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LGBT therapists in Manhattan Beach, CA


Top LGBT-friendly therapists and psychiatrists in Manhattan Beach, CA
Finding an open-minded therapist in Manhattan Beach who celebrates your identity shouldn't be complicated. Headway provides LGBTQIA+-affirming providers experienced in gender and sexual identity exploration, with flexible scheduling and insurance coverage that makes care affordable and convenient.
I have over 30 years of clinical, counseling and administrative experience working with individuals and couples, addressing the unique issues related to their unique life experiences. I have extensive professional and personal experience with military families and veterans. I understand first-hand the struggles of grief and medical conditions that impact all aspects of life. I have supported chronically and terminally ill patients, individuals living with cancer or chronic medical diagnoses, as well as parents experiencing infertility, peripartum, and postpartum depression. Whether dealing with life transitions, parenting, depression, anxiety, or divorce, or simply seeking to express yourself and feel more confident, I am here to walk with you, provide insights, and support you toward lasting change.
I'm Saby Kirpal, a 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, 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.
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.
My patients can expect me to be warm, empathetic, and genuinely interested in their story. I take time to understand not just current struggles, but also personal history and experiences that have shaped who they are. I believe that mental health is deeply connected to overall health, and treating psychiatric conditions can positively impact all areas of life. I work with all patients and conditions, and I always meet people where they are. If someone isn’t ready for medications, I fully support their choice and will be there to provide guidance, education, and care until the time feels right for them. Above all, I listen, I value each person’s perspective, and I aim to create a safe space where patients feel truly heard.
I'm Candice Jeffers, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with an unusual background—I spent nearly a decade in cardiovascular critical care before dedicating myself to mental health. That ICU experience taught me something crucial: psychiatric crises deserve the same urgency, expertise, and unwavering support as any cardiac emergency.
For nine years at Ascension Seton Medical Center's Cardiovascular ICU, I supervised teams through impossible situations. I learned to stay steady when everything felt uncertain, to read the subtle signs others might miss, and to offer hope when families needed it most. Those years shaped how I practice psychiatry today—with precision, presence, and profound respect for what you're facing.
I completed my Master of Science in Nursing at University of South Alabama in 2024, immersing myself in over 600 clinical hours spanning outpatient clinics, inpatient psychiatry, and crisis intervention. My pediatric nursing background adds another layer—I understand how early experiences shape us and how differently mental health shows up across ages.
My practice centers on thorough psychiatric evaluations, personalized medication management, and crisis intervention for all ages. I specialize in suicide risk assessment, trauma-informed approaches, and evidence-based treatments that actually fit into real lives. I'm MOUD-trained and licensed for telehealth in Texas, California, Arizona, and Florida.
Here's what matters most: I approach mental health as someone who's held space for both miracles and heartbreak. I know seeking help requires tremendous courage. I know healing rarely follows a straight line. And I know you need a provider who won't flinch, no matter what you share. My work blends critical care decisiveness with deep compassion—because you deserve both.
IMPORTANT: For current availability, visit https://mentalhealthpractitioners.com/ or call or text us anytime at 415-968-6515—we make it super easy! Intake forms are required before your first appointment and will be emailed to you when you book online. You can text us your info or email us at [email protected]. Please be sure to send us a picture of your insurance information and photo ID!
Hi! I'm Christina Stelly, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC — a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner based in Martinez, CA. With over 15 years of clinical experience across inpatient psychiatry, maternal health, and advanced practice, I am deeply committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based mental health care to every person I serve.
I specialize in treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc.
My academic background includes a Post-Certificate DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health from the University of Illinois Chicago, a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Texas Tech University, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Touro University. I also completed an intensive NP residency focused on advanced psychiatric care, crisis stabilization, and forensic psychiatry, which further strengthened my clinical expertise.
Earlier in my career, I specialized in maternal mental health, serving as a Patient Care Director for high-risk obstetric populations and contributing to perinatal mental health policy at the state and national levels. This background gives me a uniquely broad, whole-person perspective on psychiatric care across the lifespan.
My approach is grounded in trauma-informed, individualized care. I take time to fully understand your history, concerns, and goals before collaboratively building a treatment plan tailored to you. I have also served on health policy committees and presented at national nursing conferences, reflecting my commitment to psychiatric care.
Hello there. Thanks for checking out my profile.
I don't know what brings you to this tiny nook of the internet, on this particular day, but I am grateful and very curious to hear.
As a therapist, I've worked with adolescents and adults for over a decade; sharing in their challenges, connecting in laughter and kindness.
It would be my joy to learn your story and meet you with warmth, humor, and sincerity.
Hello and welcome to therapy. You are one step closer on your journey to achieving your goals, passions, and intentions. You and I will develop a therapeutic relationship as you work through trauma, anxiety, depression, and other areas that you would like growth in. You will utilize the strengths that you already have, and keep expanding on those. It is my job to create a safe, open, and person-centered environment. I look forward to working with you on your healing journey! Keep going and growing.
Great to meet you!
I am a board-certified adult psychiatrist and have been practicing psychiatry since 2017. I work with adults from diverse backgrounds, including professionals, students, parents, women, men, and LGBTQ+ clients, who may be navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, trauma/PTSD, insomnia, OCD, perinatal mental health, stress, or major life transitions. My approach is warm, collaborative, evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed. I offer psychiatric evaluations, medication management, psychotherapy, telehealth, and second opinions, with a focus on helping you feel heard, understood, and supported as we work toward meaningful change.
I offer individual psychotherapy for adults healing from trauma, and working to
have a different relationship with others, themselves, their bodies, and food.
Located in Sacramento, California, I offer a combination of individual and group
sessions in addition to telehealth throughout California. My work is person-
centered, grounded in warmth, curiosity, and respect for everyone’s unique
story. Whether you are navigating eating disorder recovery, body image distress,
trauma, or identity exploration, therapy can be a place to gently make sense of
what feels overwhelming.
As a trauma-informed and trauma-trained therapist, I believe healing happens
not only through insight, but through felt experience. Together, I will support
you in learning how safety, connection, and regulation can live in the body again.
I specialize in working with adults and queer individuals navigating trauma,
eating disorder recovery, and body image distress.
I’m Chinenye Udoh, MSN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C, a dual board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner. I work with adolescents and adults navigating ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma-related concerns, schizophrenia, and other mental health challenges.
Many of the people I work with have spent years knowing that something doesn’t feel quite right but struggling to put it into words. You may be having difficulty focusing or completing tasks, experiencing overwhelming anxiety, struggling with motivation, noticing significant changes in your mood, or simply feeling exhausted from trying to manage everything on your own. My goal is to provide a space where you feel heard rather than judged and understood rather than rushed.
Welcome! I am currently accepting client and I specialize in working with LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults, providing affirming care through a solution‐focused and client‐centered approach. I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, supporting effective and meaningful change. I also incorporate Narrative Therapy and Trauma‐Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address trauma and promote healing when appropriate.
Reaching out for support can feel overwhelming, especially when you are navigating the challenges you are facing. Many of my clients come to therapy wanting a space where they feel safe, accepted, and truly understood. I strive to provide this so we can work collaboratively to move toward greater clarity, resilience, and well‐being.
About our LGBTQIA+ affirming therapists located within 20 miles of Manhattan Beach, CA



- 100%LGBTQIA+
- 98%Anxiety
- 95%Relationship issues
- 95%Depression
- 91%Stress management

- 100%Aetna
- 59%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 52%Cigna
- 52%Anthem Blue Cross California
- 41%Blue Shield of California

- 100%English
- 11%Spanish
- 2%Farsi
- 2%French
- 2%Hindi

- 100%In-person or online

- 57%Woman
- 36%Man
- 7%Non-binary

- 59%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 20%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 9%Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
- 7%Clinical Psychologist
- 5%Nurse Practitioner

- 100%Individual therapy
- 34%Couples therapy
- 32%Family therapy
- 18%Child or adolescent therapy
Frequently asked questions


Find the right LGBTQ-friendly therapy provider for you
Headway makes it easier to connect with affirming therapists who understand your identity — from finding the right therapist, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.
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