Therapists in La Jolla, CA

I am a licensed psychologist with an emphasis in anxiety disorders and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Other areas of focus have been on stress related issues, relationship issues, and life changing events which include completing college, career changes, and coping with loss.

Interpersonal relationships are powerful contributors to our overall health. Our intimate partner relationships, family relationships, work or peer relationships tend to affect us in meaningful ways. When our relational lives are strong and connected we feel satisfied, empowered, hopeful, and more confident. When our relational lives are hurting, we feel anxious, sad, pained, frustrated, and left not knowing what to do to improve it. I work with my clients to address the heart of their stressors working toward tangible results with lasting effects. I work collaboratively & passionately to create a safe, responsive, and supportive environment to address your needs.

Let’s face it, sometimes life can be challenging which can hinder personal growth, happiness, relationships, quality of life, professional success, parenting among other things. You feel like you are spinning your wheels but not going anywhere. You feel exhausted, overwhelmed, anxious, sad and/or irritated. Effecting change takes work but YOU can master the skills to cope with these feelings and regain control of your life! Whether your goal is meaningful change, meeting short or life long goals, being assessed for ADHD, LCSW Supervision or an ESA letter, I’m here to help and only a phone call/email away!

Are you feeling stuck, unsatisfied in life?  Do you feel like each day is a fight because you are overrun by sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, and anger?  Regardless of your circumstances, please know that you have come to the right person.  My name is Dr. David Jaffe and I am a licensed clinical psychologist that has worked in the mental health field for over 20 years. I can help you to cope with negative emotions more effectively, reduce stress, improve sleep, focus, overall health and well being, reach personal/professional goals, reduce interpersonal conflict, and cope with past trauma more effectively.

Hi, my name is Wendy Thomas. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. My therapeutic approach is holistic employing Evidence Base intervention. Respecting your voice as the poet of your life experiences and the expert in sharing your story. Client centered therapy focuses on individual, family, and couples’ unique needs. I too seek support at times. Asking for professional help is a direct statement of self-awareness. Assisting clients in discovering interpersonal strengths to mitigate and work through life challenges one engagement at a time. As your therapist, guiding and assisting you in forming balance in work, family and life.

The decision to seek therapy takes courage. I believe therapy is most helpful when done in an accepting and comfortable environment. I work collaboratively with you to assist you in attaining your personal goals, explore avenues for growth, and achieve emotional well-being. I understand that every individual and couple is unique and I approach treatment with this in mind. I know that each client enters therapy with specific strengths and I do my best to help you pull from those strengths. My approach to therapy can be described as compassionate, active, warm, and gently challenging.

My focus in our work is to accompany you, both as a guide and a companion, in finding your "place in the world", both individually and relationally. You have the wisdom within for your own growth and healing. In response to the problems in our lives, we all develop survival strategies that keep us disconnected from our true self, and therefore from others as well. Because we do this unconsciously, it can be difficult to identify the ways we get in our own way.

Welcome! And congratulations on taking the first step toward feeling better. It is not uncommon for people to feel scared about setting up a counseling appointment. My nonjudgmental and supportive style can create a safe atmosphere. My focus is on a strength-based approach, empowering clients to utilize their unique strengths to overcome challenges. My goal is to help you uncover your true potential and lead a life that is worth celebrating.

I guide individuals and couples toward more clarity and calm using experiential, body based, relational psychotherapy that is both trauma informed and grounded in attachment theory. From grief to anxiety to existential questions, I collaborate with and support my clients in the creative process of developing thriving relationships and more meaningful, fulfilling lives.

Dr. Misha Marjani is a licensed clinical psychologist with specialization in depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, and OCD. Dr. Marjani uses a collaborative, integrative, and culturally sensitive approach in order to help individuals identify the goals that are most important to them and to help them move toward achieving their vision. In addition to her clinical work, she works as the clinical supervisor at an addiction treatment center in San Diego. Dr. Marjani works with adult individuals and groups in the San Diego area, as well as via telemedicine across the State of California.

Welcome! Dr. Kasper has a heart for helping children, adults, adolescents and their families. Her expertise is in counseling people that have experienced trauma, childhood sexual abuse, and those that have anxiety, depression or relational challenges. Dr. Kasper’s attachment, developmental perspective exists to support you and your child holistically.

As a marriage and family psychotherapist for over 30 years, I am an experienced, eclectic clinician whose passion is helping couples become masters of their relationship and individuals become their best selves. Clients find me to be warm, active, engaged, and creative. I often use humor, metaphor, and therapeutic experiment to enliven sessions, and utilize tools for practice to support clients between sessions. I work to have each session build on the last and reach the client’s goals in timely and powerful ways. I am committed to having each person feel known, understood, supported and appreciated throughout the therapeutic process.

With a firm belief in the transformative power of self-discovery, I specialize in working with emerging adults/college age individuals as well as women and their unique challenges and opportunities faced at different stages of life. My focus is helping my younger clients build inner strength, explore their identities, establish independence, and navigate important life decisions. I also support women related to their career, relationships, health, and personal fulfillment, while also empowering them to embrace their wisdom and strengths.

Dr. Nicole Karst is a clinical forensic psychologist, nurse, and veteran. She has extensive health and mental health treatment experience at all levels of care ranging from hospitalization to outpatient psychotherapy. She specializes in the treatment of trauma, mood instability, obsessive thoughts, relationship problems, stress management, and mind-body wellness.

My name is Dr. Kamran Zafar and I am the founder and CEO of La Jolla Healing Center. I have been in recovery for more than 30 years and know how lonely it can get. Addiction can hit a person when they least expect it: when they're trying to manage an increase in their workload, fulfill obligations with family, or for no reason whatsoever. It often begins innocently — sometimes to relieve the stress of everyday life, or even just to experience the thrill of something new. Before the person knows it, they’re using alcohol or substances to cope with the negative feelings and stress in their daily lives.

Hi there, I'm Tawnya! I'm an LCSW versed in in culturally competent work with clients who have experienced trauma/challenges related to gender and race, relationship challenges, anxiety, depression, and family issues. My approach include cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, dialectical behavioral therapy, strength base therapies, and the utilization of culturally competent practices that take into consideration issues related to gender, class, ethnicity, and race. I consider it an honor to be able to assist clients as they move forward in exploring obstacles that may be negatively impacting their contentment and happiness.

Are you having self-doubts, nagging worries, dread about the future, or feeling exhausted from life’s stressors? Have you experienced a recent loss? Are you wrestling with a major decision or life transition? If so, and you want to speak with someone who feels comfortable like a friend, but has practical knowledge help you overcome your challenges, reach out to me. I have helped hundreds of clients feel better by getting better sleep, reducing anxiety and worries, and feeling more calm, confident, and satisfied with their lives.

I take a warm, empathic, unconditional stance in my therapeutic approach. My client is the expert in their life and I will help guide them to connect with their strengths while providing warmth and safety in the therapeutic alliance. We will reach for evidence based practices, explore needs, and work towards set goals. I encourage an open and trusting relationship through frequent check-ins regarding client’s perspective on what is working well or not.

My therapeutic approach is person-centered. I utilize empathy, authenticity, acceptance, and trust in welcoming my clientele into a safe space. These principles have been the driving force of my practice for nearly 14 years. My approach allows my clients the opportunity to find their authentic selves. These therapeutic principles fit well with my other personal values and qualities of compassion, integrity, courage, gentleness, curiosity, and reflection.