Grief counselors and therapists in La Mesa, CA

I know how heavy life can feel when you’re carrying pain, uncertainty, or self-doubt. But I believe, as a wise old wizard once said, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of places, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” My role is to help you find that light again. I work with Gen Z and Millennial adults facing anxiety, depression, trauma, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and more. Through integrative, culturally responsive care, I combine evidence-based psychiatry with holistic strategies to help you feel heard, supported, and empowered to create a life that aligns with your true self.

Aloha nui loa, and welcome to new possibilities, as you step through the threshold of conscious self-care. Congratulation on taking that first step in reaching out for help. Let's start that process together by creating a treatment plan that will address your needs.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) which is a credentialed mental health professional that works with individuals, couples - both married and unmarried, families of all configurations, children and adolescents, and groups to facilitate healing or relief of mental, emotional, and relational concerns.

Hello,

I’m Ermelinda, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I have over 10+ years of experience in providing therapy to adults, children, and adolescents. Do you feel stuck, tired, and not being able to function in your daily life? Are you struggling to balance work, relationships, and life? Many times, we experience loss, grief, anxiety, stress, and depression. I look forward to helping you in your journey to healing. Life is hard and sometimes all you need is just a push.

I am a bilingual (Spanish & English) marriage and family therapist licensed in California with over 14 years of experience working in clinical practice. I am born and raised in San Francisco's Mission District. I am Salvarodan and Nicaraguan; and a native Spanish speaker. I have served clients experiencing multiple occurring conditions requiring some form of crisis stabilization service or intervention. I have counseled individuals and families dealing with an array of issues such as immigration/deportation, domestic and community violence, teen pregnancy, work – readiness, homelessness, substance abuse, and more. I use a client-centered and strengths-based approach when I work with clients. I believe that it is critical to collaborate with cleints in identifying and attaining what they are seeking. I believe that clients are experts in their lives and I am an expert my field.

Welcome and thank you for taking the time to learn more about me. As a licensed therapist practicing in both California and New York, I believe deeply in the inherent resilience and transformative potential within every individual. I earned my Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. Throughout my clinical practice, I have supported clients across all life stages in navigating complex emotional challenges, including trauma, anxiety, and depression, while empowering them to cultivate healthy, fulfilling interpersonal relationships.

I am currently a licensed psychologist in California, having previously worked as a psychotherapist under supervision for over 14 years. As an independent practitioner, I am accepting new clients, both in person and by remote means.

I seem to work especially well with younger and middle-aged people who are creatively inclined and having difficulty with self-realization and/or interpersonal relationships, from important relationships to everyday interactions with others. In the past, I have worked in community-based and private addiction recovery settings across a wide demographic. I specialize in trauma informed treatment that includes PTSD, depression, anxiety and phobias.

I seem to work especially well with younger and middle-aged people who are creatively inclined and having difficulty with self-realization and/or interpersonal relationships, from important relationships to everyday interactions with others.

I have been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, working with individuals and couples for over 25 years. I believe strongly in the benefits of processing the challenges of life with a supportive and open-minded "witness" in order to get perspective and make hard decisions. I worked with families at Children's Hospital and PsyCare Inc. in San Diego, before opening my private practice in 2003.

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a specialty in maternal mental health — supporting people through pregnancy, the postpartum period, and the emotional transitions that come with becoming a parent. My background in home health, hospice, and hospital-based care has given me a deep appreciation for the whole person, not just the presenting concern. I see clients virtually in the evenings, so getting support that actually fits your life is something I take seriously.

I am currently accepting new clients!

If you’ve lived with anxiety or depression for a long time, it can be easy to wonder whether this is simply as good as life is going to get. I don’t believe it has to be. Even when a problem can’t be completely eliminated, there is often room for greater confidence, connection, enjoyment, and quality of life.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than nine years of experience as an LCSW and several additional years working in mental health. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Master of Social Work from California State University, Bakersfield. My background includes community mental health, crisis work, court-ordered programs, and working with people across the lifespan.

Today, I especially enjoy working with adults from their late 20s through their senior years who are experiencing anxiety, depression, loss, loneliness, life changes, chronic illness, or a reduced quality of life.

Clients often describe me as a safe and comfortable person to talk with. I’m warm, calm, patient, compassionate, and down-to-earth. I listen first. I’ll also be direct when I believe it can help you move forward. I don’t believe therapy should feel like you’re being analyzed, judged, or talked at.

Therapy can involve serious subjects, but every moment doesn’t have to feel heavy or clinical. There’s room for warmth, laughter, and appropriate humor, too. I want therapy to feel like a natural conversation with a purpose—helping you move toward meaningful, lasting change.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out. We can start with where you are today and work together toward where you’d like to be.

Many of the struggles that bring us to therapy—anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, grief, self-doubt, or feeling stuck—have deeper roots than we realize. Sometimes these patterns develop through painful experiences, major life transitions, or family systems that taught us to prioritize others, question ourselves, or adapt in ways that no longer serve us. Therapy offers the opportunity to understand these patterns and create lasting change.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the spouse of a retired Army Veteran, I've spent much of my adult life living in different parts of the country and world, continually building community and connection wherever life led. Those experiences deepened my understanding of resilience, belonging, and the many ways people adapt through change, loss, and transition. I bring that perspective into my work, creating a warm, compassionate, and collaborative space where individuals, couples, and families feel genuinely seen and understood.

Together, we'll work to understand the deeper patterns shaping your life, strengthen your relationships, and help you move toward a more authentic, fulfilling way of living.