LGBT therapists in Santa Monica, CA

• Hello! My name is Dr. Mendez, I am a licensed clinical psychologist based in San Diego, CA. I graduated from Loma Linda University in 2014 with a PhD in clinical psychology. Since then I have worked in a variety of community mental health and outpatient settings with children/adolescents as well as adults. I primarily work with adults focusing on mood disorders (depression, anxiety).

I'm a licensed clinical therapist who helps clients build the skills to process life's challenges.

I am a dual board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner. My clinical background spans psychiatric care, primary care, emergency medicine, intensive care, and telehealth. This broad experience helps me recognize how mental health can be affected by physical illness, chronic pain, trauma, sleep, substance use, medications, and other aspects of overall health.

Hello! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over nine years of experience helping individuals and families navigate life’s emotional challenges and difficult issues. Therapy can feel intimidating at first, but you don’t have to navigate the journey alone. I am here to support and guide you through a process that can be rewarding and beneficial towards growth, healing, and developing a deeper understanding of yourself.

I believe therapy works best when you feel genuinely heard, and that is something I take seriously. My professional experience working in healthcare, addiction, and homelessness has deepened my understanding of the complex social, cultural and systemic factors that impact mental health and well-being. I am an advocate for human rights and stand with those who have faced oppression, discrimination, and social injustice in a world that works against you.

Hi and welcome! We all struggle with the human condition from time to time. As your therapist, I’m here to meet you with genuine connection - to truly see and hear you. It's only in a safe, supportive space that we can truly unpack the thoughts, feelings, and patterns that shape our lives - and create lasting, intentional change. I offer a unique blend of motivational coaching and in-depth therapy. Together, we’ll take a holistic look at your unique humanness - your strengths, struggles, values and patterns - while working toward practical, goal-oriented solutions that help you reduce emotional suffering and move forward in your life, relationships, and career.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 25 years of experience providing mental health services in behavioral health, crisis intervention, community mental health, and medical settings. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and families navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, family conflict, and other emotional challenges.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, compassionate, and trauma-informed. I believe healing happens when clients feel safe, understood, and empowered. I work alongside clients to build on their strengths, develop practical coping skills, and create meaningful, lasting change in a supportive and nonjudgmental environment.

Throughout my career, I have provided therapy and clinical support in outpatient, community-based, hospital, college mental health, and correctional settings. In my private practice, I provide bilingual psychotherapy to individuals and families experiencing trauma, stress, relationship challenges, parenting concerns, and behavioral health issues. I also have extensive experience supporting foster, adoptive, and biological families caring for children impacted by trauma and attachment-related difficulties.

My professional background includes crisis stabilization, risk assessment, treatment planning, wraparound services, and multidisciplinary care coordination for youth and families with complex needs. I am also a part-time lecturer in the School of Social Work at San Diego State University, where I teach and mentor future social workers.

I am passionate about culturally responsive care, equity in mental health services, and helping clients feel empowered throughout their healing journey. I provide services in both English and Spanish and welcome clients from all backgrounds.

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'm Candice Jeffers, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with an unusual background—I spent nearly a decade in cardiovascular critical care before dedicating myself to mental health. That ICU experience taught me something crucial: psychiatric crises deserve the same urgency, expertise, and unwavering support as any cardiac emergency.

For nine years at Ascension Seton Medical Center's Cardiovascular ICU, I supervised teams through impossible situations. I learned to stay steady when everything felt uncertain, to read the subtle signs others might miss, and to offer hope when families needed it most. Those years shaped how I practice psychiatry today—with precision, presence, and profound respect for what you're facing.

I completed my Master of Science in Nursing at University of South Alabama in 2024, immersing myself in over 600 clinical hours spanning outpatient clinics, inpatient psychiatry, and crisis intervention. My pediatric nursing background adds another layer—I understand how early experiences shape us and how differently mental health shows up across ages.

My practice centers on thorough psychiatric evaluations, personalized medication management, and crisis intervention for all ages. I specialize in suicide risk assessment, trauma-informed approaches, and evidence-based treatments that actually fit into real lives. I'm MOUD-trained and licensed for telehealth in Texas, California, Arizona, and Florida.

Here's what matters most: I approach mental health as someone who's held space for both miracles and heartbreak. I know seeking help requires tremendous courage. I know healing rarely follows a straight line. And I know you need a provider who won't flinch, no matter what you share. My work blends critical care decisiveness with deep compassion—because you deserve both.