LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists in San Diego, CA

Are you at a point in your life where you feel you need that extra support? I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides a supportive environment to allow individuals to grow and reach their full potential. I work with adults and couples, and have worked with children ranging from ages 3 to 17, along with their families.

Riley works with individuals, couples, families, and groups on a wide range of issues, including relationship concerns, sexuality, depression, personal development, LGBT issues, parenting, finances, business & career and more.

Now accepting new clients! On this journey of life, there are times you may feel alone, feel stuck in unwanted patterns, or feel overburdened by your challenges. Maybe it is hard to even identify what is causing pain, or what is not quite feeling right. You are not alone in these struggles. I know from my own experiences that it can be hard to reach out for help and do this work of self-reflection and self-discovery, but it is so worth it. You are worth it.

It is often difficult adjusting to environments that might not understand who you are as an individual, whether it be with family, your support system, a faith-based community, in the military, or at work. As a member of the LGBTQIA + community, I am an advocate for underrepresented individuals and communities and feel passionate about helping in whatever way I can. I assist adults who are struggling with challenges related to identity, orientation, relationship functioning and family issues, communication, as well as working to help heal and overcome traumatic experiences that might be holding them back.

It is my belief that every person can benefit from therapy at some point in their life. It can be helpful whether you're working through a specific, short-term problem or changing long-standing patterns of behavior, adjusting to an unexpected life change, gaining clarity about decisions or life goals, increasing self-confidence or self-realization, improving communication, or becoming more effective at regulating difficult emotions.

I believe in your capacity to lead a fulfilling and meaningful life. I'm here to offer support in witnessing and helping to untangle the threads of discontent, dissatisfaction, displeasure, and emotional turmoil. I understand that there are multilayered forms of oppression that can impact our daily lives and sense of being. I specialize in concerns related to gender, sexuality, intimacy, relationships, and sexual practices. I’m a psychotherapist, gender therapist/gender specialist, and consultant.

What part of your life is most impacting you? If you answered sexuality, then let's talk! I specialize in issues regarding sex and sexuality- there can be issues of shame, abuse, discrimination, judgment, confusion, and secrecy- and I would love to help you define what your vision of sexual health looks like and feels like for you, your partner, and your family.

Together, we can be in better understanding of how you've come to story your life - challenging the limiting influence of messages that sound like "what should be" and "what's supposed to be" - and come into more preferred ways of being. I am guided to support you through sex and gender issues, identity development across different contexts like age and culture, relationship problems, and life transitions by my own experiences in the identities I hold as a queer , 1st generation Filipino-American as well as my training and values as a therapist. We may encounter difficult moments together, but I'll be with you every step of the way!

I utilize EMDR and person-centered interventions to help clients heal from Traumas and other unhelpful memories, allowing them to live fuller lives!

My name is Ezak and my pronouns are they, them, theirs. I am an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor supervised by Kiley Lizama, LMFT 96218 at HOPE Therapy Group. I utilize a person-centered and strengths-based approach and I have been trained through a multicultural and trauma-informed lens. I work with adolescents and adults wanting to make a change in their life and I work collaboratively with my clients to identify their goals.

Lauren treats adults, couples, families, and adolescents, and is especially passionate in providing resources and care to the LGBTQIA + and BIPOC communities. She works with various clients, and while trained in a range of treatment types, she strives to tailor her therapeutic approach to each person and their unique, individual needs.

As LGBTQ minorities, we often find ourselves wondering "where is my community?" and "why can't I just be myself?" It seems like we've tried everything but we don't feel like we belong or we are in a safe place to live & work. We often wonder... when is this going to get better? When can I just live my life fully how I am? Sometimes we feel sad and it can be a very lonely place. We can even forget just how special and unique we are because we are so different and surrounded by those who just "don't get it." We really want someone who can connect to us and make our experiences feel validated, reminding us that we are beautiful.

Hi, I'm Ashley, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 13 years of experience working with adults, couples and families affected by substance use disorders, trauma and acute mental health disorders. I have worked in a variety of clinical settings which include residential, outpatient, community mental health, private practice and teaching graduate students in an adjunct role.

LGBTQ +, EMDR, trauma, Religious deconversion. I’m a queer , non-binary therapist who loves helping people recover from painful experiences, deal with life stress, and take control of their lives. Imagine being open about anything on your mind without the fear of judgment. We will take steps together to help you move towards your ideal self by focusing on your healing, goals, dreams, passions, fears, and unique qualities. Therapy is personal and beautiful and can bring up difficult feelings. We will work to help you feel safe and develop skills to deal with these intense emotions. I only work with adult individuals at this time.

Are you experiencing distress in the current world we live in? The pandemic affected all of us one way or another. Perhaps you are ready to come out. Maybe you feel ready to medically transition and you need someone who understands the process. You might be an actor and got activated in the last episode or scene you just did. It could be that you are fed up with misogyny, racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism and want to live in a better world. You may need help finding solid ground as you process heavy memories. Together we can acknowledge, grieve, and bolster resilience to help you thrive in the face of social inequity.

I think we all can have a time in our lives where we reach a problem or a series of problems and are faced with the question of "how do I get through this?" or "what should I do?" Regardless of what brought you to that crossroad, therapy is a useful means to help you figure out what to do next. Your time is important and your life is meant to be full of happiness. We all are transitioning from something and have to make the choice about what is best for us. Live your life and enjoy it.

Hey! You’ve likely arrived here because you’ve been in a dark place and might be ready for a change. You’re tired of carrying around the burden of your trauma, anxiety, or the weight of your substance use or secret addiction. Or you’re concerned about a loved one’s unhealthy behaviors. Maybe you feel ashamed and alone but the fear of being judged is finally being outweighed by the possibility that things could be better. Life is really hard, but we can do hard things with support. How I can help: •We can collaborate if you have ever had substance use concerns or addictive behaviors - past or present, in recovery or ongoing.

You may be feeling marginalized or misunderstood by your church community and loved ones if your gender or sexuality don't fall into historically traditional norms. Or you might feel alone in your process if you are deconstructing your faith because there isn't a safe space to express doubts or ask faith-related questions. Or you might be feeling completely burned out in your ministry leadership role with nowhere to turn. If any of these scenarios describe you, you need a safe space to fully express all aspects of who you are and what you're experiencing in order to align with your values.

If you have concerns about an aspect of your sex life (sexuality, sexual desire, performance anxiety, interest in kink/BDSM or open/non-monogamous/poly relationships), the search for help can feel overwhelming at times. You might even feel alone in the belief that you’re the only one who has thought, felt, or done a certain thing. You are not alone. Just like you, many people find it difficult to navigate the complexities of sex, arousal, and relationships. However, those who get the right support for their mental and sexual health are often calmer, more confident, experience more pleasure, and feel more fulfilled in life overall.

I have been in private practice for 10+ years focusing on clients with relationship issues, personal growth, depression, anxiety, and LGBT issues. I view therapy as a collaboration where we discover the areas where you want to make changes in your life and work toward reaching your full potential. I believe it is important that you have a good fit with your therapist, and I begin the process by discussing your unique issues you are bringing to therapy to determine if I can be an effective therapist for you.