Therapists in West Park, Irvine, CA

Are you struggling? Have you given up on your dreams? I offer a safe place where we bring compassionate attention to your challenges, and help you uncover a rich source of understanding to light your way forward. Together, we help you discover for yourself your own truths, so you may pick up the tools to aid you with your distress. Your path is unique to you alone. I walk alongside you, and guide within a supportive and empathic environment to help you broaden your way forward toward more satisfying relationships and a more full experience of life.

Are you going through difficult life circumstances? Are you feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Are you feeling uncertain and doubtful about your future? Eventhough, negative thoughts and feelings are not uncommon, if left untreated they can cause depression, uncontrolled anger and anxiety. I can help you heal and turn your life around. I can help you get from surviving to thriving. I can help you turn your negative thoughts and feelings into positive ones. This will help you make better life decisions and see life from a clearer and more positive perspective, improving your circumstances as well as your relationships.

While I specialize in treatment of trauma/PTSD, substance use disorders, active duty and retired military, and first responders, I am comfortable treating a wide range of presenting problems experienced by adolescents and adults from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and religions. Base on your needs, I integrate a variety of approaches to therapy, including Emotion-Focused Therapy due to its focus emotional healing and its warm, supportive stance. In addition to more traditional approaches to therapy, I integrate holistic practices, such as yoga and meditation.

I believe that life ebbs and flows with the changes of life's demands. Many of these changes are positive ones, but at times hardships can follow, needing assistance and guidance in finding solutions. This is where the therapeutic process can help in alleviating your symptoms, bringing about new energy and happiness in enjoying life's many adventures. My enjoyment in the therapeutic process is one of discovery and collaboration in identifying difficulties and solutions to the patient's problems. Above all, I believe the relationship between the patient and therapist is the cornerstone to achieving the patient's goals.

I have more than thirty years of experience in the field of psychotherapy and treating addiction. My passion for service has led me to work with active duty military, veterans, teens, couples, and individuals who are seeking balance and healing. My unique experience and talents have crafted me as an expert in identifying and treating PTSD and substance use disorders, including pathological gambling and sexual compulsivity. I have held positions as the Division Head of the Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and Branch Head for Behavioral Health with Marine Family Programs Camp Pendleton.

At The Retreat Counseling Center, we provide therapy, counseling, and coaching services to Orange County's busy professionals and their families. Chances are, since you've landed on this webpage, some things in your life may not be working well. Maybe you're on the edge of a divorce? Or maybe your job is in jeopardy. Or maybe you just feel a bit lost with what you feel you're supposed to do next in life. And maybe because of reasons such as this and more, you're feeling more anxious and less happy than before. This is tough stuff, but we're glad you've landed here. We want to help.

Dr. Colleen Daniel and her staff provide comprehensive and holistic mental health treatment for clients of all ages. Our treatment is tailored to match the individual needs of each client or family. Services include: evaluations of learning disabilities, ADHD/ADD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, psychological issues, neurological conditions, and accommodations for SAT/ACT/LSAT/MCAT exams; individual and group therapy for children, teens, and adults.

Stress/anxiety, depression, self esteem, relationship issues, and generally feeling lost are all common issues amongst the generations today. Living and operating within this country can be challenging, leaving you without certainty or the support to ensure all of your basic needs. It is no secret that the lockdowns took a toll on us all but help is available. We all need a place to vent/process our difficult thoughts/feelings, learn coping skills, manage anger, and improve our communication skills.

How do you feel about seeking help, especially for your mental and emotional health? Do you think it’s a sign of weakness? As a psychologist, I see it as a sign of strength, courage, self-awareness and maturity. I work with my clients to identify what they’re needing in order for them to improve their lives. I help people find the ways to change and experience personal growth and healing. I support my clients as they discover new aspects of themselves, which can be a challenging but rewarding process.

The majority of difficulties we experience in our life probably have something to do with relationships. Either the relationship with ourselves, our family, our friends, our jobs, our environment, etc. We have a tendency, many times without knowing, to remake the type of relationships we experienced early in our lives. Therapy helps in shining some light into these type of patterns. We can play detective a bit. Figure out triggers, thoughts, feelings, behaviors; all surrounding the problem we are experiencing. The therapeutic relationship serves as a safe relationship to play out all the patterns and adopt new ones.