Therapists in Penasquitos, San Diego, CA

I'm a licensed clinical psychologist working with adults in individual therapy. I have extensive training in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, identity conflicts, sexuality concerns, and perinatal mental health. I specialize in individuals managing relationship difficulties, chronic stress, perfectionism, parenting, and finding personal balance. I have expertise in treating helping clients improve self-esteem and navigate change of life events, such as graduating school, job/career changes, breakups, and parenthood status changes. I welcome all genders and specialize in working with marginalized populations.

Whether it's because of a life-long mental illness, a learning disability or a stressful transition you're currently experiencing, we all deserve to be supported in our journey toward wellness. It takes a great deal of courage and strength to start that process of healing, and I will be there every step of the way. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have been working as a therapist since 2016. I spend my days working as a School Social Worker, supporting children in the academic environment. While I specialize in working with children and adolescents, I have a great deal of experience working with adults and families.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, PhD, MFT with over ten years of clinical experience working with all ages to provide strategies and solutions to overcome general anxiety, OCD, social anxiety, panic, PTSD, phobias, depression, relationship problems, binge eating, weight loss, addiction, other self-sabotaging behavior, career and life transitions, grief, and parenting/family issues.

How in the world do I get through a pandemic AND deal with every day stressors and crisis of “normal” life? Now more than ever, you feel the ups and downs of stress, anxiety, uncertainty and loss of control. (Me too!) You are an accomplished woman! How in the world are you feeling like you are on a roller coaster on a daily or even hourly basis? You have gotten through tough times before and are asking yourself, why the heck am I so out of whack? You want to feel hopeful towards the future and get back in touch with balancing the real you with trusting your instincts.

Hi there, I'm Esmeralda! I've been practicing for the last three years. I graduated from California State University San Bernardino with a Master's in Social Work. Lately, I've frequently been working with dual-diagnosis clients and enjoying the work. My approach is client-centered and solution-focused. Motivational Interviewing is helpful when starting a therapeutic relationship to ensure the client's motive to seek treatment is understood.

These are troubling times. We're in the midst of what experts are calling a polycrisis, fueled by ecological degradation, global health concerns (covid-19), the fracturing of societal/governmental institutions, and assaults on women’s reproductive liberty/sexual sovereignty. Feelings of instability, confusion, uncertainty, and anxiety are the new norm and we don’t know how to manage them. In fact, some of us may feel gaslighted when we compare our felt emotions with the perceived reality of the world - the "business-as-usual" paradigm encouraging us to keep our productivity high and our critical thinking/feeling low.

I am a licensed psychologist who provides individual, couples, and group therapy. My primary theoretical approach is insight oriented psychotherapy for individuals working through relationship issues, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, and adjustment to transition through life's challenges. I believe healthy people seek therapy for a variety reasons throughout life, and psychotherapy can help you find a more genuine and integrated way of living and relating to others. I work collaboratively to recognize patterns and become aware of unconscious habits and choices that impact one's life and functioning.

I specialize in therapy for pregnant/postpartum depression and anxiety, pregnancy loss & miscarriage, parenting, women's issues, depression, and anxiety. Women/parents may not feel like themselves in pregnancy/postpartum with feelings of overwhelm and guilt. Maybe you experienced pregnancy loss/miscarriage/trauma which leaves you feeling anxious for the future. You worry you are ruining your child. In our work together, you can learn coping strategies, examine beliefs that leave us feeling stuck, process trauma, develop self compassion, and build confidence in your parenting abilities.

Are you hurting or uncomfortable and want to make some changes so you can feel better? Do you feel stuck in a life that doesn't seem to be going anywhere? Do you constantly worry about money, your weight, your sleep, your relationships, but things don't seem to change? Maybe others don't really know what's really going on inside of you. They all seem to have their act together, yet you don't. Are you tired of pretending that everything's fine, when inside you feel a deep sense that something is missing? Do you put yourself down, often blaming yourself for your troubles, yet being tough on yourself is not helping?

Trained as a clinical scientist at UC Berkeley, I am dedicated to providing cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in a compassionate, warm, individualized, flexible, and collaborative manner. Many of my patients are accomplished people who are doing well in their lives, but they struggle with internal difficulties that interfere with their ability to feel fulfilled and successful. If this sounds like you, or if you are experiencing depression, irritability, trouble sleeping, shame, anxiety, difficulties making decisions, a feeling of being overwhelmed and stressed, or trouble managing your emotions, I can help.

I generally help individuals to reach their goals of feeling happier and calmer or to change from unwanted habits to wanted habits. I am a clinical psychologist licensed in the State of California since 1992. I work with individuals through the lifespan, and I use an integration of techniques. I am a bilingual (bicultural: Cuban-American) clinical psychologist.

My ideal client is a person who doesn't want to give up on him/her/themself and the dream of a fulfilling life. I support clients to know the truth: they deserve love and success no matter what wounds they've experienced. I help people uncover the deep wisdom and restorative potential living within them. I do this gently in the present moment by reconnecting clients with healing, embodied emotional experience in safe connection with me. This gets vitality and intuition moving again I support people to take responsibility (but not blame) in any life/work/relationship upset because this is what works!

Life will consistently throw challenges at you. Most of them you get through on your own or with the help of your support system. Sometimes, challenges can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate. The good thing is you’re not alone. I am here as a companion on your journey to explore and resolve those sticky challenges. The journey can be painful and arduous. The choices on your journey are yours to make, but I will help you find clarity in uncertainty. I’m ready to start your journey when you are.

I work with couples to renew the fire in their love life and sexual relationship, couples affected by addiction, as well as couples who are no longer communicating or are on the brink of divorce. I counsel men and women who have experienced depression, anxiety, and OCD. I work with individuals dealing with grief, trauma, sexual abuse, and childhood or partner violence. I also work with parents and adolescents. I am a Certified Sex Therapist and a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor.

I am a contagiously energetic Licensed Clinical Social Work with a history of working with a variety of people encountering life changes. My education and experience has led me to work with adults, young adults, teens and military service members. Life happens to us all, no matter the age or issue, and sometimes we need help with figuring things out. I'm passionate about helping others to excell, and offer nonjudegmental care, based on ethical practices to assist with improving the quality of your life.

Ready to begin your journey of self-discovery and healing? Are you tired of emotionally suffering or staying stuck in old patterns? Now more than ever, you may be feeling the ups and downs of stress, anxiety, uncertainty and a sense of loss of control. I am here to help you through this challenging time by providing support and building skills through tele-mental health services. I have over 10 years of experience with both military and civilians working with individuals, couples, families, and children struggling with trauma, stress, depression, anxiety, relationship stress, parenting issues, anger management, and much more.

I help people who have experienced trauma gain feelings of peace and freedom. Feelings such as anxiety, numbness, and physical exhaustion are what I want to help you deal with and transform. Do you feel like a piece of you was hurt or broken, and now you can't connect with your true self? Perhaps these negative reactions you are having seem to continually affect your life. My goal is to help you have a better chance of reaching your whole self. The scars of your past do not need to effect your future. I want to help you repair and heal that piece of you that was hurt from your trauma.

My biggest belief is that no one knows your life better than you - so please, help me help you. You are driving your own treatment, and I believe my role is to help you navigate through all the mess and loudness of your thoughts while providing a safe and secure space to process it all. I completed my Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California and have 4 years of clinical experience across various settings and client populations.