Therapists in North Hills, San Diego, CA

Hello! I’m Monika, an intuitive counselor, guide, coach, and space holder. I offer sessions that support you in building a relationship of trust with your inner wisdom. They're an invitation for you to become more deeply attuned to every part of you and establish a sense of home within. We do this through deep listening to what is presently coming up in life, energy healing (like Reiki), breath, movement, and meditation practices, and through intuitive messages from guides. Our work supports you in learning how to: ground into your center, set boundaries to protect your energy, and practice discernment (what’s true for you).

I specialize in helping adults in their 30s who want to heal their childhood wounds, which are getting in their way of experiencing more secure attachments in their intimate relationships. Growing up witnessing dysfunctional interactions in our family of origin does not equip us with the best tools to have healthy relationships as adults. Relationship distress can be so overwhelming that it can drain our joy, creativity, work productivity, and even our health.

Thank you for viewing my page; I'm grateful for the chance to help! My approach combines traditional psychodynamics with newer neuroscience-based techniques, which incorporate the mind-body connection. As an avid researcher, I pull from 30 years of practice and study in various additional psychotherapeutic and health disciplines-incorporating nutrition and movement-based strategies, yoga, meditation, biofeedback, energy psychology and expressive arts. I work with all ages, having had the privilege of treating clients from the age of 4 to 95.

My clinical background is in diverse communities such as BIPOC, high acuity adolescence, at-promise youth, sex-trafficked youth, military families, LGBTQIA, and low/high income families. I specialize in working with individuals, couples, and families who have experienced complex trauma, depression, anxiety, guilt, shame, low self-esteem, and identity challenges.

In our work together, my essential goal is that you feel heard, respected, and understood. I find that one of the most important predictors of effective therapy starts with the relationship between client and therapist. I consider my role as your therapist an honor. I aim to create a comfortable, inviting, and safe space for you to share, and for us to work collectively. I feel your voice is just as, if not more, valuable than mine. With over 16 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families, I am confident that working collaboratively, you will find our time together beneficial.

Hello! I’m so glad you’re here. Deciding to reach out for support is a challenging but important step toward creating a life of meaning, satisfaction, and joy. Therapy is a place to express and unpack complicated feelings and negative thoughts and to practice new ways of relating and responding to yourself and others. Following treatment with me, clients typically report understanding themselves more fully, increased self-compassion and empathy, and richer, healthier communication with peers and loved ones. I care deeply about my clients and will be an active participant in helping you to create desired change.

Resilience is often described as adapting to difficulties in a way that leads to personal growth. If you are in a difficult season or struggling, therapy may help you tap into your inner resilience. Please visit my website to learn more about my therapy practice and expertise, and how I may be able to support you on your journey into resilience. I offer mental health support using evidence-based techniques for a variety of concerns (e.g., relationship struggles, anxiety, stress); evidence-based PTSD treatments (CPT, PE, EMDR); and faith-informed care for Christian clients that want to incorporate their faith into therapy.

The world can feel unpredictable at times. You wake up feeling like something is not right, something feels unsettled, not finished, or incomplete - individually, in your marriage, work, or family. But what? The joys and challenges that life is bringing are not being met with the right emotion. This can become either overwhelming or underwhelming. When life feels like this, your relationships can suffer. Carrying this burden alone adversely affects well-being and your ability to dream, create, and feel joy. With a commitment from you to your health, we can reclaim control of the emotions surrounding this unsettled feeling.

Are you finding yourself chained to your emotions? Is life feeling super unclear and out of balance? Taking care of your basic needs doesn't have to be a constant struggle. If you're looking for deeper meaning in your life, less overwhelm and more self-compassion, I can help! I provide real expertise and practical support. Learning how to develop calm, constructive confidence is not out of reach and therapy can give you the skills you need to live a life you're truly proud of.

Accepting new clients and taking insurance. Are you feeling stuck, tormented by anxiety, depression, or traumatic experiences? I would love to provide support by facilitating the discovery of new choices and tools for skill-building. There is nothing more loving than to be seen from heart-centered space and to experience a safe space where one can share deeply personal issues. My style is conversational, collaborative, intuitive, and with a dash of humor.

Have you ever wrestled with questions like… "If people really knew me, would they really love me? Why do I feel so stressed/ ashamed/ lost/ angry/ hopeless/ lonely/ stuck? Am I the only one who feels like this? Will I always feel this bad?" You’d be amazed how many people like you and like me, have bravely asked those questions and found real answers and real hope. I really care about people, and whether I work with you individually, in a group, or as a couple, my hope is that therapy will be the safest and most inspiring place to discover that you are someone with an important story that deserves to be shared.

Are you struggling with anxiety and overwhelm? Does this sound familiar? You keep putting everyone else's needs before your own. You're always pushing yourself to your limits and holding yourself to a high standard. You overthink things and are tired. It doesn't have to be like this. I work with intuitive and deeply feeling women to help you reclaim your peace, find the confidence to ask for what you want, and stop feeling guilty for having wants and needs. If you are looking to grow, heal, and experience lasting change, I can help.

Maybe you've gone to therapy before and experienced no change. Or maybe you're nervous about opening up to someone. I will move at your pace, the way you feel most comfortable so that therapy is a safe, enjoyable, and transformative experience for you.

I work with clients at their own pace to guide them through a better understanding of their issues and concerns while challenging them to take steps for an improved way of living. I take a predominantly psychodynamic approach that focuses on discovering and exploring past experiences, inner thought processes, and relationship patterns to relieve and repair core personal issues. Additionally, I take a more active and teaching role when certain symptoms or behaviors require the instruction and practice of new skills.

As a therapist at CFMHE, I am dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and adolescents navigate life's challenges and rediscover their path to well-being. We all get derailed sometimes, and it can be difficult to get back on track. Whether it's loss, hardship, shame, or fear, your distress is real. You are not wrong for feeling how you do, and you have a chance to feel better. My multidisciplinary background in relational fields, including sports medicine, medical sales, and home healthcare, has equipped me with a unique perspective and a wide range of tools to support my clients in their healing and growth.

Kayla, a licensed clinical social worker, brings extensive expertise in working with refugee and immigrant populations, as well as systems-involved parents and youth. With a background in clinical therapy in orphanage settings in Mexico and experience with foster youth and recently arrived immigrant families, Kayla is deeply committed to social justice efforts, recognizing the systemic factors impacting mental health outcomes. Her journey began about 12 years ago in the community mental health sector, working with migrant day laborers in San Francisco.

Seeking support with sexual challenges, relationships, living with cancer, grief, or a combination of these? With 20 years of experience providing therapy and AASECT certification as a sex therapist, you can talk with me about the things others are uncomfortable talking about. You may have experienced the death of a loved one or a different type of life transition. You may be struggling with adjusting to a new relationship or feeling disappointed with an aspect of your current one. I can provide you with support, insights, treatment, education, and guidance during times of transition and beyond.

I believe that change is possible for everyone, no matter their circumstances. Whether it is anxiety, depression, grief, relationship troubles or things that seem like no one could understand, there is hope in that struggle. Therapy can be a powerful tool to experience lasting change in whatever it is you are going through. I try to take a unique, holistic approach by blending psychological tools with a somatic perspective. This creates a process that is more experiential in nature, which I believe is an important building block for change.

I congratulate you on this, possibly your first step in your journey to personal health and healing. I know it's a daunting task, and I would be pleased to join you on this journey. Long before I became a psychotherapist, I was always the friend that people would turn to for advice and guidance. I guess maybe my humor and empathy made me an ideal confidante. I look forward to applying my innate sense of humor and my strong feelings of empathy, along with my professional training and experience to walk with you down your path.