As a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), I specialize in the treatment of anxiety using multiple approaches to recovery.

When you live with constant anxiety, relational stress, or emotional burnout, just getting through the day can feel overwhelming. You might find yourself wondering why you keep getting stuck in the same painful patterns, no matter how hard you try to think differently or push through. In my practice, I go far beyond surface-level advice or simple “think positive” techniques. I believe that the ways you react, protect yourself, or struggle today are not personal failures; they are smart adaptations your body, mind, and nervous system created to help you survive earlier in life. My goal is to offer a safe, steady, and nonjudgmental space where your whole self can finally slow down and feel deeply seen. Together, we bring gentle curiosity and somatic awareness to these protective patterns. Rather than forcing rigid behavior changes from the top down, we work to release old trauma and stress from the roots up. By honoring the protective parts of yourself and caring for your nervous system, you can learn to truly trust yourself again, heal from past pain, and build a quiet, steady sense of self-worth from the inside out.

My approach to helping individuals is based on respect, validation, and acknowledgement of their experiences and struggles in life. Finding a person that can accept us despite our life choices is often difficult. Feelings of judgment, insecurity, and guilt may prevent many from breaking free from their past and moving forward. This stress may often appear not just psychologically but also physiologically (somatization) through frequent illness, etc. The process of breaking free is often lonely and intimidating. I will support you through your unique journey of moving forward and achieving the confidence you need to thrive and feel empowered. I will also help you better understand how stress may be impacting your physical health and ways of shifting this cycle.

I have helped clients process complex sexual trauma and emotional abuse, neglect and abandonment. I also work with depression, anxiety, loss and attachment issues, as well as Chronic and Terminal illnesses such as Epilepsy, Breast cancer.

Hi, I’m Kari, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Registered Dietitian. I support individuals experiencing anxiety and depression, struggling with an eating disorder, caught in addiction, or navigating a life transition. I have specialized training in the treatment of eating disorders and common co-occurring disorders such as OCD, ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder, and substance use. I also support people who want to improve their lives by setting healthier boundaries, building confidence, and living more aligned to their values. I help couples who want to feel more connected with their partner and improve communication to resolve conflict in a caring and effective way. I have completed Level 1 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, training in the Gottman Approach for the Treatment of Affairs and Trauma, and use Gottman Method Couples Therapy in my work.

You know something isn't working. Maybe you're successful on paper but feel disconnected from your partner, your kids, yourself. Maybe anger keeps showing up when you don't want it to, or you're stuck in a cycle of anxiety that you've been powering through for years. Maybe you're going through a divorce and the ground has shifted under your feet. You've been handling things on your own for a long time. But "handling it" isn't the same as actually dealing with it and you're starting to feel the cost. Here's what I want you to know: You don't need to have it all figured out before you call. You don't need to know the right words. You just need to be willing to be honest about where you are. I've spent 20 years working with men who are navigating exactly these kinds of crossroads, relationship breakdowns, career pressure, identity questions, the weight of being the one who holds everything together. I'm direct, I'm practical, and I won't waste your time. We'll figure out what's actually going on, what you want, and how to get there. My approach draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Gestalt, but what that means in plain language is this: we'll look at the patterns driving your behavior, understand where they came from, build real skills for managing your emotions and relationships, and get you moving toward the life you actually want. I also work extensively with couples. If your relationship is strained and you're not sure whether to stay or go, that's exactly the kind of moment I help people navigate. Ready to talk? Call me at 858-901-6274 for a free 15-minute consultation. You'll tell me what's going on, I'll tell you how I'd approach it, and you can decide if it feels like the right fit. No pressure, no commitment. Just a conversation.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist who is committed to providing an integrated mindbodyspirit approach to wellness. I founded Orange County Health Psychologists, a group practice of like-minded mental health providers with specialization in various areas of behavioral health and medicine. All of our health care providers are adept at treating depression, anxiety, and trauma. What sets us apart is that each of our providers also has expertise in a unique psychological sub-specialty including chronic pain, EMDR, sleep disorders, neuropsychology, grief and loss, terminal illness, cardiac-psychology, geropsychology, women's health, rehabilitation psychology, caregiver stress, psycho-oncology, energy psychology and eating disorders. We provide a variety of testing and assessment services including those for ADDADHD, memory loss, surrogacy, Asperger's and high-functioning autism, pre-marital assessment, and bariatric surgery. We also have a psychiatrist for adult medication management. Most of our providers accept Medicare and will bill out-of-network for other insurance plans.

Are you exhausted from holding it all together at work, in your family, or in your partnership only to feel frustrated that the same patterns keep resurfacing? You’re capable, thoughtful, and driven yet something isn’t shifting. You're finding that talking about it and reading about it has not brought the results you hoped for. Evidence-based, more experiential therapy can help you understand what’s underneath those patterns so real change becomes possible. As you gain clarity about the parts of you that work so hard to protect, please, or perform, you’ll feel less internally conflicted and more grounded in your relationships. I offer a steady, nonjudgmental space where you can slow down and speak honestly about what you’re carrying. Rather than adding more tools or techniques, we focus on what’s happening inside. Using Internal Family Systems (IFS) we’ll gently explore the different parts of you that have been trying to help, even the self-critical ones. You have so many parts inside that are longing to be known. Together, we can uncover the self-compassion and confidence that’s already within you, and ease the internal conflicts that haven't found relief with traditional talk therapy. If you’re ready for meaningful, lasting change, I invite you to reach out.

Tired of feeling exhausted, unmotivated, disconnected, and dissatisfied in your life? Today is the day to regain balance and Rooted Empowerment Collective is here to guide you through the process. Our transformative care is tailored to meet the needs and schedules of busy professionals dealing with workplace stress, burn-out, strained relationships, or a general sense of disconnect. Through the use of powerful techniques such as Brainspotting, mind-body exercises, insight building, and a healthy dose of humor, our 50min sessions help clients regain a sense of empowerment and balance in their life. Ready to get your life back? Click the link to email us to set up a free 15-minute discovery session to see if we’re a good fit!

With over 15 years of experience in the fields of human services and psychotherapy, I have had the privilege of working with folx from diverse backgrounds with varying levels of needs AND strengths. Although my practice utilizes a variety of modalities, as a Certified EMDR Therapist, I specialize in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), a neurobiological approach that targets difficult memories from the past that form problematic patterns contributing to current issues, such as difficulty trusting, perfectionism, self-doubt, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Recognizing the important role our protective system plays in healing, I also incorporate parts work to help clients learn, befriend, and develop compassion for all parts of themselves that, at times, have been in conflict and causing overwhelming internal turmoil. With the use of humanistic, mindfulness-based, and somatic techniques informed by the polyvagal theory, clients can take steps toward finding peace in the nature of impermanence and approaching life in a gentler way. I use humor, psychoeducation, and appropriate self-disclosure to help folx understand their thoughts and behaviors, even the ones that have been labeled as "dramatic" or "overreacting", from a neuro-biological perspective and trauma-informed lens. Being a Queer, First gen Asian American therapist, I am familiar with the cultural barriers and challenges QTBIPOC folx face both professionally and personally. During the darkest part of my life, I was fortunate to cross paths with healing professionals who showed me hope. Since then, I have made it my life’s mission to pass on that hope to others. I constantly strive to provide a safe, respectful, and healing space for all, especially those from underserved and marginalized communities. I am acutely aware of the collective trauma many of our communities are struggling from as oppressive, discriminating policies and hateful rhetoric are widespread all around us. My hope is to be able to offer a refuge where that painangerfear can be witnessed, shared, and when appropriate, turned into an energizing force to stand up and take up space once more. However, no healing can take place unless one can feel safe and trust in the therapeutic relationship. I truly believe that the most effective therapeutic progress stems from a collaborative, mutually respectful process between two authentic human beings. If my values and approach to therapy resonate with you, please feel free to contact me for a free consultation to determine if we would be a good fit.

Practical, non-judgemental, with a goal of moving forward. Are you a struggling couple or individual, feeling stuck and emotionally tired? Are you a couple or individual ready for the next step in your relationship or in life!? I bring a variety of skills and compassion and experience to the room. I aim to help you feel stronger, calmer, and regain a sense of hope for your future, for your relationship, for happiness. I have two main areas of focus: Relationship skills and emotion regulation. For couples, I have been certified in the couples program Mastering The Mysteries of Love. For individuals and their families I have been intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, helpful for those struggling with emotional regulation, relationship, and impulse control problems. I work from a goal oriented approach, looking at short term and long term goals, and keeping the focus on solvable issues, or assisting in finding acceptance. I worked in a psychiatric setting for 15 years, and managed the clinical team for 8. I have had a private practice since 2004. I have worked in a corporate setting as a quality coach and management trainer helping businesses and school organizations change for the better.

My approach is strength based, collaborative and empowering. Through our work together you will gain insight into yourself and your relationships, and you will feel supported as you try to grow into the person you want to be. As a psychologist and art therapist I have devoted 30 years to supporting the wellbeing of others. I look forward to getting to know your unique story and walking with you on your path to a more fulfilled life.