Obsessive-compulsive disorder therapists & psychiatrists in Laguna Beach, CA

Hi, I’m Eliza Rivera-Mitu, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner. I specialize in treating ADHD, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders, as well as the psychiatric challenges in autism. With a background in both psychiatry and family medicine, I take a holistic approach that considers the whole person—not just the diagnosis. I'm passionate about helping you feel heard, empowered, and supported in your mental health journey.

I'm a psychologist helping clients to navigate transition and overcome destructive patterns. I have expertise in treating anxiety, ocd, adhd, trauma, depression, addiction, recovery, and relationship challenges. I've had a private practice for over 10 years and work with adult clients at all stages of life. I earned my doctorate in Clinical Psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies, with intensive training at the Portia Bell Hume Center, Kaiser, UCSF, VA and the Jung Institute.

I am a dedicated mental health professional who supports children and adults through life’s challenges. I currently provide individual therapy only and do not offer couples counseling. My background in behavioral health and social services, along with hands-on community experience, has shaped my practical, compassionate, and solution-focused approach.

I have worked with individuals involved in the justice system, people living with serious mental illness, children in foster care, and families navigating behavioral or developmental concerns. My experience includes case management, crisis support, employment readiness, behavioral coaching, and coordinating care with medical providers, mental health facilities, and community programs to ensure consistent, long-term support.

I help clients facing depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, behavioral challenges in children and teens, parenting and co-parenting concerns, and reintegration after legal involvement. My approach is strengths-based, trauma-informed, and client-centered. I believe everyone has resilience and the ability to grow with the right support.

My style is warm, honest, and structured. I value accountability while always leading with empathy and respect. I focus on building coping skills, improving communication, setting clear goals, and developing practical strategies that support emotional balance and independence.

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.

I specialize in the treatment of anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma-related disorders, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and OCD in adolescents and adults. As a Doctor of Nursing Practice and board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I bring more than 20 years of nursing experience, including extensive work in critical care and neuro-trauma medicine. My approach combines evidence-based medication management, psychotherapy, and practical lifestyle interventions to help patients achieve meaningful and lasting improvement.

It is my prayer to build a practice that helps you reach a place where your mental health is truly at the forefront. My hope is that with each appointment—and each day—you feel supported in moving closer to the best version of yourself.

I have a bachelor's degree in human services, master's degree in nursing, and am currently licensed as a Psychiatric NP at a psychiatric urgent care, psychiatric inpatient, and psychiatric nursing home. I had been working in mental health field with various roles from crisis mental health coach, psychiatric residential RN, psychiatric emergency and urgent care RN. A majority of my patients have disorder of depression, anxiety, insomnia, bipolar, trauma, and psychosis.