Therapists in 95001

No matter who you are, we all can benefit from talking to someone who can offer support, practical skills and hope when life gets rough. From these life challenges we learn and grow. I see this as an opportunity to dive into what can sometimes be uncomfortable but what will ultimately set you free. I seek to offer a safe environment where you feel truly heard and seen for who you are. Where your differences are a strength and your challenges are met with compassion and insight. I seek to nurture the spark of passion for life in you so that it grows to a life where you find meaning and fulfillment and even joy.

I help people through difficult times and growth periods in their lives and have been counseling professionally since 2002. My education includes Sonoma State University, University of Southern California and John F. Kennedy University. Through over three decades of work in various businesses and counseling situations I understand a diverse range of viewpoints, needs and desires. When someone is in a challenging time in their life, they need a compassionate and non-judgmental, yet direct and experienced professional to illuminate the path and bring clarity to a situation.

My current work focuses on Individuals, Couples, Families, Groups, Active and Retired First Responders and Military facing Crisis Situations, Relationship Issues, Trauma and Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Personal Growth and Self Exploration, Severe Mental Illness, Dual Diagnosis, Addiction & Recovery. I utilize approaches including but not limited to CBT, Systems, Somatic and other models. While I will use pieces from the above mentioned models and theories each individual client will require a different mix of psychotherapy approaches. Individual treatment plans and various interventions will be used to assist each specific client.

We are a non-profit counseling agency with locations in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, & Monterey. We provide high quality, affordable psychotherapy and counseling services to individuals, couples, families, and groups. Our fees are set on a sliding scale, based upon your income. Our services are provided by Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and Master's level Interns and Trainees who are under the supervision of a licensed therapist. We would love to answer any questions you may have, or schedule an appointment to meet with you. Simply call or send us an email today!

My approach as a somatic practitioner and educator is to witness and help facilitate your access to, and awareness of, your essential nature. Somatic Experiencing supports this process by helping you to be more aware of your body and its sensations and allowing this process to lead you to a more holistic awareness of your whole being, which can facilitate healing, growth, and transformation.

As the former inpatient and outpatient clinical director for Vista Pavilion affiliated with the University of Florida, I have guided a wide range of clients. I am now offering clinical hypnosis in Santa Cruz, California in a private practice. With over 30 years of experience, I have worked with severe trauma, family, and relationship issues. Sports performance can also be enhanced by hypnosis. I have worked with football players, baseball team, tennis players, golfers, bodybuilders, basketball players etc. affiliated with the University of Florida.

Welcome! Thank you for being here. Are you feeling stuck or overwhelmed? I believe in your innate resilience, and would be honored to journey with you to reconnect with it. I specialize in working with teens, college-age folks, and adults who are going through big life changes, including grief, trauma, oppression, and prenatal/postpartum challenges. I also work with those interested in seeing how the arts and nature can be integral parts of their wellness. My work focuses on nurturing your relationship with yourself, others, and the planet.

I view each of our lives as a journey of discovery: of the self, the world around us, and all the experiences that move through us. We are learning how to be who we are, how to be human, and how to traverse the terrain ahead of us. The journey brings with it a full range, from ecstatic bliss and deep peace to agonizing shame and despair, and everything between. Each individual’s journey is unique, yet we share some overlapping themes and needs. Perhaps we are seeking support along our journey, for further growth, healing, or connection with our authentic self and others.

We are not defined by what has happened to us, but what we choose to become in response to it. I see therapy as a very collaborative process; I aim to assist clients in walking their path to healing and wellness while striving to allow them to teach me about who they are and what they may need. My approach to therapy is integrative and humanistic; tailored to the needs and preferences of each individual, and in support of their desired goals. I am currently accepting new clients for virtual therapy. Feel free to contact me for a free 15-minute phone consultation.

I offer nature walk therapy and online therapy to teens and adults and now is the perfect season for it! Rather than sitting in an office we meet at a local hiking trail or beach and walk during our session. Being immersed in nature and moving the body while talking provides many additional benefits to the therapeutic process and feels more natural. I utilize effective therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral, Interpersonal and Family Therapy in my sessions. I am especially passionate about helping young adults navigate through difficult transitions and emotions.

You are in a constant state of fatigue. Feeling little to no motivation, brain fog, and not happy with how things are. You have constant negative thoughts about what will happen next . It's hard to control the worry. You may replay events from your past. You think it’s trauma but you're not sure. But you do know. You. Feel. Anxious. Tired. Depressed. OUT. OF. CONTROL. What would it look like for you to wake up one day and feel excited? Excited for life. Not be affected by your past or past trauma. I help those who want to understand what they are feeling or thinking. Together we can give you the tools to build the life you want.

People seek therapy for all kinds of reasons, but common to all of them is the fact that their life is not working as well as they want. This can be for a multitude of reasons; anxieties, depression, relationship issues, lack of fulfillment, purpose or meaning. Psychological symptoms are signals that alert us to examine the obstacles that hinder us from moving through life more freely with a sense of aliveness and agency.

Life can be overwhelming. It can feel like you’re slowly sinking into an ocean of worries and despair. You just want to catch your breath. It can keep you awake at night, or make you not want to get out of bed. I’m here to provide a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship so you can find relief from your struggles.

Steps away from the beach, Lighthouse Counseling is located on the campus of Janus of Santa Cruz where compassionate licensed and pre-licensed therapists are available to provide client-focused therapy to you and your family. We provide therapy to people who are looking to heal from a variety of challenges including but not limited to addiction, mental health, life transitions, relationship issues as well as circumstances linked to poverty, trauma and marginalization. We serve clients with diverse backgrounds and across the life-span (children, youth, adolescents, young adult , adults and older adults) couples and families.

It is not easy to look for help. Especially when we feel overwhelmed with pain, suffering, and confusion. We all deserve to enjoy life, healthy sexuality and nurturing relationships. You are not alone in this journey of finding the best way to be a human being and be free of unnecessary suffering. I believe you have the answers you are looking for and I can support you in accessing your own wisdom to re-design your path and life in the way you need and want now.

*Current Openings Available*. Laying awake at night, not knowing how much longer you can hang on. The job, the kids, the family, etc. is just too much sometimes. There's an urge to escape. Then...the solution becomes the problem. Alcohol and drugs help relieve the stress. The stress is still there, but it seems manageable. There is just one problem...keeping the stress manageable means continuing to drink or use. Not knowing where to turn. How to ask for help? Who to ask for help? What does help even look like? Feeling alone. Looking in the mirror is not a good option because the person looking back is a stranger.