Family therapy and counseling in Santa Cruz, CA

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 25 years of experience providing compassionate, trauma-informed care across diverse clinical settings. Licensed in both California and Oregon, my career has been dedicated to supporting individuals and families navigating complex life challenges, including trauma, anxiety, depression, and substance use. I am also Native American and can often relate to clients coming from that community.

My background is uniquely broad, ranging from medical social work and home health to forensic mental health within state hospitals and correctional facilities. I have extensive experience working with Tribal communities in rural Alaska, California, and Oregon, providing culturally sensitive psychotherapy and advocacy. Prior to 2000, my foundational work spanned forensic inpatient care, day treatment, and residential programs.

In my practice, I utilize a collaborative, biopsychosocial approach to help clients adapt to changing health statuses and life transitions. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive environment where patients feel empowered to access resources and achieve meaningful change. I am committed to delivering evidence-based interventions that honor each individual's unique history and readiness for growth.

I’m Maria, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over twelve years of experience working with families, children, and adults. My work has focused on breaking generational cycles of trauma and navigating challenging life transitions. In my work I have supported individuals and families through growing up, raising their children, and bringing healing and harmony into the home. I am deeply passionate about helping others on their journeys toward personal growth and a better quality of life and consider it a gift to be an agent of change.

In addition to my clinical work, I am also a working mother of a college student and clinically supervise and train other clinicians. This experience gives me a unique perspective and understanding on navigating life transitions and balancing multiple roles.

My approach is warm, affirmative, and solution-oriented – with some humor mixed in. While it can feel intimidating to take that first step, if you are ready, I can guide you in finding areas of strength while also challenging areas for growth in a compassionate way. Together we can work toward healing in a safe environment and create positive change to improve your quality of life.

Hi, I’m Jessica Castro, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I’m a mother of two and have been married for 15 years, which gives me a deep, personal understanding of the joys and challenges that come with relationships and family life. With over 10 years of experience in the mental health field, I specialize in working with individuals who are seeking clarity, healing, and stronger connections. My clients often share that therapy with me helps them feel heard, empowered, and better equipped to handle life’s stressors. I’m committed to creating a safe, supportive space where meaningful change can happen.

I’m Linh Tran, a psychiatric nurse practitioner with over 10 years in healthcare and 5 years in advanced practice. I hold both a Master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice from Columbia University. My work focuses on anxiety, ADHD, depression, trauma, and eating disorders. I’m especially passionate about supporting adolescents, adults, and those navigating the immigrant or bicultural experience.

Hello, I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, licensed since 2008, with experience working with diverse populations ranging from children to older adults. I provide a warm, safe, and nonjudgmental space where clients can feel supported and understood. I especially enjoy helping individuals navigate life transitions such as starting college, graduating, changing jobs, adjusting to civilian life after the military, or entering retirement. My areas of focus include women’s issues, anxiety, depression, and building self-acceptance. I look forward to supporting you as you move toward growth and balance in your life.

Hi, I’m Amaris, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who believes healing happens best in a space where you feel safe, understood, and never judged.

I work with children, teens, adults, and older adults navigating anxiety, ADHD, emotional overwhelm, grief, and major life transitions. Whether your child is having big feelings they don’t know how to manage, you’re feeling stuck in patterns that don’t serve you, or your family is walking through the heartbreak of dementia or loss, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

My style is supportive, down-to-earth, and collaborative. Therapy with me isn’t about “fixing” you, it’s about helping you understand yourself, build practical tools, and feel more confident handling life’s challenges. I blend evidence-based approaches with compassion, creativity, and sometimes even humor, because growth doesn’t have to feel heavy all the time.

Parents appreciate that I help kids build emotional regulation skills in ways that make sense to them, and I make sure caregivers feel supported too. Adults often come to me when anxiety, emotional ups and downs, or grief feel overwhelming. I also have a special place in my heart for working with older adults and families facing Alzheimer’s, dementia, and end-of-life changes.

At the core of my work is this belief:

You are not broken, you’re human, and you’re capable of growth.

If you’re ready for a space where you can show up exactly as you are, we’ll work at your pace, together.

I have been practicing for 40 + years, in the Southbay, Torrance area. I am a psychologist with a Ph.D. I specialize with young children, adolescence. I also work with couples, families and am practized in depression, anxiety, psychosis, and divorce. I utalize cognitive/behavioral and psychdynamic therapies. I match my approach to the personality and needs of thebpatient.

Hi, I'm Aviva, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Life can become difficult when stress, burnout, relationship problems, body image concerns, or past experiences begin to affect your daily life. Sometimes people seek therapy because they are exhausted from trying to manage everything on their own. I believe in working together to create solutions that will give a different perspective or a way to break patterns that no longer work for them. I have experience with patterns that no longer suit you and have learned methods to work through them.