Substance Use Therapists in San Diego, CA

Throughout life we face struggles, challenges, and unpleasant emotions and events, and therapy can be a helpful platform to ease emotional burden and increase balance and fulfillment in life. I want to work alongside you towards pursuing a life that inspires you as you become your favorite version of yourself. I am honored by my clients who choose to trust me during their therapeutic journey, one that is filled with growth, and empowerment leading towards goal attainment and self-discovery.

I am interested in learning about you, your struggles and strengths. I can help you by providing a compassionate, nurturing, and non-judgmental environment to express your deepest thoughts and feelings in order to explore ways to resolve the problems you encounter. As we build our therapeutic relationship, I will deliver honest, direct therapy to you. Ideally reducing defensiveness and allowing you to hear what you need to hear. Together, we will help you recognize your strengths, identify new perspectives, and develop healthy coping skills so that you can maximize your personal potential.

The Center For Motivation and Change (“CMC”) is a unique outpatient private group practice with locations in NYC, Long Island, DC and San Diego. We are a team of experienced psychologists who are driven by an optimism about people’s capacity to change as well as a commitment to the science of change. Our clinicians are all deeply trained in research-supported therapies that target substance use /compulsive behaviors patterns as well as mental health issues such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)/complex trauma and anxiety/mood disorders. The cornerstone of our approach is motivational.

At Pacific Beach Health, I offer counseling services to adults and adolescents coping with substance use and anger disorders. I believe strongly in the holistic transformation of mind, body, and soul, emphasizing finding a true passion for life. Since 2015, I have provided counseling services for substance use disorders.

I completed my internship training at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School and my 2-year postdoctoral fellowship through the Harvard-Partners Consortium in Clinical Neuropsychology. I have provided assessments and/or interventions for a wide variety of cognitive and psychological concerns, including dementia/neurodegenerative disorders, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, concussions, substance use disorders, ADHD/neurodevelopmental disorders, and more.

At Pacific Beach Health I offer individual and family sessions for adult and adolescent clients with substance use , mood, thought, behavior, and personality disorders. I believe that healing is a collaborative process that requires empathy and caring without judgment. I assist clients in identifying their treatment goals. Rather than adopting one methodology for all individuals and issues, I integrate various modalities to create an individualized approach for each client and situation. I consider myself an active therapist, combining life experience, education, creativity, and humor with a grounded and realistic approach.

I earned my master’s in counseling psychology at National University and specialize in Marriage and Family Therapy. During my education and training, I provided therapy for survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and domestic violence victims. I also supported individuals transitioning from the prison system into sober living homes by providing empathetic case management services. In addition to practicing at Pacific Beach Health, I also practice as a primary therapist at Boardwalk Recovery Center.

I specialize in diagnosing and treating anxiety, depression and substance use disorders. I enjoy working with individuals, families, and couples of all diversity and age groups. My goal is to provide emotional and psychological support to my clients, their families, and/or significant others to relieve stress and improve their life.

Throughout my childhood and more formative years, I was under the impression that talking about mental health was considered to be a sign of weakness due to the narrative that had been passed down throughout many generations in my family. However, as I got older and began my journey to become a therapist, I realized that showing emotions is actually a sign of strength and courage, and that wholeness begins with vulnerability. I recognize that the desire to belong, be heard, and feel loved is universal, and my hope is that our time together in the therapeutic environment can be a safe space to honor these tenets.

I particularly enjoy working with individuals who are creative yet highly anxious and depressed. Innovators find an improved capacity to create with informed anxiety management. I am a harm reductionist who embraces the belief that addiction is a brain disease and not a character defect and that persons with addictive illness need more clinically-informed care. I support authenticity for both the client and the therapist, understanding that little can hurt us when we are at peace with the truth of our own stories.

I strongly believe the therapeutic relationship is key in the healing process and strive to create a safe space for each client to feel seen, heard, and understood. I utilize an integrated approach in therapy and tailor treatment to meet the unique needs of each client and view each individual through a strengths-based and trauma-informed lens. am trained in a variety of therapy models including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (Traditional DBT and DBT-informed approaches for cognitively challenged clients), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.

I help individuals who are feeling stuck or disconnected explore what's getting in the way, and create a life that they find meaningful and fulfilling. I do this using evidence based methods that are tailored to the person's specific values, preferences, and needs. I believe that identifying your strengths and what drives you is as important as pinpointing problem areas. I strive to create a safe, supportive, and judgment-free atmosphere so you can connect with your purpose, your most authentic self, and in turn, with others in your life.

Is alcohol or another substance holding you back? Are you a professional or executive who has found that the one thing you haven't been able to overcome is substance use ? Many clinicians don't truly understand the stress and loneliness that professional success can create. My experience as a senior executive and addiction professional can help you break free and achieve your true potential. Don't let substance abuse be the one thing you haven't been able to overcome as a professional. I utilize positive counseling techniques designed to capitalize on your strengths to help you overcome substance use and achieve your potential.

Let's do this. Nothing is too intense for us to cover in therapy. I am comfortable with the uncomfortable, and speak directly while being tactful and respectful. I will truly hear you, no matter what it is you need to say. I build strong relationships with my clients, believing that our most important needs as humans are to feel seen, heard, that we matter, and be connected to others. My goal is to help you take control of improving your own life, through your decisions and actions, and am here to recognize the work you are doing.

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought to yourself "Why can't you just get it together, What's wrong with you?!" Has Covid-19 caused you to feel alone, scared, depressed, stuck, helpless and fearful of what's next? Have you lost your passion for life, and adventure? Let's figure this out together. Therapy should be a healthy and restorative process where you feel safe and understood. I value an engaging and authentic relationship, where we work together collaboratively to achieve your goals and help you become the best version of yourself, we often have the answers within us, sometimes we just lose our way.

My experience includes working with individuals, couples, and teenagers (ages 12 and up) at a variety of settings including inpatient psychiatric facilities, outpatient programs, residential treatment facility for mood and addiction issues, and as part of an emergency crisis team. These experiences have allowed me to work with a variety of different clients experiencing various mental health concerns and or psychosocial issues. I have extensive knowledge and experience working with clients struggling with addiction and substance use issues, as well as trauma, depression and anxiety, and immediate crisis intervention.

Our goal is to work with you to help find a balance between understanding your concerns and learning the skills to make meaningful changes to live a full and healthy life. With a background rooted in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) we use strategies to promote growth and recovery within your value system in a way that makes sense for your life. Our shared expertise include treating individuals with depression and anxiety, relationship issues, psychotic disorders, PTSD, substance use , Bipolar Disorder and other concerns with individuals, families, couples, and children all using individualized treatment plans.

I am a Clinical Psychologist specializing in the treatment PTSD, substance use /addiction issues, and anxiety. I also work with clients experiencing insomnia, depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, chronic pain, and life issues such as personal growth and relationship problems. I take a trauma-informed approach to treatment and believe in treating the whole person, rather than simply focusing on symptom management. My commitment to a strength-based approach to treatment guides my work.

Therapy is a relationship that needs to be cherished between the therapist and the client. It is a vulnerable space that needs to be safe, comfortable, and motivating for the client to be able to share their inner, personal stories. I have experience working with adults 18 and older with acute mental health issues such as anxiety, and substance use issues. I am also very passionate about working with immigrant and refugee populations who are learning to adapt to the cultural differences, Lifestyles, language, and overall well-being in a new environment as well as individuals struggling with trauma.

Hello! My name is Dr. Erin Cisneros and I am a clinical psychologist with a mission of helping others create meaningful, fulfilling lives. I provide individual and family counseling for teenagers, college students, and adults in the transformative decades of the twenties and thirties. I have been providing counseling for nearly two decades and I have been in private practice for over ten years. In counseling, I offer a supportive, collaborative environment where your challenges and concerns can be addressed. I look forward to working with you!