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

IMPORTANT: All clients must complete our intake form and sign our policies before their appointment. Please complete these documents at https://intakeq.com/new/6oakjo/lusjbb or contact us at 415-968-6515 (call or text).

I'm accepting new patients in Arizona and California!

As a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I've dedicated my career to helping individuals find clarity and stability through compassionate, evidence-based medication management. My journey in mental health began with my foundational education at Mount Saint Joseph University, followed by advanced psychiatric training at Purdue Global, where I developed specialized expertise in psychopharmacology—the science of how psychiatric medications work in the brain and body.

I understand that starting or adjusting psychiatric medication can feel overwhelming. Many of my patients come to me after struggling with multiple providers, ineffective treatments, or confusing explanations about their care. I've made it my mission to change that experience. When we work together, you'll never wonder why I'm recommending a particular medication or what to expect from your treatment plan.

My clinical focus includes complex conditions that benefit from careful, individualized medication strategies: ADHD, OCD, personality disorders, PTSD and trauma-related conditions, depression, anxiety disorders, panic disorder, mood disorders, and bipolar disorder. I particularly enjoy working with patients who have treatment-resistant symptoms or multiple diagnoses—situations that require creative problem-solving and a deeper understanding of how medications interact within your unique system.

What sets my approach apart is the time I invest in truly understanding you. I'm here to provide clear guidance and consistent support throughout your journey toward better mental health.

I’m a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with over 10 years of experience helping adults navigate trauma, anxiety, relationship challenges, and major life stressors. I specialize in working with individuals recovering from narcissistic abuse, high-conflict relationships, complex trauma, and chronic overwhelm.

I believe therapy should be a space where you don’t have to carry the harder parts of life alone. Trauma doesn’t just live in our thoughts — it can become stored in the nervous system and show up in the way we relate to ourselves, others, and the world around us. Because of this, insight alone is often not enough for lasting healing.

I integrate EMDR, attachment-focused therapy, parts work, and nervous system regulation techniques to help clients process painful experiences, better understand themselves, and feel more grounded, connected, and empowered in their daily lives.

I’m Katrina Balian, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I earned my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. I’m passionate about helping individuals navigate trauma, anxiety, relationship challenges, emotional overwhelm, and life transitions. My goal is to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients feel understood, empowered, and able to build meaningful change in their lives.

Greetings! I am a licensed psychotherapist (LMFT and LPCC) with a background in community mental health. I engage my clients in a warm, compassionate, philosophical, and non-judgmental way. Using a collaborative approach and evidence-based modalities to address a range of mental health issues, I help clients reach their therapeutic goals and achieve a greater sense of wholeness, personal agency, and lasting positive change.

Most of us aren't born knowing how to navigate relationships, understand our emotions, or process trauma. Many things influence how we react and behave, but that doesn't mean we can't grow. My goal is to help you build confidence through discovering your self-worth and practicing self-compassion. My priority is creating a safe, judgment-free environment where you feel comfortable. I show up as my authentic self to build trust with you. I'm an empathetic listener and communicate in a calm, gentle, respectful way. My job isn't to tell you what to do, but to help you process and explore topics to build self-awareness and confidence.

I provide psychotherapy to adults, young adults, children, women, and families in which I specialize in anxiety. As a therapist I diagnose and treat depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD and other mental health disorders.

I believe that getting better from a mental health disorder is not only possible, but realistic. I am here to guide you on that journey of healing. So that you can gain peace and continue to pursue your dreams and goals. When working with children I work with parents to provide play therapy, art therapy, and pet therapy

Shara Ally, DNP, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner providing evidence-based medication management for adults (18+) via telehealth. As an author and TEDx speaker, she translates complex research into clear, practical care plans that help patients feel informed and supported.

Shara specializes in mood and anxiety disorders, trauma-related conditions (PTSD), adult ADHD, OCD, bipolar spectrum disorders, and women's mental health across the reproductive lifespan—including perinatal and postpartum mood disorders, PMDD, and menopausal transitions. Her practice is medication-focused and highly collaborative, with education, skills coaching, and supportive check-ins integrated into visits. She coordinates closely with therapists, primary care providers, OB-GYNs, and other clinicians to ensure cohesive treatment.

Patients can expect a comprehensive evaluation reviewing history, symptoms, prior treatments, and goals. Shara practices thoughtful prescribing with transparent discussion of options, benefits, and side effects so decisions are truly shared. She uses measurement-based care—structured symptom tracking—to guide adjustments and reduce trial-and-error. Her whole-person approach integrates sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress management when relevant, with streamlined access through secure telehealth and clear after-visit summaries.

Shara's style is warm, direct, and person-centered, grounded in shared decision-making. Her care is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and rooted in current clinical evidence. Beyond clinical practice, she serves as a nurse educator and academic mentor, shaping future psychiatric clinicians through evidence-based teaching. An international fellowship in India enriched her global perspective through research and teaching in hospital and university settings.

For up-to-date availability, please visit us or call/text us at 415-968-6515.

I have a deep commitment to seeing people flourish in relationship to themselves, and to others. For many of us, we have some sense of what makes relationships great and what makes them terrible. Knowing and experiencing what makes great relationships stronger, and what turns terrible relationships around, is where I can work alongside you. As someone who has been stepped in Attachment science, I love allowing for people to make more coherent sense of their internal world, to build or restore bonds with others.

We all carry a unique story, and part of my role is to help uncover the threads of your past in order to create new, meaningful chapters. I believe in addressing the whole person – not just the symptoms – by considering your physical, emotional, and mental health as interconnected. Together, we’ll explore the tools and coping mechanisms that work best for you, while also reflecting on the deeper patterns that may be at play. I approach our work together with curiosity, compassion, and respect for your experiences. Therapy is not about me giving you answers- it's a collaborative process of understanding, growth, and change.