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Addiction therapists & psychiatrists in Murrieta, CA


Top addiction and substance use disorder therapists and psychiatrists in Murrieta, CA
Murrieta's addiction support resources at Headway include specialized providers trained in cravings management, withdrawal support, and dual diagnosis treatment. Our therapists utilize acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and community reinforcement approaches to help clients build lasting recovery. Find your ideal match from our extensive provider network with next-day availability.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 10 years of social work experience and 5 years of experience as a psychotherapist. My experience ranges from treating children ages 5 and older to treating geriatric individuals aged 70+. I am a bilingual, Latina therapist and I conduct therapy in both English and Spanish. I have worked in a variety of settings including community mental health and private practice treating a range of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, co-occurring disorders, and more. Much of my work has been focused on working with the Latino community in Southern California as well as disadvantaged communities of color.
I have a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work, and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), working in private practice as a Psychotherapist. I live in Los Angeles, and work in-person or hybrid, with adults, teens, couples and the aging population. I specialize in anxiety, life transitions, relationship issues, work stress/dissatisfaction, career goals, sleep disorders, substance use, trauma (ptsd/complex/acute), obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD/OCPD), attention deficit disorders (ADD/ADHD). In addition I deal with grief, isolation, and breaking creative blocks.
Hello and welcome! My name is Shannon Merritt and I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT). I am based in Southern California and offer telehealth services to clients across the state. My expertise includes supporting individuals through life transitions, managing depression and anxiety, coping with loss, and addressing various mental health challenges. I am also passionate about helping people recover from addiction and/or trauma.
What is your approach to therapy?I draw from various modalities and tailor my approach to each individual and their specific needs. I aim to create a safe and supportive environment where clients feel at ease, can build resilience, and ultimately thrive. My communication style is straightforward, calm, and approachable. I offer clear and honest feedback in order to foster clients' wellbeing while developing hope for their future.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions. Clients can expect to develop valuable insight and gain the tools needed to make meaningful changes in their lives.
I am a licensed therapist who specializes in anxiety depression and behavioral addictions such as gambling, gaming, shopping, and technology use. I became an LCSW because, quite simply, I love people and have the deepest respect for all living things. I have a masters in Social work and background in Psychology, Sociology and Education. I believe that every individual has innate strengths and my goal is to help you tap into yours. Whether you are in a difficult life transition, navigating healthy relationships, or looking to understand yourself more deeply, I am here to empower you so that you can move from feeling "stuck" to feeling capable.
Outside of the therapy room, I am a proud mom and dedicated reader. As someone who identifies as a lifelong learner, I will bring curiosity and warmth to every session. In addition to my private practice, I am a crisis clinician. This background has sharpened my ability to remain grounded, and provide a safe, stable space even when a situation may feel the most chaotic.
I have found my own personal healing to be intimately connected to nature, and it is here that I believe that we can all begin to rediscover our intrinsic humanity and let go of those things that distract us from our higher selves. In my spare time, I work as an outdoor educator and manage my own private practice and guide Outdoor Retreats
I believe it is helpful and important to translate what is discussed in session and in telehealth meetings into lived experience and real change.
I have worked with a variety of clients of all ages and cultural backgrounds. My primary focus has been on individual therapy but enjoy working with couples and families as well. I bring empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness to all of my therapy sessions.
I believe therapy should feel like a space where you can finally exhale. I strive to create an environment that is supportive, honest, and free of judgment; a place where you feel truly seen and emotionally safe. My approach is collaborative and practical. I don’t just help you understand why you feel the way you do; I help you build real tools to navigate it.
I earned my degree from Cal State Fullerton and have extensive experience working in addiction treatment, eating disorder recovery, and women’s issues. Supporting women is especially meaningful to me. I am deeply passionate about helping women navigate challenges related to self-worth, body image, relationships, boundaries, life transitions, and identity. I understand how trauma, societal expectations, and relational dynamics can shape how women see themselves, and I approach this work with both compassion and clarity.
Together, we focus on strengthening mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and communication skills in ways that feel realistic and sustainable. I blend insight-oriented exploration with concrete strategies, because meaningful change happens when insight meets action. My goal is to help you better understand your patterns, feel more confident managing your emotions, and move forward with greater clarity, self-trust, and resilience.
I believe healing begins with feeling genuinely understood, supported, and accepted. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that lasting change happens when people can safely explore their experiences without judgment.
Growing up in a military family and spending decades serving as a flight medic, deputy sheriff, and firefighter taught me how deeply connection, trust, and stability shape emotional well-being, especially in environments where vulnerability can feel risky or costly. Those experiences continue to influence the way I work with clients today, creating a space where people can show up authentically and feel supported as they navigate life's challenges.
I work with adults facing anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, relationship challenges, life transitions, and the emotional demands of everyday life. Together, we identify patterns that may be keeping you stuck, develop practical tools for navigating challenges, and build on the strengths you already possess.
I value authenticity, curiosity, and clear communication, and I strive to create a space where clients feel comfortable being themselves. For clients who desire it, I also offer faith-informed counseling that thoughtfully integrates spiritual beliefs into the therapeutic process, recognizing that faith can be an important source of meaning, resilience, and healing.
Whether you are navigating a difficult season, working through longstanding concerns, or simply seeking greater clarity and balance, I am committed to helping you build resilience, increase self-understanding, and create meaningful change.
There's a point where you've already tried to think your way through it. You've read things, talked to people, maybe even tried therapy before. And what you're carrying is still there, just underneath everything.
I work with adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, and the stretches where life stops making sense for a while. I also work with couples, specifically the moments where things break down and the longer work of finding your way back to each other. My background is unusual for a therapist: before this field I spent years as an English professor and academic dean, and I came into this work through music and filmmaking. That path still shapes how I practice. I especially enjoy working with artists, musicians, and anyone whose creative life and mental health are tangled up together.
I am a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) who provides compassionate, evidence-based care for adults. My approach is clinical, trauma-informed, and whole-person; I look beyond symptoms alone and consider the many parts of life that shape mental health. I believe care should feel collaborative, supportive, and not overwhelming. My goal is to help you feel understood while creating a treatment plan that fits your life, values, and goals. Whether you are seeking medication management, in-office IV or IM ketamine treatment, or support through a difficult season, I want you to feel safe, respected, and empowered.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in complex post-traumatic stress. I have extensive experience working with first responders and their families in both trauma and relationship discord. I have worked heavily with combat veterans as well. I work with PTSD, depression, anxiety and domestic violence.
I am a seasoned behavioral health and forensic psychology leader with over 20 years of experience in county, correctional, and community settings. I hold a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, two master’s degrees, and I am a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist as of 2019. My work centers on trauma‐informed care, substance use, sexual abuse victims and offenders, crisis intervention, and forensic experiences.
About our therapists who can help with addiction and substance use in Murrieta, CA



- 100%Substance use / addiction
- 98%Anxiety
- 96%Depression
- 88%Stress management
- 85%Trauma

- 98%Aetna
- 84%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 82%Cigna
- 77%Anthem Blue Cross California
- 66%Blue Shield of California

- 97%English
- 13%Spanish
- 2%Farsi
- 1%Igbo
- 1%Hindi

- 89%Online only
- 10%In-person or online

- 68%Woman
- 31%Man
- 1%Non-binary

- 42%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 27%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 15%Nurse Practitioner
- 8%Clinical Psychologist
- 6%Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

- 99%Individual therapy
- 42%Family therapy
- 29%Couples therapy
- 16%Child or adolescent therapy
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