We were lucky to catch up with Amalya Tagakchyan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amalya, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

As a business owner, I find deep fulfillment in the ability to channel my creativity and take full control of a vision I’ve nurtured for years. Before launching my private practice, my experiences working for other employers taught me the invaluable lessons of business operations, the dedication required to achieve success on my own terms, and the strategic focus needed for growth. While I appreciated many aspects of my previous roles, I ultimately recognized that it was time to take the leap—to build something of my own, driven by a mission and vision that truly reflect my values and aspirations.

Another pivotal factor in my decision to become the CEO and founder of Untangled Path Therapy was the need for flexibility after becoming a mother. Following the birth of my first child, I quickly recognized how parenthood demanded my time and attention in ways I deeply cherished. This need became even more pronounced after the arrival of my second child, when scheduling flexibility and control over my day-to-day life became essential. By building my own practice, I was able to craft a career that not only aligns with my professional aspirations but also supports the needs of my growing family – which day after day I recognize how fortunate I am to be doing so.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Amalya Tagakchyan and I am a licensed Clinical Social Worker in Los Angeles, California.

I am the founder and owner of Untangled Path Therapy, a private practice that focuses on adult individuals and couples.

Providing therapy for the last twelve years and practicing as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) for the last eight years, it has become my mission to provide a warm, non-judgmental, and direct approach to empower you to achieve your goals. Fluent in both Armenian and English, supporting people through a multicultural lens is a component I bring. My aim is to break cultural barriers and replace them with insight and self-awareness. I’ve worked in outpatient, residential, school-based, community and group home settings utilizing both holistic and evidenced-based practices.

My primary areas of focus and specialties are working with those struggling with anxiety, relationship issues, women’s issues including: perinatal mental health (as a mother myself, this area resonates deeply), millennial women in work/life balance, self-esteem, and burnout.

Utilizing an array of modalities is important since there is no one size fits all approach in therapy.

I incorporate modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solutions Focused Therapy (SFT), and psychodynamic work. Within couples work, The Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) have been two modalities I lean into heavily.

I am most proud of my ability to approach therapy with both a relatable and multicultural lens. I have found that this perspective helps bridge gaps in the therapeutic relationship, allowing me to connect with clients on a deeper and more meaningful level. I also enjoy connecting with individuals interested in mental health through social media, where I create content as a personal creative outlet and a means of providing psychoeducation. This helps foster greater awareness and understanding of mental health and therapy.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

My second job after high school was in finance, aligning with my declared college major. At first, I seemed to be on a clear path toward a career in finance or banking, but I quickly realized the work felt unfulfilling—largely due to its heavy focus on sales. The logical choice would have been to stay in the field, knowing I could climb the ranks and increase my salary without the need for graduate school. However, two years into college, I took a leap of faith and shifted toward my deeper passion for people and psychology. This decision led me to change my major, apply to graduate school, and ultimately pursue a career in psychology and social work—a path that has brought me true fulfillment and a strong sense of purpose. Without a doubt, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Growing up in a community, family, and culture where people-pleasing was deeply ingrained, I came to see it as the accepted norm. Unlearning this mindset was a difficult and deeply personal process—one I had to navigate through both professional and personal challenges. Time and again, I found myself prioritizing others’ happiness and comfort at the expense of my own needs and desires. It took significant introspection to uncover the roots of this behavior and cultivate healthier ways of managing it—especially for the sake of my mental well-being and as a solo business owner. Through this journey, I learned the invaluable lesson of setting boundaries and have been able to use this lesson as groundwork to lean into to help my client’s through their path to break free from people-pleasing cycles.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://untangledpaththerapy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amalya_talks_therapy/?hl=en

Image Credits

Roman TerOvsepyan of Romanphotography.com/contact