Everyone needs a neutral person to help support and guide them through life’s challenges, transitions and hurdles. I believe the most important aspect of therapy is having a trusting, nonjudgmental, and compassionate relationship with your therapist; therapy should feel safe, and provide you relief. I offer a safe space to share your true self, while learning tools to manage the obstacles in your life. I am trained in trauma work and use EMDR therapy as one of my approaches. I also provided clinical supervision for ASW who are looking to become a therapist.

Dr. Silbert provides sex therapy for sexual problems related to libido, arousal, performance and orgasm, sexual identity, sexual abuse, and non-normative sexual practices; sexual, couple and marital counseling for individuals to overcome sex problems to achieve sexual enhancement; psychotherapy and hypnosis for sex addiction, depression, grief, stress, loss, medical illness, death anxiety and sexual issues; and telephone advice for sexual education, sexual problems and mental health problems. Seventy to eighty percent of all adult males and females experience sexual problems in their lives. These include lack of interest, decreased libido, performance anxiety, achieving orgasm, problems maintaining arousal, erectile dysfunction (impotence), premature ejaculation, vaginal pain and general sexual dissatisfaction. These problems can be caused by anxiety, stress, fear, lack of sexual knowledge and experience, childhood physical and sexual trauma, relationship difficulties, physical disabilities and medical problems. The Sexuality Clinic of San Diego provides sexual counseling and therapy for individuals and couples to achieve sexual satisfaction. Emphasis is placed on educating clients about the sexual system for the individual and within the matrix of a couple. Treatment issues encompass sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual role behavior, extramarital affairs, communication skills, enhancing creativity, coping with non-normative sexual practices, sexual addiction, sexual compulsion, masturbation, pelvic pain disorders, menopause, infertility, medical illness, sexual desire discrepancy, emotional distress, depression, anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, and body image. Sex therapy is tailored to individual needs. For some, this will include enhancing sexual knowledge, decreasing performance anxiety or improving sexual communication, performance and creativity. For others, therapy will focus on more effectively dealing with issues of fear, anger, trust and the vulnerability of intimacy, hence becoming more comfortable with ones self, emotionally and physically.

First Avenue Counseling Centre (FACC) is a non-profit agency dedicated to providing low-fee counseling services to San Diego families. We began in 2002, shortly after another local counseling agency had closed its doors, leaving a significant need for these services in the community we love. In addition to offering individual, couple, and family counseling, we also offer groups focusing on relationship counseling and anger management. Low-Cost Individual Counseling Problems in work, relationships and family happen to all of us. The counselors at First Avenue Counseling Centre are trained to help.Perhaps you're struggling with decisions about a relationship. Maybe work is not as satisfying to you as you would like it to be. You may be struggling with the loss of a loved one. Whatever you're going through, having a therapist to guide you through it can make the journey a bit easier to handle. While a therapist can not solve your problems for you, he or she can be a caring guide through dark times. Couples Counseling (Relationship Counseling) Romantic relationships are never easy. Our partners see us at our strongest, as well as at our most vulnerable. One of life's greatest challenges can be keeping a relationship together through rough waters. The counselors at First Avenue Counseling Centre are trained to help.Problems of trust, power, intimacy, raising children--these are all common in relationships, and counseling can help resolve them. Coming to counseling by itself is a powerful statement. It is a testament to how much you want your relationship to work, and how willing you are to do what it takes to make it happen. An openness to discussing your problems and a commitment to taking action are great first steps to successful couple therapy. When working with couples, we frequently use co-therapy as a means to balance the session. For example, when seeing a heterosexual couple, we usually will have one male and one female therapist present. This way we ensure everyone will be fully understood, even in experiences truly unique to their gender.

Counseling can help you Better manage life transitions and challenges Gain relief from the effects of depression and anxiety Work through past trauma and pain Replace unhealthy habits with healthier lifestyle choices Improve self-esteem and confidence Create and/or improve healthy, lasting relationships Learn to be more fully present and grateful in the moment Increase your spiritual connection Achieve more balance in spirit, mind, and body About Me: Welcome, and thank you for your interest in learning more about me, and my practice. I am a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and a Certified Addictions Treatment Counselor, with a cozy, private office centrally located in the Hillcrest/Banker's Hill neighborhood of San Diego. Our offices are easily accessible by public transportation, are handicapped accessible, and provide off-street parking for your convenience. I believe therapy is a collaborative process toward healing and personal growth, where with trust and unconditional acceptance, people are reminded of and gently guided back to reconnecting with their own inner knowing. With a focus on integrating spirit, mind, and body, clients are empowered to define and achieve their goals in therapy as we work together to identify a plan of action that facilitates reaching those goals and affecting true change as quickly as possible. Helping clients identify and work toward reaching their goals while learning to be more present in the moment, and to thrive in life in pursuit of their highest good, is what I strive to help people accomplish in session. With the practice of mindfulness, and the help of other therapeutic interventions designed to reduce stress and anxiety, people can experience relief from self-doubt or self-consciousness, freedom from past defense mechanisms that may influence their reactions in the present, and freedom to reinvent themselves fearlessly without regard to what others may think of them. It is an honor to be part of this process of helping people become empowered as they discover many of the answers to life's challenges lie within themselves. In a comfortable, confidential, and supportive atmosphere, clients are able to achieve the personal growth we all strive for.

If you are looking for a San Diego Psychologist… Therapy Changes is here to help. Our practice has two offices in Point Loma and Rancho Bernardo. With two convenient locations its easier than ever to get the support that you need. The Psychologists at Therapy Changes are passionate about being able to support you through life’s most difficult transitions, creating a specialized program and action-oriented treatment to help you achieve your goals. The guiding philosophy of Therapy Changes is providing focused guidance when you need it most. We are a force for change during life’s most difficult moments – when going it alone can feel overwhelming and hopeless. What makes Therapy Changes unique? Therapy Changes is comprised of a team of licensed San Diego Psychologists who believe in the power and benefit of therapy. Our Cognitive Therapy approach, which centers on promoting changes in thinking and living, has been shown over and over again to be the key to help you feel more like you again. We use this approach with all our therapies: family therapy, marriage therapy, premarital therapy, grief and loss therapy, play therapy, and individual therapy. Our Client Care Director is your therapist “matchmaker.” We make it a priority to create a smooth transition for you and your family, particularly if you are coming to therapy for the first time. Your Client Care Director will answer your questions and help match you with the right therapist to fit your needs – based on specialty, location, and insurance needs. You will always be respected at Therapy Changes and be treated with kindness and compassion. No matter how complex your schedule, we will ensure that you find the right San Diego Psychologist for you! The psychologists at Therapy Changes are passionate about being able to support you through life’s most difficult life transitions, creating a specialized program and action-oriented treatment plan to help you achieve your goals.

Don’t let your fear limits you! Since 2002, I have been helping women manage difficult situations when they feel like they are losing control, and find the tools they need dealing with shame, guilt, perfectionism and buried dreams. Have you ever felt like your losing control? “How do I keep from falling apart?” Sometimes it is okay to “just be.” But it can only happen if you give yourself permission. The toll of building a career, being a mother, keeping on top of household chores, maintaining some piece of a social life, staying physically fit, and all the rest we have to do…..after all this – it can leave us feeling pretty depleted and lonely. Reach out and get the right therapy for you. Contact us for more information.

While it is difficult to face the idea of change, it is a necessary part of life. We think about change when we’re in crisis, and when we’re stuck in a place we don’t want to stay in. Whether you’re in crisis or stuck, the therapists at Personal Evolution can help. We provide effective, non-judgmental therapy for an affordable price. Don’t hesitate to get help because you’re afraid of being judged or because you’re scared. We provide adherent DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and can help with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, communication issues, relationship issues and other emotional issues. We specialize in working with the LGBTQ community and are specifically trained and competent to provide Gender Therapy to people who are trans*, including transmen, transwomen, genderqueer, bigender, non-binary, questioning, or gender fluid. If you’re having a hard time communicating effectively with a partner or spouse, or with family or co-workers, we can help. If you’re in a relationship that you value and want to keep, but don’t know how, we can help. If you have a hard time identifying and experiencing your emotions, and frequently use ineffective behaviors such as self-harm, drugs/alcohol, impulsive shopping or gambling, or sex to block them out, we can help. If you find yourself apologizing frequently for these behaviors that you’d like to stop, we can help. If you want to be a better you, we can help by decreasing the behaviors that cause you problems in your life. We do have weekend and evening hours available. Personal Evolution also offers an affordable peace of mind, with rates typically ranging from $60-$160, depending on financial hardship and the therapist that you see. We take most insurance PPO’s and some therapists do accept Cigna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Medicare and Tri-Care.

Specialized Relationship Counseling | Couples Therapy | Marriage Counseling in San Diego, CA In your relationship, do you experience emotions going from zero to sixty in a split second? Are you stuck in a rut, returning to the same conflict over and over with the same results every time? Do you feel unsuccessful in your relationship or marriage? You are not alone. Many couples have trouble with communication and conflict resolution. Don’t make the mistake of letting these issues go unresolved. Take a proactive approach to get your relationship or marriage back on track. Relationship Counseling can help. If you are at a place where you are searching for ways to repair, rebuild or preserve your relationship– contact me. Think of me as your expert counseling guide. As a Licensed Couples Therapist, I provide a comfortable, nonjudgmental and safe environment to discuss your goals and the obstacles getting in the way of connection in your relationship. During Relationship Counseling, I will help you discover the tips and tools you need to experience a healthy and truly rewarding relationship. What I have learned from experience and ongoing education is that underlying most of the conflicts that couples experience is a missed opportunity to feel listened-to and accepted. Couples get into trouble when they don’t have a full sense of safety and security with each other. Without emotional safety and security (ex: “When I need you, you’ll be there.”; “You’re responsive to my needs.”) it’s almost impossible to maintain a sense of closeness, belonging and intimacy. That is why my focus as a therapist is on your primary needs – feeling close, secure and understood. Using Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), we will identify rigid patterns preventing true closeness in your relationship. We’ll explore those patterns to discover what is really going on inside, individually and in the relationship. Next, I’ll guide you to more effective communication. Through this process, you’ll develop the closeness you want and make your relationship that ‘safe haven’ you deserve and need. Through our efforts, you’ll become the expert of yourself and your relationships. My practice is open to people of diverse backgrounds & ages. Relationship Counseling Services include: Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Premarital Counseling and Individual Therapy sessions available in the greater San Diego County area. Chappell Therapy has sessions available days & evenings, Mon- Fri; mornings and afternoons, Sat-Sun. Click here to Schedule a Consultation. Learn more about Emotionally Focused Therapy.

Hi! My name is Dr. William Brock and I am a psychologist in the San Diego area. Being a psychologist provides an incredible opportunity to work with people and help them make a difference in their lives. I have worked with many types of problems and I take great pleasure in helping people become more successful and productive. I provide individual assessment, cognitive behavioral therapy, individual and family therapy. My goal as a psychologist is to assist clients with identifying and solving their problems. My approach is supportive and geared to helping a client create a better life. A session usually involves informal discussion and study. Clients and I work together to learn and apply the principles of cognitive behavioral psychology. Clients typically share their progress, successes and problems since the previous session. They may review results of any homework, learn and practice new coping strategies, participate in some type of relaxation &/or positive visualization exercise, and receive a new homework assignment. Children will usually select a game or activity to play with the therapist while learning communication and coping skills.

Donna Chevalier, MA, LMFT specializes in EMDR Therapy in El Cajon. She is an EMDRIA-Certified EMDR Therapist. Specialties: Adoption, Attachment, Trauma, PTSD, Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse and Neglect Modalities: EMDR Therapy in El Cajon, Attachment Narrative Therapy, CBT, Play Therapy, Animal Assisted Therapy – Shadow is a gentle black lab that works well with children and adults. Orientation: Attachment Theory, Psychodynamic Serving: Children, Adolescents and Adults Insurance: Aetna, Blue Shield, Cigna, Life Sync, Humana, MHN (Managed Health Network), Medi-Cal, UHC Military West (TriCare), Victims of Crime License: MFC 45461 “EMDR therapy…has been life-changing for me. I am able to move forward in my life…” —48 year old professional "I feel like I've been given a set of prescription glasses. I can see clearly now." —KG, "I've made more progress in 3 months of EMDR therapy than I did in 20 years of talk therapy." —KB

My name is Laurie Shear, and I’m a therapist in private practice in San Diego, I’m located in El Cajon and provide marriage, family, individual and relationship counseling as well as therapy for the greater San Diego. I am a graduate of Alliant International University’s Marriage and Family Therapy program. My undergraduate degree was in Sociology at the University of California at Santa Barbara. I have more than 11 years of experience in providing therapy to individuals and couples. While the immediate goal of counseling is to find solutions to challenges in our everyday lives. Individual and family counseling has the additional benefits of boosting self-esteem and confidence, increasing self awareness for healthier decision-making. I hope that my family and individual counseling practice in San Diego can help you with what ever your needs are. I specialize in Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Bipolar Disorder and Domestic Violence issues. I am dedicated to helping people becoming the best version of themselves. Individual Therapy in San Diego Can Help You: Improve your relationship with family, friends –and most importantly yourself. Discover and utilize your unique strengths. Learn effective communication tools. Identify and minimize triggers that worsen your symptoms. Decrease anxiety and depression symptoms. Learn effective anger management skills. See available options in any given situation. Rid yourself of negative thought patterns. Increase self-esteem. Examine underlying issues that are creating problems in your life. Increase your peace of mind and improve your day-to-day living. Some Common issues addressed in Family and Couples Therapy in San Diego: Communications issues Finances Differences in Parenting styles Infidelity Domestic Violence Sexual Issues Children’s Behavioral issues San Diego Family and Couples Therapy Can Help You…. Improve communication skills Provide a safe environment to express your feelings Come to agreements over difficult issues Decrease the stress and negativity in your relationships Increase understanding and empathy for loved ones Increase parenting skills

Are you sick and tired of having the same fight over and over? Are you wondering if the passion and fun can come back into your relationship or marriage? Worried that the conflict and negativity are unsolvable? Do you question if it’s possible to recover from an affair or other betrayal? Are you curious about how compatible you and your dating partner are and if you’re ready to move in, get engaged, or plan to be married? Have financial challenges threatened the safety and optimism in your relationship? Are there difficult conversations about the kids, whether and when to have kids, co-parenting with an ex-spouse, or dealing with step-parenting? Trish Stanley, PsyD, MFT is a dedicated relationship therapist who brings warmth, acceptance, and a treasure trove of skills to the process of helping her clients tackle and resolve these kinds of challenges. Her expertise is based on the groundbreaking work of our mentor, Dr. John Gottman. His forty years of research with over four thousand couples led to the development of powerful tools that reflect clinical evidence of what actually works in making relationships better and happier. The Gottman Method Couples Therapy is based on Dr. John Gottman’s research that began in the 1970’s and continues to this day. The research has focused on what makes relationships succeed or fail. From his research of four decades with more than 4,000 couple’s Dr. Gottman has created a method of therapy that helps couples break through barriers to achieve greater intimacy, understanding and connectedness in their relationship. Gottman Method Couples Therapy is a structured, goal-oriented, scientifically-based therapy. This method is designed to help teach specific tools to deepen friendship and intimacy, productively manage conflicts, generate greater understanding between partners, and support each other’s hopes for the future. Drs. John and Julie Gottman have demonstrated how couples can achieve greater friendship, conflict resolution, and meaning by paying attention to what they call the Sound Relationship House, or the seven components of a healthy marriage.

Hello and welcome. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Eating Disorders Specialist in San Diego offering psychotherapy for adults, adolescents, families, couples and groups. I work primarily with eating disorders, depression, anxiety and relationship issues. I believe in integrative health and, when appropriate, encourage clients to create a team of collaborating professionals to assist them in reaching their personal and health goals. My approach with clients is collaborative with goals of improving insight and awareness of self-defeating patterns so that clients can make meaningful shifts in the ways they relate to others, behave in the world and feel about themselves. I offer a supportive environment for change through authentic warmth and compassion. I am also gently and respectfully challenging and direct. Services: Individual Therapy Eating Disorder Treatment Couples Therapy Family Therapy Group Therapy Depending on client needs, I use several therapeutic modalities including Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Self Compassion, Ecopsychology and nature connection, psychodynamic and attachment theories, humanistic and interpersonal approaches and Bowen Family Systems. I also consider the significance of socio-cultural context, gender, sexual orientation and spirituality in working with clients. Open collaboration and respect for clients' perspectives is of high value. I also make recommendations for adjunctive treatment with other health and wellbeing professionals when appropriate.

Hi, I'm Dr. Jonathan Kramer. I've had 30 years of professional experience helping people have the life they want, and know that people seeking help want a lot more than talk and support. I can help you - More clearly understand what's holding you back. Know what to do about your problems. Make course corrections and follow through. Even if you're ready to scream, there are ways to gain control and calm down. Even if you're stuck in a rut, there's a way out. Even if you're fighting, there are ways to communicate, and reignite the passion and love.

IT HELPS TO TALK TO SOMEONE Life can be challenging. All of us need support at times. This is particularly true if you are feeling depressed, anxious, angry or confused or are experiencing grief or a difficult relationship. Research and experience show that talk therapy can help. Therapy allows people to gain insight, improve relationships, clarify issues, overcome problems, and change unhelpful behaviors. I have a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and I have conducted psychotherapy with individuals, couples, children, families and groups. My counseling clients come from all walks of life and are concerned with a wide variety of issues. I believe in providing a warm, supportive and thought-provoking environment where you can feel safe to explore your concerns. As a therapist, my approach is collaborative - we work together on discovering what is holding you back and how to overcome it. (For more, please see About Me & My Approach to Therapy). Whether you are struggling with relationship problems, your work environment, family difficulties or a lack of happiness in your life, it helps to talk to someone. Many clients report strong feelings of anger, frustration, irritability, sadness or despair that they don't know how to handle, or that they are out of touch with their emotions. Talking with a counselor such as me offers you the chance to work through such emotions, gain a broader perspective, find hope, and change things that aren't working. If you think therapy might be helpful for you, or if you have any questions, please call or email me. You may also fill out the Inquiry Form to the left and then click on submit. An initial phone consultation is free.

Did you just find out your Spouse/Partner is having an affair? Are you shocked and overwhelmed experiencing a range of emotions? Feeling angry and scared at the same time? Can couples survive an affair? Finding out your partner is having an affair is probably the most devastating thing that could happen to you. Cheating shatters the core of your existence leaving you with feelings of betrayal, rejection, fear, mistrust, grief and anger. It damages your sense of self and leaves you overwhelmed with what to do next. You’re in allot of pain and confused right now. You don’t have to suffer through this alone. With the right Therapist couples can find their way to a deeper and more intimate bond after an affair despite the feelings of wanting to leave or fantasizing about a divorce. Notable author and Therapist Ester Perel states, “an affair doesn’t necessarily end a marriage and can possibly make it stronger.” Recovering from infidelity involves the willingness of unfaithful spouses to demonstrate sincere regret and remorse. Affair Recovery includes: Teamwork; both spouses must be fully committed to the hard work of getting their marriage back on track. The unfaithful partner must be willing to end the affair (sexual or emotional) and do whatever it takes to win back the trust of his or her spouse. Honesty is the most important factor in rebuilding the marriage. The future possibilities for the marriage are not determined by what happened in the affair; they are determined by what happens after the affair is known. The betrayed spouse must be willing to find ways to manage overwhelming emotions so, as a couple, thay can begin to sort out affair happened,ana more importantly, what needs to change so that it never happens again. Affairs are less about love and more about boundaries. Affairs can happen in good marriages. The major attraction in an affair is NOT the love partner but the positive mirroring of the self --"the way I look when I see myself in the other person’s eyes.” The conventional wisdom is that the person having an affair isn’t “getting enough” at home. That may be true, but often the truth is the person isn’t giving enough. Most people think that talking about the affair with the spouse will only create more upset, but that is actually the way to rebuild intimacy. The single best indicator of whether a relationship can survive infidelity is how much empathy the unfaithful partner shows for the pain they have caused. Gradually rebuild trust - through actions, not promises. Allow time to heal - although time alone (without effort) is not enough. As a Marriage Counselor and Infidelity Specialist I have specific training and experience to help explain the sources of infidelity and offer sound and sensible guidelines for mending your relationship. For those of you who are going through the hurt and betrayal of infidelity I am able to help you cope with the raging emotions, make a thoughtful decision about your future, and if you choose to recommit, reclaim a life together. The couples I work with either 1) relive their trauma and bitterness over and over again, 2) revert to the status of life before the affair, or 3) have the affair become a transformational experience and catalyst for renewal and change for moving forward. Couples can survive infidelity, provided both partners are willing to look honestly at themselves and at each other and acquire the tools needed to guide them through such a shattering crisis. If you’re struggling with wondering what to do next and asking yourself the question.....”Should I Stay Or Should I Go?,” please call m. I can help you with options to make the right decision for you and your family.

Welcome to Affordable Quality Counseling We are San Diego psychologists and marriage and family therapists. We help individuals, couples and families to gain renewal, growth and development. Our goal is to assist you in realizing the highest level of self-fulfillment and well being. We replace negative feelings and self-limiting behaviors with a positive self-image, healthy coping skills, and a high level of personal satisfaction. As experienced counselors, we teach conflict resolution, anger management, parenting, and communication skills to enhance individual, marital and family relationships. Affordable Quality Counseling (AQC) intervenes to resolve negative feelings and behaviors like anger, oppositional attitudes and grief or loss between relationship partners, husbands and wives and parents and their adolescents or children. In addition, we help clients recovering from affairs and infidelity, co-dependency, sex addiction, impulse control disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder, including violent crimes like rape, domestic violence and physical, sexual or emotional abuse. We ascribe to a person-centered approach that makes use of specific psychotherapeutic interventions, based on present-time, solution focused strategies as well as caring and consistent feedback and support. We specialize in resolving depression, anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, work-related injuries, occupational and vocational issues, weight loss, dating/ internet dating problems, social isolation and interpersonal conflicts that affect mental health and self-esteem. AQC offers psychotherapy, consultation, training and crisis intervention services as well as help with addictions, including drug and alcohol abuse and dependence, relapse prevention and addiction recovery for adolescents and adults.

If you want to experience more authentic joy and make positive changes in your life, individual therapy can help. Therapy can guide you to change dysfunctional patterns of behavior and explore ways to have more fulfillment. As a collaborative and interactive therapist, Dr. Zeising can help you realize your potential and lead a life that you feel is worth celebrating. Are you struggling with lost passion in your relationship, mismatched sexual desire, sexual performance issues or experiencing sexual pleasure? Do you wish you felt like you wanted to have sex with your partner again, but time, responsibilities, or other issues just get in the way? These are just some of the sexual challenges Dr. Zeising can help you address so that you can have the sex life you long for. Loving someone and being loved is one of the most rewarding experiences in life. However, the path to this goal is often filled with struggle and anguish. Couples counseling can be an incredibly powerful vehicle for achieving the loving intimacy you’ve longed for in your relationship. Dr Zeising can help you address your old issues, so you can concentrate on improving your present situation. She can help you replace resentment with respect and replace arguments with caring and honest conversations.

I specialize in treating Anxiety Disorders. I provide tele therapy in a supportive and compassionate atmosphere where we focus on developing ways to become more joyful, peaceful and balanced. With the appropriate tools, you can move away from experiencing life's challenges as overwhelming.You will begin to feel empowered and to making decisions that are congruent with who you are at your best. The personalized approach I use is tailored to your needs and goals. The proven techniques that I use help you to transform unproductive behaviors, thoughts and feelings. In the process, you can regain confidence and satisfaction in your life, in your relationships and in your career. While I have a general practice and treat a wide range of issues, my specialty is anxiety disorders. I understand how difficult anxiety can be for you and I can help with it. Although anxiety feels overwhelming and unpredictable, it is possible to develop a lifestyle in which you will no longer experience feeling out of control or high anxiety. Anxiety is a broad diagnosis that includes distinct categories such as *Generalized Anxiety Disorder: chronic anxiety or exaggerated worry that lacks an obvious cause. *Social Anxiety Disorder: overwhelming anxiety when faced with everyday social situations and interactions. *Panic Disorder: reoccurring episodes of intense physical fear with no immediate cause or source. These anxiety attacks are commonly experienced with heart palpitations, light headedness, chest pains, difficulty breathing or tightness in the chest. *PTSD: overwhelming anxiety following a severe traumatic event that threatens actual harm. *Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a pattern of intrusive thoughts known as obsessions combined with repetitive behaviors known as compulsions that the sufferer performs in order to avoid the obsessive thoughts. Some of the techniques that I use are Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Client-Centered Therapy, Hypnosis/Visualization/Relaxation, Mindfulness and Meditation, and Gestalt.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist that approaches therapy with a holistic point of view. Over the past twelve years, I have had the opportunity to work with many diverse people from various cultures, ages ranges, and socio-economic systems. Many of the issues I assist with include Trauma/PTSD, sexual assault/molestation, stress/panic attacks, chronic pain, and relationship dynamics. I am also an expressive art therapist. That means I use right and left-brain processes such as breathing exercises, meditation, dominant/non-dominant handwriting, dance/movement, collage and art to access deeper elements of self for whole body healing. ​ My style is collaborative, empathic, compassionate, and with the utmost respect for your strengths and internal resources. I use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, psychodynamic, mindfulness, expressive arts and somatic psychotherapy to ensure you are able to calm anxiety, thrive after trauma, and rediscover your most precious assets. We will explore all of you including your bio-psycho-social-spiritual values, beliefs, and thought patterns. As a holistic psychotherapist, we co-create a system that looks at your diet, lifestyle choices, spiritual/religious beliefs, and the mind/body connection that accesses deeper aspects of yourself for whole body healing. I specialize in working with youth, adults, couples, and groups; many of whom consider themselves part of the LGBTQ community struggling with a variety of tribulations including life transitions, strong emotions of anxiety and/or anger, trauma, spirituality, and grief/bereavement. Prior to psychotherapy, I worked in the government and private sectors of information technology. My experience has given me a deep understanding of what it takes to optimize leadership, C-level executives, and motivate employees for optimal performance. Through my leadership and team building retreats and workshops, your team can master critical thinking, expand creativity, and foster innovation for business development and growth.

Understanding who I am, why I think, feel and behave the way I do - learning to change how I think, and change the rest of my life ahead - its time to get moving in this direction! Your life expectations - are they realistic? Are they based on faith, hope and love, sound principals, practical lifestyle, safe people and adequate self-care? Do you attract healthy people into your life? Can you identify healthy and safe people from those who are not? I look forward to hearing from you and making the rest of your life the best part!

I help adults and children alleviate anxiety, depression, behavioral, and other painful or self-defeating conditions. I work with couples to alleviate conflict and enhance their closeness, intimacy and cooperation. I also work with families with children to resolve their disputes so that a healthy and loving environment can be restored. I am a specially trained & Authorized Provider for the State of California Office of Problem Gambling (OPG). Services are provided at no charge to Problem Gamblers and their families. Services are available to family members of Problem Gamblers, whether or not the gambler comes to treatment. Feel free to contact me. Together, we can design a personalized approach that will fit your circumstances.

Welcome to Lori Underwood Therapy in San Diego! You have access to help TODAY with your most critical relationships! I focus on achieving realistic, lasting results for highly motivated San Diego professionals and their families in two critical areas: work and family relationships. Mine is a solutions-focused therapy practice with a proven track record of training high-performing individuals to guide their most important relationships into balance–quickly and effectively. Work relationships can cause stress, affecting family relationships. Signs of job stress can vary from person to person, depending on the particular situation, how long the individual has been subjected to the stressors, and the intensity of the stress itself. Some symptoms of job stress you may be experiencing include, but are not limited to: •Absenteeism •Anxiety •Depression •Extreme anger and frustration •Family conflict •Insomnia •Loss of mental concentration •Physical illnesses such as heart disease, migraine, headaches, stomach problems, and back problems •Substance abuse Markers indicating your work relationships may be out of balance include: •Feeling burned out •Most everyone you know thinks you’ve got everything together, when inside you feel like you are falling apart •No matter how hard you try you overwhelmingly feel like nothing ever seems to be “good enough” •Others tell you they know you can do it, but deep down you’re left wondering if you can Family relationships that are out of balance can result from and/or be the cause of stress at work. If your stress is affecting–or is a function of–your relationship with your spouse, ask yourself if you are feeling any of the following toward (or from) your spouse: •Contempt •Criticism •Sarcasm •Stonewalling If you are experiencing one or more of the above, now is the time to take action. Each emotion can often represent a marker of a stress fracture in your relationship. The good news is your relationship can be repaired. You have the answers inside you and together we can identify them. Know that there is hope for you and your relationships. I am confident I can help you TODAY.