Depression Therapists in Sorrento Valley, San Diego, CA

If you are an individual, couple or family struggling with stress, difficult emotions, relationship issues, trauma or any other life challenge, I am here to provide a safe space to help you find hope and restoration. Difficulties come our way unexpectedly and in many different ways. I am dedicated to getting to know each person’s story with compassion and respect, and working collaboratively towards the achievement of personal and collective goals of my clients.

My priority first and foremost is to build trust in the client-therapist relationship. It can be challenging to share painful thoughts and emotions with others, so I believe it is a privilege whenever I am allowed into someone’s internal world. I take a holistic and collaborative approach to therapy, working with clients to address life transitions, family or relationship issues, overwhelming emotions, and self-harm. Having worked extensively with ethnically- and gender- diverse populations, I especially enjoy helping adolescents and adults explore their sense of identity and find meaningful roles in their communities.

I understand relationships are complex and they need to be nurtured. Couples can learn positive interactions and repair past hurts. Therapy helps to improve friendship, deepen emotional connection and creates change which help couples enhance their shared goals.

As a therapist, my goal is to provide the most effective treatment for individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Hoarding, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling), and Excoriation (Dermatillomania - Skin Picking). I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), specifically Exposure & Response Prevention to help those suffering with OCD, Hoarding, BDD, and Habit Reversal Therapy to help those with pulling, picking, and Tics, as these evidence based treatments have proven to be the most effective. I believe with the right tools and support, people can learn to address these struggles and thrive.

We offer expert Psychological and Substance Abuse Assessments to people aged 17 and older. We know that you are a unique individual and we evaluate your problems in the context of your individuality and life circumstances. When you work with us, you will be treated in a manner that reflects your individuality. You will receive: a high quality evaluation administered by a psychologist, a holistic picture of your problems, comprehensive answers to your questions, recommendations for the next steps, and direct referrals so you can follow up with other treatment providers as needed.

Dr. Patel is a licensed psychologist specializing in child and adolescent psychological assessment. She uses gold standard measures and customizes psychological evaluations to each individual child. Her evaluations provide tailored and detailed recommendations to best assist children and their families to thrive.

Dr. Joanna Savarese is a Neuropsychologist and Clinical Psychologist and the Founder of San Diego BrainWorks. Dr. Savarese and her team have specific and extensive training in neuropsychological, psychoeducational, and psychological assessment. San Diego BrainWorks specializes in comprehensive evaluations, IEE (Independent Educational Evaluations) and differential diagnosis of specific learning disorders, ADHD, Autism, neurodevelopmental disorders, mental health disorders, and genetic and medical disorders. Dr. Savarese conducts evaluations to aid in diagnostic specificity, treatment recommendations, and academic accommodations.

Life is tough and we all need a place to rest. I give children and families rest by creating a warm and inviting place to share their struggles. I listen to what has or has not worked in order to identify your strengths. We collaborate on goals and create a plan to overcome any struggles so you can be successful and confident now and in the future. Each child and family brings their own story to therapy and requires me to be flexible and creative. With young children, I work to enhance the parent-child relationship through positive, warm interactions and help the parent establish appropriate and firm boundaries.

Do you have the same painful relationship, job, or family problems over and over? Have you been unable to figure out why, or how to do it differently? I can help you learn how and why, and help you change these patterns. If you are unhappy, insecure, stuck in self-defeating patterns, have repeated relationship conflicts, addiction issues, or have stopped progressing in life, I can help you gain insight, change negative patterns, modify personality issues, achieve consistent Recovery from addictions, and live a happier life. I also have expertise in helping people cope with, and recover from relationships with narcissistic people.

I work with individuals, relationships, and families. I focus on helping clients find stability through new perspective(s). I typically start with clients by focusing on improving daily living through identifying impactful small choices. I am driven to provide the highest quality service to each individual person, be they seeing me as a relationship or alone.

I work both with couples and individuals to help them feel more connected, resolve emotional conflict, and even work through sexual disconnects and dysfunction. I specialize in working with people who identify as CNM (Consensual Non-Monogamy) and LGBTQIA+ and their unique relationship dynamics and emotional challenges.

Your future depends on what you do in the present. Making changes, no matter how small, can afford you the opportunity to increase your personal growth. For many people knowing where to start can be the greatest hurdle. For others, knowing does not always lead to "doing". Counseling is one avenue in exploring what you can do to make a difference in your life.

The strongest person is the one who knows when to ask for help. Everyone struggles, but why do some people handle life's challenges so well? My goal is to help my clients have a happy and fulfilling life. What this means is clearly different from person to person. My aim is to identify the behaviors that are keeping this from happening, implement these changes, practice them in real life and moving on. I am a short term-solution focused therapist. The more you do outside of therapy, the faster you can achieve the changes you desire.

My philosophy is simple: Make the most of life's transitions and challenges to develop insight and tools for the future. My practice provides a safe and judgment-free space to explore those things most important to you. Using a straightforward approach to identify current challenges, we'll formulate strategies to tackle life's difficulties.

Welcome and congratulations on taking your first steps towards healing and growth! I have been working with individuals and families impacted by trauma for 16 years across a variety of environments. I specialize in complex trauma, and I have a passion for working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. I also provide support for people who are struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health issues in their recovery. I strive to help build a safe and non-judgmental space for you to cultivate your emotional well-being, develop healthy coping skills, and empower yourself.

Squeamish about talking to a stranger in an enclosed office space? Short on time and wondering when you will fit in therapy let alone getting any exercise during the week? Do you enjoy the outdoors? I may have the solution for you! My program Therapy in Motion incorporates exercise in psychotherapy. I will conduct psychotherapy with you while we run, walk, or stretch in the beautiful outdoors. Beach, trail, or road...you pick. I provide a concierge service approach to therapy. If your preference is therapy in the office setting, I can provide that too.

I use various research-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Motivational Interviewing, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Family Systems.

Struggling with low self-esteem, relationship issues, high sensitivities, trauma and/or difficult life transitions? Wanting to gain understanding or implement changes to presenting problems in your life and uncertain of what to do. Setting goals isn't about achieving them, it is about mapping out the most effective route to succeed while obtaining them.

Dr. Fuller offers a comprehensive method of psychotherapy which integrates elements from the humanistic, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, energy psychology, gestalt, and positive psychology fields. He works with each person individually to construct a useful approach to problem resolution in as efficient and cost-effective a manner as possible. Dr. Fuller also offers brief consulting services which address areas in which a person feels "blocked" or somehow unable to perform at their best, e.g., parenting, financial prosperity, forming healthy relationships, and peak performance in business or sports.