Trauma Therapists Available in San Diego
This page lists therapists who work with trauma and are available to clients in San Diego. It is for people looking for online trauma-informed care, whether you’re new to therapy or seeking a different approach. Compare each therapist’s specialties, modalities, years of experience, and the types of trauma they treat. Note that a California license covers the whole state, so being inside California is not a barrier to working with these professionals. Use the profiles to find therapists whose approaches and experience match what you need, then contact them directly to ask about fit and next steps.
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1. Linda Alcala, LMFT
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Parenting · Depression
Continue with Linda Online sessions -
2. Michelle Varady, LCSW
LCSW focused on trauma and recovery
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Trauma and abuse · Self esteem · Depression
Approaches Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) · Mindfulness Therapy
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3. Cynthia Rumford-Jones, LCSW
Compassionate LCSW for life transitions
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Anger · Self esteem · Depression · Coping with life changes
Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
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4. Dorothy O'Neill, LMFT
Dorothy O'Neill, LMFT - Relationship and trauma therapist
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Family · Trauma and abuse · Depression
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5. Christiane Soehnlein, LMFT
Experienced California LMFT supporting relationships and mood
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Intimacy-related issues · Depression
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6. Sheila Owens, LCSW
Supportive therapy for change and resilience
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Self esteem · Bipolar · Depression
Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
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7. Dr. Katherine Phillips, LMFT
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Depression · Coping with life changes
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8. Lynda Green Alter, LMFT
California LMFT specializing in relationships and trauma
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Parenting · Depression
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9. Dr. Malcolm Stanislaus, LMFT
Experienced California LMFT for trauma and coaching
Works with Trauma and abuse · Depression · Coaching
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10. Jared Maloney, LMFT
LMFT for anxiety, relationships, and trauma recovery
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Self esteem · Depression
Approaches Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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11. Sherri Kardell, LMFT
Sherri Kardell, LMFT - Attachment-informed therapist
Works with Relationship · Family · Trauma and abuse · Grief · Self esteem
Approaches Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy · Existential Therapy
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12. Earl Barrios, LPCC
Support for anxiety, relationships, and trauma healing
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Family · Trauma and abuse · Depression
Approaches Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Existential Therapy · Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
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13. Nathalie Contro, LMFT
Collaborative LMFT for relationships and trauma
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Family · Depression
Approaches Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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14. Stella Galarza De Saggese, LPCC
Seasoned California LPCC focused on healing
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Self esteem · Depression
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15. Christine Piddington, LCSW
Support for grief, stress, and life transitions
Works with Stress, Anxiety · Family · Trauma and abuse · Grief · Depression
Approaches Existential Therapy · Solution-Focused Therapy
Continue with Christine Online sessions
About trauma therapy for people in San Diego
Everyone listed on this page holds a licence to practise in California and works online. That matters more than it sounds: a licence is issued by the state, not by a city, so a therapist is available to anyone in California regardless of how far away they are. Someone in San Diego can work with a therapist whose books would otherwise be out of reach.
1,496 therapists match this page, all of whom name trauma among the areas they work with. Fifteen are shown above. The list changes between pages, so it is worth looking at more than one if none of these feels like a fit.
What to compare
- Credential. LMFT, LCSW and LPCC are different training routes to the same licensed practice. None outranks the others; they shape emphasis rather than quality.
- Years in practice. Shown for every therapist here. More experience is not automatically better, but it is a fair proxy for how much of a given problem someone has seen.
- What else they work with. A therapist whose other focus areas overlap with your situation is usually a better starting point than one whose listed areas stop at the single thing you searched for.
- Approach. CBT, psychodynamic, solution-focused and the rest describe how sessions tend to run. If you have tried therapy before and it did not suit you, changing approach is often more useful than changing therapist.
- Language. Shown where a therapist offers sessions in more than English.
How online sessions work
Sessions run by video or by messaging, arranged through our partner platform rather than booked directly with the therapist. There is no travel and no waiting room, which for most people is the difference between starting and not starting. Pricing is set by the platform and shown before you commit.
Therapy in San Diego
San Diego has a population of about 1,386,932. Local in-person availability varies and waiting lists are common, which is part of why state-wide online practice has grown. Nothing on this page depends on a therapist being near you.
Common questions
How do I choose a therapist who specializes in trauma for issues like PTSD or complex trauma?
Look at each profile for listed trauma specialisms, specific treatment methods (for example, EMDR, TF-CBT, or somatic approaches), and populations served. Consider whether you prefer structured protocols or a more integrative approach. Read the therapist’s description for trauma focus and years working with those issues, then reach out to ask about how they typically work with PTSD or complex trauma.
Can I work with a trauma therapist in San Diego if I need sessions at different times or on weekends?
Therapists set their own schedules. Check each profile for indications about session formats and contact the therapist to ask about specific scheduling needs, such as evenings or weekends. Asking directly lets you confirm any constraints and find someone whose availability fits your routine before committing to sessions.
What questions should I ask a trauma therapist before starting therapy?
Ask about their training in trauma treatments, the methods they use for stabilizing symptoms, how they handle crisis or dissociation, and whether they integrate body-based or exposure techniques. Also ask about session length, how progress is measured, and what you might expect in the first few sessions. These questions help assess whether their approach matches your needs.
Other reasons people in San Diego look for a therapist
- Anxiety therapists in San Diego
- Depression therapists in San Diego
- Self-Esteem therapists in San Diego
- Relationship therapists in San Diego
- Life Changes therapists in San Diego
- Grief therapists in San Diego
- Family therapists in San Diego
- Parenting therapists in San Diego
- Anger therapists in San Diego
- Career therapists in San Diego
- Addiction therapists in San Diego
- LMFT therapists in San Diego
- LCSW therapists in San Diego
- LPCC therapists in San Diego