Book LGBT-friendly therapy, covered by insurance
LGBT therapists in San Diego, CA
Top LGBT-friendly therapists and psychiatrists in San Diego, CA
San Diego's vibrant LGBTQIA community deserves mental healthcare from providers with relevant experience and open-minded approaches. Headway offers flexible sessions, medication management support, and works with your insurance to help you focus on your care without worrying about costs.
My name is Joey Ritkes (he/him). I have been working as a mental health therapist for over five years. My practice has primarily been specialized in working with LGBTQ+ youth. However, I have worked with couples, families, emerging adults, and adults from all backgrounds. I am a client-centered therapist who enjoys working collaboratively with my clients to meet their goals.
I genuinely like people, have always love to help ,
Will take my clients through the therapeutic process, with empathy and care for their experience in therapy to be a positive one.
I have a decade of experience treating adults and adolescents. I take a holistic and trauma-informed approach to mental health care. My therapeutic approach is integrative, person-centered, solution-focused, mindfulness-based, and CBT-based. I am a bilingual Latina clinician with an emphasis on the BIPOC experience.
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I'm a LCSW providing telehealth out of Southern California. Growing up in Long Beach, I'm accustom to a variety of populations and personally have experience working in Addiction Medicine, with Child Welfare Services, and as an ally for my LGBTQ+ clients. I believe therapy works best when it feels like a real conversation — not a clinical transaction. I show up as a genuine, engaged partner in your process, not a blank slate behind a notepad. I'm in your corner, and I want you to feel that from the first session. My style blends warmth with honesty (think supportive but direct). Whatever you're carrying, you don't have to figure it out alone.
About our LGBTQIA+ affirming therapists located within 20 miles of San Diego, CA
- 100%LGBTQIA+
- 100%Depression
- 96%Anxiety
- 92%Stress management
- 88%Relationship issues
- 100%Aetna
- 65%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 58%Anthem Blue Cross California
- 38%Cigna
- 38%Providence Health Plan
- 88%English
- 31%Spanish
- 8%French
- 4%Farsi
- 4%German
- 92%In-person or online
- 8%In-person only
- 62%Woman
- 38%Man
- 58%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 23%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 15%Clinical Psychologist
- 4%Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
- 100%Individual therapy
- 42%Family therapy
- 23%Child or adolescent therapy
- 23%Couples therapy
Frequently asked questions
Find the right LGBTQ-friendly therapy provider for you
Headway makes it easier to connect with affirming therapists who understand your identity — from finding the right therapist, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an LGBTQIA Therapist in San Diego
Searching for LGBTQIA+ therapists in San Diego starts with finding identity-affirming care. This can mean a therapist who lists experience with affirmative therapy, WPATH-informed care, gender-diverse clients, coming out, family dynamics, relationship concerns, or support for anxiety, depression, and trauma. Finding a therapist who understands LGBTQIA+ experiences matters beyond general training, so review their listed specialties, approach, and bio to see whether their experience matches what you want to talk about.
San Diego has many therapists across neighborhoods like Hillcrest, North Park, Mission Valley, and La Jolla, which can make it easier to find options but harder to narrow them down. Virtual care can also expand your choices, especially if you want a therapist with specific LGBTQIA+ experience or need more flexible scheduling. As you compare therapists, look at appointment availability, whether they offer a free phone consultation, and how clearly they describe their work with LGBTQIA+ people, gay couples therapy, lesbian couples therapy, or LGBTQIA+ couples counseling.
Therapy in San Diego can be expensive without insurance. Using in-network insurance is one of the most reliable ways to reduce session costs and understand what you may pay before care begins. Headway helps you compare therapists who are accepting new patients, review bios, enter your insurance details for an estimated cost, and book directly when you’re ready.
If you're experiencing or worried about violence, threats, or coercion in your relationship, couples therapy isn't usually the right starting point — individual support is safer. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788\) can help you think through next steps.
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