Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Santa Cruz, CA

Reaching out for help can be challenging for many. As psychotherapy aims at positive changes you desire, I am honored to provide a safe place for your self-exploration and reflection in which you can gain your inner peace and change you long for. Being specialized in trauma, PTSD, sexual abuse and domestic violence, I can offer some resolution in your trauma work. Trauma can penetrate not only your emotional well-being but also almost every facet of your life.

Hello, I'm a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner whose practice is rooted in one foundational belief: every person deserves compassionate, individualized mental health care — regardless of background, circumstance, or the barriers and challenges they've faced along the way.

I focus on the treatment of depression, anxiety, and life's traumas, with a particular dedication to individuals from underserved and marginalized communities who have historically faced systemic barriers to quality mental health care.

All care is grounded in evidence-based practice, blending the most current clinical research with individualized judgment and patient-centered values. As a lifelong learner, I actively pursue continuing education and emerging best practices in psychiatric care — because excellence in medicine requires ongoing growth, humility, and a willingness to be taught by both science and the patients who make this work meaningful.

I welcome patients of all backgrounds and identities, and I am honored to walk alongside each person on their journey toward healing, wholeness, and hope.

My clients tell me I am extremely non judgemental, empathic and very safe to talk to. I also work directly WITH you to set your desired goals and what you want from your therapy. One of my joys is to help my clients learn how to be their individual authentic selves complete with confidence, clarity and calm.

I believe people carry far more strength, clarity, and resilience than they often realize. My role is to help you understand the emotional patterns and internal narratives that shape your experience, so you can move through life with greater freedom and self‐trust. I’m engaged, attuned, and honest in the room — offering reflection, insight, and steady collaboration as we explore what’s happening beneath the surface. We work at a pace that feels grounded for you, creating space for real change to germinate.

I entered into this field to help individuals to learn, grow and heal at their own pace. I fundamentally believe that we are the experts of ourselves and our experiences. My role through my education, learning and experience is to support clients’ in unlocking their awareness of patterns to increase the clients’ ability to access the tools within them to facilitate their learning, growth and healing through a collaborative process.

As a Black/African American woman, I am passionate about working with people of color (especially people of color who identify as LGBTIA+) in destigmatizing mental health in our communities and identifying how systemic racism/systemic oppression affect our mental health.

My strengths as a therapist are rooted in fifteen years of experience working in the field as a mental health clinician in a variety of settings. I have supported individual’s ability to access their inherent tools to overcome struggles connected to trauma, grief & loss, depression and general anxiety. Over the course of my experience I have developed skills in providing therapy to underrepresented, underserviced families, children, individuals, and couples. I also have a wealth of experience supporting youth involved in the juvenile justice system, oppositional teens, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

As a 2nd generation child of immigrants/refugees, I understand the complexities of exploring one’s own identity as life is still in motion. I believe that integration of new lived experiences with old ones are key in discovering wholeness. As your therapist, I’ll support you in better understanding how these have influenced your way of being–how you think, behave, and interact with the world around you!

I am Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Rutgers University. With over 7 years of experience in social services, I have observed how all individuals are learning to exist & thrive within the context of a greater whole. Within my role as a mental health therapist, I prioritizes person-centered work with a lens on how one’s lived experiences have shaped their worldview and way through life.

I believes in holistic care and supports the idea that the tools required for healing and wholeness derive within each individual; as your therapist, I’ll support you in discovering what these tools are within your own capacities.

I have experience working with individuals working through cultural identity challenges, grief, chronic illness, geriatric populations & in couples therapy.

Welcome, I'm glad you're here. I’m Robin Daughenbaugh, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20 years of social work experience in both public and private sectors. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with adults from all walks of life, helping them navigate the challenges that life can bring.

I specialize in working with individuals facing anxiety, depression, stress, substance use, childhood trauma, homelessness, life transitions, and self-esteem issues. If you're facing challenges that feel difficult to manage on your own, I'm here to help you navigate them with support and care.

Hello and welcome!

As a licensed clinical social worker, I truly believe that mental health is the foundation for growth and healing. It takes courage and strength to take that first step and I want to celebrate you for making it!

I mainly work with adults in individual therapy, drawing from various modalities tailored to each person's unique needs and issues. I'm also certified in EMDR, which can be really helpful for processing difficult experiences.

I'm a first-generation, openly gay, Asian American therapist with a unique understanding and experience working with a broad spectrum of individuals.

My name is Gillermina Alvarado and I go by Mina. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Riverside, CA, working with clients statewide via telehealth. I received my Master's from the University of Phoenix and have been practicing for 9 years.

I work with young children, adolescents, young adults, and adults who are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, grief and loss, behavioral challenges, and life changes. My communication style is calm, accommodating, and personable — I want my clients to feel comfortable speaking with me about anything and feeling safe, and I pride myself on my ability to listen without judgment.

Above all, I believe that you are the expert of your own story, and that you have many strengths that will help you overcome what's challenging you. It takes courage to take the first steps toward change, and I'm here to support and empower you in that journey.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, specialized in mental health and women's issues. I use Expressive Arts and EMDR strategies to address trauma and anxiety. I am directive and supportive.

Welcome! Congratulations on taking your first step toward finding a therapist. Having experienced the therapeutic process myself, I understand that seeking support can be challenging and takes courage. You can do this!

After 10 years experience in counseling, I specialize in a range of evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). In addition, I am in the process of developing my knowledge base in Somatic Experiencing (SE) therapy. My experience with these treatment modalities allows me to tailor treatment to your unique needs and experiences.