Grief counselors and therapists in Mission Viejo, CA

Hi, I’m Angela Phillips, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and owner of Lotus Healing and Wellness. I help teens and adults navigate trauma, anxiety, identity exploration, relationship challenges, emotional overwhelm, and life transitions through trauma-informed, inclusive, and affirming therapy, with a special commitment to supporting women and the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live as their truest, most authentic self. I also believe we all have the capacity to transform our lives, though sometimes we need support, guidance, and a safe space to begin that process. I know what it feels like to believe you have to hide parts of yourself or become someone else in order to be loved or accepted, and that understanding deeply shapes the way I show up as a therapist.

My goal is to help you reconnect with yourself, heal the patterns and survival strategies that no longer serve you, and create a life that feels more authentic, grounded, and emotionally fulfilling.

I’m Dr. Cathy Evangelatos, a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of California. I’m glad you’re here and I look forward to supporting you on your journey toward healing and growth. You have the option to choose a secular or faith-integrated approach for therapy.

Education:

· I am a licensed clinical psychologist in California with a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology. I also hold a master’s degree in Theology and offer optional Christian-integrated therapy for clients who wish to explore the intersection of mental health and their spiritual identity.

· With more than a decade of experience (pre and post doctoral), I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside people through life’s most difficult and meaningful challenges.

Specialized Training-Integrative Faith-Based Approach

With a master’s degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary and specialized training in the integration of Christian faith and psychology including my clinical research project on integrating theology and psychology into a faith -based practice. This training equips me to offer thoughtful, well-informed support for clients who wish to explore the intersection of mental health and their faith. This is only provided at your request, and only when it aligns with what you are seeking.

I have a Master's in Counseling and have practiced in the field of mental health for nearly two decades. My experience as a therapist includes extensive training and work in eating disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, relationship issues, women’s issues, and spirituality. I am licensed in both California (LPCC) and Washington (LMHC), and I’m a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP). I also hold a certification in Grief (CGP). I emphasize a whole-person approach to care, considering the full spectrum of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual factors that impact your overall health and well-being.

As a highly compassionate and empathic therapist, I am able to provide the space you need to process on a deeper level to cultivate self-awareness and insight so that you can fully understand yourself, experiences, their implications in your life and world, with development of genuine self-love and self-care. I am passionate about helping others find happiness in themselves, their relationships, their everyday lives, and in their world, and love the work I do.

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 am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in trauma, PTSD/CPTSD, 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.

I have supported clients with a variety of issues including depression, anxiety, relational issues, personality disorders and trauma. I completed my M.A. in psycholoy in 2018 and since then I have worked in both private practice and school settings. I am also trained in EMDR. I use an eclectic approach to therapy that I tailor to meet the needs of each client.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with adolescents and adults. I provide trauma-informed therapy for anxiety, depression, stress, and life transitions. My approach is collaborative, respectful, and culturally responsive. I am committed to creating a safe space where clients feel heard, supported, and empowered to grow.

Hi & Welcome. We all face challenges at times throughout our lives. We may need support finding self-awareness and compassion which I believe is the key in the healing process. I enjoy acting as an empowering guide along your journey. I believe in our innate capacity to change and create a meaningful and UPLIFTING life. My goal for you is to foster a safe, accepting and also challenging space that encourages personal growth and empowers you to make positive changes that support your values.

I treat psychological difficulties with a compassionate, yet results-oriented approach. When someone suffers from a medical disorder, a comprehensive assessment of the problem is required in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis. If the diagnosis is incorrect, treatment will repeatedly fail. As a diagnostician, my focus is to treat people, many of whom have been non-responsive to previous psychological / medical treatment, in this same way. Only with a correct diagnosis will treatment be effective. Once determined, goals discussed, a treatment plan in place, the therapy begins. With time and work, individuals grow to experience enhanced emotional health, freedom from the emotional angst and suffering that previously existed, improved relationships, higher levels of consciousness, psychological insight, a stronger identity of oneself along with interpersonal and professional contentment.