Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists in Midtown, San Diego, CA

Hi, my name is Kayla and my hope is to continue to support individuals in navigating the effects of daily stress and anxiety to more complex issues of depression and post traumatic stress disorder. Whether it's learning to understand our own mental health or just gain a better understanding of our own thoughts and feelings, I believe that each of us hold the ability to heal, and in doing so, find what helps us thrive. My approach to each session is to provide a safe space for clients to be at ease in the present and gain clarity while exploring, challenging and healing core wounds, values and behaviors.

Are you a Gen Z or Millennial individual struggling with relationship challenges? Do you feel overwhelmed with new connections, dating, relationship insecurity, or enduring relationship changes? Do you wonder how your relationships could be better? Now more than ever, individuals are feeling challenged in building and maintaining healthy connections, letting go of unhelpful relationship patterns, and navigating relationship insecurities & changes. Whether you are navigating divorce, people-pleasing behaviors, low self-esteem, or boundary setting, I'm here to guide you toward emotional security and confidence in your relationships.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist who has a warm and compassionate approach to therapy, which encourages active collaboration. I have a passion for walking alongside others in the midst of struggle. When you come to therapy, it’s like you are trying to climb a mountain; I am not at the top of your mountain but, rather, on another mountain, offering a different perspective, pointing out potential dangers, and helping you find the most effective path along your journey.

As a therapist my goal is to assist you in finding your purpose, place and power. I approach clients with empathy, using love, compassion and humor. I work with adults who find themselves in an uncomfortable and sometimes painful place. I am an educated grounded therapist who has walked the talk. Utilizing evidenced based treatment models, I offer up respect that you are your own best critic, therefore, it is a collaborative therapeutic session that I offer. I believe it is my role to help you to find where your insight may need adjustment in order to find solutions that are healthier and empowering.

I have NEW Client Openings! When your emotional or physical pain is telling you how to live your life, take back control! We can work together to get you back to engaging in the activities that matter to you. Join this decades-long expert in Chronic Pain, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Stress-Related Disorders, Trauma, and Relationship issues. We can determine what the best course of treatment is for you to reach your goals. Our ability to connect through building a trusting, genuine relationship, as well as using helpful tools, will improve your well-being. Call me up!

I practice with the intention of providing culturally sensitive and trauma informed services to support clients' mental well-being. My clients' common concerns include trauma, sexual well-being, depression, anxiety, adjustment to college, academic performance, relationships, and identity exploration. Many are interested in understanding the history of their presenting concern(s), how past experiences impact them currently, and what changes they can make to alleviate their concerns. During sessions, clients and I process their experiences and utilize their feedback to adjust interventions to ensure treatment aligns with their goals.

I work collaboratively with clients to help them engage with the wisdom from within to move with purpose and meaning in their lives. I see a wide range of clients from diverse backgrounds, age ranges, and with various clinical issues. My focus is on helping people create more life balance, facilitate self-growth, and enhance self-esteem. I specialize in treating stress, anxiety, depression, weight, eating, body image, grief, trauma, high functioning autism, and in helping people through challenges related to relationship, academic, work, parenting, and life transitions.

Suffering can be emotional pain, physical pain, pain caused by love, death, or even loss. Sometimes our suffering can be more than we can bear and we need help to understand the source of our pain and acceptance of it. Very often we are unaware of the thoughts that cause us pain. By becoming aware of the thoughts behind suffering, you can change the thoughts and promote peace. In other words, you can condition yourself to believe and behave differently and eventually suffering diminishes.

Hello, I'm Maritza Contreras, a licensed therapist committed to helping you navigate life's challenges with clarity and confidence. My therapeutic approach goes beyond traditional talk therapy; it's about taking meaningful action. Whether you're wrestling with depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, relationship complexities, emotion dysregulation, life transitions, or grief, I'm here to support you every step of the way.

Trauma, anxiety, and addiction can make you feel stuck. The most important step towards healing is to address the unresolved emotion inside you. Healing requires feelings. Acceptance slowly dissolves pain. When we function from the fear and scarring of our trauma, the cycles continue until we learn how to transmute that energy into love. I apply a Holistic approach that integrates physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual forms of well-being, addressing the “whole” self. Through a holistic framework tailored to your unique needs, the goal is to support you develop a deeper understanding of the self on all these levels.

I have experienced treating grief and loss, trauma, and anxiety. Additionally, I enjoying supporting clients through life changes and through relationship difficulties. Life can be challenging and we are not meant to navigate it alone; I believe that within a safe therapeutic space we can find peace, healing, and clarity in our lives. If you are in pain, feeling stuck, overwhelmed by emotions, or unsure about your relationships I invite you to reach out.

Are you being pummeled by the waves of life? Is the tsunami of stress, anxiety, depression, change, grief and loss, leaving you feeling seasick, unmoored, and stuck in fear and survival mode? I'm here to help you get out of your head and into your life. Be it the stressors of divorce and custody, intimacy/relationships/sex and family/partner conflict, death of a loved one/loss of a job, feeling stuck, or navigating the overwhelming existential uncertainties of our world: you are not alone. Together, we will explore your values, meaning, & purpose, develop insight and resilience, and inspire and celebrate your unique inner warrior.

I find that the counseling process requires authenticity from both yourself and the counselor that you choose to work with. My approach is affirming and gentle, but also honest so that we can confront any stressors or obstacles in your life. I believe that mental health and physical well-being go hand in hand. I have experience working with survivors of brain injury, as well as clients managing chronic, acute, or terminal illness. I've worked with underserved populations, and a wide range of adults from diverse backgrounds. I aim to offer culturally sensitive and affirming care, and offer services in Farsi, in addition to English.

I am devoted to providing a safe place for individuals seeking to learn to practice self-compassion and self-acceptance. My goal is to be a strong support for you by providing therapy through a trauma informed lens. I will work alongside you, as you explore your strengths, values, and maximize your potential to live your true authentic self. I have experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence, as well as those newly diagnosed with HIV, and those adapting to new life changes.

You are so brave right now. Trying to find someone who can support you in living your best life can be hard. I hope I can help. You may be feeling lonely, frustrated, sad, lost, and on edge. It may be because of the past, something recent, or something you’re fearful of in the future. Whatever the case, you are struggling to be who you want to be. You want to see your potential, but there's all this stuff in the way. Let's clear the stuff, heal the pain, find your potential, and get you balanced and aligned with the true you.

Hey there! I'm Marshall, and my areas of experience include 8+ years in mindfulness, ketamine therapy, psychedelic integration, nature-based therapy, and mental health treatment. My past work in rainforest conservation has also given me an understanding of eco-anxiety and grief. Are you struggling with a difficult transition, overwhelming stress or anxiety, relationship issues? Perhaps a lack of motivation, meaning, or direction, or just feeling stuck? Had a difficult or profound psychedelic journey? You don't have to walk the path alone. I'm here to support you in finding more balance, peace, and connection along the way.

I believe that everyone deserves to live a fulfilling life. To attain fulfillment, we must connect to our emotions, our past, the people we love, what we value, and our purpose. I view therapy as a collaborative process in which we work together to reach personal goals. My aim is to deepen my understanding of each person’s unique experience with warmth and compassion, helping individuals gain insight into themselves, and allowing them to confidently navigate life’s challenges while finding healing and purpose.

If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, obsessive thoughts and compulsions, and/or trauma I am here to help. I have worked in community clinics and public service settings including UC San Diego and VA San Diego and am experienced in providing evidence based therapies including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE).

Julia Johnson, LCSW believes in the dignity and worth of all people. She has 17 years of experience working in health care and providing therapy, and has witnessed first-hand people becoming anxious, depressed and overwhelmed when their lives transform due to illness or changes out of their control. Julia has empathy and compassion to listen to others and help with the many changes and adjustments they face.