Suicidal Ideation Therapists in Atascadero, CA

I am a clinical psychologist with a part-time private practice in Atascadero, CA. My practice is located within a handicap accessible building along with other mental health professionals with my own dedicated/private waiting room. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Existential, and Positive Psychology to assess, diagnose, and treat a majority of major mental illnesses including depression, suicidality, anxiety, psychosis, trauma, and substance abuse. I am a certified provider of Collaborative Assessment & Management of Suicidality (CAMS) and believe in an overall collaborative approach.

Hello, my name is Fabiola Ortiz, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I am passionate about supporting all my clients through their challenges or traumatic experiences and helping them through the healing process. I will help then bring their own unique motivation, capacities and values to develop the skills for healing and growth. I specialize in alleviating anxiety/depression, improving couple & family relationships, and parenting transitions. I work collaboratively and transparently to create real and lasting results. I keep up to date on the latest treatments relevant to our goals.

Hello! My name is Gianna Merriam, LCSW. My therapeutic approach is person-centered, trauma-informed, and strength-based. My areas of practice include working with children and families, individuals (all ages), and groups. I enjoy promoting use of self-compassion practices, functional communication and empathy to impact individual needs and relationships. Clients I typically work with can range from age 5-60. I have extensive experience working with school-aged children that receive IEP services; I am educated and able to support parents in navigating the school system as well as community based resources.

What is it that you desire? Are you looking for greater self-awareness, more rewarding relationships, resolution of difficulties from your past? With gentle curiosity we can help you learn new ways to access your authentic strength, tenderness, resilience, and pleasure. Therapy is a compassionate, nonjudgemental space where we can deepen into trust and connection to explore what may be holding you back from having the life you want. I am committed to providing a safe, trauma-informed, sex-positive, body-positive, LGBTQ+ friendly, and social justice-oriented practice. I also offer Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).

As a licensed psychologist, I specialize in working with children, teens, young adults and families, with specific expertise in treating anxiety-based disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). While I work primarily from a cognitive-behavioral (CBT) approach, I am dedicated to integrating components of other evidence-based treatments such as Exposure and Response Prevention (E/RP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) flexibly into my work for all clients.

I have a desire to help those who have lost their way in life. I believe therapy is a collaborative process between the client and the therapist. There is strength and resolve within all of us, however there are times when we need assistance to put us back on the road to resilience. I want to work with you by asking you what you want and what your goals are in treatment.

Loving Kindness. Compassion. Joy. Equanimity. We are social beings and often need one another to grow, heal and explore. Together we can address your unique needs, such as a sense of suffering you wish to transform, a life situation you need some support in dealing with, or a profound journey you would like to embark upon. I look forward to understanding your life view and offering honest feedback and support as we collaborate to develop practices suited to your path.

I believe that each person has a unique self that must be respected, recognized and understood. My practice focuses on helping people understand their specific challenges, and utilizing their particular strengths in order to heal, change, and grow. I utilize a compassionate and empathetic approach that offers customized treatment to the specific needs/goals of each individual or family.

I believe that we all come into this world as our original precious self. As we develop through childhood experiences, family, culture and society, we often lose touch with our true soul. Oftentimes we are hurt. Challenges and traumas can keep these hurts buried. Any issues left unacknowledged or unresolved keep demanding our attention. How do we overcome? Is it even possible to heal? According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies away anyway because bees don't care what humans think is impossible...

Our developing years can often be filled with confusion, fear, and other big emotions. Whether I’m working with children or the inner child, speaking with someone who can present a different vantage point and offer tools of healing from a non-judgmental and supportive place can be what we need to achieve wholeness. From coping and managing stressors, self-esteem and confidence building, social and relationship concerns, or self-discovery, I'm dedicated to supporting the growth and development of children, teens and young adults.

It can be difficult to let go of worries, stressors, and complications in life. We risk missing out when those worries are all we see. My goals in life, and as a therapist, are to live in the moment, increase skillfulness with struggles, and to remain focused on what's important. As a therapist, I am knowledgable and educated in human behavior, however you, the client, is the expert in your own life, and my role is to consult, assisting you in self-discovery, problem solving, and moving toward change.

It is important that my patients feel respected and encouraged. My job is to really listen and help you feel understood. I also think my role is to give you lots of feedback and not just be a passive listener saying, "uh, uh, hmm, I see, hmm". I am a coach, cheerleader, teacher, confidante, and accountability partner. The biggest complaint I have heard over the years about any past therapists whom patients felt were not helpful was the complaint that the past therapist was way too passive. I work best with those that want a therapist high in empathy but is not passive.

My goal is to provide you with a supportive, safe and trusting environment. We will work with your strengths to help problem solve, increase coping skills and overcome stress and challenges you are facing. I am passionate about working in this field and highly committed to each and every client I see!

“We will all struggle and fall; we will know what it means to be both brave and brokenhearted.” – Brene Brown You are taking the courageous step toward healing and I would love to accompany you in that journey whether you are an individual, couple, or family. While I have the education and 35 years of experience as a licensed therapist, I truly believe that everyone is their own expert and change and progress cannot happen without your insight. I find that, using your experience, and my training, we can find a highly effective vehicle for change.

There comes a time when we need help. I appreciate the courage anyone demonstrates when they make that call. I hope to create a space where individuals and families can receive that trusted assistance. I have been a therapist for thirty years. I was a tennis pro for ten years before that. I am aware of the process of change. There is a timing when an individual, or family, is ready to make those adjustments. In working with children, I involve the whole family. I especially enjoy the travels that the adolescent makes, and the perplexing attempts parents make in adjusting to this challenging phase. I work with addictions.

My passion in life is helping others unlock the potential within themselves and build a life worth living. I see therapy as a collaborative process between client and therapist. One of my goals is to help you become more engaged in your life and in the therapeutic process. To me therapy is more than sitting in an office. I believe therapy is a dynamic process where I will teach you skills and help you practice them in your daily life. I will go through this process with you and we will practice skills learned in therapy together.

Are you both tired of not feeling heard or understood? Do you feel as though being close is a distant memory? Are you wondering what brought you two together in the first place? If so, now is the time to work on your relationship. Too many couples wait until there is too little to salvage. There is nothing more precious than love, no larger feeling than love, and there is no greater pain when love is lost. Let's work together to get back to yours!

I believe that reaching out for help is one of the hardest things an individual can do and engaging in the therapy process is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. My focus is on helping individuals, families and couples heal, energize, and become aware of their inner strengths so they can live their purest life possible. I hold and create a safe place to explore traumas, dis-ease and help to build a better relationship with self and others. www.puravidacounselingservices.com

I am dedicated to helping my clients find peace, joy and happiness in their lives. I pride myself on developing therapeutic relationships and fostering compassion and empathy with my clients. I have worked with a variety of individuals suffering from anxiety and depression, bipolar and schizophrenia disorders, personality disorders and dual diagnosis. I do provide couples counseling. I’d love the opportunity to assist you in living the life you want and fulfilling your dreams. I accept Blue Cross of CA, Aetna, Optum, and United Health and can bill out of network as well. Please reach out via email for the fastest response.