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LGBT therapists in Santa Cruz, CA


Top LGBT-friendly therapists and psychiatrists in Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz's vibrant LGBTQIA community deserves affirming mental health care. Headway provides access to warm, solution-oriented providers across the city who support your journey. Connect with 2,494 licensed therapists with availability as soon as tomorrow.
I have been a licensed MFT for 17 years and have worked in many settings including but not limited to: non-profit, community college, outpatient drug and alcohol treatment, group home and private practice. I got my Masters at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology and I’d definitely describe my orientation as eclectic and I honestly taylor my work to each client.
Do you carry the weight of your responsibilities home? Does it impact your relationships, your sense of peace, or your ability to recognize yourself beneath the demands of daily life? Growth and healing take courage, and I admire your willingness to prioritize your well-being.
My practice focuses on three areas:
• Individuals in high-pressure helping and public service professions, including first responders and those working in EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement, Corrections, Dispatch, Judicial settings, Healthcare, Mental Health, and Education. My dual Master’s degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy and Trauma & Related Conflict, combined with lived experience, allow me to offer a culturally informed understanding of the unique challenges these roles carry. Together, we address operational stress, strengthen resilience, and support sustainable well-being.
• Adults navigating identity, authenticity, creativity, and life transitions, including LGBTQ+ individuals and those seeking to reconnect with themselves, clarify their values, and build lives that feel meaningful and aligned.
• Older adolescents and emerging adults preparing for graduation and the transition into college, vocational paths, or adulthood as they explore who they are, what matters to them, and how they want to move through the next chapter of their lives.
I bring more than 20 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, young adults, and families from diverse cultural backgrounds. I received my Master of Social Welfare from UCLA, and my work in group homes, schools, and community-based nonprofits has shaped my understanding of how emotional, academic, cultural, and environmental factors influence well-being.
I specialize in working with Latino and bilingual families, and I strive to create a space where clients feel seen, respected, and understood.
Greetings
Joy Gamble is a licensed psychotherapist with over 30 years in the field . During that time she has had the privilege of helping many different kinds of people from very diverse backgrounds and with all kinds of challenges.
Currently she is focused on issues related to depression and trauma as well as parent coaching/support and working with older adults.
Hi I'm Eleanor! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California and New Mexico. I am passionate about empowering people to build self-trust and self-acceptance. Most of my clients come to therapy because they want to make a change or cope with a change that they did not choose.
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 veiw the path of a human life span, as each of us interact and peerceives the environment around us in our own unique way. My goal is to help clients look at their options, evaluate choices towarda healthier outcome. My work has involved in helping clients toward building better communication between couples, family members, and individual relationships. It is my belief that counseling / psychotherapy can provide a safe place where personal challenges can be processed, and finding choices toward enhancing the quality of life and improve relationships.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of New Orleans. As an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, I support clients in exploring intimacy, identity, and relationships with care and openness. I strive to honor your values, culture, and lived experience so you feel respected, understood, and empowered throughout our work together.
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.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and PhD with 25 years experience working with adults, children and youth. My goal is to help you in your path towards feeling better, and experiencing an improved sense of confidence, self-esteem and functioning in your life. My specialties include adoption issues, LGBTQ issues and women's issues. I also specialize in depression, anxiety, elderly issues, disability, and stress reduction.
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