Trauma and PTSD therapists in San Diego, CA
Find experienced trauma and PTSD therapists in San Diego, California 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
Azmaira Maker, Ph.D.
Psychologist, Ph.D.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience and received my Ph.D. from University of Michigan in both the child and adult tracks. We offer services for trauma for children, adolescents, college students, and adults. Our expertise includes individual and family therapy, in-school and in-home support, neurofeedback, and expressive arts therapy. Our team specializes in a range of modalities including, cognitive-behavioral therapy, trauma focused CBT, behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, family therapy, dialectical-behavioral therapy, play therapy, and motivational interviewing.
28 Years Experience
In-Person in San Diego, CA 92130
Online in San Diego, CA
PTSD/Trauma
Sue De Santo
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
I work with individuals carrying the weight of past trauma, painful relationships, and experiences that still live in the body as anxiety, numbness, or feeling constantly on guard. I bring compassion and relief to the places that feel stuck or overwhelmed. . My goal is to offer a steady, caring space where you don’t have to do it alone and where healing becomes possible not just in your mind, but in your body and relationships too.
35 Years Experience
Online in San Diego, CA (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Hayden Dover
Marriage and Family Therapist, MFT, CST
Trauma can affect the body, emotions, relationships, sexuality, trust, identity, and the ability to feel present in your own life. My approach is grounded, respectful, and body-aware. I work with clients to understand how past experiences may still be shaping present patterns, while supporting greater awareness, regulation, choice, and connection. The work is not about forcing the past open. It is about creating enough safety and understanding for meaningful change.
22 Years Experience
In-Person in San Diego, CA 92116
Online in San Diego, CA
PTSD/Trauma
Dr. Aleksandra Drecun
Psychologist, Psy.D.
Emotional and psychological trauma is the consequence of exceptionally stressful events that destroy your sense of security, making you feel helpless and vulnerable in a dangerous world. Immediately after the traumatic event, you may be struggling with upsetting emotions, frightening memories, or a sense of constant danger. Or you may feel numb, disconnected, and unable to trust others.
Traumatic experiences often involve a threat to life, security or safety. Any event that leaves you feeling overwhelmed, fearful and alone can be traumatic. In fact, the event does not need to involve physical harm. It is not the impartial facts that determine whether an event is traumatic. Rather, a person’s subjective emotional experience of the event is relevant. The more scared and helpless you feel, the more likely you are to be traumatized.
When horrible situations occur, it can take some time to adequately deal with the pain and feel safe again. Psychologists can help individuals find constructive ways of managing their emotions. With the proper treatment and support, you can speed your recovery. Regardless whether the traumatic incident occurred years ago or yesterday, you can heal and move forward with your life.
Facing and resolving the unbearable feelings and memories you have long avoided is imperative in healing the emotional and psychological trauma. Otherwise the symptoms will reoccur in an intrusive, distressing and unmanageable manner.
25 Years Experience
In-Person in San Diego, CA 92130
Online in San Diego, CA
PTSD/Trauma
Ross Kellogg, LMFT
Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Individual, Marriage, and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Single event trauma and long-term developmental trauma in childhood can each be overwhelming experiences that bring about an overwhelming set of symptoms that often end in a lot of isolation for the traumatized person. Therapy can help you re-engage with people and life again. A multi modality approach including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy couples with Object Relations Therapy and Internal Family Systems Therapy can often be an effective method for managing symptoms, getting back to feeling good, and accepting the full impact and meaning of the traumatic event(s).
12 Years Experience
Online in San Diego, CA (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Karina Rivera
Pre-Licensed Professional, APCC 14780, supervised by Nora Katz, LCSW 112300
Painful experiences can stay with you in ways that are hard to explain. I use trauma-focused CBT and a patient, steady pace so you can make sense of what happened and feel safer in your own life.
2 Years Experience
In-Person in San Diego, CA 92108
Online in San Diego, CA
PTSD/Trauma
Bridgit Serrano
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, PMH-C
You don't just have to cope with symptoms - PTSD can be cured. I use EMDR, an evidence based therapy for trauma and PTSD, which helps clients experience freedom from trauma.
11 Years Experience
Online in San Diego, CA (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 San Diego, CA (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Patricia Fahmy
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPCC
Trauma can continue to affect your life long after difficult experiences have ended. You may find yourself feeling emotionally overwhelmed, constantly on guard, disconnected from others, struggling with trust, or repeating patterns in relationships that you don't fully understand. Trauma can impact the mind, body, nervous system, and the way we relate to ourselves and others. I specialize in helping individuals and couples heal the effects of trauma through a holistic approach that integrates EMDR, somatic therapy, attachment work, and mindfulness. Together, we work to process painful experiences, strengthen emotional regulation, and create healthier, more secure ways of living and connecting.
7 Years Experience
Online in San Diego, CA (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 San Diego, CA (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 San Diego, CA (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Tendril Therapy
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT
Trauma can leave the body and mind on edge, shaping how we feel, think, and relate. At Tendril, we create a space where these experiences can be safely explored, patterns can be understood, and new ways of coping and connecting can emerge. Ultimately, allowing healing to unfold at your pace.
7 Years Experience
In-Person in San Diego, CA 92127
Online in San Diego, CA
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 San Diego, CA (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Nora Katz
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, Founder and Clinical Director, Inner Compass Psychotherapy
Earlier experiences can keep shaping how you react long after you thought you had moved past them. I use EMDR and parts work, inside a steady relationship, so painful memories can finally settle instead of running the show.
7 Years Experience
In-Person in San Diego, CA 92108
Online in San Diego, CA
PTSD/Trauma
Su Boudreau, LMFT
Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Domestic Violence Counselor
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can result from various traumas. There are different types of traumas, one incidental trauma or repeatedly experienced traumas, such as from negative relationship patterns with a family member. Usually understanding and resolving the effects of trauma can be complex. This is why consulting with a trained professional in relationships and other systems, a marriage and family therapist can be very helpful. Contact me today or leave me your contact information for me to contact you soon.
11 Years Experience
Online in San Diego, CA (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Alyssa Zarske
Pre-Licensed Professional, AMFT 158291, supervised by Nora Katz, LCSW 112300
Old experiences can keep showing up in the body and in relationships long after they happened. I use EMDR and parts work, at a pace that feels manageable, so those memories lose some of their grip.
2 Years Experience
Online in San Diego, CA (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Nekea Strong (Abundant Life Therapy)
Pre-Licensed Professional, AMFT, APCC
I support clients impacted by trauma and PTSD by creating a safe, steady space to process their experiences at a pace that feels manageable. Together, we work to understand trauma responses, build coping tools, and restore a sense of safety and control. My goal is to help clients feel more grounded, empowered, and supported as they move forward in life.
3 Years Experience
Online in San Diego, CA (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Sean Sprigle
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPCC
I have recovered my own trauma prior to becoming a trauma specialist. I suffered from PTSD my entire life without knowing what was wrong with me, but I don’t live with PTSD anymore. I am no longer traumatized and I can help you get there as well.
9 Years Experience
In-Person in San Diego, CA 92037
Online in San Diego, CA
PTSD/Trauma
Melissa Quinn Pollock
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
I work with clients who are seeking formal trauma treatment (CPT) or need a therapist with a trauma-informed background to best understand their worldview.
13 Years Experience
Online in San Diego, CA (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Dr. Divya Kakaiya Healthy Within
Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Psychologist Ph. D M.S. BCN-L
Trauma rewires the brain for survival — locking the nervous system in a state of perpetual emergency where the past feels indistinguishable from the present, and safety feels neurologically impossible.
Neurofeedback works where words cannot reach, directly retraining the hyperactivated threat circuits that keep trauma alive in the body. The brain gradually learns to place the past in the past — restoring a felt sense of safety that no amount of understanding alone can generate.
41 Years Experience
In-Person in San Diego, CA 92121
Trauma and PTSD therapists in San Diego, CA Statistics
Trauma and PTSD therapists in San Diego, CA average 15 years of experience and charge around $210 per session. 100% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (63%), Psychodynamic Therapy (40%), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (39%).
Average years in practice
15 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$210
Accept insurance
38%
Offer sliding scale
47%
Gender ID
| 72% |
Female |
|
| 23% |
Male |
|
| 3% |
Non-Binary |
|
| 2% |
Gender Fluid |
|
Session Type
| 65% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 35% |
Online Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 63% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 40% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
| 39% | Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) |
| 35% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 32% | Existential / Humanistic Therapy |
| 32% | Somatic Therapy |
| 31% | Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) |
Ages Served
| 98% | Adult |
| 62% | Young Adult |
| 50% | Teen |
| 47% | Senior |
| 24% | Children |
Client Focus
| 61% | Women |
| 46% | LGBTQ+ |
| 34% | Men |
| 25% | Asian |
| 24% | Hispanic / Latino |