Therapist in San Diego

Looking for a Therapist in San Diego?

Thinking about seeing a therapist may come with a mix of emotions. You may feel hopeful about getting support, uncertain about where to begin, or overwhelmed by the number of therapists and therapy options available.

Perhaps you have been dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, stress, low self-esteem, or a major life transition and have started wondering whether therapy could help.

If you have found yourself searching for a therapist in San Diego, you do not need to know exactly what kind of therapy you need before reaching out.

Finding the right therapist can start with understanding what you are experiencing, what you hope to get out of therapy, and what kind of support may feel like the best fit for you.

Why Do People Start Looking for a Therapist?

There is rarely just one reason someone decides to begin therapy.

For some people, a difficult event or major life change prompts them to reach out. Others may have been living with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, or emotional stress for months or years before deciding they want support.

Some common reasons people seek therapy include:

• Anxiety or excessive worry

• Depression or low mood

• Stress and burnout

• Relationship difficulties

• Family conflict

• Low self-esteem

• Difficulty setting boundaries

• Major life transitions

• Work or career stress

• Grief and loss

• Feeling emotionally overwhelmed

• Repeating unhealthy relationship patterns

• Difficulty communicating with a partner

• Feeling stuck or uncertain about what comes next

You do not need to be experiencing a crisis to benefit from therapy.

Sometimes therapy begins because something feels wrong. Other times, people simply want to understand themselves better, improve their relationships, or develop healthier ways of navigating challenges.

If you are looking for one-on-one support, individual therapy in San Diego can provide a space to explore what you are experiencing and identify meaningful goals for therapy.

What Can a Therapist Help With?

Therapy can provide a supportive space to better understand your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and behavioral patterns.

Rather than simply telling you what to do, a therapist can help you explore what may be contributing to the challenges you are experiencing and develop healthier ways of responding.

Depending on your needs, therapy may involve:

• Understanding anxiety or depression

• Identifying patterns that keep repeating

• Developing healthier coping strategies

• Improving emotional regulation

• Setting stronger boundaries

• Strengthening communication

• Navigating difficult relationships

• Processing major life changes

• Building confidence and self-esteem

• Clarifying what matters most to you

The focus of therapy will depend on your individual goals and circumstances.

How Do I Find the Right Therapist in San Diego?

Finding the right therapist involves more than choosing the first person who appears in a search result.

Therapists can differ in their specialties, therapeutic approaches, communication styles, experience, and the types of clients they work with.

When looking for a therapist, you may want to consider:

• What would I like help with?

• Does this therapist work with concerns similar to mine?

• Do I want individual, couples, teen, or family therapy?

• What therapeutic approaches do they use?

• Do I prefer in-person or online therapy?

• Does their style feel comfortable to me?

• Do I feel like I could be honest with this person?

You do not have to answer all of these questions before reaching out.

A consultation can help you learn more about a therapist's approach and determine whether they may be a good fit.

Does the Relationship With Your Therapist Matter?

A strong therapeutic relationship can be an important part of therapy.

You may be discussing experiences that feel personal, confusing, uncomfortable, or difficult to put into words. Feeling heard and respected can make it easier to participate openly in the process.

You may want to ask yourself:

• Do I feel listened to?

• Do I feel respected?

• Does the therapist seem interested in my experience?

• Can I ask questions?

• Does their approach make sense to me?

• Do I feel comfortable being honest?

It is normal to feel nervous when therapy is new.

What matters is whether you gradually feel able to talk openly and work collaboratively with your therapist.

What Type of Therapy Might Be Right for Me?

Different people may benefit from different forms of support.

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy involves meeting one-on-one with a therapist and may help with concerns such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, stress, relationship patterns, and life transitions.

Couples Therapy

Couples therapy in San Diego can help partners better understand recurring patterns, improve communication, address conflict, rebuild trust, and strengthen their relationship.

Teen and Adolescent Therapy

Teen therapy can provide support for adolescents experiencing anxiety, stress, emotional overwhelm, relationship concerns, self-esteem difficulties, or major life changes.

Family Therapy

Family therapy may help families work through conflict, parenting stress, communication difficulties, and changes affecting the family as a whole.

If you are unsure which type of therapy makes the most sense, that is something you can discuss during an initial consultation.

What If Anxiety or Depression Is Why I Am Looking for Therapy?

Anxiety and depression are common reasons people begin looking for a therapist.

Anxiety may involve excessive worry, overthinking, difficulty relaxing, racing thoughts, avoidance, or feeling constantly on edge.

Anxiety therapy in San Diego can help you better understand anxious patterns and develop healthier ways of responding to difficult thoughts and emotions.

Depression may involve sadness, low motivation, exhaustion, disconnection, irritability, or losing interest in activities you previously enjoyed.

Depression therapy in San Diego can provide space to understand what you are experiencing and develop strategies for moving forward.

You do not need to have everything figured out before starting therapy.

In-Person Therapy or Online Therapy?

Another consideration when looking for a therapist is whether you prefer meeting in person or virtually.

Some people prefer having a dedicated office where they can step away from everyday distractions and focus entirely on their session.

Others appreciate the flexibility of online therapy because it may be easier to fit into work, school, parenting, or other responsibilities.

Novara Counseling provides in-person therapy in Sorrento Valley, San Diego, as well as online therapy throughout California.

If location is especially important to you, you can also learn more about therapy near you in San Diego.

Meet Our San Diego Therapists

Farnaz Safaei, LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #140876

Farnaz works with adults, couples, and families navigating anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, self-esteem, infidelity, and major life transitions.

Her therapeutic approach is warm, collaborative, and personalized. She incorporates approaches including the Gottman Method, attachment-based therapy, psychodynamic therapy, CBT, and DBT based on each client's needs and goals.

Farnaz also works extensively with couples seeking help with communication, emotional disconnection, trust concerns, infidelity, and recurring relationship patterns.

She also provides Farsi therapy for couples and individuals!

Learn More About Our Therapist: Farnaz

Sydney Walla, APCC

Associate Professional Clinical Counselor #14869
Supervised by Farnaz Safaei, LMFT #140876

Sydney works with adolescents, adults, and couples experiencing anxiety, overthinking, self-doubt, burnout, relationship concerns, emotional overwhelm, and major life transitions.

Her approach draws from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based practices, and the Gottman Method when working with couples.

Sydney's therapeutic style is warm, genuine, and collaborative while incorporating thoughtful challenges when they may support growth.

Learn More About Our Therapist: Sydney

What Should I Expect When I Start Therapy?

Your first sessions provide an opportunity for you and your therapist to begin understanding what brings you to therapy and what you would like to work toward.

Your therapist may ask about:

• What brought you to therapy

• How long you have been experiencing the concern

• Current stressors

• Important relationships

• Previous experiences with therapy

• What you hope will feel different

You do not need to tell your entire life story during the first appointment.

Therapy develops over time, and your goals may become clearer as you and your therapist better understand what is happening.

You can also read more about why therapy works.

What If the First Therapist Doesn't Feel Like the Right Fit?

Not every therapist will feel right for every person.

A therapist may have the appropriate training and experience while still not being the best match for your personality, goals, or communication preferences.

If you are unsure about the fit, you can talk with your therapist about the pace of therapy, the areas you want to focus on, or anything else that may be affecting your experience.

Sometimes that conversation improves the therapeutic relationship. Other times, meeting with another therapist may make more sense.

Therapists in Sorrento Valley, San Diego

Novara Counseling provides in-person therapy at 5465 Morehouse Dr., Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92121

Our Sorrento Valley office serves clients from surrounding San Diego communities including La Jolla, UTC, University City, Mira Mesa, Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Torrey Pines, Rancho Peñasquitos, and nearby areas.

We also provide online therapy throughout California.

Find a Therapist in San Diego

Looking for a therapist can feel overwhelming when you are already dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, stress, or a major change in your life.

You do not have to know exactly what kind of therapy you need before asking for support.

Novara Counseling provides individual therapy, couples therapy, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, teen therapy, family therapy, and relationship counseling in San Diego.

Our therapists offer in-person sessions in Sorrento Valley as well as online therapy throughout California.

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with Novara Counseling to tell us what you're looking for and learn which therapist and service may fit your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions