Dual Diagnosis Therapists in Santa Cruz, CA

Asking for help is one of the hardest things to do. Celebrate yourself for taking this leap! You're probably here because you are looking for someone to partner with to make sustainable changes, work through past or current experiences, and cultivate safety inside yourself and in your relationships. You value growth, honesty, authenticity, and rest. I provide a safe container for you to explore your inner self; all the reflections of light on the surface and all the darkness in the depths. We will learn how to feel, how to self soothe, and how to transform your thoughts, emotions, and sense of self.

Welcome! I want to commend you on taking the first step toward getting to a healthier version of yourself. I look forward to working together in a safe place free from judgment, life's busyness, isolation, past trauma, and overall stress. My background is vast. My goal is to help you build an amazing set of skills to navigate through life. I believe we all have a divine purpose. Sometimes we just need a trained assistant. I am passionate about helping you on your way to more joy!

Welcome! May I walk beside you as you continue to uncover, untangle, embody and enliven your life's purpose? I seek to be witness and ally to your own personal life's journey. C.G. Jung states, "Every advance; even the smallest, along the path of conscious realization adds that much to the world".

My name is Cheree Alejandro. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling. I have work in multiple areas with different populations. Such as crisis assessment and intervention, dual diagnosis, individual and group therapy for depression and anxiety. I use different modalities such as CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, solution brief focused therapy. Worked with different cultures, ages from 5 to 85.

You or a loved one may be struggling with substance use, depression, anxiety, loss, or life transitions (emphasis on the life part). Maybe you just need someone to ask you how you are really doing and be able to hold space for that. You may try talking yourself out of your pain or experience by telling yourself “someone else has it worse” or “I don’t deserve to be happy after everything I’ve done”. We often tell ourselves that our feelings, conflicts, or stories must look a certain way for them to deserve attention. I am committed to allowing you to show up to therapy exactly as you need to without making any changes.

I understand trauma, the difficulties faced by us all when we try to learn past our intergenerational patterns. I am here for parents and caregivers who want to do their best for their families. I also welcome clients who want to be better caregivers to themselves. This includes anyone dealing with depression, anxiety, addictive behavior, unprocessed childhood experiences, or failure to create healthy connections with others.

Are your seeking a more peaceful and harmonious life?  One that can hold both the challenges and the goodness?  Therapy can help. My style is warm, empathic, and collaborative.  I use evidence-based techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness and brain science. I would like to help you tackle what is impeding you and open up new options so that you can make good decisions and create more happiness for you and your loved ones.

I'm Dr. Dean Leav, licensed psychologist and qualified medical evaluator (QME). I've been featured on ABC, NBC, KCAL, and other programs as an expert psychologist. I provide Evaluation Services, including (and not limited to): diagnostics (ADHD, Autism, Learning Dis.), cognitive/neuropsychological evaluations, workers' compensation (QME/AME), immigration-related evaluations, pre-adoption psychological evaluations, parenting/bonding assessments, drug & alcohol evaluations, pre-employment evaluations, and legal/forensics/criminal evaluations. These evaluations may be used to meet eligibility for certain services or accommodations.

You are a woman who would like to know how to deeply trust and nurture yourself. To care for the parts of you that need tenderness and a place to explore what brings you alive and what gets in the way of this. You may not know how or where to begin because you were not shown how. You’re so good at taking care of others that there’s nothing left for you. Or, perhaps you have learned to put yourself to the side because that is what feels safest. You may be asking yourself, “Is it okay to take care of me and what I want?”

Feeling overwhelmed, scared, alone, isolated? Unable to express or tolerate your emotions? Therapy can help you take back control of your life, improve your relationships, and manage your moods. It doesn't matter if you're dealing with a new life challenge or a recurrent issue, I believe that therapy can help relieve your symptoms and live a stable and balanced life. I work with adults and adolescents struggling w/ a variety of issues including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, trauma, and substance use disorders. I offer a supportive, safe and non-judgmental place to explore, understand and resolve issues.

I am truly grateful that you have chosen to embark on this inspiring journey of self-discovery and personal growth. As a therapist, my purpose and passion lie in supporting individuals like you to become the person they aspire to become. I firmly believe that each individual possesses the innate ability to grow and evolve. I am here to guide, empower, and facilitate your journey as you navigate the path towards self-actualization.

As a CBT (Cognitive Behavioral) therapist, Anahata uses logic and humor to inspire healing and change. She loves working with thoughts of all varieties and provides a comfortable and supportive environment to ease your therapeutic experience. Anahata explains concepts through metaphors that help new ideas become part of your everyday thinking processes. With over 10 years of experience working with people diagnosed with severe mental illness, she has excelled in learning how to best serve people in her private practice.

Embarking on the journey of psychotherapy is a courageous and empowering act. My intention is to assist you in recognizing, respecting, and building on your strengths, and improving your capacity for self regulation. Through this partnership, I will assist you in bringing unconscious faulty core beliefs to the light of mindful awareness, engaging your wisdom and compassion. I will work with you collaboratively to address and navigate through your pain, your perceived limitations and stuck places, which are your growing edges. This demanding and enlivening work can improve your quality of life, and expand your capacity for joy and happiness.

Feeling anxious or worried? Too busy for therapy during the work week? I'm available for Friday afternoon and Sunday appointments. I provide support and practical feedback to help clients effectively address personal life challenges, reduce stress levels, and lead richer, fuller lives. I am an interactive, solution-focused, cognitive behavioral therapist. In a comfortable and supportive atmosphere I work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues.

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.

Life can be overcome by stress easily, and for some of us that stress becomes unbearable. Thoughts and feelings become overwhelming, leaving life feeling out of control and chaotic. In my work, I bring a wealth of curiosity and compassion to exploring a person's inner world of thoughts and feelings. Through this exploration, clients find deep internal healing and develop meaningful satisfaction in their work, relationships, and most of all within themselves. I am trained in Internal Family Systems therapy, which has given me a means to help people reach their goals and create the life they long for.

Sliding scale and some pro bono sessions for front line workers. Video and phone are currently available. Feelings of anxiety and stress need support at this time. My approach is based on the belief that you are naturally intelligent and resourceful. Connect to strengths within you. The quality of your relationship with yourself and others leads to greater freedom, clarity, and peace. Free yourself from stress and conflict that so often occurs in relationships and work. Compassion, insight, and intuition represent my style. Building inner resources and tools to manage emotions improve professional and personal relationships.

Hello! I’m so glad you found me. My approach to therapy is to engage the whole person in order to make meaningful change. Movement in therapy can range from focusing on breath to self-lead movement expression, and can be used with any age and ability. Artistic expression is used to deepen the therapeutic work through the creative process. All engagement in art is optional. I view my clients holistically and utilize the knowledge I gain regarding their life history and their social atmosphere to guide them in therapy. I work collaboratively with my clients to make meaningful change, respecting my clients’ individuality and autonomy.

I believe therapy is the development of a safe and trusting relationship between the facilitator and the participant. Therapy can be hard work and getting started can be scary, however making art, using play or being in nature can ease this process. As your therapist I will encourage you to use your creative imagination as a vehicle to understanding your inner turmoil, psychic pain or stagnancy. Along the way we will be implementing these effective tools in cultivating a more fulfilling life experience.