Trauma Focused Therapists in Santa Cruz, CA
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Lighthouse Counseling - Teletherapy Available
Clinical Social Work/Therapist
Verified
Verified
Steps away from the beach, Lighthouse Counseling is located on the campus of Janus of Santa Cruz where compassionate licensed and pre-licensed therapists are available to provide client-focused therapy to you and your family. We provide therapy to people who are looking to heal from a variety of challenges including but not limited to addiction, mental health, life transitions, relationship issues as well as circumstances linked to poverty, trauma and marginalization. We serve clients with diverse backgrounds and across the life-span (children, youth, adolescents, young adult , adults and older adults) couples and families.
Not accepting new clients
Anica Leon-Weil
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Welcome! I’m glad you’re here and appreciate that you’ve taken the first step towards finding support. I believe we all have the capacity to experience satisfaction, fulfillment, and joy in our lives by exploring the barriers to these things, learning new ways of self understanding, and developing coping skills for the challenges we face. I use a holistic and varied approach drawing from many modalities including CBT, Mindfulness, Solution Focused, Attachment Theory, and many more, along with a backdrop of
trauma focused
, racial and social justice informed, compassionate, and self determination based care.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Not accepting new clients
Theresa M Soltzberg
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified
Verified
As a certified
trauma focused
therapist (JFKU) and level One Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, I integrate IFS, mindfulness, experiential and expressive therapies to facilitate a transformative individual healing experience.
Are you at a place in your life where you need some support and guidance to move forward? It may feel like you’ve done all you can, and you’re not sure what to do next. It may even feel like past patterns, keep repeating themselves. You’re not alone. Change is hard, and there are many reasons why our past and they ways we’ve learned to relate in the world keep giving us the same results. The good news is that we can always learn new ways of being and relating, ways to move forward, find new meaning and continue to learn and grow. I hope that you will take this next step on your path of healing.
Kate Whittle-Utter
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
9 Endorsed
Verified
9 Endorsed
Therapy can help you find balance, connection, and fulfillment. In order to do so, I believe it's important that we acknowledge the shadow elements of life-the challenges that cause us pain, confusion, and block us from finding a sense of harmony and well-being. I collaborate with you in navigating the shadows and the more buried aspects of your life in order to develop a deeper capacity for balance, personal growth, and healing. To find out more about who I am, how I work, and if I might be the right therapist for you, consider visiting santacruztherapy.org
Carolyn A Vitale
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I like to work with people of all ages. Often with adults I am interested in getting beyond everyday conversation into deeper layers of self, incorporating an inward focus of the body, mind and spirit. I am eclectic and offer a strength-based approach to help with depression, anxiety, transitions, relationship challenges, overall stuckness and other challenges. My approach is humanistic and compassionate, providing the support needed to get through hardships into a more empowered, creative and celebratory self.
Waitlist for new clients
Susan Matthews Scott
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I specialize in individual, couples and family therapy. With over 20 years experience, I work with a broad spectrum of clients.
I have presented at international trainings on how the body stores emotions and trauma, the transforming work of inner identities and living from one's Essential Self.
I am an interactive and dynamic therapist. I provide support and practical feedback to help address life's challenges. I integrate complimentary modalities and techniques to offer a highly personalized approach.
With compassion and understanding I work with each individual to help build and attain the personal growth they're striving for.
Erin Murray
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Do you find that you are questioning yourself constantly? Or feeling as if you have no motivation for the things you enjoy? Or struggling in your relationships? Are you feeling lost in this phase of life and trying to figure out what makes you happy? You may be wondering where these feelings are coming from. They may feel like familiar patterns, or these experiences might be new for you. Either way, you know something needs to shift. You want to feel more at ease within yourself and in your relationships. You are ready to quiet the inner critic and be more understanding of where, and who, you are.
Waitlist for new clients
Anthony Ross
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
As a good friend of mine often says, “it’s hard to be human.” We are given all kinds of messages that life “should” be certain ways and that we “should” be happy 100% of the time. I think this causes us much more suffering than necessary. We wouldn’t be who we are today without the challenges we have faced. How do we make the best of these challenges, grow, and move forward with more strength, resiliency, and joy? Welcome, my background began in health education and morphed into community mental health for many years, predominantly working with queer and trans youth, their families, and communities.
Cas Chamberlain
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT, MA
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My specialty is supporting humans on their path of healing and awakening. I offer a safe space to explore all parts of yourself so you can uncover deeper meaning and access inner peace. I work in the realms of intimacy/sex/relationships, managing stress and anxiety, personal growth and transformation, holistic wellness (mind/body/spirit) and integrating expanded states of consciousness (spiritual, psychedelic). My clients are often free-thinkers, seekers, passionate and sensitive souls, trying to find balance. I work with individuals and couples in creating more balanced and fulfilling lives.
Jolene Odile Jensen
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
Verified
Hi. My name is Jolene Jensen. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Santa Cruz, CA. I have over 15 years of experience in the mental health profession, serving a diverse range of clients.
DiAnna VanEycke
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
People seek therapy for all kinds of reasons, but common to all of them is the fact that their life is not working as well as they want. This can be for a multitude of reasons; anxieties, depression, relationship issues, lack of fulfillment, purpose or meaning. Psychological symptoms are signals that alert us to examine the obstacles that hinder us from moving through life more freely with a sense of aliveness and agency.
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Dominique Oster
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT, APCC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Therapy isn’t just for those in crisis, and things do not have to be bad to get better. As a sex & relationship therapist, I know that we all contain multitudes! You are allowed to be grateful for your life AND want more! More Connection. Pleasure. Joy. Your desires are valid and undeserving of shame or judgment. I believe that our bodies have wisdom beyond what our minds may acknowledge, and unlocking the ways our deepest selves have learned to store/apply our legacies of trauma, indoctrination, and shame can open the gates to experiencing pleasure and wholeness in the present. I am unreservedly kink, queer, SW & BIPOC affirming.
Katy Wann
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Welcome! I specialize in supporting high achieving teens and young adults to navigate life’s stressors while developing a strong sense of self, learning healthy relationship skills, and gaining tools and resources to manage anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and difficult life transitions. I believe that therapy is not just reserved for when you are in crisis, but rather a safe space for reflection, curiosity & growth at any time in life. You are always deserving of this space, and I make it my goal to help you feel seen and heard from the moment we begin our work together.
Sharon Kaplan
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified
Verified
My therapeutic approach is rooted in my deep respect and genuine interest in people. Since I am an expressive and inquisitive person, it comes naturally to me to practice a style of therapy that is both interactive and eclectic. I offer insights, observations, suggestions, feedback, as well as attentive listening. I am adaptable and able to adjust my style according to what works best for the client. As a team, my clients and I work together to find creative solutions to overcome obstacles to growth and well-being.
Daniel Perry Dryden
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, LCPC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Are you looking for a more creative approach to therapy? Do you want to meet online or outdoors for individual, couples, or group counseling? I specialize in supporting others to have a more integrated, whole and loving experience of themselves and others. Are you interested in joining a therapeutic group to deepen your understanding of yourself, heal from past traumas and practice being in healthy relationship with others? I look forward to meeting you.
Sebastian Beca
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MSc, LMFT
Verified
6 Endorsed
Verified
6 Endorsed
I am inspired by transformation, by the possibilities, freedom, and implications of deep personal change. I’ve seen it in myself and my clients. Moving from stagnation to aliveness, from isolation to love. I’m honored to work with you on your path of healing, self-discovery, growth, and transformation.
Kevin M Weiland
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Suffering comes in many forms. It is personal and intimate and often times overwhelming and sometimes debilitating. But you don’t have to face it alone. Many people have sought my help for feelings of anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and an out of balance work-life; others, for unresolved trauma , PTSD, and other stress-related disorders which keep people trapped in disregulated states of being; still others because they were unhappy with their life and the spark of their passion was dim.
Eileen Retzloff
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
Life can feel overwhelming, hopeless at times, full of stress, anxiety and loneliness. My approach with my clients' is to create a safe and comfortable environment to share these experiences without fear of judgement. I have deep empathy for those who are challenged by their current life circumstances and have a desire to make changes to better themselves. I work to help my clients' gain insight into their behaviors and develop alternatives ways of coping that feel more honest and productive. I find that when clients' can access their strengths within themselves, they are more able to facilitate healing.
Katie Jacobson
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified
Verified
It takes courage to make it here, and I’m so glad you did.
We all hit points in life where we feel stuck or uncertain of how to cope and move forward. As humans, stress and pain is inevitable, but you don’t have to work through it alone. I'm here to help you navigate your challenges and experience greater ease, satisfaction, and intimacy with life. My work is focused on supporting you to connect with your inner wisdom, shift how you relate with yourself, and remember your unique gifts. With a holistic approach, honoring mind, body, spirit, I believe that you are whole, resilient, and capable of growing and healing.
Leslie Barrios
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified
Verified
Leslie approaches all her sessions with warmth, humor, curiosity, and honesty. She provides a secure and trustworthy atmosphere. Leslie collaborates with her clients to identify growth possibilities and set goals. Leslie recognizes the value of developing a therapeutic relationship with each client, and she approaches each one with understanding and acceptance. Leslie recognizes that going to therapy can be intimidating, and she appreciates the courage it takes to start a journey toward healing.
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How can I find a therapist in Santa Cruz?
Search for nearby therapists or counselors by inputting your city, town, or suburb; or zip code; or a provider’s name into the search bar. From there, you can filter providers by the issues they treat, cost, insurance, gender, and other factors to find providers who are well-suited to your needs. To navigate between locations within the same country, enter a new city or zip code into the search bar.
Learn more about how to find a therapist.
Learn more about how to find a therapist.
Is online therapy a good option?
Therapy conducted online can be just as effective as in-person therapy, as long as there is a strong alliance between the client and the therapist. To find a therapist who provides telehealth services to clients in your area, click “Online Therapy” on the directory homepage and search by your city or town or your zip code.
What’s the difference between a psychologist, a therapist, and a counselor?
Therapists, psychologists, and counselors are all licensed mental health professionals. In the US, psychologists have earned a doctoral degree. The terms “therapist” and “counselor” are used somewhat interchangeably, but generally therapists offer longer-term, mental health care, while counselors offer shorter-term care that may focus on one domain, such as marriage, career, or academic challenges.
What type of therapist is right for me?
Clients should consider factors such as insurance coverage and their primary reason(s) for seeking therapy to determine the type of professional best suited to their needs. Someone struggling with mental health challenges such as depression or anxiety, for example, may wish to seek out a clinical psychologist or therapist, while someone navigating career obstacles or marital upheaval may benefit from seeing a counselor who can offer short-term, targeted support.
Is everyone in the Psychology Today Therapy Directory a licensed therapist?
The Psychology Today directory lists providers who offer legitimate mental health services to the public, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors. Many have been licensed by the country or state where they practice; providers whose license or primary credential has been verified by Psychology Today are signified by a “Verified” symbol. Some clinicians or organizations provide services for which their state or country does not offer licenses, such as pastoral counseling. They may be selectively included without the “Verified” seal.
What type of therapy is right for me?
The type of therapy best suited to a particular individual depends on several factors, including their primary reason for seeking therapy, their preferred timeline (some therapy types last for a set number of sessions, while others are open-ended), and their personality and preferences—some may prefer a more structured approach. For many individuals, multiple types of therapy could provide a good fit.
Is online therapy cheaper than in-person therapy?
Many therapists charge the same amount for online therapy as they do for in-person therapy—though clients may still find this cost-effective if it cuts down on their transportation costs. Health insurance plans often offer equivalent coverage for online and in-person therapy; indeed, in many places, they are legally required to do so. Text-based or on-demand therapy apps may be cheaper than traditional one-on-one psychotherapy; however, the practice may be less effective and is not likely to be covered by insurance.