Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in El Cajon, CA

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years of experience in healthcare. I work with adolescents, teenagers, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, mood disorders, life transitions, and emotional burnout.

My goal is to create a safe, supportive, and judgment-free environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered. I understand that mental health is deeply connected to daily life, relationships, culture, and personal experiences, and I take a compassionate, whole-person approach to care.

Listen.... Life happens and it's during the tough and difficult times that as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker I'm here to offer a safe space of affirmation.... and accountability

As a licensed therapist with over three decades of experience, I am dedicated to making a difference in the well being of my clients' lives. Over the years my clients have included individuals, couples, and Family from diverse backgrounds, spanning various ages, and life stages. My areas of expertise include: depression, anxiety, life transitions, grief, life and work stress, parenting issues, conflict management, and issues relating to family life. I approach therapy from a humanistic and interpersonal perspective, as well as use strategies from cognitive behavioral theory. I am compassionate, strive to be a supportive person in my clients' lives. I approach every client feeling eager to get to know them so we can address what they need from their therapy experience .

If you have been carrying stress, anxiety, or the weight of life's challenges for a long time, you may have wondered whether things can actually change. I believe they can.

I am a licensed clinical social worker in California with over 30 years of clinical experience working with adults, families, and communities. I am bilingual in English and Spanish, and I welcome clients from all cultural backgrounds. My work spans a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, trauma, and substance use recovery.

I believe therapy should feel like a space where you can finally exhale. I strive to create an environment that is supportive, honest, and free of judgment; a place where you feel truly seen and emotionally safe. My approach is collaborative and practical. I don’t just help you understand why you feel the way you do; I help you build real tools to navigate it.

I earned my degree from Cal State Fullerton and have extensive experience working in addiction treatment, eating disorder recovery, and women’s issues. Supporting women is especially meaningful to me. I am deeply passionate about helping women navigate challenges related to self-worth, body image, relationships, boundaries, life transitions, and identity. I understand how trauma, societal expectations, and relational dynamics can shape how women see themselves, and I approach this work with both compassion and clarity.

Together, we focus on strengthening mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and communication skills in ways that feel realistic and sustainable. I blend insight-oriented exploration with concrete strategies, because meaningful change happens when insight meets action. My goal is to help you better understand your patterns, feel more confident managing your emotions, and move forward with greater clarity, self-trust, and resilience.

Mental health has long been treated as the forgotten side of healthcare — and for me, that's exactly why it matters so much. As a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner serving clients across California through telehealth and in-person care, I specialize in helping people navigate depression, anxiety, and ADD/ADHD. I believe that when mental health struggles go unaddressed, everything else in life suffers — and that healing is not only possible, it's necessary. When I'm not supporting my clients, you'll find me out in nature, getting lost in a good movie, or discovering new music — small reminders of the joy and balance I encourage my clients to find for themselves.

My professional and confidential counseling service offers an opportunity for you to reach your goals and the best version of yourself without leaving the comfort of your home with telemental health counseling. Individuals and Couples can participate in a counseling service that is tailored to meet your individualized needs. I am here to listen, support, encourage, guide and coach. I partner with you to create an effective plan that best fits your needs at a pace that is comfortable for you.

I am Candice Clayton of Clayton Counseling Services and I started out in this field with the purpose of educating people on mental health and providing children, adults and families with the services they need to manage their mental health. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of California. I obtained my masters of Social Work from the University of Southern California and have been providing counseling for over 15 years in various settings with dynamically different clients. My clinical counseling experience includes working within a variety of different areas with children, adults and couples in both residential and outpatient settings. I have worked with emotionally disturbed youth, survivors of child/teen sex trafficking, individuals struggling with gender and sexual identity, couples struggling through communication, infidelity and co-parenting and many other people that were at various phases of life and benefited from some counseling support. I consider my experience extensive and am sure that I can support you through your journey.

I create a safe space for you to describe how you see yourself in the world and to notice patterns that have persisted, and that may hamper you from achieving optimal relationships and completing your goals. I work with a range of ages, from young adults to seniors, and with a multicultural diverse population in California. I specialize in treating depression, anxiety and trauma related issues.

Struggling with anxious thoughts or self-doubt? I work with young adults navigating anxiety, life transitions, trauma, and self-esteem challenges. Together, we’ll build coping skills and create a personalized plan for growth that feels empowering and achievable.

Feeling stuck or overwhelmed? You’re not alone. I help clients navigate anxiety, self-doubt, and life changes with curiosity and compassion. My goal is to help you feel more grounded, confident, and connected—to yourself and the life you want to create.