Teen Therapists in Santa Barbara, CA

Are you or your child struggling with anxiety, stress, or family changes that are making every day life feel difficult or hard to manage? Do you notice your child struggling and you are unsure how to emotionally support them? Have you tried to solve the problems on your own and nothing seems to be working? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then I'm glad you're here. Seeking help for your child, family struggles, or parenting issues can be difficult. I'm here to help.

Finding the right therapist is important. I approach therapy in a warm and relational way, and believe confidentiality and non-judgmental responses are crucial to creating a safe and trusting space. I know it can be hard to open up and start the process, so I make sure my client's feel comfortable to talk about the hard things and share about themselves authentically. Many of the situations I help people with involve experiencing depression or anxiety, processing recent or past trauma, important life or identity transitions, adolescent struggles, relationship concerns, and wanting personal growth and healing.

Are you experiencing emotional pain that has become too amplified to sustain in silence? Perhaps the burdens you have been carrying for so long are finally too heavy to manage alone. Unresolved past experiences, loss, dysfunctional relationships, and negative self-criticism can hinder our ability to navigate the difficulties life throws our way. Let’s work together to create a therapeutic relationship built on hope and trust.

I work primarily with adult men and late teen adolescents. I help people who struggle with emotional connection in their relationships with their partners, family and friends. Struggles in emotional connection sometimes take the form of difficulty being vulnerable and comfortable in relationship, effectively communicating needs and wants or sensing a lack of meaning, direction or purpose in life. It's through deepening our emotional connections, first with ourselves, that we can then go forward in life and relationships from a more secure and confident place.

I have over 25 years of experience in the field, specializing in the clinical treatment of eating disorders, child abuse, depression, anxiety, individual counseling, family and marriage counseling, and adolescent issues. I am also the Founder and Clinical Director of The Eating Disorder Center of Santa Barbara, LLC.

Marianna Herzog has work experience with severely mentally disabled, chemically dependent, and recovering individuals with co-occurring disorders. She has treated mood disorders, addiction, and trauma in hospital, adolescent residential, outpatient, and intensive outpatient facilities. Marianna is an EMDR therapist. She uses virtual eye movement desensitization reprocessing and many other treatment modalities to help the specific needs of the individual in their healing process.

Life can often feel painful and challenging, and relationships can be complicated. If you or your teen are in this place where additional support or guidance could be helpful, I am here to offer help and hope. I am passionate about providing a safe and non-judgmental space where understanding and discovery can thrive. My desire is to come alongside of people, collaboratively working towards growth and lasting change. One passion of mine is the journey of motherhood and the various seasons and transitions of maternal mental health - from fertility to pregnancy to postpartum.

In our high paced and stressful daily lives, it is easy to feel anxious and uncertain. These feelings can be magnified during transitional periods in our lives, limiting us, and impeding our growth. Psychotherapy can help empower us to move forward with concrete strategies to meet daily challenges, navigate transitions, and grow to feel happy and more confident. Dr. Lender's areas of specialty include anxiety, depression, sleep issues, relationship concerns, personal empowerment, technology use balance, and life transitions.

My therapeutic services are targeted at individuals who prefer the privacy, convenience and familiarity of meeting in their home or may have challenges that extend beyond a traditional in-office setting. I work with client's who face challenges impacting their functioning at home, school or in the community. I work with issues such as anxiety, depression, or panic and behavioral issues like opposition, aggression, and excessive screen time.

Do you ever ask yourself, "Why do I keep doing the same things but expect different outcomes?" Or "Do I look at the world differently than all my family and friends?" Life can feel stressful, overwhelming, and out of control at times. I try to help life feel a little bit more manageable and work through issues at your own pace. Psychotherapy is about an exploration of self and the world around you. As a psychotherapist, I am here to provide guidance through this exploration in a safe place and to improve interaction with those you love.

Are you or your teen an empath? Do you find that you absorb the emotions of others? Do you leave gatherings early due to feelings of overwhelm? I offer specialized techniques for highly sensitive people or those experiencing anxiety and depression. Together we will uncover what barriers towards wellness have been created in your life and find tools to help you reclaim a sense of peace. Let’s connect today!

Relationships are complex & it may be time to explore how you’ve been impacted by past unhealthy relationships. You may feel as if you’re not enough, a bother or annoyance to your family or others. Often seeking acceptance from the others even though you know it may not happen. The struggle one has towards being accepted by family/others in order to feel as if you are good enough can often feel unbearable or never ending. Survivors of past damaged relations can make one feel as if you have no worth or value & leave you struggling to identify your worth & seek approval from others. You are not alone in these thoughts & feelings.

I have a background in a number of disciplines and have successfully treated clients using Hypnotherapy, Gestalt Therapy, Voice Dialogue and Art Therapy. I also incorporate the basic principles of Zen-Buddhism, which I have studied and practiced for a number of years. Being an ex-addict, I'm comfortable with the addictive personality and I have a comprehensive knowledge of the 12-step programs. I have experience coordinating with social workers and psychiatrists. While interning I worked at an adolescent group home which proves useful in treating children and adolescents.

I work with children, adolescents, and adults. My areas of expertise include children and adolescent development, tech addiction and women who have experienced relational trauma.

Hablo Español! Taking a step forward into a healing journey, by putting your mental health first can be daunting and overwhelming. Whether that is because of cultural stigmas, fear of the unknown, or doubt, I am here to help you embark on the healing journey with you. I provide a safe environment for you to identify, process, and heal. I work with adolescent youth through late adulthood. I have experience in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, social anxiety, and family dynamics. Each treatment plan is unique to each individual, however, I extend skills from different styles of therapies.