Play Therapy in Santa Cruz, CA

It's not easy being human and we aren't designed to navigate life alone. Experiencing anxiety, depression, physical pain or a general lack of purpose/joy is not uncommon given the circumstances of modern life. It is normal to feel these ways-but you don't have to suffer alone or for good. You're seeking therapy because you want to feel fulfilled and whole, and to live your soul's unique purpose. You want to explore and to grow. Despite the difficulties we all inevitably face, the good news is: there's help. Psychotherapy (literally meaning "soul healing"), can help you experience your wholeness once again.

My name is Vanessa Hernandez, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Orange County, CA, and working with clients statewide via telehealth. I work with children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of presenting concerns. I specialize in anxiety, stress, trauma, depression, ADHD, and relationship issues using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Brief Solution Focused, and Person-centered Therapy to empower my clients to make lasting and meaningful changes.

Hi! My name is Yesenia Orozco-Vasquez. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Los Angeles, California with ample experience working with children, teens, parents, and young adults. I specialize in anxiety, depression, and life transitions and utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), and Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) practices to build my clients' strengths and improve their interpersonal relationships. I often use a strengths-based and cognitive behavioral approach in my practice so that clients gain a clear understanding of what is contributing to their distress and how we can work.

I believe that compassion and collaboration are key to a therapuetic relationship. Through the identification of each persons strengths and resources we are all capable of navigating life's challenges and it is my role to assist in the identification and effective utilization of these strengths and resources. If you are suffering from with ADHD, Depression, Conduct Disorder, Parenting issues, Criminal Behavior, adult and adolescent Bi-polar Disorder, addiction, or the effects of trauma, neglect, and abuse please contact me by text, phone or email at 831-588-7063. I have helped many individuals, couples, and families and perhaps I can help you.

Leslie approaches all her sessions with warmth, humor, curiosity, and honesty. She provides a secure and trustworthy atmosphere. Leslie collaborates with her clients to identify growth possibilities and set goals. Leslie recognizes the value of developing a therapeutic relationship with each client, and she approaches each one with understanding and acceptance. Leslie recognizes that going to therapy can be intimidating, and she appreciates the courage it takes to start a journey toward healing.

With seven years of experience, I specialize in working with individuals aged 7 to 18, as well as couples and families. I offer unwavering support to address a wide array of emotional and psychological challenges, which may include substance abuse, anxiety, depression, self-harm, learning disabilities, suicidal thoughts, body image concerns, as well as issues related to relationships and family dynamics. My approach is rooted in trauma-informed care, highlighting mindfulness, strength-based techniques, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I warmly welcome you to contact me for a free fifteen-minute consultation.

How do we know what we need? Our nervous systems can become shut down from years of trauma and conditioning to ignore our own needs. By utilizing meditation and somatic integrated awareness, we can deepen our communication within our bodies to meet our true core needs and expand our awareness into true wellness beyond mere survival. No matter what has happened, our true soul within never leaves us and can always be rediscovered. Our soul’s core values can guide us back from darkness and uncertainty.

Maybe NOW is the right time. Maybe I am the person. Do you need support and strategies to help you through a difficult time or address a particular problem? Let me help. It is an honor to connect with you and work together to help you overcome obstacles, adjust to transitions, and help you become the person, couple, or family that you want to become. Benefit from my 18+ years of experience, as well as my lifelong active and vital pursuit of knowledge and well-being. Compassionate, effective, intelligent and holistic. Let me help and support you in moving forward.

Have you ever wondered, "why did I just do that?" or felt conflicted with different sides of yourself? Have you ever felt completely confused why others seem to live easy lives and you don't? We can work together to understand what's important to you and how you want to live your best life. I offer a safe space for people of all ages (3-103!) to be understood and cared for without judgement or pressure. Sometimes this is working through stress within a family and it's affect on family members. Sometimes this work looks like learning new ways to cope with anxiety or improve how we talk to ourselves.

Are you struggling to balance your physical and mental health? Are things becoming unmanageable? Is your time limited? Then welcome to WellPsyche! WellPsyche provides experts in the field of Adult and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. Our practice offers the latest in psychiatry including Telemedicine! Now you can visit with your psychiatrist from the privacy and convenience of your home or work. Our providers take a Conservative and Effective approach to medication management and can help you balance your life.

I like to work with a wide range of folks from older kids to those aging. Often with adults I am interested in getting beyond everyday conversation into deeper layers of self, incorporating an inward focus of the body, mind and spirit. I am eclectic and offer a strength-based approach to help with depression, anxiety, transitions, relationship challenges, overall stuckness and other challenges. My approach is humanistic and compassionate, providing the support needed to get through hardships into a more empowered, creative and celebratory self.

Congratulations for taking a step towards creating change. Finding a therapist can be challenging and it is important to find one who is right for you. I offer a free introductory session which we use to get to know each other. Clients often come into my office feeling hopeless or nervous, but usually leave feeling more hopeful and relaxed. I love to see people grow and thrive with the support of therapy. My style is warm, empathic, and collaborative. In our work together we draw on your strengths and wisdom and my goal is to empower you to create a more joyful and fulfilling life.

Being a teenager has never been more difficult than it is right now. There are the usual complications of balancing your changing hormones and body with dating and decisions about your future. But, on top of that, there’s a long list of unique challenges that previous generations never had to contend with. The constant pressure of social media forces you to create a persona that helps you fit in but makes you feel inauthentic. Changing ideas around sexuality and identity gives you access to choices you never knew existed but can be confusing. And the pressure from the world at large to grow up faster than ever is constant.

I look forward to meeting each new client and getting to know him or her. I know with our busy lives we all have a number of stressors and conflicts. Sometime our usual ways of dealing with these no longer work. My goal is to help you find effective ways to deal with these stressors, so that you can complete therapy feeling happier, more in charge of your life, and can reach that place deep inside where each of us is our very best self.

As a holistic-somatic therapist, I hold a non-pathologizing perspective, emphasizing your innate wholeness and capacity for healing. I relate directly and spontaneously, focusing on mind-body-presence. Rooted in a compassionate and mindful eco-psycho-social context, I focus on supporting adult individuals and couples. Most of my clients are processing trauma, anxiety, shame, grief, co-dependence, and ADHD patterns with the aim of achieving a sense of secure connection both internally and externally. As a path to gain insight into the intricate dynamics of your process and behaviors sessions may focus on felt-sense resources.

My passion and skill set is in creating environments for you to gain greater insight into your strengths, gifts, and those places that contribute to blocking the ability to find joy and healing in your life. Whatever the life challenge that brings you to therapy, you'll find that I create a supportive and accepting space. I am curious, compassionate, appreciate laughter, tears and understand that we all suffer from time to time and believe that these moments are opportunities for deeper insight and growth.

In my work with individuals, couples, children, teens and families I strive to create a warm, nurturing and compassionate environment for personal exploration and healing. In this space all parts of you are welcome. I see therapy as a collaboration where you and I partner to create an achievable plan to improve your relationships, increase your sense of vitality, and work towards your personal goals. In my work, I have witnessed how life's challenges can create emotional scars that then consciously or unconscious run our lives. These scars can manifest as a variety of mental health and relational issues.

Lauren seeks to meet clients where they are by creating a supportive and nurturing space that allows for the client to share their narrative of their life. Lauren believes individuals all have the ability to reach their full potential and hopes to guide individuals towards a balanced approach to wellness goals. Leading with gentle compassion, Lauren is passionate about working with children, teens, parents, and women to address a range of concerns including anxiety, complex trauma, neurodivergence, family conflict, and self-esteem.

We are relational beings; it is in relation to others that we experience our wounding and our healing. The quality of our relationships across the lifespan shapes our experiences and influence our story, beginning with our family of origin, followed by friends and partners, along with cultural and societal constructs. How we make sense of our experiences impacts the way we move through the world, our perception of self and other, how we feel in our body, and how we become activated.