Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Newport Beach, CA

WE ALL HAVE A STORY...

A story of where we come from, where we’ve been, where we are, and where we hope to go. My goal is to help you find the words for your struggles, gain clarity from your experiences, and create space for your learning, growth and healing—so you can move closer to the life you envision. Are you feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, relationship stress, or a major life change, and looking for support that honors your story and background? I support individuals, age 18+, including people navigating life transitions, trauma, grief, cultural expectations, self-esteem, and work or school stress. My primary focus is helping you feel heard while finding greater wholeness and connection.

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.

Hi, I’m Vimal Patel, a Board-Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with over 10 years of experience in healthcare. I earned my Master of Science in Nursing and have a background in both psychiatric and intensive care nursing. I specialize in treating depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders using a combination of medication management and supportive therapy. My approach is compassionate, culturally sensitive, and centered around your unique needs and goals. I'm here to help you feel heard, supported, and empowered on your mental health journey.

I specialize in working with adults experiencing burnout, chronic stress/anxiety, trauma, and neurodivergence. As a neurodivergent therapist who has navigated my own experiences with burnout, I understand how exhausting it can be to constantly feel "on" for everyone else. I’m especially passionate about supporting helping professionals, caregivers, and high-achieving folks who spend so much energy caring for others that they forget to care for themselves. I also bring my full personality into the therapy room (including humor, authenticity, and the occasional slightly twisted joke) when the moment calls for it.

I focus my clinical work with adults (BIPOC, college students, young professionals, creatives, first/second-gen adults) who have been facing and overcoming emotional wounds, self-worth struggles, race related stress, cultural identity conflicts, anxiety, and depression. In our work together, we can understand patterns and be curious of emotional reactions and responses. Being able to look inward can be a courageous next step into finding wholeness and into creating change.

I'm currently accepting in person clients only for Monday's.

Life is Difficult! Many obstacles and challenges! I've been practicing 25+ years assisting adults (of all ages) and teens (15+) with major life changes, mild/moderate depression, anxiety, relationship/attachment issues, sobriety and its relation to mental health. I also work with high functioning career/work choices - helping students/adult-professionals find Purpose-Vision, and Ambition in their career (Life/Career-Coaching). I employ talk therapy to alleviate symptoms, elevate mood, increase self-awareness and existing strengths. I also help people in recovery to alleviate 'Character Defects' that continue on in sobriety.

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.

Finding the right mental health provider is an important step toward healing, and I strive to create a welcoming, supportive environment where every patient feels heard, respected, and understood. As a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), I provide compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to each individual's unique needs and goals.

I have experience caring for patients in both outpatient and correctional mental health settings, treating individuals with a wide range of psychiatric conditions across diverse populations. In my outpatient practice, I work with adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, postpartum depression, and other mental health concerns. My background in correctional psychiatry has provided valuable experience working with individuals facing acute psychiatric symptoms, substance withdrawal, crisis situations, and complex mental health needs.

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.

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.