Therapists in San Diego, CA

Hello, I am Susie VanDyke, and I love working with PTSD, trauma, alcohol use, and substance use issues. I especially enjoy working with veterans, first responders, their families, and anyone going through difficult times. I graduated with a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2008 and have over fifteen years of experience in various mental health and hospital settings, with a concentration in military and first responders. I love helping people improve their lives and want them to feel better as quickly as possible. I enjoy helping people who are feeling hopeless about their situations because of tough circumstances.

As a therapist trainee at CFMHE, I combine empathetic listening with evidence-based strategies to help clients navigate challenges effectively. Drawing from my diverse background in business, culinary arts, and personal experiences, I specialize in eating disorders, stress management, life transitions, addiction, and personal well-being. I focus on building supportive relationships where clients feel valued and understood, exploring practical solutions and coping mechanisms that foster resilience and meaningful change. My goal is to empower each client to achieve better mental health and improved well-being.

Do you struggle with anxiety? Do you use substances to help manage anxiety? Are you worried that you're drinking or eating or using too much to cope with stress and anxiety? Are you a family member of someone with anxiety and/or substance use and aren't sure what to do?

We treat depression, anxiety, and trauma. We also provide help to heal relationships both romantic and otherwise. Our approach is to address underlying issues and provide treatment that heals the person as a whole. We utilize evidence-based and self-empowering modalities and create a safe space for you to work towards gaining insight into your choices and behaviors. We guide you to set your own goals and arrive at your own solutions as we believe you have the answers and need a supportive space to see them. It takes a lot of courage and humility to ask for help and we make every effort to make your investment count.

I work with women who have recently experienced a traumatic event and help them return to a sense of normal. I also work with women who have experienced traumas in the distant past but who have been feeling chronically anxious, depressed, out of control and/or hopeless. Perhaps you cannot remember the last time you did not feel anxious or depressed. Or perhaps your body being in stress for so many years has created health issues. Or perhaps you have turned to compulsive behaviors to escape or numb the pain such as over drinking, over eating, perfectionism, codependency, dieting, binge watching TV and more.

I am a therapist who is experienced in using CBT, COD, Brief Therapy, PTSD, Trauma, Grief and Loss, DBT, and Biopsychosocial therapeutic modalities. Understanding where you, the client, is now, in your quest for answers and help for your therapy needs, is where we start. I have experience in helping adults and older adults in identifying the real issues and finding answers that will help to allow for a more enlightened and often calmer existence.

I'm a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. I'm comfortable working with individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, bi-polar, substance abuse, psychosis, autism spectrum disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder. I implement individual evidenced based interventions designed to positive behavior change. I enjoy working with couples, families, parent training, adults and adolescents.

Addiction is not a problem to be fixed, but rather a person. I have worked with many people with various addictions and realize that addressing one problem from one perspective is not enough. I specialize in getting to know a person first and then helping that person heal from past hurts, learn skills for problem-solving, improve communication, build strong relationships, practice ways to manage strong emotions, learn to slow down and change their harmful or intrusive thoughts, draw from their faith for strength, develop strong support systems, and with all this, hope of long-term recovery can become reality.

Kathryn is a psychotherapist with 25 years of experience and has worked with children, adolescents, adults, and couples. Kathryn is passionate and committed to creating the space for you to be you best self. In addition, she is a business and professional coach who can help with any work-related issues.

I was born and raised in North Carolina and have lived in California for over 20 years. I am a single mother of 2 daughters and have first-hand experience navigating through a divorce and parenthood. My passions include being a mother, spending time with family and friends, playing beach volleyball, and traveling to new places. I consider myself a kind person who is honest, open-minded, emphatic, and always ready for an adventure. I have been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) for over 12 years and began my career as a Recreation Therapist working in a psychiatric inpatient unit for adults with mental health issues.

Hello! I went into Clinical Social Work after a brief career in marketing and have been licensed and practicing in this field for the past 20 years. I was trained in the Strengths-Based model of social work. I consider my therapeutic approach to be Transpersonal in that I focus on mind, body, and spiritual elements in improving our mental health and wellness. I work with clients to determine their thought patterns and incorporate somatic practice and mindfulness to enhance well-being. I have worked extensively with addictions and helped clients find the approach to habits that will best serve them.

My philosophy is based on a client-centered approach with the use of cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused techniques, treating each client with specific needs and empowering clients through education. I received my BA from Santa Clara University and my MA in Psychology from Chapman University.

I'm passionate about helping people who want to make changes in their lives and who want to fulfill their potential, but who don't know where or how to start. I have decades-long experience providing support to people from all walks of life with all types of issues--with a focus on individuals struggling with addictive behaviors, unresolved traumas, and eating disorders. My special interest is working with adults who want to change their alcohol/drug use and with those who struggle with their relationship with food--such as tending to binge eat, to use food as a way to self-soothe or as a punishment or reward. Message/call today!

When a person decides to talk about their thoughts and feelings, or their situation, I believe they deserve to be listened to. What a person has to say and their views are critical to me. I also think my clients hold many solutions within themselves. My therapeutic style is caring, open, and honest toward this end. You can expect a high level of interaction, energy, and a touch of humor. I approach therapy with an eclectic assortment of approaches and tools to individualize our work together to meet your needs best. I will enjoy working with you toward the goals we set together.

I care...Let me help. We will create a safe, non-judgmental space from which to begin the process of healing. I enjoy working with individuals, couples and families who have challenges in substance abuse, anxiety, depression, borderline personality issues and relationship problems. I also enjoy working with the LGBT community, specifically with Transgender people and their families. My rich life experience (fancy language for I'm older) allows me to truly align with partners and families that have members who are transgender and to be an ally with transgender individuals as they transition.

**VIDEO & IN PERSON SESSIONS AVAILABLE**Tossing and turning, can't sleep, worried all the time and so much change feels uncertain. Though I've never met you, I imagine how uncertain it feels to have so much change happening at once and your relationships under stress. Whether you're in a relationship or just ended one, you probably find yourself overthinking and feeling lonely and disconnected. Sometimes you just need to talk things out in a safe place with zero judgment with a strategy and a direction towards a solution.

I have worked in several areas of mental health care and have truly found my purpose and passion in assisting those who struggle with trauma and/or addiction. I understand how trauma has been locked within the psyche and having an individual feel as though they are stuck within themselves. I understand that addiction was a solution to several problems at the time because it allowed relief but in reality it only masked the underlying issues. My goal for each of my clients is to have them recognize their own strengths and abilities so they may continue or begin to live meaningful lives.

Our clinical specialties: ⯌Premarital & couples therapy ⯌Attachment focused dating & parenting ⯌Codependency & emotional maturity ⯌Personal processing for healthcare workers (therapists, doctors, nurses, etc.) ⯌Grief & loss, life stage transitions ⯌Trauma & EMDR therapy ⯌Eating disorders, anorexia, bulimia, & binge eating ⯌Adult children of alcoholics/addicts / / Our focus is on how difficult issues like mental illness and relationship conflict are influenced by your family of origin and early attachment experiences with your parents. Sessions with us are focused on learning the lessons that you should have gotten from your family.

I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist located in the Ocean Beach and Palm Desert area. I provide individual and couples therapy as well as empowerment support groups. My approach is non-judgmental and compassionate. I believe we can all use support at various times throughout our lives. Change can be difficult. Even positive changes can bring about uncertainties. My focus is on the whole person: mind, body and spirit.