Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Santa Maria, CA covered by Aetna

Hello, my name is Ryan. I treat adults using psychodynamic psychotherapy. This is ideal for clients who are willing to be introspective about their problems and are okay with being confronted in a direct way. This type of therapy can be hard but provides the basis for deep and meaningful work.

Sometimes life gets hard and we lose track of who we are. The things we used to handle with ease can suddenly feel like an overwhelming challenge. In those moments, you deserve a safe space to process, heal, and rediscover your footing.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), my goal is to walk alongside you in your healing journey and meet you where you are. I hold a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California (USC) and bring extensive experience working with adolescents, families, and individuals navigating complex medical and emotional crises in hospital settings. Whether you are facing a major life transition, family conflict, or acute stress, I provide a compassionate, collaborative environment tailored to your unique needs. Together, we will work to restore your sense of self and build a path forward at your own pace.

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with over 8 years of clinical experience delivering compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care to individuals navigating some of life's most challenging mental health experiences. I provide compassionate, client-centered psychiatric care via telehealth across California, including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment through evidence-based therapy and medication management. With a clinical focus, I take a collaborative, personalized approach to help you feel heard, supported, empowered and I am committed to delivering high-quality, culturally sensitive mental health care.

My practice is rooted in a genuine belief that every person, regardless of their diagnosis, background, or life history, deserves high-quality, individualized psychiatric care delivered with dignity and respect. I am a certified trauma-informed specialist with extensive clinical training in Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar, OCD, Schizophrenia, Anger Management, Self esteem, Insomnia, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Mood disorders, PTSD Personality disorders, Phobias, Coping skills and offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with supportive counseling for substance use and co-occurring conditions. I diagnose and administer psychotherapeutic treatments and medications to address mental, emotional, and behavioral health disorders, always with the full context of a patient's life at the center of my clinical decision-making.

I’m an EMDR-certified therapist with additional certification in perinatal mental health (PMH-C). I know that finding the right therapist is difficult. Especially when trauma and previous pain tells you you are alone, you are judged, and you are always unsafe. Though fear would like you to believe you are better off doing this on your own, you know it’s not true. To heal, we must feel seen and understood, with support and guidance. This is truly my passion and I love connecting with my clients and helping them meet their specific goals.

I have over ten years of working in mental health settings, including in leadership. I am confident and unafraid in walking through pain and unique “problems” with my clients. I have helped many find relief from childhood trauma, attachment wounds, anxiety, depressive symptoms, PTSD, relationship problems, and destructive ways of coping such as substance use.

In our life, it's natural to encounter deep-seated questions, concerns and sometimes struggle. I have been a practicing psychotherapist for over 20 years and specialize in helping clients navigate a variety of issues. This includes, but is not limited to strategies for managing anxiety, reducing rumination, and coping with feelings of being overwhelmed or depressed.