LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists in Pacifica, CA
With a background as a gay Jew with ADHD, I deeply understand diversity and challenge.
Feeling stuck? I'm here to help. As a caring, licensed mental health therapist with over 30 years of experience, I specialize in helping individuals navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and feelings of loneliness. Whether you're grappling with your identity, family dynamics, or dissatisfaction at work, you don't have to face it alone. If you're seeking a safe space to share and grow, let's connect and explore how I can support your journey toward healing and fulfillment.
With a background as a gay Jew with ADHD, I deeply understand diversity and challenge.
Feeling stuck? I'm here to help. As a caring, licensed mental health therapist with over 30 years of experience, I specialize in helping individuals navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and feelings of loneliness. Whether you're grappling with your identity, family dynamics, or dissatisfaction at work, you don't have to face it alone. If you're seeking a safe space to share and grow, let's connect and explore how I can support your journey toward healing and fulfillment.
We've all seen the stereotypical therapists on TV, but that's not what you'll find with me. I am a down-to-earth person, which is reflected in my approach as a therapist. Compassion, warmth, and believe it or not, humor is what you will experience in our work together. You first must feel comfortable with your therapist for the experience to be successful.
We've all seen the stereotypical therapists on TV, but that's not what you'll find with me. I am a down-to-earth person, which is reflected in my approach as a therapist. Compassion, warmth, and believe it or not, humor is what you will experience in our work together. You first must feel comfortable with your therapist for the experience to be successful.
My ideal client is a creative, sensitive, and accomplished individual—an artist, leader, or visionary—seeking deeper alignment and embodied transformation. They’ve outgrown old patterns and long to feel grounded, inspired, and alive in their bodies. Through somatic awareness, expressive arts, and trauma-informed therapy, I help them access their inner wisdom, heal what has been held or silenced, and reconnect to authenticity, vitality, and the soul’s natural rhythm.
My ideal client is a creative, sensitive, and accomplished individual—an artist, leader, or visionary—seeking deeper alignment and embodied transformation. They’ve outgrown old patterns and long to feel grounded, inspired, and alive in their bodies. Through somatic awareness, expressive arts, and trauma-informed therapy, I help them access their inner wisdom, heal what has been held or silenced, and reconnect to authenticity, vitality, and the soul’s natural rhythm.
She is particularly adept at issues pertaining to the queer community and their loved ones.
CK has a Ph.D. in East-West Psychology, a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and a Postdoctoral Certificates in Advanced Traumatic Studies and Spiritual Counseling. She is an adjunct professor of professional law and ethics, research methods, and couples therapy, as well as a Licensed Psychedelic Facilitator in Oregon.
She is particularly adept at issues pertaining to the queer community and their loved ones.
CK has a Ph.D. in East-West Psychology, a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and a Postdoctoral Certificates in Advanced Traumatic Studies and Spiritual Counseling. She is an adjunct professor of professional law and ethics, research methods, and couples therapy, as well as a Licensed Psychedelic Facilitator in Oregon.
Are you struggling in your relationships or personal connections? Suffering from depression or anxiety? Experiencing loss, grief or sadness? Difficulty with work/life balance? You don't need to struggle alone. I'm a psychotherapist with over 40 years of experience, and I'm here to help. Individuals, couples and families call me when they're ready to tackle the problems that make life difficult.
Are you struggling in your relationships or personal connections? Suffering from depression or anxiety? Experiencing loss, grief or sadness? Difficulty with work/life balance? You don't need to struggle alone. I'm a psychotherapist with over 40 years of experience, and I'm here to help. Individuals, couples and families call me when they're ready to tackle the problems that make life difficult.
You may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in sadness. You’re struggling to feel genuine self-esteem and often find yourself caught in cycles of self-criticism. Perhaps you're navigating life transitions—graduating, changing jobs, starting or ending a relationship—and feeling lost or disconnected from yourself. You might carry pain from past trauma or find yourself repeating patterns that bring emotional distress and challenges in your relationships. I offer a warm and accepting space where you can gently tend to these struggles with care and empathy for deep healing and meaningful change to unfold. In-network with Aetna.
You may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in sadness. You’re struggling to feel genuine self-esteem and often find yourself caught in cycles of self-criticism. Perhaps you're navigating life transitions—graduating, changing jobs, starting or ending a relationship—and feeling lost or disconnected from yourself. You might carry pain from past trauma or find yourself repeating patterns that bring emotional distress and challenges in your relationships. I offer a warm and accepting space where you can gently tend to these struggles with care and empathy for deep healing and meaningful change to unfold. In-network with Aetna.
As a dance/movement therapist, our sessions can be purely talk therapy, movement and talk therapy, or a mixture of movement, talk, and other creative approaches. In our sessions together, I will create a space where all aspects of you are welcome and you can speak freely about whatever is on your mind. I can help you understand how your past impacts your present. I am here to listen, understand, and help you discover new choices and new ways of being, so that you can flourish in life. I am here to support you on your journey of self discovery and self growth.
As a dance/movement therapist, our sessions can be purely talk therapy, movement and talk therapy, or a mixture of movement, talk, and other creative approaches. In our sessions together, I will create a space where all aspects of you are welcome and you can speak freely about whatever is on your mind. I can help you understand how your past impacts your present. I am here to listen, understand, and help you discover new choices and new ways of being, so that you can flourish in life. I am here to support you on your journey of self discovery and self growth.
I have worked with a wide variety of clients dealing with a range of symptoms. I enjoy working with different clients from adults to kids and individual, families, couples and groups and I believe we can all learn from each other. I enjoy offering my experiences and skills to help others better understand themselves and their relationships. I understand that life challenges, both big and small, can affect people's mood and productivity. I am caring, compassionate, understanding and a great listener. I provide a very non-judgmental and caring space for clients to explore the challenges they are faced with.
I have worked with a wide variety of clients dealing with a range of symptoms. I enjoy working with different clients from adults to kids and individual, families, couples and groups and I believe we can all learn from each other. I enjoy offering my experiences and skills to help others better understand themselves and their relationships. I understand that life challenges, both big and small, can affect people's mood and productivity. I am caring, compassionate, understanding and a great listener. I provide a very non-judgmental and caring space for clients to explore the challenges they are faced with.
I also have a deep love for working with LGBTQ+ clients, and provide gender-affirming care for trans and nonbinary individuals.
My priority is helping you build a life beyond your wildest dreams. I am dedicated to meeting you where you’re at, and supporting you in carving out your own unique path towards healing and self-actualization. I believe everyone has the capacity to flourish, and I aim to create space for my clients to explore what wellness looks like for them. I really get intensity and emotional sensitivity, and understand the blessings and burdens that come with diverse ways of seeing the world. I am primarily a drama therapist specializing in creative play, but also provide straightforward talk therapy.
I also have a deep love for working with LGBTQ+ clients, and provide gender-affirming care for trans and nonbinary individuals.
My priority is helping you build a life beyond your wildest dreams. I am dedicated to meeting you where you’re at, and supporting you in carving out your own unique path towards healing and self-actualization. I believe everyone has the capacity to flourish, and I aim to create space for my clients to explore what wellness looks like for them. I really get intensity and emotional sensitivity, and understand the blessings and burdens that come with diverse ways of seeing the world. I am primarily a drama therapist specializing in creative play, but also provide straightforward talk therapy.
I have been offering psychotherapy to individuals, couples and families for the past 27 years. I would particularly like to work with couples, whether it is in the very beginning of the relationship to check for compatibility, during the relationship to deal with problems that arise, or working on amicable separation. I offer conflict resolution to individual, couples and families. I am also trained in divorce mediation to work on uncontested divorce where we can create a win/win situation for both parties. All the work can be done in a few sessions and this could save you legal fees that can run into tens of thousands of dollars.
I have been offering psychotherapy to individuals, couples and families for the past 27 years. I would particularly like to work with couples, whether it is in the very beginning of the relationship to check for compatibility, during the relationship to deal with problems that arise, or working on amicable separation. I offer conflict resolution to individual, couples and families. I am also trained in divorce mediation to work on uncontested divorce where we can create a win/win situation for both parties. All the work can be done in a few sessions and this could save you legal fees that can run into tens of thousands of dollars.
I am a Latinx therapist who is part of the LGBT+ community.
Hi, you! Congrats on taking steps to make changes in your life- it takes a lot of vulnerability to do so. Every one experiences their own unique journeys throughout their life, which may come with various challenges and growth. Some of these challenges may look like feeling stuck, being bought back to previous life experiences, or finding yourself returning to similar destructive patterns. At some point we have to stop and ask ourselves- do I want to continue feeling this way, or is it time to change something?
I am a Latinx therapist who is part of the LGBT+ community.
Hi, you! Congrats on taking steps to make changes in your life- it takes a lot of vulnerability to do so. Every one experiences their own unique journeys throughout their life, which may come with various challenges and growth. Some of these challenges may look like feeling stuck, being bought back to previous life experiences, or finding yourself returning to similar destructive patterns. At some point we have to stop and ask ourselves- do I want to continue feeling this way, or is it time to change something?
I believe that therapy doesn’t have to last a lifetime to be life-changing. Rather, I view our work together as a targeted season of support—a dedicated chapter in your life designed to support you with the clarity, resilience, and tools needed to move forward. I work with adults who are ready to look inward, especially those carrying wounds from childhood, struggling with social anxiety, or feeling like connection is something that works for others but not for them. If that sounds familiar, I can help you understand what’s really happening inside, increasing insight about what you’ve had to hide or fight against just to get by.
I believe that therapy doesn’t have to last a lifetime to be life-changing. Rather, I view our work together as a targeted season of support—a dedicated chapter in your life designed to support you with the clarity, resilience, and tools needed to move forward. I work with adults who are ready to look inward, especially those carrying wounds from childhood, struggling with social anxiety, or feeling like connection is something that works for others but not for them. If that sounds familiar, I can help you understand what’s really happening inside, increasing insight about what you’ve had to hide or fight against just to get by.
I am a licensed therapist and certified clinical supervisor assisting people in building self-confidence and self-esteem to overcome the impact of trauma, stress, or adversity. My therapeutic approach is relaxed yet interactive, and my clients have complemented that my style is " as if they were talking to a friend." I am comfortable working with a range of people and have extensive experience providing therapy to individuals with severe physical or mental disabilities, including people who have used violence or abusive behaviors toward others.
I am a licensed therapist and certified clinical supervisor assisting people in building self-confidence and self-esteem to overcome the impact of trauma, stress, or adversity. My therapeutic approach is relaxed yet interactive, and my clients have complemented that my style is " as if they were talking to a friend." I am comfortable working with a range of people and have extensive experience providing therapy to individuals with severe physical or mental disabilities, including people who have used violence or abusive behaviors toward others.
Maggie B. de Vera
Marriage & Family Therapist, PsyD(c), LMFT, CCHT, CLC
2 Endorsed
Pacifica, CA 94044
Maggie is a respected Holistic Practitioner, Clinical Supervisor, Life Coach, Trainer, Consultant, Educator and the Director of Addiction Studies at the College of San Mateo. Backed with over 30+ years of extensive experience and leadership, Maggie is acclaimed in her field for effective work with the most challenging cases and runs a private practice as a Psychotherapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Sex Therapist, Life Coach, Speaker/Trainer, Consultant, and was a Non-profit Founder & CEO serving the disadvantaged & high-risk.
Maggie focuses on supporting/ empowering her clients to heal and grow to create a healthy & positive life.
Maggie is a respected Holistic Practitioner, Clinical Supervisor, Life Coach, Trainer, Consultant, Educator and the Director of Addiction Studies at the College of San Mateo. Backed with over 30+ years of extensive experience and leadership, Maggie is acclaimed in her field for effective work with the most challenging cases and runs a private practice as a Psychotherapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Sex Therapist, Life Coach, Speaker/Trainer, Consultant, and was a Non-profit Founder & CEO serving the disadvantaged & high-risk.
Maggie focuses on supporting/ empowering her clients to heal and grow to create a healthy & positive life.
At the heart of our struggles and pains are relationships. At the heart of our hopes and dreams are relationships. Whether it is your relationship with anxiety and depression, with your career, with your partner, sister, son, daughter, boss, or parent-everything is about relationships. Therapy helps you tackle some of the most challenging questions we all face. How do we repair what needs to be fixed in our relationships, including the relationship with ourselves? What needs attention, a new perspective, a better skill, or emotional resolve to enable you to become more authentic and improve your connection to self and others?
At the heart of our struggles and pains are relationships. At the heart of our hopes and dreams are relationships. Whether it is your relationship with anxiety and depression, with your career, with your partner, sister, son, daughter, boss, or parent-everything is about relationships. Therapy helps you tackle some of the most challenging questions we all face. How do we repair what needs to be fixed in our relationships, including the relationship with ourselves? What needs attention, a new perspective, a better skill, or emotional resolve to enable you to become more authentic and improve your connection to self and others?
I support youth (5-21) and families through mental health and relationship challenges in an affirming, collaborative and hopeful space. I strive to show up authentically so my clients can too, while incorporating evidence-based therapies individualized to each person's strengths, needs and interests. I work especially well with imaginative, sensitive kids who light up when given space to express themselves beyond just words, and with older youths who are figuring out growing independence (and the pressures that can come with it).
I support youth (5-21) and families through mental health and relationship challenges in an affirming, collaborative and hopeful space. I strive to show up authentically so my clients can too, while incorporating evidence-based therapies individualized to each person's strengths, needs and interests. I work especially well with imaginative, sensitive kids who light up when given space to express themselves beyond just words, and with older youths who are figuring out growing independence (and the pressures that can come with it).
Are you striving to appear confident, professional, and composed on the outside while feeling overwhelmed on the inside? Do anxiety, ADHD, learning differences, or relationship challenges often hinder your progress? Many skilled professionals envision the life they desire but struggle to achieve it. If you're encountering setbacks and frustrations, remember you don't have to face them alone. Sometimes, an external perspective can help clear the internal obstacles preventing you from reaching your potential.
Are you striving to appear confident, professional, and composed on the outside while feeling overwhelmed on the inside? Do anxiety, ADHD, learning differences, or relationship challenges often hinder your progress? Many skilled professionals envision the life they desire but struggle to achieve it. If you're encountering setbacks and frustrations, remember you don't have to face them alone. Sometimes, an external perspective can help clear the internal obstacles preventing you from reaching your potential.
Welcome! I’m Lisabeth Castro-Smyth, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) providing telehealth therapy. I specialize in support for life transitions, complex trauma, anxiety, stress, attachment ruptures, depression, and grief. I have extensive experience accompanying survivors on their healing journeys, and have served children, youth, and adults in diverse settings for over a decade.
Welcome! I’m Lisabeth Castro-Smyth, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) providing telehealth therapy. I specialize in support for life transitions, complex trauma, anxiety, stress, attachment ruptures, depression, and grief. I have extensive experience accompanying survivors on their healing journeys, and have served children, youth, and adults in diverse settings for over a decade.
Are you struggling with navigating a relationship in your life? Relational therapy, typically called couples but can include a variety of relationship types, focuses in on communication, trust, repair, and joy. Typical sessions include allowing space for identifying specific sources of discomfort and practice for how to make and sustain relational shifts. Specialized training in child psychology allows for particular support around navigating parenting challenges and understanding how to support your unique child.
Are you struggling with navigating a relationship in your life? Relational therapy, typically called couples but can include a variety of relationship types, focuses in on communication, trust, repair, and joy. Typical sessions include allowing space for identifying specific sources of discomfort and practice for how to make and sustain relational shifts. Specialized training in child psychology allows for particular support around navigating parenting challenges and understanding how to support your unique child.
I am here to help you find some peace and calm in this storm of life. Although that sounds a bit cliche, life seems to be getting more complicated by the day- I want to support you in whatever way you or your family need. My experience is with a range of issues, ages, and cultural diversities, including working through family conflict, helping with behavior modification for your young child or learning how to connect with your teen. I also work with adults dealing with job stress, relationship issues, or those struggling to find passion and drive.
I am here to help you find some peace and calm in this storm of life. Although that sounds a bit cliche, life seems to be getting more complicated by the day- I want to support you in whatever way you or your family need. My experience is with a range of issues, ages, and cultural diversities, including working through family conflict, helping with behavior modification for your young child or learning how to connect with your teen. I also work with adults dealing with job stress, relationship issues, or those struggling to find passion and drive.
See more therapy options for Pacifica
Nearby LGBTQ+ Therapists Searches for Pacifica
- Belmont
- Burlingame
- Colma
- Daly City
- El Granada
- Half Moon Bay
- Hillsborough
- Millbrae
- San Bruno
- San Francisco
- San Mateo
- South San Francisco
LGBTQ+ Therapists
Do LGBTQ-affirmative therapists receive special training?
Yes. Many therapists who practice LGBTQ-affirmative therapy have completed specialized training, either during their degree program or as continuing education, to learn the core principles of affirmative therapy and how to best support their LGBTQ clients; some have received certifications in LGBTQ-affirmative therapy. Prospective clients should inquire as to a clinician’s background and training to ensure a good fit.
Why might I want to see an LGBTQ-affirming or LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
Queer and gender-non-conforming individuals frequently experience bias and marginalization in day-to-day life. Working with a therapist who understands these unique challenges, as well as accepts and affirms their identity, can help LGBTQ clients feel safe and supported during therapy—allowing them to better navigate their relationships, mental health, and anything else that they wish to explore during therapy. It is important to note that many therapists can be effective in their work with LGBTQ+ individuals, even in the absence of specific training or background knowledge. The most important component in therapy is the alliance between therapist and client, and this alliance can exist between individuals with very different backgrounds.
How can I find an LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
You may wish to inquire about a therapist’s expertise with your specific challenges or concerns—depression, for example, or relationship strife—as well as their past experiences treating LGBTQ+ clients. Prospective clients may also ask whether a therapist has obtained additional training and/or certification in LGBTQ-affirmative techniques.
How can I inquire about a therapist’s experience with LGBTQ issues?
Prospective clients should feel empowered to directly ask therapists whether they have received training or been certified in LGBTQ-affirming therapy; competent therapists will be happy to explain their educational background and preferred approach(es) to help a client find the best match for them. Clients may also wish to ask how a therapist has treated clients with their particular challenges in the past and what they expect treatment to look like.
Are all the therapists listed in the LGBTQ directory themselves members of the LGBTQ community?
While therapists may choose to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity in their profiles, the LGBTQ directory features not only those who have shared this information but also those who assert specialized training or experience in providing support to queer individuals, couples or families.