LGBT therapists in Encinitas, CA

I’m so glad you’re here. I’m Nina, a licensed therapist who is passionate about helping people feel better and live more fulfilling lives. I’ve worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds and offer services in both English and Spanish. My goal is to support your well-being by helping you build skills, navigate challenges, and create healthier, more meaningful relationships.

I'm Candice Jeffers, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with an unusual background—I spent nearly a decade in cardiovascular critical care before dedicating myself to mental health. That ICU experience taught me something crucial: psychiatric crises deserve the same urgency, expertise, and unwavering support as any cardiac emergency.

For nine years at Ascension Seton Medical Center's Cardiovascular ICU, I supervised teams through impossible situations. I learned to stay steady when everything felt uncertain, to read the subtle signs others might miss, and to offer hope when families needed it most. Those years shaped how I practice psychiatry today—with precision, presence, and profound respect for what you're facing.

I completed my Master of Science in Nursing at University of South Alabama in 2024, immersing myself in over 600 clinical hours spanning outpatient clinics, inpatient psychiatry, and crisis intervention. My pediatric nursing background adds another layer—I understand how early experiences shape us and how differently mental health shows up across ages.

My practice centers on thorough psychiatric evaluations, personalized medication management, and crisis intervention for all ages. I specialize in suicide risk assessment, trauma-informed approaches, and evidence-based treatments that actually fit into real lives. I'm MOUD-trained and licensed for telehealth in Texas, California, Arizona, and Florida.

Here's what matters most: I approach mental health as someone who's held space for both miracles and heartbreak. I know seeking help requires tremendous courage. I know healing rarely follows a straight line. And I know you need a provider who won't flinch, no matter what you share. My work blends critical care decisiveness with deep compassion—because you deserve both.

Welcome, and thank you for considering me as a partner in your wellness journey! My therapeutic style is warm, gentle, and supportive, while also being direct and accountability focused. I believe meaningful change happens when compassion and honesty work together. In our time together, we will explore what’s getting in the way of your well-being and identify practical, sustainable ways to improve your daily functioning and overall quality of life.

With over a decade of experience in the mental health field, I bring a grounded, steady presence to the therapeutic space. I support clients through life transitions, emotional challenges, and periods of feeling stuck, always meeting you where you are while helping you move toward where you want to be. Therapy with me is collaborative, intentional, and centered on your goals, your values, and your lived experience. Together, we’ll work toward clarity, resilience, and growth at a pace that feels both supportive and empowering.

Hello,

I am Dr. Jaeger and I welcome you to my practice. I look forward to sitting with you, hearing your story, and developing a plan to help you with your concerns and needs.

I'm glad you're here. I provide an environment where you can share your experiences and current stressors while shedding what no longer serves you to become your best self. I work with individuals impacted by trauma, anxiety, depression, and life transitions.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. My approach to therapy is direct yet empathetic with a strength-based approach. I specialize in treating Anxiety, Depression, Couples, Family Therapy, Grief and Loss, Anger Management, Feedback Informed Care, LGBTQIA+, Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar, DID, Kinks, and Complex Trauma. My style/approach is a fit for teens and adults who may be dealing with challenges in their lives, both personally and professionally. These challenges may manifest as anxiety, depression, guilt, and anger.

I earned my Master of Social Work and am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). My professional journey began in social services and the Department of Mental Health, and I later worked with community mental health agencies supporting people from many different backgrounds. These experiences strengthened my commitment to helping individuals feel supported and understood while navigating life’s challenges.

I have provided therapy to clients of all ages, both individually and within families, and I now focus primarily on adults who want to create meaningful change in their lives. In addition, I bring experience working with individuals with autism and ADHD diagnoses, offering strategies that highlight their strengths, improve daily functioning, and foster growth.

My approach is centered on guiding clients through anxiety, depression, trauma, and overwhelming stress, with the goal of building greater stability, confidence, and connection. I believe therapy should be a safe, collaborative space where progress feels achievable and each step brings clients closer to the life they want to live.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Orange County, California. I have worked in this field for over 13 years, and am committed to helping adult individuals from all walks of life navigate life's various challenges. My goal is for us to join together as a therapeutic team to help you better navigate whatever struggles life has thrown your way. I specialize in working with adults experiencing a wide array of concerns including, but not limited to, anxiety, trauma, mood disorders, attention-deficit disorders, relationship difficulties, struggles with self esteem, and various life stressors and transitions.

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.