LGBT therapists in Mission Viejo, CA

As a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I am passionate about providing compassionate, personalized care and building meaningful connections with the individuals I serve. I believe everyone deserves a provider who cares, hears, and truly listens. I believe seeking mental health care is a courageous and deeply personal decision, and you deserve a provider who genuinely listens. I strive to create a compassionate, inclusive, and judgment-free space where every person feels welcomed, respected, and valued. You are more than a diagnosis or a set of symptoms. My goal is to meet you where you are, understand what matters most to you, and provide a space where you feel safe being yourself.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I specialize in treating depression, anxiety, addiction, life transitions, relationship concerns, family dynamics, and other mental health challenges.

My goal is to provide a safe, supportive environment where you feel heard, understood, and empowered to create meaningful change.

Throughout my career in the last 5 years, I have had the privilege of working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, major life transitions, and complex mental health concern. These experiences have strengthened my belief that every person deserves compassionate, nonjudgmental care tailored to their unique story.

I have a passion for helping people navigate life's challenges. Seeking help can feel like a big step, but it is also a powerful one. I offer a collaborative and nonjudgemental space for discovering strengths and with helping you feel empowered.

I believe therapy is most effective when you feel genuinely heard, respected, and understood. My approach is compassionate, direct, and solution-focused, with a strong foundation in trauma-informed care. I work collaboratively with clients to understand not only what they're experiencing today, but also how past experiences may be shaping their present. Whether you're navigating grief, trauma, anxiety, relationship challenges, addiction, or major life transitions, I strive to create a safe, confidential space where you can explore difficult emotions, develop practical coping skills, and move toward lasting change. My goal is to help you build resilience, gain insight, and leave each session feeling supported, empowered, and hopeful.

I believe that everyone deserves to be heard, regardless of their background or circumstances. Whether you are struggling with excessive worry or negative thoughts, overwhelmed by schoolwork as a student, supporting a family member with autism or developmental disability, or facing challenges as a member of a marginalized group in society, it is common to feel hopeless and worthless at times. However, you do not have to give in to these feelings.

My name is Jeffrey W. Danese, MS, MA, LMHC, LPCC, and I am a licensed mental health counselor in Washington State and California, currently based in Sacramento. I bring over 15 years of clinical experience across private practice, inpatient and outpatient mental health settings, and college counseling, along with a an academic background teaching psychology, religious studies, and the history of science in higher education from UCSB, FSU, and 10 years at SJSU to various community colleges in the Puget Sound region and in North Florida and cross-cultural experiences such as living in Taiwan, Zambia, Germany and traveling around the world; I studied Spanish, German, and Chinese language, world history and religions, psychology, evolutionary psychology and the cognitive science of religion; was raised Catholic but ordained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand; and continue to meditate, explore and read broadly. One of my favorite quotes is by the Roman writer, Terence: "I am human and there is nothing human foreign to me." (or, Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto. -- Publius Terentius Afer, 165 BCE)

I have been a counselor for more than 30 years. I remain passionate about making a difference in the lives of others and believe that genuine caring is an essential element to an effective counseling relationship. Over the years I have worked with clients with significant trauma and loss. I consider it a privilege to stand with another individual as he or she resolves great pain. I specialize in treating clients with trauma, relationship issues, and borderline personality disorder.