Therapists in Monterey, CA

" Welcome. You, like many of us at some point in our lives, may be dealing with an issue that you need help with at this time. Life is complicated and often stressful, and over time stress can impact our ability to cope as well as we would like. Perhaps you are struggling with changes in your mood, energy or self-esteem. Or experiencing problems in your relationships; perhaps having trouble functioning at work or in social situations. I have over 30 years experience working with individuals on these and other concerns.

Currently accepting new clients! The human experience can feel extremely daunting. There are numerous reasons why someone might want to come to therapy. A specific challenge, a traumatic loss, or a life transition can create distress in our personal lives. My approach is providing a comfortable space of trust and safety to help you better understand your emotions. I strive to provide helpful ways to cope with difficult feelings that no longer serve you. I offer a place of warmth, where you can feel seen and supported. My approach is centered on the needs of each individual I serve.

I wholeheartedly believe it’s my role as a therapist to assist you in realizing, cultivating, and accessing the internal and external resources that you already possess. I'll support you in healing, reconnecting and making empowering choices to achieve peace and feel more joy on a daily basis. Stress, conflict, and pain are given aspects of this life. But together, we will create a safe space for vulnerability and strength; both are needed for change. Our sessions will allow you to move through stuck points in your mind, relationships and environment. My approach is empathic, direct, emotionally supportive and solutions focused.

I support people whose lives are impacted by unresolved emotional pain and past trauma, in the service of creating possibilities for a more expansive and soul-filled present and future. Anxiety, depression, self-esteem, self-doubt, relationship difficulties, questions of identity, spirituality, loneliness, addiction, grief and loss – no struggle is too big or too small to bring to therapy. Life is challenging in a multiplicity of ways, and therapy is a space where you can be seen, heard, and received unconditionally, facilitating the surfacing of deep truths and possibilities.

Are you and your partner longing to rebuild trust, strengthen your emotional bond, and create a fulfilling relationship that stands the test of time? You used to be great friends and now it just seems like you are constantly fighting. You want your relationship to change, but don’t know where to start. That is where I come in. Hi, I’m Kristina, a Gottman-trained couples therapist with a passion for guiding couples towards healthier and happier partnerships. Using evidence-based techniques grounded in the renowned Gottman Method, I am dedicated to helping couples navigate challenges, improve communication, and reignite the spark.

I am aware the path to healing can be a bumpy and uncomfortable one. I provide a compassionate and empathetic approach to this healing process. My approach looks at our internal wounds that left untreated, continue to cause pain. I like to ask, in the words of Dr. Gabor Mate’, ‘why the pain, not why the addiction?' We know using a substance or behavior is how we cope with the pain that feels unmanageable. Our pain, ‘dis-ease’, and dis-comfort often stems from unresolved grief & loss and are the result of 'what happened to us'. Let's look at what happened to us instead of what is wrong with us. I believe this approach decreases shame

Do you feel stuck or overwhelmed? Does something in life feel out of balance? Whether it’s chronic stress, change, caregiving, illness or loss, you CAN create a life that feels calmer and more balanced. I am a social worker who works on areas such as coping skills, communication, boundaries, self awareness, relationships and emotions. I teach people how to turn off their stress response. We look at how stress affects you physically and emotionally to create your personalized stress care plan. I provide medical care management for patients and caregivers, and help people access benefits and care.

I utilize my training and experience in Psychotherapy, Medical Hypnosis and Biofeedback to help you accomplish your desired goals. From my extensive background I utilize what will work best for you as an individual. A result of our work together is for you to become congruent within all aspects of your life; your actions, thoughts and feelings, while living to the fullest each and every day. I will help you overcome obstacles and develop healthy coping skills. I specialize in recovery from traumas (PTSD), grief and loss, integrating and assimilating chronic pain, addictive behaviors and other conditions.

There are times in life when our paths lead us off course and we find ourselves struggling with serious issues like negativity, depression, worry, anxiety, interpersonal relational issues, difficulty with co-workers or unfulfilling marriages. Some of us struggle with unresolved trauma from our past, leaving us feeling distant, disconnected and alone. No matter how difficult your current situation seems, I believe that it is always possible to get back on track and feel better. In my years specializing in domestic violence, eating disorders and trauma related therapy, I have helped individuals, couples and families overcome multiple obstacles.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have been in this profession for over 13 years. My experience has been working with children, teens, and adults from different socioeconomic backgrounds and ethnicities. I feel passionate about providing support to help navigate imposter syndrome, first-generation challenges, stress management, work-life balance, and career issues. I have extensive experience working with clients facing anxiety, depression, trauma, and parenting. I specialize in providing culturally competent and solution-focused psychotherapy.

Promoting healing & trustworthy engagement for children, youth, their families, adults who come seeking shelter, emotional safety and refuge (see abbeypsychservices.com). Even the youngest demonstrate remarkable strengths with precise, attuned, attention to their levels of awareness, given new experiences to help transform distorted cognitive appraisals of themselves, others, relationships, the world. Working together, we cultivate more accurate appraisals of internal/external experience, shift into clearer, more realistic thinking, enhanced empathy, healthier, more effective coping styles. We co-create new, hopeful, cooperative stories to replace hopeless, repetitive, "traumatic reliving" within the safety of a predictable, nurturing, skillfully maintained therapeutic environment.

I believe in healing and I believe that the soul speaks when it is given the space to do so. I work as both a catalyst & teacher, helping discover & uncover what needs attention & tending to, and potentially leading to a life with less suffering & pain. If you're looking for help, your soul is probably speaking. Prior to becoming a therapist, I was a high school teacher. I have an affinity for working w/teens & young adults who are ready to uncover and heal trauma and pain from circumstances out of their control. I am especially drawn towards helping those struggling with addiction and those who have survived great trauma.

Family life is both rewarding and challenging. Raising children is an important job and it can feel overwhelming at times. No two people parent the same way and how to blend two different life patterns and meet the needs of an individual child, while rewarding, can also feel frustrating. Having tools to navigate these challenges can help you feel confident and deepen your self-awareness. Working as a team with you and your child we will build on strengths and develop strategies for solving issues.

I work with adolescents and young adults who are experiencing the pain, suffering, and uncertainty that is associated with grieving the death of a loved one, the loss of a meaningful relationship, and with individuals adjusting to significant life changes (moving, starting a new job/school, marriage).