LGBT therapists in Escondido, CA

I’m Dr. Mariam Esfahani, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Doctorate in Psychology. With nearly two decades of experience, I have dedicated my career to helping adolescents and adults navigate trauma, anxiety, and life transitions. I also specialize in couples therapy, guiding partners toward healthier communication, connection, and conflict resolution.

I work with teens, adults, and couples. I believe that true wellness comes from integrating all aspects of ourselves—spiritual, social, emotional, intellectual, physical, and creative. As a California-certified sexual assault counselor, fully trained in EMDR and Brainspotting, I provide trauma-informed care with empathy and expertise. I also specialize in psychedelic therapy preparation and integration, guiding clients through their profound journeys with care and intention.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I specialize in anxiety, depression, addiction, and OCD. I work with adults, children, and couples. I utilize a client-centered approach with my clients, focusing in on my clients’ strengths to help them achieve success. I like to tailor my interventions and strategies around each client’s needs. Providing therapy is not just a job for me, it is my passion.

Clients : Creative field, writers, screen writers, actors, films makers.

I’m a bilingual (English/Korean) licensed clinical psychologist with over 13+ years of experience helping adults (20 and older) navigate anxiety, ADHD, relationship and family concerns, identity questions, and major life transitions.

My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in both evidence-based techniques and a deep respect for the human spirit. I integrate therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based methods with holistic tools drawn from meditation, Eastern/Western philosophy, and positive psychology. This allows me to support you not just in coping with challenges—but in creating a more meaningful, centered life.

I especially enjoy working with creatives, professionals, and individuals exploring cultural or gender identity. Whether you’re dealing with racing thoughts, emotional exhaustion, shifting roles, or inner conflict, we’ll work together to clarify what matters most to you and how to move forward with intention. Therapy doesn’t have to be cold or clinical—it can be a dynamic, reflective process that helps you reconnect with your values and sense of possibility.

Taking the first step can feel uncertain, but if you’re ready to talk, I’m here to listen. You deserve support that aligns with both your inner world and everyday life. Feel free to reach out with any questions or to schedule a consultation. I’d be honored to walk alongside you.

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 specialize in working with neurodivergent adults (ADHD, autism), LGBTQIA individuals, and those navigating chronic illness, burnout, and perimenopause or menopause. Many of my clients come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or like nothing they’ve tried has worked.

You might feel like you’re constantly “too much” and “not enough” at the same time, or like simple things take more energy than they should. That’s not a personal failure—it’s a sign that your brain and body need different kinds of support.

With over twelve years of experience, I offer therapy that is warm, affirming, and practical. I help clients reduce overwhelm, build coping tools that actually work, and better understand how their brain and body function.

My goal is to create a space where you feel safe, understood, and supported as you build a life that works for you.

I have vast experience with a wide variety of clients. My professional history includes children living in abusive environments, teenagers who are struggling to access their education due to mental health concerns, families navigating dysfunction and adults dealing with a variety of life difficulties.

I currently work, primarily, in corrections with inmates struggling to adjust to the custody environment. I offer crisis intervention in addition to ongoing support.

I approach the therapeutic space with compassion and openness. I meet my clients right where they are emotionally and in their healing journey.

I'm Holly, a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with 23 years of clinical experience in psychiatric care and maternal-child health. This dual background has shaped how I see mental health: not as something separate from the rest of your life, but deeply woven into every transition, relationship, and challenge you face. My work taught me that women's mental health—especially during pregnancy, postpartum, and hormonal transitions—requires specialized understanding and individualized care.

I provide comprehensive psychiatric treatment for adults across a broad spectrum of conditions: perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD and trauma-related disorders, personality disorders, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia spectrum conditions. I have particular expertise in women's mental health throughout the reproductive years, though I welcome anyone seeking compassionate, evidence-based care.

My approach is straightforward: effective treatment should fit your real life. I combine psychiatric interventions—including medication management when appropriate—with practical therapeutic strategies and lifestyle modifications that actually work for you. I'll help you understand what's happening, why it's happening, and what options make sense for your unique situation.

What matters most to me is seeing you as a whole person—not just a diagnosis. You have strengths, values, relationships, and goals that deserve attention alongside your symptoms. Whether you're managing a long-standing condition, processing trauma, navigating major life changes, or simply seeking better balance, you deserve a provider who recognizes your potential and partners with you toward sustainable wellness.

More that fifteen years of teaching English and drama at a Los Angeles public high school taught me many things - primarily, it taught me how often people's barriers to achievement are not due to any lack of skill or ability, but rather from emotional barriers stemming from stress, adversity and trauma. So, I went back to graduate school to pursue a new career as a therapist so that I could help in a different way. My training and experience has focused on treating anxiety disorders, PTSD (including Complex-PTSD) and also couples - helping them to navigate challenges and triggers so that they can reset and reconnect.

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.

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I aim to create a space where you feel heard, respected, and understood. I believe mental health care should be collaborative, practical, and tailored to your unique needs. My approach combines evidence-based treatment with real-life understanding whether that includes therapy, lifestyle changes, or medication management when appropriate. I value honesty, cultural awareness, and meeting you where you are. My goal is to help you feel more stable, confident, and in control of your mental health not just during appointments, but in your everyday life.