LGBT therapists in Salinas, CA

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.

I have 40 years experience in the mental health field in multiple roles, I believe listening and believing in the person is the most important way to practice therapy.

I’m a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in stress and anxiety disorders, mood concerns, and LGBT-issues.

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.

Are you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or weighed down by anxiety, depression, self-doubt, or past experiences? Moving forward can feel difficult when emotional pain, relationship struggles, or life stress leave you feeling trapped or uncertain.You do not have to face these challenges alone. I provide a compassionate, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where we can work together to help you heal, grow, and regain confidence. I believe your worth is not defined by your past or your struggles. Together, we will explore practical tools and strategies to help you create meaningful change and move toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.

I’m grateful to have a career that allows me to be authentically myself and spend my days talking deeply about things that matter. I love working with motivated, bright people who know they have a lot to offer, but feel a bit blocked. I find great joy in helping people unblock to find ease and authenticity in their own lives.

We all experience times of feeling stuck, frustrated, or unsure how to move forward. Some seek practical solutions, while others want to understand the “why”—we can focus on both. We’ll move at your pace to explore what isn’t working and why. My goal is to help you navigate challenges, slow down, and feel more connected to your emotions. I’m also passionate about helping couples improve communication, reduce conflict, and build greater intimacy and connection.

My name is Jeffrey W. Danese, MS, MA, LMHC, LPCC, and I am a licensed mental health counselor in Washington State and California, currently based in Sacramento. I bring over 15 years of clinical experience across private practice, inpatient and outpatient mental health settings, and college counseling, along with a an academic background teaching psychology, religious studies, and the history of science in higher education from UCSB, FSU, and 10 years at SJSU to various community colleges in the Puget Sound region and in North Florida and cross-cultural experiences such as living in Taiwan, Zambia, Germany and traveling around the world; I studied Spanish, German, and Chinese language, world history and religions, psychology, evolutionary psychology and the cognitive science of religion; was raised Catholic but ordained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand; and continue to meditate, explore and read broadly. One of my favorite quotes is by the Roman writer, Terence: "I am human and there is nothing human foreign to me." (or, Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto. -- Publius Terentius Afer, 165 BCE)