LGBT therapists in Escondido, CA

If you keep circling the same patterns — in your relationships, your creative work, or the quiet anxiety underneath both — you already know that surface-level fixes haven't held. I work with individuals, couples, and adolescents navigating anxiety, relationship struggles, creative blocks, grief, and that hard-to-name feeling of being stuck. I'm a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and after years working in the arts myself, I have a particular home with artists and creative professionals — people whose inner lives are their raw material.

As a therapist, I am passionate about walking alongside folks as they reveal their truths and vulnerabilities to themselves. I believe, and have witnessed that people are capable of long standing change with knowledge, support, and connection, and that therapy is a great place for that. You can learn new ways to manage life stressors, feel safe, gain confidence, and live a more joyful and purposeful life. I use cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, and strength-based techniques, while never ignoring the human element and connection where the real change happens.

I work well with anyone who seeks therapy and is ready to work on themselves. I have worked with about every population, culture and age group. Issues that I am best suited to treating include a wide variety of disorders, childhood trauma, addictions, domestic violence, parenting/bonding/interpersonal relationships. I certified in EMDR and expressive arts therapy. I like to offer different forms of expression to my clients in the healing arts. I also give plenty of skill building tools and homework so clients can maximize their progress outside of the weekly sessions. I speak Spanish fluently.

I'm here to support you every step of the way! This is a non-judgmental space to collaborate, learn to trust, and heal in relationships. Together, we can navigate through the jumble in your mind, explore past traumas, and understand their current impact on your life. I integrate CBT, DBT, and somatic therapy to help you find peace.

I've been doing this work for 18 years, and the thing I hear most from new clients is some version of: "I wasn't sure therapy would work for me." I get it. Finding the right fit matters — and I think fit has a lot to do with feeling like your therapist actually understands where you're coming from. I offer therapy in both English and Spanish, and I bring a genuinely culturally informed perspective to the work. I see adults navigating anxiety, trauma, grief, depression, family conflict, ADHD, identity questions, and relationship stress — across communities that are often underrepresented in mental health care. I'm direct when that's useful, patient when it's needed, and warm throughout.

Hi, I'm Mitch — a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Vanderbilt University. San Diego has been home since 2020, when the Navy first brought me here.

My background includes pediatrics at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, inpatient psychiatry in Nashville and San Diego, crisis stabilization, and outpatient mental health care. I’ve worked with veterans, college students, LGBTQ+ individuals, people experiencing homelessness, and patients navigating anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, trauma, substance use, and severe mental illness.

I primarily provide psychiatric evaluation and medication management while integrating supportive therapy, psychoeducation, and practical coping strategies into visits. My approach is collaborative, direct, and grounded in helping people improve day-to-day functioning and quality of life.

I look forward to getting to know you.

Sometimes the hardest part isn't the struggle itself. It's finding someone who will actually understand the world you're living in. I'm Pia, a psychotherapist with many years of experience working with adults and seniors through anxiety, trauma, grief, identity questions, relationship strain, and major life transitions. I work with individuals and couples from a wide range of backgrounds, including LGBTQIA+ communities, new and expecting mothers, and people from diverse cultural and ethnic origins who have sometimes found mainstream therapy less than welcoming. I listen closely, and I work hard to make sure you feel genuinely seen from the very first session.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a master’s degree and over 20 years of experience working with a wide range of clients and concerns. Over the years, I’ve worked in clinics, run my own private practice, and provided therapy to enlisted Navy personnel and their spouses. For the past five years, I’ve primarily provided therapy through telehealth.

Therapy can sometimes feel unfamiliar or intimidating, especially when you’re meeting a new therapist, but I don’t believe it has to feel that way. I try to create a relaxed, comfortable environment where you can feel like yourself. I bring genuine curiosity, warmth, humor when appropriate, and most importantly, authenticity to my work. I want therapy to feel like a real conversation and a genuine human connection—not like you’re being analyzed or judged.

I'm Saby Kirpal, a dual-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner dedicated to providing comprehensive mental health care. I hold Master's degrees from Chamberlain University and Walden University, graduating with Presidential Honors, reflecting my commitment to clinical excellence. My diverse professional background spans inpatient psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, and outpatient clinics, giving me insight into mental health treatment at every level of care. I specialize in treating depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia/psychosis, and substance use disorders across age groups. My experience includes working with children as young as eight through adults in crisis stabilization, residential treatment, and ongoing medication management. As Associate Director of Nursing, I've provided clinical oversight across multiple facilities while maintaining patient care, keeping me grounded in real-world challenges.

What makes my practice unique is the integration of my nursing background with psychiatric expertise. I understand how physical health, medications, lifestyle factors, and mental health interconnect. Being trilingual in English, Hindi, and Punjabi, with conversational Spanish, allows me to serve diverse communities and appreciate how culture shapes mental health experiences.

I've worked from UCSF Health to community clinics, teaching me that excellent care isn't about the setting—it's about the relationship. Whether you're seeking help for the first time, between providers, or managing ongoing conditions, I'm here to partner with you. My approach centers on listening first, explaining clearly, and making decisions together. Mental health treatment should never feel like something done to you, but rather something we navigate together. I'm committed to creating a space where you feel respected, understood, and genuinely supported.