Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Chula Vista, CA covered by Aetna

Hey there—I'm Mika, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who's here for real talk and real support for adults and teens right here in Southern California. I've spent years helping people work through tough life events like trauma, addictions, ADHD, burnout from high-pressure jobs, anxiety, depression, and rocky relationships. What I love most is seeing folks step into their strength and build the life they want—I'm here to walk that path with you, no judgment, just genuine care.

Marsi specializes in working with children, teens, young adults, and women who are struggling with anxiety, trauma, life transitions, relationship challenges, and the lingering effects of difficult life experiences. She is passionate about helping clients understand not only what they're experiencing, but why—because insight creates the foundation for lasting healing.

Her approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in the latest research in neuroscience and trauma treatment. Marsi integrates evidence-based therapies including EMDR, attachment-based therapy, Polyvagal Theory, somatic interventions, cognitive and behavioral approaches, and play therapy to help clients regulate their nervous systems, process painful experiences, strengthen relationships, and develop greater resilience.

Whether someone is healing from childhood wounds or abuse, breaking generational patterns, navigating a major life transition, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life, Marsi believes lasting change is possible. She considers it a privilege to walk alongside each client as they rediscover hope, deepen self-understanding, and create meaningful, lasting change.

Hello! I'm Kris and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California and the founder of Village Wellness Center, a thriving group psychotherapy practice based in San Juan Capistrano. I have over 25 years of experience in the mental health field, and I specialize in maternal mental health, depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship challenges, and the unique needs of women and mothers.

I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Sacramento State University and returned to school 15 years later to earn my Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology.

The beginning of my career in mental health started in residential care helping at-risk youth, and over the course of 20 years, my work and experience evolved into leading and developing clinical programs for outpatient and court-mandated facilities while also building my specialty in perinatal mood disorders and maternal mental health in my private practice. Additionally over the past two decades, I was raising my family and actively contributing to the Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano communities.

Through my own struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety, I became a passionate advocate for maternal wellness and thriving families. This became the catalyst to opening Village Wellness Center, where the ability to serve entire families and promote holistic mental wellness with a team of therapists can be achieved.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 28 years of experience in the mental health field. I earned my Master of Social Work (MSW) from the Hunter School of Social Work and have lived and practiced in California for over three decades. My professional background includes extensive work with older adults, individuals experiencing homelessness, and adults living with severe and persistent mental illness. I am known for my patient, compassionate, and attentive approach, and I strive to be fully engaged and present with every client I serve. My goal is to provide thoughtful, individualized support that helps clients feel understood and empowered in their therapeutic journey.

I believe that every person is born with the capacity to live a full, meaningful, and joyful life. Through life's challenges, losses, relationships, and unexpected experiences, we can become disconnected from that sense of wholeness. My role is to provide a compassionate, supportive space where you can reconnect with yourself, better understand your experiences, and move toward healing. I view therapy as a collaborative process built on trust, respect, and genuine human connection.

If you are feeling lost, alone, overwhelmed, or stuck, I am here. If you are exploring your sense of self, identity, relationships, or sexual orientation, I am here. If you are hoping to cultivate greater self-compassion or reconnect with your authentic self, I am here.

I believe every person deserves a space where they feel seen, heard, and accepted. My practice welcomes people of all genders, sexual orientations, relationship structures, abilities, professions, and backgrounds. It is a privilege to walk alongside clients as they navigate life's challenges, discover their strengths, and move toward healing and growth.

I graduated from UCLA's Social Welfare program and developed a specialty working with adolescents, teens, parents, teachers and school administrators via the LAUSD public school system. Over the course of 15 years, I have developed an expertise in utilizing a trauma-informed lens and attachment theory to address treatment areas such as trauma, depression, parenting, parent-child relationships, behavioral issues and anxiety.

With 10 years of dedicated practice, I am deeply passionate about my work as a therapist. Whether you are navigating stress, loss, life changes, or coping with challenges that have taken a toll on you, therapy provides a nurturing environment for healing and personal growth. As a therapist, I approach each individual with an open mind, compassion, and a commitment to empowerment and holistic well-being.

If you have tried therapy before without the results you hoped for, you may need a more targeted, effective approach. Over the past 15 years of my practice as a clinical psychologist, earning your trust and helping you establish a secure, empowering baseline for your care has been a profound privilege. As a former instructor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a provider at the UCLA Insomnia clinic, my goal is to provide more than just a space to talk—I offer the specialized, gold-standard steps necessary to create measurable, lasting change. At my practice, YCBT Services, I focus on working with adolescents, adults, and seniors who feel stuck despite their best efforts, specifically targeting generalized anxiety, social anxiety, OCD, panic disorders, and chronic insomnia. By addressing the underlying triggers that keep you on high alert, I am fiercely committed to helping you move beyond surface-level coping to reclaim your peace of mind.