Grief counselors and therapists in Vista, CA

Hi I'm Natalie and I want to help you build a life that feels authentic and purposeful. Do you feel like you’re navigating life on autopilot, and have difficulty showing up for your work, your relationships, or yourself? You may find yourself caught in cycles of people-pleasing or seeking external validation, only to end up feeling drained and unfulfilled. If you feel stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, know that you don’t have to navigate this alone. In our sessions, we’ll move beyond the 'what' to understand the roots of your struggle while building practical, compassionate strategies to help you reclaim your confidence and advocate for your needs.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist in California and Washington and provide outpatient psychotherapy services in-person and via telehealth. I have been licensed for approximately 1.5 years, and have 7 years of supervised clinical experience across rehabilitation clinics, community mental health, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, where I trained under licensed psychologists before becoming licensed myself.

I work with first responders, active-duty military personnel, and veterans. These professions often involve repeated exposure to stress, uncertainty, trauma, and significant personal sacrifice, which can affect well-being, relationships, and life outside of work. My goal is to help clients navigate these challenges while also building lives that feel meaningful, fulfilling, and aligned with what matters most to them.

My clinical training and professional experience include working with veterans within the Veterans Health Administration and providing trauma-focused treatment for first responders in intensive outpatient settings. Through this work, I have gained an appreciation for the unique demands associated with careers that require individuals to perform under pressure, respond to critical incidents, and regularly place the needs of others before their own. This perspective continues to inform my work with clients as they navigate challenges both on and off the job.

I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and Lead Clinician. I received my Master of Arts from Western Kentucky University have been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 1996 and provided services in child welfare settings involving abused and neglected children and parents who experienced addiction, trauma, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. I also have years of experience working in a private practice setting, working with teens, adults, couples and active duty military. I also specialize in treating trauma and PTSD using EMDR.

I am Shaliss Padilla MA, LMFT, the Founder, CEO and Clinical Supervisor of group private practice MindbodyologyTM. I am also a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology. In addition, I am a Holistic Psychotherapist, (or what I have coined a MindbodyologistTM), also a Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Specialist. I offer live and online support groups and workshops for survivors of narcissitic abuse and toxic relationships.

For nearly 13 years, I worked as a psychotherapist at a mens' long term substance abuse treatment program, The Fellowship Center, Inc. in Escondido California. I obtained several certifications as a drug and alcohol counselor, but I relied primarily on my training as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist to perform individual psychotherapy for residents in the treatment program.

I also have obtained training in Eye Movement Desentitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which I believe provides a robust treatment intervention for trauma. I now have 10 years experience using EMDR both in person and by telehealth with more than one hundred fifty clients.

I also have a strong interest in mindfulness and somatic interventions which I believe are essential in the integration of the treatment of both substance abuse and trauma.

In addition to trauma and substance abuse, I most frequently work with clients suffering from anxiety, depression, or complex grief.

Finally, I enjoy working with clients who are struggling in the midst of major life transitions.

Are you are experiencing verbal and/or mental abuse from a romantic partner, a parent, sibling, friend, co-worker? Do you struggle with your own internal thoughts (e.g. "you’re not good enough”, "it's all your fault", “you are not a priority”). Maybe you’ve lost someone and you’re grieving. You are emotionally exhausted because of the pain you hide and the inability to say "no". You tell yourself the good is good but the bad is bad. You're scared and confused on what to do or how to "fix" things. These experiences create rumination, avoidance, trauma, anxiety, and more.

I am very honest, caring, real and genuine. Encouragement and support for their future journey.

Hey there—I'm Mika, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who's here for real talk and real support for adults and teens right here in Southern California. I've spent years helping people work through tough life events like trauma, addictions, ADHD, burnout from high-pressure jobs, anxiety, depression, and rocky relationships. What I love most is seeing folks step into their strength and build the life they want—I'm here to walk that path with you, no judgment, just genuine care.

I believe some of the strongest people are the ones carrying burdens that nobody else can see.

As an Army veteran, husband, father, and therapist, I understand that life can ask a lot of us. Many of the people I work with have spent years being the dependable one, the problem solver, or the person everyone else leans on. From the outside, they may appear to be doing fine. On the inside, they are exhausted, overwhelmed, or struggling to make sense of experiences that continue to affect them long after they happened.

My role is not to tell you how to live your life. It is to help you better understand yourself, identify what is getting in the way, and build practical tools for moving forward.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and EMDR-trained trauma therapist who works with adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, and personal growth. I provide therapy in both English and Spanish and strive to create a space where clients feel respected, supported, and challenged in ways that promote meaningful change.

I have a Master's in Counseling and have practiced in the field of mental health for nearly two decades. My experience as a therapist includes extensive training and work in eating disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, relationship issues, women’s issues, and spirituality. I am licensed in both California (LPCC) and Washington (LMHC), and I’m a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP). I also hold a certification in Grief (CGP). I emphasize a whole-person approach to care, considering the full spectrum of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual factors that impact your overall health and well-being.