LGBT therapists in Oceanside, CA

I work with individuals of all ages navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, relationship issues, life transitions, or that lingering feeling that something just isn’t right. My approach is warm, grounded, and collaborative—I offer space to slow down, make sense of what’s happening, and reconnect with what matters most. Whether you're healing from recent events or long-standing patterns,

I work with adolescents and adults and offer individual, couples, and family therapy. I help individuals identify their goals and make the changes necessary to help them lead more productive and fulfilling lives. I am directive, and I provide a warm, caring and non-judgmental environment to explore the issues and life-events with which you may be struggling.

I am passionate about the power of the therapeutic process and helping individuals and families find hope and healing. Together, we will set goals and work towards achieving them - all at a pace that works best for you.

I specialize in working with adults, adolescents and families living with depression, anxiety, trauma, and challenges in relationships. I have significant experience working in higher levels of care settings and with folks navigating suicidal ideation and self-harm.

My name is Joey Ritkes (he/him). I have been working as a mental health therapist for over five years. My practice has primarily been specialized in working with LGBTQ+ youth. However, I have worked with couples, families, emerging adults, and adults from all backgrounds. I am a client-centered therapist who enjoys working collaboratively with my clients to meet their goals.

I genuinely like people, have always love to help ,

Will take my clients through the therapeutic process, with empathy and care for their experience in therapy to be a positive one.

Most of us aren't born knowing how to navigate relationships, understand our emotions, or process trauma. Many things influence how we react and behave, but that doesn't mean we can't grow. My goal is to help you build confidence through discovering your self-worth and practicing self-compassion. My priority is creating a safe, judgment-free environment where you feel comfortable. I show up as my authentic self to build trust with you. I'm an empathetic listener and communicate in a calm, gentle, respectful way. My job isn't to tell you what to do, but to help you process and explore topics to build self-awareness and confidence.

The focus is to help individuals heal, energize, and become aware of their inner strengths. I achieve this by providing a neutral safe space, listening to your concerns, and customizing a treatment plan. I help individuals focus on the Solution.

I work with adults and teens navigating trauma, burnout, identity, and the particular exhaustion of being a sensitive person in a fast-changing world. My work goes beyond talk therapy to build a flexible nervous system, helping to regulate it, reduce symptoms of trauma, and build resilience.

Many of the people I work with are doing everything right on paper. They are the ones who keep showing up, holding it together, being the person everyone else leans on. And they are exhausted in a way that is hard to explain to the people around them. They worry they are making the wrong choices or that everyone else has it together.