LGBT therapists in Bakersfield, CA

If you’re struggling with your relationship with food, your body, or feeling stuck in cycles of restriction, bingeing, or guilt, you are not alone—and you don’t have to face it by yourself. In my private practice, I specialize in working with individuals navigating eating disorders and disordered eating.

I provide compassionate, individualized therapy for adolescents and adults experiencing anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, chronic dieting, and body image concerns. In addition to eating disorder treatment, I work with children, teens, and adults facing anxiety, depression, trauma, personality disorders, substance use, and challenges related to identity and the LGBTQIA+ community. I am committed to creating an affirming, inclusive space where clients of all backgrounds feel seen, respected, & supported.

Therapy reduces suffering and creates possibility for healthy changes. It is one of the best investments that you can make as you gain awareness and learn about problematic patterns. Everyone is at their own change-readiness level and I will support you where you are at. I am familiar with most psychological issues or relationship concerns, as I have worked in numerous settings and generally I have said "Yes!" to everyone along the way.

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Qualities:

• 18+ years of experience
• Good listener and attentive
• Direct and honest
• Calm and grounded
• Engaged and active during the session
• Utilize mindfulness-based interventions
• Easy-going
• Good boundaries
• Non-judgmental
• Solution-focused
• Experience working with people from many cultures and backgrounds, political affiliations, religions and more.
• LGBTQ+ friendly

Please reach out via email or text. I return all messages in a prompt manner.

I'm Melody Claiborne, a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) licensed in Washington and California. I specialize in ADHD, anxiety, and depression, offering thorough diagnostic evaluations and personalized medication management for adults. I believe in care that sees the whole person — not just a diagnosis. Having witnessed patients go unheard during their most vulnerable moments, I built my practice around genuine advocacy and connection. I work at your pace, in a safe and supportive environment where your concerns are fully heard and your goals guide your treatment.

Welcome to Couples Therapy! Are you having the same argument over and over? Did your relationship experience betrayal and loss of trust? Or are you simply living as roommates or logistical partners who run a family, bussing kids across various sports/schools events, with little to no passion toward each other? I am here to help! I work with couples to identify the patterns that block connection and to rediscover the emotional bond that brought you two together. My goal is to create a calm, supportive space where both of you feel heard, respected, and understood. Change begins when we learn to understand - not fix - each other.

I'm Candice Jeffers, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with an unusual background—I spent nearly a decade in cardiovascular critical care before dedicating myself to mental health. That ICU experience taught me something crucial: psychiatric crises deserve the same urgency, expertise, and unwavering support as any cardiac emergency.

For nine years at Ascension Seton Medical Center's Cardiovascular ICU, I supervised teams through impossible situations. I learned to stay steady when everything felt uncertain, to read the subtle signs others might miss, and to offer hope when families needed it most. Those years shaped how I practice psychiatry today—with precision, presence, and profound respect for what you're facing.

I completed my Master of Science in Nursing at University of South Alabama in 2024, immersing myself in over 600 clinical hours spanning outpatient clinics, inpatient psychiatry, and crisis intervention. My pediatric nursing background adds another layer—I understand how early experiences shape us and how differently mental health shows up across ages.

My practice centers on thorough psychiatric evaluations, personalized medication management, and crisis intervention for all ages. I specialize in suicide risk assessment, trauma-informed approaches, and evidence-based treatments that actually fit into real lives. I'm MOUD-trained and licensed for telehealth in Texas, California, Arizona, and Florida.

Here's what matters most: I approach mental health as someone who's held space for both miracles and heartbreak. I know seeking help requires tremendous courage. I know healing rarely follows a straight line. And I know you need a provider who won't flinch, no matter what you share. My work blends critical care decisiveness with deep compassion—because you deserve both.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and PhD with 25 years experience working with adults, children and youth. My goal is to help you in your path towards feeling better, and experiencing an improved sense of confidence, self-esteem and functioning in your life. My specialties include adoption issues, LGBTQ issues and women's issues. I also specialize in depression, anxiety, elderly issues, disability, and stress reduction.

Thank you for reading this. Having a background in grassroots and non-profit work as well as teaching, I am fiercely passionate about equity, social justice and liberation for all people. The therapeutic relationship is unique and radical --- your words have exquisite power and we get to think together about what they mean.