Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Vista, CA

My name is Joey Ritkes (he/him). I have been working as a mental health therapist for over five years. My practice has primarily been specialized in working with LGBTQ+ youth. However, I have worked with couples, families, emerging adults, and adults from all backgrounds. I am a client-centered therapist who enjoys working collaboratively with my clients to meet their goals.

I work with adults facing ADHD, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, sleep issues, and substance use, offering clear, practical help—no guesswork. You might feel overwhelmed, stuck, have trouble sleeping, or struggle to focus. We follow a structured approach to understand your situation and develop a treatment plan that progresses. I provide psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and focused follow-up using evidence-based and trauma-informed strategies. The process is simple, with clear steps and adjustments based on your progress. If you're ready to proceed, reach out.

Hello! I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, but more importantly, I am a safe space, an advocate, a collaborator, and a sounding board. I specialize in trauma/intergenerational trauma, depression, anxiety, identity incongruency, and general life stage/cycle challenges. I am EMDR trained, and a Certified Grief Informed Counselor.

Welcome! Before becoming a psychotherapist, I spent many years in the law and advocacy field. My previous training and experience helps me relate well with many different backgrounds with a greater understanding and appreciation for the diverse issues and concerns encountered by others. I love working with adults of all ages and couples in their journey towards self-discovery, personal growth, greater connection and fulfillment.

I'm Josiah — a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) offering in-person sessions in Irvine and telehealth sessions across California. My work centers on three communities I care deeply about: veterans navigating the often-invisible work of coming home, LGBTQ+ individuals and couples looking for a therapist who genuinely gets it, and parents who are doing their best while carrying more than they show. I'm Transgender Allied, trained in trauma-informed and multicultural frameworks, and I work with individuals, couples, and families. Before anything else, I work hard to make sure you feel like yourself in the session — not a diagnosis, not a file.

As a highly compassionate and empathic therapist, I am able to provide the space you need to process on a deeper level to cultivate self-awareness and insight so that you can fully understand yourself, experiences, their implications in your life and world, with development of genuine self-love and self-care. I am passionate about helping others find happiness in themselves, their relationships, their everyday lives, and in their world, and love the work I do.

I see therapy as a collaborative journey, where I walk alongside you rather than ahead of you. For nearly a decade, I’ve had the privilege of working with children, adolescents, and adults facing challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, autism, substance use, chronic pain, and life transitions. My background in clinical psychology, along with board certification in biofeedback and neurofeedback, allows me to integrate both psychological and physiological approaches to healing. Most importantly, I deeply respect the uniqueness of your lived experience and strive to create a space where you feel understood, supported, and empowered.