LGBT therapists in Oxnard, CA

Are you struggling to have harmony in your relationships? Does having ease in your life seem like a far-fetched dream? Are you feeling overwhelmed with the state of the world and all you have to do? Welcome, you're in the right place! I have been in your shoes and the first (or twenty) step is always the hardest. As someone who has learned to balance multiple cultures, I know what it can feel like to straddle various parts of your identity. I have first hand experienced feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, angry, and at a complete loss for how to navigate the intensity of my emotions. This has informed my practice and work with clients where I strongly believe that our emotions guide us to understanding ourselves in a new light. Asking for help can be difficult, especially in a culture that values productivity over personality.

I completed my Master's in Counseling Psychology at The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. I have over 10 years of experience working in the mental health field varying from community youth work, psychiatric inpatient nursing, and counseling. I became licensed as a Marriage & Family Therapist in April 2023, accruing over 4 years of experience providing psychotherapy to clients in the LGBTQ and immigrant communities navigating mood, identity, and relationships.

I believe therapy is a journey, one in which the client is the navigating driver. As a Licensed marriage and family therapist, I take the passenger seat and support my clients in the direction they chose to go with in their therapeutic journey. I tailor each session to meet the unique needs of my clients, drawing on empathy, respect, and transparency to create a safe and nonjudgmental environment.

My name is Betel, and I am a California Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in my 6th year of practice. I received my MA from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, where I trained in a process-oriented, humanistic-existential style of clinical work. My background also includes coaching in ketamine-assisted care settings, and I am psychedelics-informed and educated.

At the foundation of my work is the belief that human being is an organic unfolding, in which mindful awareness plays an enduring and creative role. I therefore tend to work especially well with artists, young adults, the LGBTQ+ community, and anyone navigating major life transitions or places of in-between in their sense of who they are.