Grief counselors and therapists in Lake Forest, CA

I work with adolescents and adults and offer individual, couples, and family therapy. I help individuals identify their goals and make the changes necessary to help them lead more productive and fulfilling lives. I am directive, and I provide a warm, caring and non-judgmental environment to explore the issues and life-events with which you may be struggling.

I’m a licensed therapist with a Master’s in Counseling with an emphasis in Child and Family Therapy, and I’m certified in Perinatal Mental Health. I work with children, adolescents, and families, and I also support moms navigating pregnancy, postpartum, and the emotional challenges of early parenthood. I have experience helping with anxiety, emotional regulation, behavioral challenges, and school-related concerns, and I especially enjoy working with children and pre-teens using play and creative approaches.

Welcome! Before becoming a psychotherapist, I spent many years in the law and advocacy field. My previous training and experience helps me relate well with many different backgrounds with a greater understanding and appreciation for the diverse issues and concerns encountered by others. I love working with adults of all ages and couples in their journey towards self-discovery, personal growth, greater connection and fulfillment.

I’m an LCSW. I really enjoy getting to know my clients and building a strong therapeutic relationship with them. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, sense of self, and also high achievers. Many things can stir up emotions, past experiences and trauma. My goal is to help you understand and work through those experiences and feelings. I'll help you reconnect with your inner strength and resilience, moving past the painful experiences that may be holding you back. I can support you in letting go of negative self-views, reducing your levels of distress, and building a renewed sense of confidence, worth, and peace. This process is about helping you both heal and rediscover the core strengths and values that make you, you.

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.

Hello! I'm Kris and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California and the founder of Village Wellness Center, a thriving group psychotherapy practice based in San Juan Capistrano. I have over 25 years of experience in the mental health field, and I specialize in maternal mental health, depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship challenges, and the unique needs of women and mothers.

I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Sacramento State University and returned to school 15 years later to earn my Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology.

The beginning of my career in mental health started in residential care helping at-risk youth, and over the course of 20 years, my work and experience evolved into leading and developing clinical programs for outpatient and court-mandated facilities while also building my specialty in perinatal mood disorders and maternal mental health in my private practice. Additionally over the past two decades, I was raising my family and actively contributing to the Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano communities.

Through my own struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety, I became a passionate advocate for maternal wellness and thriving families. This became the catalyst to opening Village Wellness Center, where the ability to serve entire families and promote holistic mental wellness with a team of therapists can be achieved.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in trauma, PTSD, attachment wounds, grief, anxiety and relationship concerns. I work with adolescents, adults, couples, families, veterans, and military-connected clients. My path into psychotherapy began through fine art, consciousness studies and contemplative practice, which continue to shape my appreciation for creativity, meaning, and the complexity of each person’s experience. I earned my M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, completed advanced training in psychedelic-assisted therapies at CIIS, and am pursuing a Ph.D. in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute.

Hi, my name is Ning! I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences and a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. For the past seven years, I have worked with children, teens, adults, and older adults facing stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, major life transitions, complex mental health conditions. My clinical work focuses on anxiety and mood disorders, and I combine cognitive and somatic techniques with talk therapy to address root causes and foster lasting personal growth.

Since I was a just a small child I held deep empathy and curiosity for other human beings. Ultimately, this lead me to obtain my MSW with a concentration in mental health and sub-concentration in school social work. Along the way, I have worked in many different community-based settings (mobile crisis, K-12 schools, outpatient behavioral health, drop-in centers, residential settings, and complex trauma treatment centers) serving folks from across the lifespan, witnessing so much growth and resilience along the way. I am particularly well-equipped to support children, teens, young adults, and parents.

Hi there, my name is Amber Allen, and I'm a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS). It's an honor to have you read my profile, and take the courageous step towards healing. I've been in practice since 2008, and have had the pleasure in specializing in Eating Disorders, Body Image Issues, and disordered eating patterns for over a decade. I have served as a Primary Therapist, Program Director, and Clinical Director in various Eating Disorder IOP/PHP/Residential facilities throughout Southern and Northern CA. Eating Disorders are not a one size fits all, and it is my mission to also support BIPOC communities that may feel unseen in terms of disordered eating/eating disorder support. In addition to eating disorders, I clinically treat: Adults 18-65+ Mood Disorders, Trauma/Sexual Trauma, PTSD, Women's Health (Perinatal, Post-Partum, Perimenopause/Menopause), Professional Athletes, Professional Arts Community, Life-Transitions, Relationship Issues, Pre-Marital Therapy, Spirituality/Faith Based Support, Couple's Issues, Family Therapy, etc.