Anxiety and depression therapists and psychiatrists in Oceanside, CA

Hi there, I'm Raquel! I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and I want to celebrate you for taking the courageous step toward prioritizing your health and well-being. For over 25 years, I have had the honor of walking alongside individuals, couples, and families on their journeys of healing, recovery, and restoration. It is a privilege to support those navigating life’s challenges, and together, create a personalized roadmap to nurture the mind while strengthening resilience to weather life’s storms with greater confidence, ease, and clarity, so you can embrace life with renewed strength and purpose.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 16 years of experience, I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals and families through some of life’s most vulnerable moments. My work has focused on caregiver burnout, aging and end-of-life issues, veteran support, adjustment to new or serious medical diagnoses, and family conflict. My background also includes working with foster children, foster/adoptive parents, and parents of children with ADHD, as well as helping immigrants and expatriates navigate culture shock and identity adjustment.

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.

BA Degree Psychology, Masters in Social Work

40yrs experience: Anxiety & Panic Disorders, Depression, Trauma/ PTSD, Grief & Loss Counseling.

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.

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.

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.

My goal with therapy is to provide a safe and open space to process and prioritize a growth mindset. I tailor my therapeutic approach to best match the needs of the client and truly believe in promoting acceptance. Some modalities I have experience with and may incorporate into therapy are Acceptance Compassion Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused, Client-Centered, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Here-and-now Counseling, Trauma-Informed, and Holistic. I have a passion for working with individuals who are looking to unpack complex emotions and experiences that have shaped their understanding of the world.

Welcome!

Please message me for my availability!

My goal is to create safety, trust, and openness on your path to healing. I have been practicing for over 10 years and firmly believe that wellness is your investment in yourself.

Mi objetivo es generar seguridad, confianza y sinceridad en tu camino hacia la sanación. He estado ejerciendo la profesión durante más de 10 años y creo firmemente que el bienestar es una inversión en ti mismo.

I am a licensed therapist who has been working in the field since 2014 with diverse individuals in different settings. I attended California State Polytechnic University for my Bachelors Degree in Psychology and the University of Southern California for my Masters in Social Work. I specialize in working with individuals suffering from anxiety, depression, trauma, women's issues and grief and loss issues. On a personal note, I love to hike, cook and watch movies.

Life's challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming, whether you're struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, grief, or the transitions that come with different stages of life. You don't have to navigate these experiences alone. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive, and judgment-free space where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered to move toward meaningful change from an eclectic evidenced based approach that promotes hope, stability, and wellness, including faith-based perspective.

I specialize in working with adults and older adults experiencing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, intimate relationship conflict, and couples counseling.I believes my purpose is to assist individuals to live life healthy and with hope.

I have extensive experience with substance abuse, holding a previous Certified Alcohol Drug Certificate (CADC) in Illinois, previous certification as an Emergency Services Prescreener with mental health, certified as a Clinical Trauma Professional, trained in level 2 of the Gottman Couples Method, experienced with anxiety, depression, grief & loss, and intimate relationship conflict. I received an outstanding excellent therapy award in 2021 and am committed to lives being changed. I am inspired daily by my husband, two adult children, and in love with my five grandchildren. In my spare time I love exercising, running miles, and reading educational/spiritual literature to keep myself sharp to assist others in sharpen themselves.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. I have experience providing psychotherapy in community mental health, outpatient settings, and higher levels of care, working with adults, adolescents, and families facing a wide range of mental health concerns.

Today, I primarily work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relationship challenges, stress, self-esteem concerns, perfectionism, and eating disorder recovery. My experience includes supporting clients from diverse backgrounds through both short-term and long-term therapy, helping them develop healthier coping skills, improve emotional well-being, and create meaningful, lasting change.

I believe every person has the capacity for growth and healing, and I strive to create a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where clients feel comfortable being themselves and working toward the life they want to build.

Introduction

I primarily use a cognitive behavioral approach. My focus area of practice is helping clients improve their lives and find meaningful change.

My communication style

My sessions are calm, collegial, interactive, respectful, directive, and helpful.

How I help clients reach goals

Change does not necessarily take a long time. We're 'shooting for the moon' right away. What's the worst that could happen?

My journey to becoming a provider

Helping others help themselves is an absolute privilege! I'd pay them to do this work (but please don't tell them that.) How did I get here? It's a long story. I originally went to college to be a journalist, but changed to broadcasting. Dumb. I needed to jumpstart my life, so I changed to this profession. Talk about purpose and meaning!