Therapists in La Mesa, CA and Nearby Locations

Find a therapist in La Mesa, California that meets your needs. Browse our comprehensive list of affordable and licensed therapists in La Mesa to find a professional specializing in counseling people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, grief, and more.

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Aleksandra Drecun
Psy.D., MA
In-Person Sessions:

San Diego, California

Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

Dr. Aleksandra Drecun, Psy.D., is the founder of Association for Compassionate Transformation. She is a licensed psychologist who has a profound passion and derives immense gratitude from assisting individuals, couples and families in realizing...
Connie Padera
MSW, ASW
In-Person Sessions:

Encinitas, California

Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

Are you experiencing feelings of anxiety or depression? Do you struggle to find balance due to substance use or disordered eating habits? Maybe you need some guidance on self-esteem or relationship issues? It’s okay to not be okay, and I’m here...
In-Person Sessions:

San Diego, California

At the beginning of my work, I practiced what is called the ‘eclectic approach’, which uses different techniques depending on the client. Meanwhile, over the last 20 years I discovered cognitive therapy consistently resulted in more effective...
Teletherapy for Clients In:

California, Texas

"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf"-Jon Kabat Zinn- In a time where we are hit with continuous stimuli, the waves of change seem to be moving faster than ever. Whether struggling with your health, the health of a loved one,...
In-Person Sessions:

San Diego, California

Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist in San Diego, CA who has experience working with clients of all ages struggling with ADD/ADHD, relationships, communication, grief, life transitions, trauma, self esteem and more. I am incredibly...
In-Person Sessions:

San Diego, California

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 13 years of experience in domestic violence, addiction, severe mental illness, behavioral modification, individual and family therapy, relational conflicts, crisis intervention, advocacy, social...
In-Person Sessions:

La Mesa, California

Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

Mary Nelsen Tamborski, wife and mother of three young boys, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Downtown La Mesa, San Diego. She is also a Certified Positive Discipline Trainer and Parenting Coach. 
Mary is co-author of the "Positive...
In-Person Sessions:

Encinitas, California

Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

I believe we are all wired for connection, and, whether extraverted or introverted, rejection and isolation are incredibly painful experiences. Our brains and bodies are built in such a way that protects us from threats and harm. While these...
Teletherapy for Clients In:

California, Florida

I care about "what happened to you" and I strive to provide a compassionate, supportive space for you to share your concerns. I have with over 20 years' experience helping people get beyond traumatic experiences and on to their best life. Effective...
Randi Beckman
LCSW, MSW, MA
In-Person Sessions:

Carlsbad, California

Teletherapy for Clients In:

California, Florida

Wanting Support to Help you Feel: Less stressed Grounded and centered More productive Present and engaged Happy in life and in relationships My nurturing and empathic presence creates the space needed to help you identify, understand, and move...
Jennifer Rickard
LMFT, LMFT-Supervisor, MS
In-Person Sessions:

San Diego, California

Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

Are you seeking support in moving through a life or relational challenge? Sometimes we all need support in finding creative solutions or building strong relationships. I would enjoy supporting you in taking steps to achieve your goals. I will help...
In-Person Sessions:

Encinitas, California

I am Crystal Duncan, LCSW, and my mission is to be at peace with myself, my work and my social and personal relationships.  I strive to live a wholehearted authentic life and I believe it is my purpose to help others find their authentic self and...
In-Person Sessions:

San Diego, California

Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

Dr. Matthew Bruhin is a CEO, Psychotherapist and Addiction Specialist, as well as an entrepreneur and educator. He is a State of California and State of Wyoming, Board Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and an Addiction Specialist, registered...
Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

Parenting challenges you in ways you could have never imagined. When you add in all of life’s demands sometimes it can just feel too much. Whether you are a new parent or a seasoned parent, you’ve been struggling for awhile or feeling like...
In-Person Sessions:

Oceanside, California

Teletherapy for Clients In:

California, New Jersey

Having you been having trouble managing your emotions? Have negative thoughts about yourself and the world been impacting your behavior? Together it is possible to identify skills to effectively cope with emotional distress, increase compassion...
In-Person Sessions:

San Diego, California

I provide a safe place to unload and work on a new understanding. We will work collaboratively to understand the underlying issues often hidden from ourselves, that keep you stuck in unhealthy patterns. My approach is respectful, caring, and...
In-Person Sessions:

San Diego, California

I have been working with families in San Diego since 1997. I have extensive experience with children, the transgender community, families involved with the Child Welfare System, and individuals struggling with addiction, depression, anxiety,...
In-Person Sessions:

San Diego, California

Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

I love helping you enjoy life more!
Briana Lefman
LPCC-S 2
Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

I help you connect to the 'why' behind your patterns, your pain, anger, avoidance, and dysfunction. I help you shift from anger to understanding. I'll help make sense of it. I'll teach you how to identify what you've been living without. I'll teach...
Sarah Lawley Chernick
Psychotherapist
In-Person Sessions:

San Diego, California

Therapy in San Diego. Services Include: Eating Disorder Therapy, EMDR Therapy, Anxiety Therapy, Teen Counseling and More https://selfembodytherapy.com Hours: Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday:...
In-Person Sessions:

San Diego, California

Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

HM Psychological Services (HMPS) is a small group practice located in San Diego, CA. Every therapist and staff member strives to provide the best therapeutic services to adults, adolescents, and children in individual, family, and couples therapy....
Kim Jones
LMFT, MA
In-Person Sessions:

San Diego, California

Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

Congrats on taking your first step - seeking support is a sign of strength! I work with individuals, couples and adolescents/young adults to help facilitate change and reach goals to achieve more fulfillment and happiness in life and to get through...
Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

Have you been feeling like you aren't reaching your full potential? That you aren't connecting to your true self? Maybe this has been a feeling for most of your life, or it's a recent insight you have discovered. It could have been a trauma, from...
Teletherapy for Clients In:

California

Kaye has been in private practice for over 30 years. Due to the Covid crisis, she has moved her practice to entirely Virtual. This enables her to work with clients throughout the state of California. Kaye has seen science and psychology find common...

An Overview of Mental Health in La Mesa, California

La Mesa, California is a suburb of San Diego centrally located in San Diego County.  The city is the Jewel of the Hills. With an almost perfect climate, fun trolleys, and public stairways, citizens enjoy walking the tree-lined streets. A quaint downtown village of commercial shops and restaurants makes La Mesa one of San Diego’s top-ten suburbs.

The Spanish name, La Mesa, refers to a plateau; however, along with the other towns and cities in the San Diego area, mental health services have fallen below previous plateaus. La Mesa has recently mounted an aggressive program to reduce obesity in its community. Its proximity to the city of San Diego may provide some of La Mesa’s mental health care needs for those who have insurance.

La Mesa Demographics

La Mesa’s population is 60,021 and represents the ethnic diversity found in California. The largest racial percentage is White at 75.5 percent, followed by Hispanic at 10.9 percent, Black at 9.0 percent, Asian at 7.8 percent, and Mixed at 6.4 percent. Those who identify as Other were at 1.3 percent. About 76.0 percent of La Mesa residents speak English, while 1.43 percent speak Spanish, followed by Asian languages at 4.5 percent, Indo-European languages at 4.0 percent, and Mixed at 1.2 percent.

Native Americans represent the largest number of divorced and separated individuals at 22.3 percent and 8.4 percent. Those with the least number of divorced individuals are Hawaiian at 6.0 percent. The poverty rate in La Mesa overall is 12.63 percent.

Challenges in Acquiring Psychiatric Treatment Facilities

San Diego County received a large influx of Medi-Cal patients when the Affordable Care Act added mental care as a mandatory insurance rider. Although increasing mental health service access is laudable, the reality is a shortage of psychiatric long-term treatment facility placement that has increased with the new demand. Providers are also in short supply.

Two mental health facilities closed, adding to the shortage of beds. State law does not allow psychiatric hospitals to bill Medi-Cal directly for charges; thus, the incentive to build psychiatric hospitals has been low. Medicaid has moved to allow stand-alone psychiatric hospitals to receive direct reimbursements. Medi-Cal is the same as Medicaid; California uses a different name for the program. People on Medi-Cal who need long-term mental health treatment should see improvements coming soon in access to psychiatric beds.

Senior Mental Health Issues

As the population ages, older adults live alone. They may develop mental conditions needing treatment because of loneliness, the death of a spouse, and paranoia or exacerbation of a pre-existing mental condition as they struggle to deal by themselves with poverty, physical deconditioning, disease processes, and the inability to access help.

People in the community want to assist desperate elders, but family members or neighbors can feel overwhelmed. They do not have the qualifications to offer the type of help needed by these fragile elders.

San Diego County’s Health & Human Services Agency is addressing issues for seniors who need specialized mental health care. The agency created a Senior Mental Health Team for people 60 years of age or older who need crisis assessment for mental health problems.

For those who are concerned about an isolated family member or neighbor, social workers, and nurses on the Senior Mental Health Team create a care plan to keep a vulnerable elder safe and allow the person to remain independent. The team provides education to seniors and those who are interested in helping.

The team preserves confidentiality for clients and those who contact them about people of concern. Indications that an older person may need help include:

  • Depression or anxiety, including panic states
  • Wishing to die or making a suicide plan
  • Substance abuse through prescription medication or alcohol
  • Marked change in behavior
  • Inability to function in daily tasks
  • Wandering away from home and needing help to find the way back
  • Expressing fearful thoughts or seeing things/hearing noises that are not thee
  • Rapid onset of memory loss and confusion
  • Changes in speech (unrecognizable) from mental or physical illness
  • Bruises or other signs of frequent falls