Addiction therapists & psychiatrists in El Cajon, CA

I provide compassionate, evidence-based mental health care in a safe, judgment-free space.

Hello!

My name is Aldemar. I have 30 years of experience in the field of mental health, in various capacities. I have a degree in Psychology from Sonoma State University and a Master's degree from Sacramento State University. I specialize in trauma work, Anxiety, Couples therapy, and substance use issues.

I am glad you are here. I commend you for having taken the difficult step to ask for support! I do know that it can feel overwhelming to start therapy, yet here you are; congratulations!

I can understand first-hand how difficult it can be to reach out for help for the first time. I believe in the importance of "practicing what you preach" and I have been the client in the room who needs extra support. I invite you to give yourself a chance, try something new, and gain a healthy perspective on how to address complicated moments in your life.

I’m a bilingual Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides therapy in both Spanish and English, from colloquial to professional levels. My work has included supporting individuals facing HIV/AIDS-related challenges, domestic violence, substance use, loneliness, suicidal thoughts, dual diagnosis, sexuality-related concerns, aging-related issues, and the broader impact these experiences can have on families and support systems. Across community, academic, and clinical settings in Mexico and the U.S., I’ve built a strong foundation in helping people navigate both personal suffering and societal distress.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 25 years of experience providing mental health services in behavioral health, crisis intervention, community mental health, and medical settings. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and families navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, family conflict, and other emotional challenges.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, compassionate, and trauma-informed. I believe healing happens when clients feel safe, understood, and empowered. I work alongside clients to build on their strengths, develop practical coping skills, and create meaningful, lasting change in a supportive and nonjudgmental environment.

Throughout my career, I have provided therapy and clinical support in outpatient, community-based, hospital, college mental health, and correctional settings. In my private practice, I provide bilingual psychotherapy to individuals and families experiencing trauma, stress, relationship challenges, parenting concerns, and behavioral health issues. I also have extensive experience supporting foster, adoptive, and biological families caring for children impacted by trauma and attachment-related difficulties.

My professional background includes crisis stabilization, risk assessment, treatment planning, wraparound services, and multidisciplinary care coordination for youth and families with complex needs. I am also a part-time lecturer in the School of Social Work at San Diego State University, where I teach and mentor future social workers.

I am passionate about culturally responsive care, equity in mental health services, and helping clients feel empowered throughout their healing journey. I provide services in both English and Spanish and welcome clients from all backgrounds.

Melinda Fay is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in Art Therapy. I received my MA in Psychology from Phillips Graduate Institute in 2002 and I have been licensed since 2008.

Hi, I'm Mitch — a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Vanderbilt University. San Diego has been home since 2020, when the Navy first brought me here.

My background includes pediatrics at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, inpatient psychiatry in Nashville and San Diego, crisis stabilization, and outpatient mental health care. I’ve worked with veterans, college students, LGBTQ+ individuals, people experiencing homelessness, and patients navigating anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, trauma, substance use, and severe mental illness.

I primarily provide psychiatric evaluation and medication management while integrating supportive therapy, psychoeducation, and practical coping strategies into visits. My approach is collaborative, direct, and grounded in helping people improve day-to-day functioning and quality of life.

I look forward to getting to know you.

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.

You may have held doubts about talk therapy and perhaps are thinking therapy may not work at all for what you are dealing with. Psychotherapy like all science is continually changing. Both new and long held approaches to well-being are vast. I invite you to consider Brainspotting before you rule out therapy entirely. My role as a Brainspotting clinician is to offer you support, as you discover your innate capacity for positive self change. I specialize in trauma focused therapy, specializing in treating anxiety disorders. I focus on various forms of addiction, OCD, behavioral issues, depression, bi-polar and mood disorders.

I am a masters level trained Brainspotting clinician and a U.S. Army veteran. I believe in facilitating change in a supportive environment, following and observing your amazing capacity to heal from trauma in your therapeutic work. I work with veterans, first-responders, and other populations struggling with unresolved trauma and anxiety disorders.

Your unique circumstances are to be understood, honored respected and explored in a judgement free, supportive and caring environment. The issues that you bring into therapy remain entirely up to you. I will listen to your wants and needs; joining you on the journey towards your desired sense of well-being.

I am a board certified, doctoral prepared PMHNP. I completed my post graduate at National University in Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. I earned my DNP from Azusa Pacific University and graduated from CSUSB MSN program. I have been a faculty at CSUSB since 2014. Extensively trained and a certified Trauma-Informed specialist. I diagnose and treat mental disorders including medication-assisted treatment along with counseling for chemical dependency and substance use disorders.

I am a mental health clinician who takes a solution‐focused and empowering approach to therapy. I believe healing happens at your pace, and I strive to meet you exactly where you are. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe, respected, and understood as we work together to explore challenges, build on your strengths, and move toward meaningful change.

Whatever brought you here, you don’t have to figure it out alone. With over 12 years of experience supporting individuals and families, I’ve seen how much can shift when someone finally feels truly heard. Whether you’re working through something specific or simply feel ready for change, I’d be honored to walk alongside you and your loved ones on the path forward.