Book the best Blue Shield of California - Medi-Cal therapists in California

******* At this time, I am choosing to work only with Individual men, men of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community - ***including those questioning*** - I am not working with couples at this time- “Everyone’s childhood plays itself out.” Our first understanding of ourselves comes from the first people we know. From there, the other relationships we participate in tend to reflect those aspects of ourselves previously learned. I specialize in successfully treating the presenting symptoms of childhood trauma. Including and often self-limiting: substance abuse, social and intrapersonal anxieties, clinical, situational and abandonment depression, and the often self-sabotaging and socially unacceptable yet still ubiquitous unresolved rage. As a California and Arizona Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, I am privileged to work with a variety of highly intelligent and uniquely talented people, who, due to a lifetime of psychological, spiritual and philosophical pain are often the last to be aware of their authenticity as their true value. The kind of pain that breeds overwhelming feelings of anxiety & depression; encourages thoughts of confusion & discourages the truth in one’s potential or abilities. All of which lends itself toward self-destructive behaviors that double down as “proof” of our unworthiness.

Hello there! My name is Victoria Montenegro and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in California. I received my Master's in Social Work from California State University, Northridge in 2016 and I have been licensed since 2019. My mission is to empower teens, adults and student athletes by providing the knowledge/skills needed to cope in this ever-changing world.

My name is Jacob Garel, a licensed marriage and family therapist with a unique background in the military as a Pararescueman. With 20 years of experience serving and saving lives, I bring a deep understanding of crisis situations and a passion for helping individuals and families in need. Specializing in psychodynamic, Rogerian, and existential approaches. Whether it's grief work, PTSD therapy, or accompanying you on your mental health journey, I am dedicated to walking beside you every step of the way.

My name is Kenny Gallegos and I am a psychotherapist. As I a therapist, I enjoy helping people identify challenging aspects of their lives affecting their mental health and collaborating with them to achieve a more stable quality of life. I focus on utilizing a variety of approaches and techniques, ranging from CBT, DBT, trauma-informed, and STI to mindfulness, to serve a diverse population of ages and ethnic backgrounds while remaining client-centered.

I bring over 25 years of experience in mental health ranging from addiction to trauma. I believe in a strength-based approach in providing clients support because everyone has skills, talents, and abilities to tap into to assist them in overcoming life’s challenges. I am a firm believer in a non-judgmental approach to therapy so you the client feel safe, accepted, and, empowered. I use a broad array of therapy techniques such as trauma-informed care, strength-based, systems, solution-focused or brief therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, grief therapy, and much more. I am a huge proponent of empowerment and people taking control of their lives with healthy and safe boundaries. I especially enjoy working with men who have engaged in domestic violence with their partners and to help them take responsibility for their actions and the harm they have caused, and to help end the cycle of violence. “Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life.” ― Shannon L. Alder

Hello, my name is LaShonda. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from a very small town in Georgia. However,I have lived in California since 2004. Prior to moving here I have lived in Washington state for 4 years. I joined the military at the dapper age of 18 and served my country for 13 years. I received a bachelor's in Legal Studies prior to leaving the military in 2012. After careful deliberation I decided that I no longer wanted to pursue a career in law and that I was more fascinated with human behavior. I then started a dual master's program in Counseling Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy in San Diego, California. I received my masters in 2015 and decided to take a step further and obtain my PhD in marriage and family therapy, with an emphasis on military families. I am currently a PhD candidate a Northcentral university where I am within the process of completing research on military relationships. I am a certified clinical trauma professional, trained in Sex-trafficking, Post traumatic stress, CBT, DBT as well as clinical family trauma.

My approach is solution focused. I am not primarily concerned with how or why your present challenge developed but will focus instead on helping you to find a way forward. I hope to elicit and reinforce your positive attributes and competencies and help you to access your inner strength. Your ability to change or improve your situation depends on your desire to do so and my job is to awaken that desire within you. The biggest challenge all of us face is negative thinking. This is a reflection of our own disappointment of what we see when we look inside ourselves. By improving our self-image through accentuating our positive qualities we begin to see the world in a more positive light. A sure way of feeling better about ourselves is to find something good in every other human being.

Justin has been working in the field of behavioral healthcare since 2014. He began his career as a mental health technician within a locked psychiatric hospital in Los Angeles, supporting two units of adolescent and adult psychiatric patients. It was this experience that solidified Justin’s passion for providing compassionate, client-centered care in the mental health, and co-occurring dual diagnosis treatment field. Justin has done extensive work providing direct client care as a facilitator of individual, group and family therapy providing crisis intervention and mental health services to youth and adults identified as at-risk in Los Angeles. Justin has served various treatment programs in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Over the years, Justin’s roles have included Residential Counselor, Case Manager, Primary Therapist, and Program Director. Justin Cowell is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). An alumnus of the University of Arizona and San José State University, where he earned his Master’s degree (MSW), has experience in mental health, counseling, and community-based settings. Before joining the Grow team, Justin worked with diverse populations and adolescents. He enjoys incorporating CBT, mindfulness, and positive psychology into his sessions and is eager to bring these modalities to work with the recovery population at Grow Therapy. Born and raised in Inglewood, CA, Justin loves all LA sports teams, Lakers, Dodgers, Kings, and Rams, and loves going to games. Both personally and professionally, Justin is a proponent of self-care, having fun, and trying new things, and is excited to be a member of the Grow team.

Discover your path to inner peace, I believe that every individuals journey to well-being is unique just like you are I don’t offer one size fits all solutions. Instead, I embrace your uniqueness and tail support to your specific needs empathy and expertise. I help you navigate life‘s challenges whether it’s anxiety, depression, relationship, challenges, or the complexities of daily life I’m not just a therapist I’m your partner and healing and personal growth. I offer individual and couples therapy, navigate life transitions, build resilience, optimism, and find healing in a safe judgment free space, in your journey towards healing and personal growth, you don’t have to go alone let’s walk this path together reach out today and let’s begin your transfer animation journey

I’ve studied and practiced many methods. I like to be eclectic and work with you with what’s needed to get you back on track and feeling your best. I was a teacher for many years, then went for my masters in social work. Life has many twists and turns. Sometimes we can feel off balance or are suffering from depression or anxiety. We’ve all had our ups and downs and getting back on track and feeling our best is a goal I enjoy helping people achieve the life they want.