ADHD therapists and psychiatrists in Santa Barbara, CA

I am a board-certified nurse practitioner with many years of experience in healthcare, including primary care, psychiatric mental health, leadership, and wellness-based practice. My background has allowed me to work with individuals facing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and medical concerns, and I understand how closely mental health and physical health are connected.

My name is Sara. I have been working in the field for over 7 years. I am currently finishing up my PhD in Mindful Andrological practices. I consider myself a very down-to-earth, gentle, and holistic person.

I specialize in supporting adolescents, adults, and families navigating trauma, systemic stress, life transitions, anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges. With 11 years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I’ve worked across diverse communities, including Black, Native American, Veteran, and criminal justice-involved populations. Clients often describe me as grounded, direct, and compassionate, and I bring deep respect for each person’s lived experience into the work we do together.

Life is about maintaining balance in all aspects, through love. There is so much out there to learn and grow from, so why not have fun doing it? A little about me: I love going to CrossFit every morning. I am a huge nerd, constantly listening to audibles and/or podcasts such as Huberman Lab and non-fiction books. I enjoy being outdoors: snowboarding, motorcycle/dirt biking, hiking, any movement &traveling. My parents are from Peru, so I visit there often. Tambien hablo español! Therapy can help your understanding of where your emotions come from connecting the past to the present, and decreasing the intensity by making sense of it.

Currently, I am offering tele-health sessions only, with availability M-TH from 9:00am to 2:30pm. I am unable to offer appointments outside of these hours. If that works for you, let me know if you’re interested in booking a session, or if you’d prefer to start with a brief 10-15 minute phone consultation!

As a therapist, I am passionate about walking alongside folks as they reveal their truths and vulnerabilities to themselves. I believe, and have witnessed that people are capable of long standing change with knowledge, support, and connection, and that therapy is a great place for that. You can learn new ways to manage life stressors, feel safe, gain confidence, and live a more joyful and purposeful life. I use cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, and strength-based techniques, while never ignoring the human element and connection where the real change happens.