Trauma and PTSD therapists in Chula Vista, California CA
Find experienced trauma and PTSD therapists in Chula Vista who provide testing, evidence-based treatment for trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and related challenges such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Compare detailed therapist profiles and connect with a provider that’s right for you.
PTSD/Trauma
Matthew Bishop
Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Doctorate in Behavioral Health Leadership
Trauma changes the way the nervous system reacts to the world. My approach helps clients feel safe again in their own bodies and regain a sense of choice in how they live, rather than feeling stuck in old survival patterns.
10 Years Experience
In-Person Near Chula Vista, CA
Online in Chula Vista, CA California
PTSD/Trauma
Marge Michaelson
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, ACSW, DSW
Trauma and PTSD exist because of explicit and implicit memory of events that are out of the ordinary. Therapy explores the connection to both in a safe environment. Symptoms arise from these experiences that can be debilitating and exhausting. Sorting out these connections lead to healing.
41 Years Experience
In-Person Near Chula Vista, CA
Online in Chula Vista, CA California
PTSD/Trauma
Mary Mallinson Therapy
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
I specialize in trauma therapy using EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and somatic approaches to help process past experiences. Therapy focuses on reducing symptoms of PTSD while supporting nervous system regulation, integration, and long-term healing.
5 Years Experience
Online in Chula Vista, CA California (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Dr. Jen Bachtold
Psychologist, Ph.D., Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor-II (CADC-II), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Specialist in Anger Management
I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Specializing in trauma and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), I am dedicated to providing compassionate and effective support to individuals who have experienced traumatic events. My approach is grounded in evidence-based therapies and personalized strategies to promote healing, resilience, combat trauma triggers and intrusiveness, and overall well-being.
11 Years Experience
Online in Chula Vista, CA California (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Allen Shamon
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
I provide psychoeducation about PTSD, helping individuals understand the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for the disorder. I also educate clients about the neurobiology of trauma, the impact of trauma on the brain and body, and common reactions to trauma. Psychoeducation helps individuals develop insight into their symptoms and empowers them to take an active role in their recovery journey.
6 Years Experience
Online in Chula Vista, CA California (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Hilary Stokes
Therapist, PHD, LCSW
We experience trauma when the stress or fear of threat overwhelm our system and we are not able to consciously process everything that is happening. Our instincts take over and our nervous system goes into survival mode to help us deal with the situation. This is a process known as neuroception, where we assess risks and react via our primal instincts. This looks like the part of our nervous system that is capable of survival and takes a primary role and we either fight, flight, freeze, appease or collapse in response to what is happening. Our rational thinking brain takes a back seat to let our instinctual emotional brain take over. Once we experience an event as traumatic, our nervous system makes it difficult to get out. The part of our brain responsible for memory of details, time, space and basic facts becomes far less active and our sensory memory takes over. We can lose track of the details making it challenging to recall what happened after the fact. The traumatic experiences get stored at a sensory, visceral, and often nonverbal level in our implicit memory. We may experience this at more of an unconscious level making it difficult to fully process at a more cognitive or conscious level.
These memories tend to get suspended or stuck in time leaving a residue of unresolved distressing energy. This puts a lot of stress on the mind-body system, is exhausting and inevitably is not sustainable. Healing as a result requires accessing the implicit memories that exist outside of our ability to verbalize and rationally process our thoughts about what happened. Brainspotting, EMDR , somatic therapy and other mind body therapies known to access implicit memory networks are vital to healing. They help move memories from an unconscious and unresolved state to a more conscious and adaptive state.
25 Years Experience
Online in Chula Vista, CA California (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Douglairian psychology apc
Marriage and Family Therapist, Lmft
We are trained in research-supported therapies that target substance use and compulsive behavior patterns, as well as mental health issues such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), complex trauma, and anxiety or mood disorders.
5 Years Experience
Online in Chula Vista, CA California (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Angelique Umutesi
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
Healing from trauma and PTSD is a brave and deeply personal journey, and at Roots and Refuge Center, we are here to walk alongside you.
Whether you’ve experienced childhood trauma, military service trauma, loss, or any form of violence, we provide a compassionate space for you to process, heal, and rebuild your life.
We understand that trauma affects every part of you — your mind, body, and spirit — and we offer trauma-informed care to help you reclaim your sense of safety, strength, and peace.
What We Offer
Trauma-Informed Therapy:
Safe, supportive, and empathetic counseling that respects the impact of your trauma and works with you to foster healing and recovery.
Personalized PTSD Treatment:
We offer evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help you process and heal from PTSD.
Mind-Body Healing:
Trauma affects the body, and we offer techniques such as mindfulness, breathwork, and somatic experiencing to help you reconnect with your body and release stored trauma.
Building Resilience:
Learn tools to manage triggers, build emotional resilience, and create a sense of stability in your daily life.
Healing from Religious or Cultural Trauma:
If your trauma is tied to faith or cultural experiences, we offer compassionate support to address the emotional wounds left by those experiences.
5 Years Experience
Online in Chula Vista, CA California (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Dr. Maxwell Rappoport
Psychologist, Ph.D.
I specialize in trauma treatment using approaches like Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), mindfulness-based interventions, and elements of narrative therapy to re-understand and reinterpret traumatic material. Therapy provides a safe space to process painful memories, reduce symptoms like hypervigilance or flashbacks, and rebuild a sense of safety, empowerment, and control.
9 Years Experience
Online in Chula Vista, CA California (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Dr. Tracy Mallett
Psychologist, Psy.D., L.M.F.T., Licensed Psychologist
Experiencing trauma can have lasting effects on your emotions, thoughts, and relationships. I specialize in helping adults, adolescents, and families who have experienced traumatic events, including childhood adversity, accidents, medical trauma, abuse, or other significant life stressors.
Therapy provides a safe, structured environment to process distressing experiences, understand how trauma affects daily functioning, and develop coping strategies to regain control and stability. I integrate evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, and EMDR-informed strategies, tailored to each client’s needs and pace.
In our work together, you will learn tools for managing anxiety, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, and emotional dysregulation. Therapy also focuses on rebuilding trust, enhancing self-compassion, and improving relationships that may have been impacted by trauma.
My goal is to help clients move from surviving to thriving—reducing the hold of traumatic experiences while fostering resilience, empowerment, and a sense of safety in daily life. Recovery is a process, and I guide each client with compassion, structure, and clinically grounded support throughout the journey.
22 Years Experience
Online in Chula Vista, CA California (Online Only)
Chula Vista is one of California's fastest-growing cities and sits directly north of the US-Mexico border, with a predominantly Hispanic population and a large community of residents who maintain close ties to Tijuana — making bilingual Spanish-English therapy not a specialty but a basic access requirement for much of the population. The city's location within the broader San Diego metro means residents have access to the full range of institutional mental health resources, including Scripps Health and Sharp HealthCare, while Chula Vista's own private therapy community has expanded significantly alongside its population growth. The city's significant Filipino community and growing South Asian population add further dimensions to the demand for culturally competent care. Military families connected to Naval Base San Diego also form part of the local therapy clientele given the city's proximity to base housing.
Trauma and PTSD therapists in Chula Vista, California Statistics
Trauma and PTSD therapists in Chula Vista, California average 15 years of experience and charge around $207 per session. 100% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (63%), Psychodynamic Therapy (42%), and Existential / Humanistic Therapy (36%).
Average years in practice
15 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$207
Accept insurance
38%
Offer sliding scale
52%
Gender ID
| 72% |
Female |
|
| 23% |
Male |
|
| 3% |
Non-Binary |
|
| 2% |
Gender Fluid |
|
Session Type
| 62% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 38% |
Online Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 63% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 42% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
| 36% | Existential / Humanistic Therapy |
| 36% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 35% | Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) |
| 35% | Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) |
| 35% | Somatic Therapy |
Ages Served
| 99% | Adult |
| 62% | Young Adult |
| 53% | Teen |
| 49% | Senior |
| 26% | Children |
Client Focus
| 59% | Women |
| 45% | LGBTQ+ |
| 35% | Men |
| 24% | Hispanic / Latino |
| 24% | Black / African American |