Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Santa Barbara, CA covered by United Healthcare

Hi, I'm Ellen, a psychotherapist who treats adults and adolescents 19 and up. I combine psychodynamic techniques with spirituality to create a session that offers both common sense and compassion, and also some creative and fun interventions! I work with anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, relationships, and more. My approach is individualized to respect you and what you need or hope for in therapy. I am a marriage and family therapist with experience in school, clinic, and private practice.

Hello and welcome! My name is Shannon Merritt and I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT). I am based in Southern California and offer telehealth services to clients across the state. My expertise includes supporting individuals through life transitions, managing depression and anxiety, coping with loss, and addressing various mental health challenges. I am also passionate about helping people recover from addiction and/or trauma.

I draw from various modalities and tailor my approach to each individual and their specific needs. I aim to create a safe and supportive environment where clients feel at ease, can build resilience, and ultimately thrive. My communication style is straightforward, calm, and approachable. I offer clear and honest feedback in order to foster clients' wellbeing while developing hope for their future.

In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions. Clients can expect to develop valuable insight and gain the tools needed to make meaningful changes in their lives.

I am a double board-certified family and psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner. As a Family and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, I believe that healing begins with understanding. My goal is to create a safe, supportive space where you can share your story without judgment and work toward meaningful, lasting change. I provide individualized, evidence-based care for adults facing depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorders, ADHD/ADD, and sleep disorders.

Welcome! I’m Robert Plavajka, a licensed marriage and family therapist dedicated to supporting individuals of all ages—children, adolescents, and adults—who are navigating the complexities of family trauma, anxiety, depression, and the search for purpose in life.

IMPORTANT: All clients must complete our intake form and sign our policies before their appointment.

Please complete these documents at https://intakeq.com/new/6oakjo/lusjbb or contact us at 602-800-4699 (call or text).

Please also email or text us a copy of your photo ID/driver's license at [email protected]

I'm Sherri Crespin, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specializing in complex mental health conditions in adults. With dual board certifications from the American Nurses Credentialing Center as both a Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I bring a comprehensive understanding of how mental and physical health intersect to create truly holistic care.

My clinical expertise includes treating trauma and PTSD, personality disorders, schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, and mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and bipolar disorder. I'm experienced in managing complex medication regimens and other specialized treatments that require careful monitoring and expertise.

I earned both my Bachelor of Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin, where I developed a strong foundation in evidence-based practice. What sets my practice apart is my commitment to treating the whole person—not just managing symptoms, but understanding your unique story, challenges, and goals.

Whether you're seeking psychiatric medication management or comprehensive treatment for multiple conditions, I create a safe, non-judgmental environment where you can openly discuss your concerns and actively shape your treatment plan. I also provide ESA letters when clinically appropriate.

I look forward to partnering with you on your journey toward improved mental health and lasting well-being.

I work with individual adults and certain families who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, sad, lonely, sensitive, anxious, or defeated. If you're feeling heavy by everything going on, or feeling frantic, or having conflict in your relationships or are just feeling lost in any way, I would love to see if I can help! I also work with family units going through transition or strain, such as conflict between a parent and their adult child, or supporting parents who are experiencing difficult things with their child or teen.

I have a lot of experience helping people through loss, whether it's a breakup, losing a job, or a loved one - including loss of a pet, which is a specialty of mine. I have special interest in supporting other therapists, and also community organizers and activists who are engaged in social justice work. Many of my clients are trans or NB, and others are gay, lesbian, or queer. Poly and kink affirming.

I offer telehealth services to clients in California, Idaho, Washington, or Virginia.