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

I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with experience working in community mental health, co-occurring substance use treatment, and residential care settings. I work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use challenges, mood disorders, relationship stress, and major life transitions.

I believe therapy works best when clients feel heard, respected and supported without judgement. My approach is collaborative, trauma-informed, and tailored to each client's unique needs and goals. I draw from CBT, motivational interviewing, and strengths-based approaches to help clients build insight, emotional stability, and healthier coping strategies.

What patterns keep repeating in your life, even when part of you wants something different?

I work with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, grief, life transitions, and experiences that have been hard to put into words -- including adoption-related history, infertility, and the emotional complexity of becoming a parent. A lot of what brings people to therapy isn't a single event. It's the quiet accumulation of feeling disconnected, unseen, or like something important has never had space to be worked through. I trained at UCLA and bring both clinical depth and genuine warmth to this work.

I am a board-certified nurse practitioner with many years of experience in healthcare, including primary care, psychiatric mental health, leadership, and wellness-based practice. My background has allowed me to work with individuals facing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and medical concerns, and I understand how closely mental health and physical health are connected.

I work with adults and couples who feel stuck in patterns that insight alone hasn't changed. Specializing in Veteran care, anxiety, depression, and gender affirming care, I will provide a focused, grounded, and effective approach to therapy. My practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is centered on helping clients clarify what is maintaining their difficulties and develop practical and sustainable ways of shifting them.

I have a modern and compassionate style to treatment. I bring authenticity and humor to our work. I am all-inclusive in my practice and welcome all individuals, and couples of any race, orientation, gender identity, body-type, culture, and religion. You have taken the first step, let me help you with the second.

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), I’m trained at the graduate level in mental health care across the lifespan. I assess mental health concerns, diagnose conditions, prescribe and manage psychiatric medications, and provide psychotherapy. I also coordinate care with therapists, primary care providers, and other specialists as needed.

Teryn Leaper has a Masters in Counseling

Psychology from Mount Saint Mary's University.

She is currently board certified with the BBS in

California and BHEC in Texas.

Teryn has been spent the last decade in Los

Angeles and has been living in Texas for the last

year. Outside of work Teryn likes to read, write

short stories and poems and knit.

I work with children, adolescents, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and life transitions! I am also experienced in supporting individuals facing relationship challenges, identity development, and difficulties with emotional regulation. As a Queer therapist, I'm passionate about working with the LGBTQ+ population. I am drawn to this work because I value the depth and resilience within each person’s story. My approach is grounded in attachment-based theory and informed by evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.