Grief counselors and therapists in Santa Cruz, CA

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience spanning child welfare, institutional settings like the Department of Corrections and Kaiser Permanente, and private practice. This give me a uniquely grounded perspective on the full range of human experience. I've worked extensively with families, adolescents, and adults, helping people navigate mood and personality disorders, domestic violence, anger management, and the complex aftermath of adoption and reunification. I am culturally competent and committed to meeting every client exactly where they are, with unconditional positive regard and a deep belief that there are always underlying causes behind the symptoms and behaviors that bring someone to therapy.

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with a unique background in the military as a Pararescueman. With 20 years of experience serving and saving lives, I bring a deep understanding of crisis situations and a passion for helping individuals and families in need. Specializing in psychodynamic, Rogerian, and existential approaches, I provide compassionate support to anyone who has a need. Once you start your journey, I am dedicated to walking beside you every step of the way.

Hello, I’m Gabrielle, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a master’s degree in social work. I support adults through anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, loss, life transitions, and interpersonal relationship challenges. My practice is warm, non-judgmental, thoughtful, genuine, and actively engaged. I believe you are the expert on your own life, and it would be an honor to walk alongside you as you deepen your self-awareness, navigate life’s ups and downs, and build healthier relationships with yourself and others.

Hi, I'm Mitch — a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Vanderbilt University. San Diego has been home since 2020, when the Navy first brought me here.

My background includes pediatrics at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, inpatient psychiatry in Nashville and San Diego, crisis stabilization, and outpatient mental health care. I’ve worked with veterans, college students, LGBTQ+ individuals, people experiencing homelessness, and patients navigating anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, trauma, substance use, and severe mental illness.

I primarily provide psychiatric evaluation and medication management while integrating supportive therapy, psychoeducation, and practical coping strategies into visits. My approach is collaborative, direct, and grounded in helping people improve day-to-day functioning and quality of life.

I look forward to getting to know you.

I have a strong foundation as a therapist. Since 2009, I have provided psychotherapy to adults, children, youth, and families focused on helping them to live happy and fulfilled lives. I specialize in trauma related care, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy.

I am a mental health clinician who takes a solution‐focused and empowering approach to therapy. I believe healing happens at your pace, and I strive to meet you exactly where you are. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe, respected, and understood as we work together to explore challenges, build on your strengths, and move toward meaningful change.

You’ve spent a lifetime caring for everyone else. My job is to help you finally exhale.

I’m Melissa Lou Koerner, LCSW — a therapist with 20+ years of experience helping people navigate the messy, meaningful, and often hilarious business of being human. I’m a generalist at heart, which means you don’t have to fit into a diagnostic box to work with me. If it’s part of your story, it’s welcome in the room.

Over the years I’ve supported adults, couples, families, caregivers, Veterans, adoptive families, and folks moving through grief, trauma, identity shifts, and major life transitions. From school hallways to hospice rooms to VA clinics to private practice, I’ve learned one thing over and over: people are far more resilient than they realize.

My style is warm, grounded, and practical. I blend trauma‐informed care, attachment work, and evidence‐based approaches with a healthy dose of humor — because sometimes the only way through a hard moment is to laugh at how absurd life can be.

And while I’m a true generalist, I’ll admit my favorite work these days is helping adults untangle enmeshment, estrangement, and parentification. There’s something powerful about watching people reclaim space in their own lives after years of carrying roles that were never theirs to begin with.

If you’re looking for a therapist who can help you untangle what’s heavy, honor what’s hopeful, and

I have 15 years of experience as a therapist. You are all so unique. I love hearing each person's story. It enables me to be more specific in sessions. I like to work collaboratively. I want to know what you need at this point in your life. I welcome feedback. I attended U.S.C. as an undergrad and I attended California State University Los Angeles for my Masters degree in Psychology. I think everyone deserves to be happy. If I can be of assistance to you, that is my goal.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Ecotherapist with extensive experience supporting individuals, couples, families and groups. I believe every person has the capacity for growth, resilience, and healing. I also hold a systems and climate-aware perspective, working to support clients within the challenging times / systems we are experiencing. My clients include those who are navigating life transitions or experiencing challenging emotions, i.e. anxiety, depression, loss of purpose, grief, or identity confusion. I also see couples who may be struggling with conflict or communication challenges.