Therapists in Santa Cruz, CA

I believe therapy is the development of a safe and trusting relationship between the facilitator and the participant. Therapy can be hard work and getting started can be scary, however making art, using play or being in nature can ease this process. As your therapist I will encourage you to use your creative imagination as a vehicle to understanding your inner turmoil, psychic pain or stagnancy. Along the way we will be implementing these effective tools in cultivating a more fulfilling life experience.

Many of my clients come to therapy struggling with worries or anxiety, or during difficult transitions. Some are facing difficulty in their relationships with partners, friends, or family. Others feel down or losing motivation to do the things they use to enjoy. Are you having trouble with work or school and unsure of what's holding you back? Is something that happened in the past still getting in the way? You are not alone. Therapy can help you better understand yourself, your relationships, and your mental health challenges. You can learn skills and tools to overcome these challenges and feel more confident in your everyday life.

Finding the right therapist can feel challenging, whether you’re looking for yourself, your child, or as a couple. I'm here to hold a welcoming, exploratory space where you can develop a deeper understanding of yourself and feel more confident. I specialize in working with kids, teens, couples, and the LGBTQ+ community. I have an accepting, collaborative approach. Through out work together, my clients learn to identify and express their emotions and develop healthy coping skills. As a result, their self esteem and communication improve and they feel less overwhelmed.

You are a woman who would like to know how to deeply trust and nurture yourself. To care for the parts of you that need tenderness and a place to explore what brings you alive and what gets in the way of this. You may not know how or where to begin because you were not shown how. You’re so good at taking care of others that there’s nothing left for you. Or, perhaps you have learned to put yourself to the side because that is what feels safest. You may be asking yourself, “Is it okay to take care of me and what I want?”

Namaste! My goal is to collaboratively explore your unique circumstances and help you develop practical strategies to overcome self-limiting beliefs and unhelpful patterns of thought and behavior. Through compassionate listening, empathic understanding, and evidence-based techniques, I aim to facilitate increased self-awareness, resilience, and a greater sense of well-being. Whether you're facing challenges in your personal or professional life, I welcome individuals of all backgrounds and orientations. Together, we can explore your inner experiences, clarify your values, and work towards a more satisfying and meaningful life.

Would you like to feel empowered and at ease with life and yourself? Whether you're going through life transition, having relationship problems, dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma or looking for a deeper purpose in life, I would be honored to support you in your process of growth and healing. When the deepest parts of you get to be seen, held and accepted, it transforms into your light and strength. In this process you'll learn how to listen and trust your innate wisdom and guidance, you'll become resourceful, empowered and free to consciously create the life you want.

Hello! I’m so glad you found me. Do you find yourself experiencing difficulties with your mental health, but aren’t sure where to start? Have you been in therapy before and want to continue your healing journey? I work holistically, utilizing the knowledge I gain regarding your life history and social atmosphere to guide you in therapy. I will work collaboratively with you to make meaningful change, respecting your individuality and autonomy. My strengths are in helping you organize your life to support your goals, untangle any knots from trauma, relationships, or emotional experiences, and grow your authentic self.

Starting therapy can feel exciting and intimidating—especially when trying to find the right fit for yourself, your child/teen, or your family. As part of Santa Cruz Therapy Collective, my heartfelt intent is to uplift people to find peace, compassion, & deep connection in life. Imagine breaking free from repetitive, scary, or hurtful thoughts & feelings; feeling secure & supported even on hard days; knowing you're capable, worthy, & connected to love. If you or your child struggle with isolation, hopelessness, worry, unworthiness, people pleasing, or feeling "out of control" or “stuck”, I would love to support you to thrive.

It's not easy being human and you aren't meant to navigate life alone. Living in the modern world it's easy to lose connection to yourself, others, and nature. You might suffer from anxiety, depression, physical pain or a general lack of purpose and joy. With a busy life, you often can’t pause long enough to reflect and make the changes you most need to make. You want to heal so you can live into your soul's unique purpose and want to make the time for soulful exploration and personal growth. The good news is, psychotherapy (literally meaning "soul healing"), has its root in this powerful work and you don't have to do it alone.

We learn how to regard ourselves from the earliest relationships we have. From the nurturing of our nature or lack thereof, a template of how to treat ourselves and relate to others is set. The good news... this template is not set in permanence and is subject to change with focused intent! I am dedicated to helping you achieve these changes. Therapy is an art form which involves attending to a Client's specific emotional pains. The art of my practice is in knowing when to provide silence or words, when to challenge or encourage, when to include techniques, when to just be.

​I provide experiential sex & intimacy coaching, as well as group facilitation, to help get you out of your head and into your body, to explore what connects you to your pleasure and allows you to step into your power.

You are uncomfortable - Something is bothering you. You need resolution about an issue, event, experience or relationship. I work in a collaborative/relational model with people who have had experiences that they have not fully integrated yet. I use talk therapy, imagery, metaphor, hypnosis, EMDR, Positive Psychology, and Sensorimotor. Often clients report being disinterested in a formerly distressing topic after treatment. I'm comfortable working many types of issues including trauma, PTSD, ACA, sexual abuse, panic attacks or phobias, anxiety or depression, losses or relationship breakups, people with mysterious physical ailments.

Hello! My name is Murphy. I believe you are the expert on your own life & I’m here to help you on your path. I have a toolbox of skills available as you bravely strive to overcome mental health challenges. I’m here to be your partner & helper in achieving stability, safety & satisfaction in your mind & in your relationships. I support teens & adults addressing anxiety, depression, & trauma, to improve their mental health. I’m warm, compassionate & easy to relate to. I am a social justice advocate & my work is gender affirming & neurodiversity affirming.

I try to individually tailor treatment to each patient by providing a balance of symptom relief to alleviate current discomfort and analysis of primary causal factors for long-term resolution.

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.

Suffering comes in many forms. It is personal and intimate and often times overwhelming and sometimes debilitating. But you don’t have to face it alone. Many people have sought my help for feelings of anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and an out of balance work-life; others, for unresolved trauma , PTSD, and other stress-related disorders which keep people trapped in disregulated states of being; still others because they were unhappy with their life and the spark of their passion was dim.

I specialize in working online with couples and family relationships. I've just published a book, That Loving Feeling: A Couples Guide to Transform Hurt & Criticism into Kindness & Gratitude. You can order on Amazon or your local independent book store. It's a fictional story of couples who are caught habits of hurt and defensiveness. Through attending a workshop in Nonviolent Communication, they treat themselves with more kindness. They learn to speak up for their needs in a way that is elicits generosity from their partner. The things that used to bother them dissolve. This story draws from my own marriage and also my clients.

We all aspire to lead lives of fulfillment, contentment, and presence. The complexities of modern living often obstruct these pursuits, leaving us feeling challenged and at times, as if achieving the life we desire is an insurmountable task. The entanglement in cycles of challenging behaviors, dysfunctional relationships, and anxious thoughts becomes a barrier to our well-being. As a therapist, my purpose is to assist you in navigating through this noise, gaining a deeper understanding of yourself, and fostering self-love and self-compassion.

My approach to working with clients: Holistic Psychotherapy , Somatic Psychotherapy, Mindfulnes, specializing in Sexual Abuse, Trauma, Anxiety, Stress. Each client I see has their own story - the beliefs they hold about themselves, and the patterns (automatic ways of acting and thinking) that support those beliefs. Perhaps one was neglected as a child, and believes they need to do everything for themselves. Perhaps there was childhood abuse, and it's difficult to trust people, or to feel safe with intimacy. Perhaps one is stuck in their family role (for example: hero, lost child, mascot, scapegoat).