LGBT therapists in Encinitas, CA

Melissa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CA LCSW #130126) who is passionate about helping individuals find better alignment with their values to create a life worth living. Melissa has experience working with trauma (she is trained in EMDR), substance use, anxiety, depression and life transitions. Melissa has worked in the outpatient, intensive outpatient and residential settings since becoming a social worker in 2020. Melissa employs an individualized, eclectic approach including interventions from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to meet the needs of each client. Melissa is passionate about social justice and uses a systems approach that views individual clients in the context of interconnected systems like family, community and society.

I have been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, working with individuals and couples for over 25 years. I believe strongly in the benefits of processing the challenges of life with a supportive and open-minded "witness" in order to get perspective and make hard decisions. I worked with families at Children's Hospital and PsyCare Inc. in San Diego, before opening my private practice in 2003.

I offer a supportive, affirming space where clients can show up authentically. I guide individuals in rediscovering themselves and taking meaningful steps toward a more purposeful and aligned life.

Hi, I’m George. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 17 years of experience working with individuals, couples, groups, and families. I bring a diverse background and wide range of interests to my work as a mental health therapist. I have experience working with groups, couples, families, and individuals of all ages. Some of my major areas of focus include grief and loss, anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, gender identity concerns, and LGBTQ issues. Other areas include panic disorders, anger management, divorce, and blended families.

I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University Northridge and a Master of Science degree from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

I am available to assist with many of the current issues that are affecting us all. Issues os depression, anxiety and PTSD are impacting many. Relationship and communication challenges are problematic. Challenging adolescents and children suffering from ADHD or Learning Disabilities are impacting family life. I can assist you with these common challenges, and help to provide and process solutions.

I have had the opportunity to work with several populaitons including: couples, homeless population, addiction, human trafficking, foster care, medical social work, attachment work with infants and toddlers. I truly and wholeheartedly walk along side clients in their journey during every session.

As a therapist I'm here for you. It seems brave to me make a decision to come to therapy. My part is to listen and without judgment or personal agenda and to be effective in your needs and wants. Of course, I also need to be aware of the legals and ethicals of therapy. I attended Sarah Lawrence College and Harvard University for my BA, and Phillips Graduate Institute for my MA.

I am a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families, including those navigating trauma, anxiety, and complex family situations. My background includes work in hospital, school, and community mental health settings, as well as leadership in behavioral health programs. I specialize in helping families and individuals manage high-stress situations, life transitions, and decision-making when circumstances feel overwhelming. My approach is practical, compassionate, and focused on helping clients feel more confident, organized, and supported.

I’m warm and real, but I’ll also call you out when I see you getting in your own way. I believe emotions carry important information, and the goal isn’t to get rid of them. It’s to learn how to sit with them and respond in a new way. My background includes community mental health, school settings, PHP, IOP, short-term residential, and long-term transitional care, which has shaped a direct and collaborative style that’s all about helping you do something differently.