LGBT therapists in Santa Maria, CA

If you have been carrying stress, anxiety, or the weight of life's challenges for a long time, you may have wondered whether things can actually change. I believe they can.

I am a licensed clinical social worker in California with over 30 years of clinical experience working with adults, families, and communities. I am bilingual in English and Spanish, and I welcome clients from all cultural backgrounds. My work spans a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, trauma, and substance use recovery.

Hello there. Thanks for checking out my profile.

I don't know what brings you to this tiny nook of the internet, on this particular day, but I am grateful and very curious to hear.

As a therapist, I've worked with adolescents and adults for over a decade; sharing in their challenges, connecting in laughter and kindness.

It would be my joy to learn your story and meet you with warmth, humor, and sincerity.

IMPORTANT: For current availability, visit https://mentalhealthpractitioners.com/ or call or text us anytime at 415-968-6515—we make it super easy! Intake forms are required before your first appointment and will be emailed to you when you book online. You can text us your info or email us at [email protected]. Please be sure to send us a picture of your insurance information and photo ID!

Hi! I'm Christina Stelly, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC — a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner based in Martinez, CA. With over 15 years of clinical experience across inpatient psychiatry, maternal health, and advanced practice, I am deeply committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based mental health care to every person I serve.

I specialize in treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc.

My academic background includes a Post-Certificate DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health from the University of Illinois Chicago, a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Texas Tech University, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Touro University. I also completed an intensive NP residency focused on advanced psychiatric care, crisis stabilization, and forensic psychiatry, which further strengthened my clinical expertise.

Earlier in my career, I specialized in maternal mental health, serving as a Patient Care Director for high-risk obstetric populations and contributing to perinatal mental health policy at the state and national levels. This background gives me a uniquely broad, whole-person perspective on psychiatric care across the lifespan.

My approach is grounded in trauma-informed, individualized care. I take time to fully understand your history, concerns, and goals before collaboratively building a treatment plan tailored to you. I have also served on health policy committees and presented at national nursing conferences, reflecting my commitment to psychiatric care.

Welcome! I am currently accepting client and I specialize in working with LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults, providing affirming care through a solution‐focused and client‐centered approach. I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, supporting effective and meaningful change. I also incorporate Narrative Therapy and Trauma‐Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address trauma and promote healing when appropriate.

Reaching out for support can feel overwhelming, especially when you are navigating the challenges you are facing. Many of my clients come to therapy wanting a space where they feel safe, accepted, and truly understood. I strive to provide this so we can work collaboratively to move toward greater clarity, resilience, and well‐being.

I'm Saby Kirpal, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner dedicated to providing comprehensive mental health care. I hold Master's degrees from Chamberlain University and Walden University, graduating with Presidential Honors, reflecting my commitment to clinical excellence. My diverse professional background spans inpatient psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, and outpatient clinics, giving me insight into mental health treatment at every level of care. I specialize in treating depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorders across age groups. My experience includes working with children as young as eight through adults in crisis stabilization, residential treatment, and ongoing medication management.

What makes my practice unique is the integration of my nursing background with psychiatric expertise. I understand how physical health, medications, lifestyle factors, and mental health interconnect. Being trilingual in English, Hindi, and Punjabi, with conversational Spanish, allows me to serve diverse communities and appreciate how culture shapes mental health experiences.

I've worked from UCSF Health to community clinics, teaching me that excellent care isn't about the setting—it's about the relationship. Whether you're seeking help for the first time, between providers, or managing ongoing conditions, I'm here to partner with you. My approach centers on listening first, explaining clearly, and making decisions together. Mental health treatment should never feel like something done to you, but rather something we navigate together. I'm committed to creating a space where you feel respected, understood, and genuinely supported.

Some things you've been carrying for so long they've started to feel like part of who you are. I work with adolescents, adults, and older adults who are navigating trauma, grief, loss, and the weight of experiences that don't just go away on their own. People of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic situations, gender expressions, and sexual orientations find a real home in my practice, including folks within the LGBTQIA+ community. Clients often tell me they feel genuinely heard in a way they haven't before.

Welcome to Couples Therapy! Are you having the same argument over and over? Did your relationship experience betrayal and loss of trust? Or are you simply living as roommates or logistical partners who run a family, bussing kids across various sports/schools events, with little to no passion toward each other? I am here to help! I work with couples to identify the patterns that block connection and to rediscover the emotional bond that brought you two together. My goal is to create a calm, supportive space where both of you feel heard, respected, and understood. Change begins when we learn to understand - not fix - each other.

Feeling overwhelmed, stuck or needing to focus? I enjoy partnering with my clients on their journeys to improved wellness. In our time together, we will celebrate your strengths and develop goals to maximize your wellness, together. While we can't change our past, we can work together to process our story’s strengths and struggles. We can talk through your current challenges and quiet the noise around you. We can explore the barriers that may get in the way of enjoying life to the fullest. We can identify ways to find joy again. I look forward to meeting with you to plan how to achieve your goals.

I love helping people heal through insight, humor, and giving them a place to feel heard. Everyone needs help sometimes, and having a a guide with abilities directed towards healing mental and emotional wounds means you will walk away with tools to last a lifetime. I am always learning new skills to aid more people. We will get through this together!

I’m Thomas Moore, LPCC, a licensed professional clinical counselor providing therapy for individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, emotional overwhelm, identity development, and complex relational patterns. Many of the people I work with feel stuck in repeating cycles such as overthinking, people pleasing, emotional shutdown, intense reactions, or difficulty maintaining stable relationships even when they logically understand what they should do. My goal is to help you translate insight into real change.

My approach is structured and compassionate. I integrate evidence based methods including cognitive restructuring, emotional regulation training, interpersonal effectiveness skills, and trauma informed therapy. Sessions focus on understanding why your brain reacts the way it does and building practical tools you can actually use outside the therapy room. This is not only about talking through problems but learning how to respond differently when they show up in real life.

I work well with clients who want more than passive support and are ready to build skills, increase self awareness, and interrupt patterns that no longer serve them.

What clients should know before starting

Therapy with me is collaborative and active and you will learn strategies rather than only venting. We will work on understanding both the emotional and neurological side of your reactions. Sessions focus on present day functioning while also addressing past experiences that still affect you. I may gently challenge patterns when it supports growth while maintaining a supportive and respectful space. Progress often comes from small repeated changes rather than sudden breakthroughs.

If you are looking for therapy that combines validation with practical change, we will likely work well together.

I work with teens, young adults, and families navigating ADHD, anxiety, depression, substance use, identity exploration, family conflict, relationship challenges, life transitions, and emotional overwhelm. Whether you're feeling stuck, disconnected, overwhelmed, or uncertain about what comes next, therapy can provide a space to better understand yourself and move toward meaningful change.

My approach is warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. I believe therapy works best when clients feel genuinely understood, supported, and accepted for who they are. Together, we build on strengths, develop practical coping skills, and explore the patterns that may be getting in the way of living a more fulfilling life.

I strive to create a safe and supportive environment where clients can be honest, reflective, and fully themselves without fear of judgment. My goal is not only to help clients navigate current challenges but also to foster greater resilience, self-awareness, confidence, and connection.

There is something different about talking to someone who actually understands your world. I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, life transitions, and challenges with identity and how they see themselves, and I offer sessions in both English and Haitian Creole. I bring particular care to clients from Haitian and Caribbean backgrounds and to women navigating the emotional weight of motherhood, loss, and everything in between. With more than 15 years of experience, I have seen what becomes possible when people feel genuinely seen and free to show up exactly as they are.

I'm Melody Claiborne, a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) licensed in Washington and California. I specialize in ADHD, anxiety, and depression, offering thorough diagnostic evaluations and personalized medication management for adults. I believe in care that sees the whole person — not just a diagnosis. Having witnessed patients go unheard during their most vulnerable moments, I built my practice around genuine advocacy and connection. I work at your pace, in a safe and supportive environment where your concerns are fully heard and your goals guide your treatment.