Addiction therapists & psychiatrists in Laguna Niguel, CA

Melissa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CA LCSW #130126) who is passionate about helping individuals find better alignment with their values to create a life worth living. Melissa has experience working with trauma (she is trained in EMDR), substance use, anxiety, depression and life transitions. Melissa has worked in the outpatient, intensive outpatient and residential settings since becoming a social worker in 2020. Melissa employs an individualized, eclectic approach including interventions from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to meet the needs of each client. Melissa is passionate about social justice and uses a systems approach that views individual clients in the context of interconnected systems like family, community and society.

Amina has a Masters in Social Work with a concentration on Direct Practice in Community Mental Health from the University of California, Berkeley. Additional education is a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, Japanese, and a Pupil Personnel Service Credential specializing on children and families. She has over 18+ years of direct practice mental health experience and is trained in evidence based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Art Therapy, trauma informed care, Gottman's couples Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, somatic therapy, mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Family Systems therapy. Other practices include music/sound therapy, career and academic counseling, life coaching, mind and body connection, specializations in immigrant issues, multicultural issues, gender identity issues, LGTBQI issues, chronic illness and medical issues counseling, blended family issues, intergenerational issues, social justice issues, neurodivergent issue (ADHD, autism, sensory issues).

I'm the kind of therapist who makes you feel safe the moment you walk into the room. I listen fully, without judgment, and with the attention that makes you feel uderstood. Humor is one of my superpower and I used to make you feel more comfortable. I am direct I won’t sugarcoat what needs to be said. I love to be the kind of therapist who makes healing feel both profound and human.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and have been in practice for over ten years. I help Gen Zers and Millennials to manage the overwhelming anxiety and stress that the fast-paced world of today causes. Whether the ever-evolving world is making it difficult for you to navigate the challenges of anxiety, depression, parenthood, work pressures, romantic partnerships, emotional trauma, or interpersonal relationships, I am prepared to aid in rebuilding your confidence and developing a powerful toolkit for combatting mental health blocks.

As a proud Mexican woman, it’s important to me to provide a space for marginalized groups to feel understood and validated. I am LGBTQIA+ affirming and deeply passionate about supporting the queer community with compassion and empathy. I am also sex-positive and have helped many of my clients overcome barriers and concerns regarding sex and physical intimacy.

I graduated from California State University Dominguez Hills with a Master’s Degree in Marital and Family Therapy in 2016. I began seeing clients in 2014, and in the years since, I have worked in substance abuse programs, behavioral health hospitals, intensive outpatient programs, and numerous group practices. Today, I enjoy managing my own practice and seeing my clients thrive as they tackle treatment goals. I am located in Los Angeles and am exclusively offering virtual therapy at this time, making it convenient for you to meet for your sessions in the comfort of your chosen space.

I am so happy to meet you and look forward to working with you. My approach as a Mental Health Clinician is warm, empathetic, compassionate and affirming. I have had over 30 years of experience in the field of Mental Health and substance use treatment. I have worked at Women's Recovery Association with women and children. Many years in School Based Counseling and individual counseling.