Find a therapist in Chula Vista, CA — covered by insurance

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 16 years of experience. I am also former Naval Officer of 6 years who provided mental health to active duty and their families. I utilize Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) (i.e, mindfulness and values-focused) as my baseline approach and hypnotherapy, Jungian Psychotherapy and Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) to help with Trauma. These together make a great team to aide you in your healing process. I believe in developing a healthy Client-Therapist relationship to fully support any other approaches.

I am a certified EMDR therapist with an attachment focused approach to healing trauma. My EMDR training and certification comes from EMDR International Association, the highest standards for EMDR clinical use. I am also trained in parts work and Internal Family Systems (IFS) which are recommended for trauma and attachment therapy. I graduated with my master degree in social work in 2015 and became a fully licensed practitioner in 2020.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.I specialize in working with adolescents and adults who are struggling with anxiety disorders, OCD, phobias, and trauma.

You can visit my website for more information: https://www.thiwlodarskilmft.com

Hi, I'm Brian! I'm a licensed counselor with a background in holistic medicine as well. I've worked with a variety of mental health concerns, with my primary specialty being treating trauma.

I offer a genuine, welcoming, and supportive therapeutic space, balancing warmth with a direct and honest approach to help clients create meaningful change. I strive to be understanding and collaborative, meeting clients where they are while supporting growth.

I have over five years of clinical experience working across a variety of settings, including county social programs, community mental health, pediatric hospital- Rady Children’s Hospital, and specialized group practices serving BIPOC communities and children, youth, and families. Currently, I work in a practice focused on supporting children and youth with ADHD and anxiety, as well as parents through parent coaching and family-based care.

I am trained in evidence-based modalities including CBT, DBT, ACT, PMT, TF-CBT, STAND, SPACE, and PCIT, and I tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs and strengths.

I am very honest, caring, real and genuine. Encouragement and support for their future journey.

Are you are experiencing verbal and/or mental abuse from a romantic partner, a parent, sibling, friend, co-worker? Do you struggle with your own internal thoughts (e.g. "you’re not good enough”, "it's all your fault", “you are not a priority”). Maybe you’ve lost someone and you’re grieving. You are emotionally exhausted because of the pain you hide and the inability to say "no". You tell yourself the good is good but the bad is bad. You're scared and confused on what to do or how to "fix" things. These experiences create rumination, avoidance, trauma, anxiety, and more.

Sometimes a thoughtful conversation with the right person can make all the difference. As an experienced therapist, husband, and father, I bring both professional training and real-life wisdom to help people navigate life’s challenges. Over many years of both life and clinical work, I’ve had the privilege of helping people move through difficult seasons, gain clarity, and reconnect with their strengths. Whether this is your first time seeking therapy or you’re returning after time away, it’s normal to feel uncertain. Our first conversation is simply a starting point. I often work with people facing life transitions, relationship challenges, or feeling stuck, seeking clarity and a practical path forward. Together, we’ll slow things down, understand what’s happening, and identify steps that help move you forward. If you are going through a difficult season, you don't have to navigate it alone.

Some seasons of life ask more of you than you ever expected, and somewhere along the way you stopped feeling like yourself. I work with teens, parents, and adults who are moving through anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, and the heavy stretches that come with big life transitions. I care deeply about supporting LGBTQIA+ and transgender clients, and families who want to understand and show up for one another a little better. So much of this work is simply remembering that you do not have to carry any of it alone.