help both partners understand emotional dynamics, rebuild trust, and learn healthier ways of connecting.
Steven Kilmann’s Venice Beach Practice
Located in the heart of Venice Beach, Steven’s therapy office offers a serene and grounded setting ideal for emotional work. His focus on Emotional Neglect Recovery Therapy in Venice Beach draws clients who value healing in a supportive, coastal environment where mind-body balance is encouraged.
Steven has also helped many clients with related concerns such as anxiety, depression, and unresolved trauma that often accompany emotional neglect. His therapy methods help clients become emotionally fluent — capable of identifying, expressing, and managing emotions without fear or shame.
In a recent session, a client reflected, “I always thought I was broken — that something was just missing in me. Working with Steven helped me realize it wasn’t me. I was just emotionally ignored, and now I have a choice to heal.”
If you’ve ever felt that something essential was missing from your childhood — and it’s still affecting you — therapy can help.
Connect with Steven Kilmann, LMFT, Today
Steven Kilmann, LMFT, is accepting new clients for Emotional Neglect Recovery Therapy in Venice. Whether you’re just beginning to explore your emotional history or have tried therapy before and felt unheard, Steven brings the compassion, skill, and focus needed to help you move forward.
To book a free consultation or inquire about session availability, reach out through the contact form or call (424) 265-8933. Discover how therapy can help you reclaim your emotional voice and live more fully, starting today.
