5 Best Teen Therapists in San Diego
If you're a parent seeking support for your teenager, you know how today's unique pressures—from social media and body image to academic stress and relationship challenges—can impact their mental health and daily life. Therapy can help, but finding the right fit is essential for meaningful growth and healing.
At Healing Balance Therapy, we use an integrative, trauma-informed approach to help teens. Here, we’ll introduce our teen therapist, as well as other trusted San Diego area therapists, so you can find the support that's right for your family.
Meet the therapists
1. Vivianne Noetzel, LCSW
Recommended for teen counseling for eating disorders
As one of the staff therapists at Healing Balance Therapy, Vivianne specializes in helping teenagers with anxiety, depression, peer relationships, family challenges, and trauma, with a special focus on disordered eating. Her approach blends trauma-informed methods like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and somatic practices to support the mind-body connection.
Offers teen counseling ✓
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Clientele: Teens, adults
Location: La Mesa, CA 91942
Virtual therapy?: Yes, for San Diego & all of California
2. Rita Beltran, LMFT
Recommended for teen counseling in Spanish
Rita is an experienced teen therapist with A Place of Growth. She specializes in helping adolescents and teens with depression, anxiety, trauma, life changes, and stress using a blended approach that combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and other techniques. Rita could be a good fit if you’re looking for a bilingual, Spanish-speaking therapist for your teenager.
Offers teen counseling ✓
Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Clientele: Preteens, teens, adults
Location: San Diego, CA 92108
Virtual therapy?: Yes, online only
3. Nicholas Russi, LAADC-S
Recommended for teen counseling for substance abuse
Nicholas has extensive experience helping people navigate substance use, alcohol use, and addiction, as well as related issues like anxiety and depression. His approach is direct, solutions-focused, and collaborative, drawing on both his clinical expertise and his own lived experience with mental health and addiction. We recommend reaching out to Nicholas if you’re seeking substance abuse counseling for your teenager.
Offers teen counseling ✓
Credentials: Licensed Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor Supervisor
Clientele: Teens, adults, couples, families
Location: San Diego, CA 92154
Virtual therapy?: Yes
4. Ezak Marquez, LPCC
Recommended for LGBTQ+ teen counseling
Ezak is a therapist with Diaspora Therapy Group and specializes in therapy for the LGBTQ+ community with a focus on transgender and nonbinary folks. They use a multicultural, trauma-informed lens to help teens address topics like gender dysphoria, identity exploration, depression, and anxiety. If you’re looking for specialized LGBTQ+-affirming therapy, Ezak could be a great fit.
Offers teen counseling ✓
Credentials: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Clientele: Children, preteens, teens, adults, families
Location: San Diego, CA 92103
Virtual therapy?: Yes, online only
5. Dr. Julieta Aguilera Rice
Recommended for teen therapy for chronic illness
Dr. Aguilera Rice is a licensed psychologist who provides therapy and assessments at Therapy Lab. She is also a pediatric psychologist at CHOC Children’s Hospital of Orange County and has extensive experience helping teens and their families navigate chronic and acute illnesses, including cancer, diabetes, and allergies. We recommend contacting Dr. Aguilera Rice if you’re looking for specialized teen counseling for coping with illness.
Offers teen counseling ✓
Credentials: Licensed Psychologist
Clientele: Children, preteens, teens, adults
Location: San Diego, CA 92130
Virtual therapy?: Yes, online only
What to expect from the therapy process
Step 1: Initial consultation & assessment
The process begins with a free phone consultation where we learn about your teen's needs and answer any questions you have. If it feels like a good fit, we'll schedule an initial session where the therapist meets with your teen (and often parents, depending on age) to understand their history, current challenges, and what they hope to achieve.
Step 2: Building trust & setting goals
The first few sessions focus on creating safety and rapport. Your teen and their therapist will work together to identify specific goals—whether that's managing anxiety, healing from trauma, or improving relationships. This collaborative approach ensures therapy addresses what matters most to your teen.
Step 3: Active therapeutic work
As trust deepens, your teen will begin processing their experiences using evidence-based techniques. Sessions become a space to explore emotions, challenge unhelpful patterns, practice new skills, and work through what's been holding them back. Progress happens at your teen's pace.
Step 4: Growth, integration, & maintenance
Over time, you'll notice shifts—your teen may communicate more effectively, handle stress better, or feel more confident. As they integrate what they've learned, sessions may become less frequent. Some teens choose to continue therapy as ongoing support, while others complete treatment and return as needed during future challenges.
Common reasons why teens come to therapy
Struggling with anxiety that makes school, social situations, or daily tasks feel overwhelming
Experiencing depression, low mood, or losing interest in things they used to enjoy
Dealing with body image concerns, disordered eating patterns, or an unhealthy relationship with food
Processing traumatic experiences or painful memories that won't go away
Navigating difficult family dynamics, divorce, or major life transitions
Feeling disconnected from friends or struggling to maintain healthy relationships
Managing perfectionism, people-pleasing, or never feeling "good enough"
Difficulty setting boundaries or speaking up for themselves
Experiencing intense emotions they don't know how to handle
Struggling with self-harm urges or intrusive thoughts
Dealing with the aftermath of bullying or social rejection
Feeling lost about identity, future plans, or who they want to be
How teen counseling can help
Build emotional resilience & coping skills
Therapy equips teens with practical tools to manage stress, anxiety, and overwhelming emotions. Rather than relying on avoidance or harmful coping mechanisms, they learn healthy ways to regulate their nervous system and respond to life's challenges. These skills become a foundation they'll carry into adulthood, helping them navigate future difficulties with greater confidence and self-compassion.
Improve self-esteem & body image
Many teens struggle with negative self-talk, perfectionism, and harsh self-criticism. Through therapy, they learn to challenge these patterns and develop a more compassionate relationship with themselves. For those dealing with body image concerns or disordered eating, we help uncover the underlying emotional needs driving these struggles, moving beyond surface-level symptoms to create lasting healing and peace with their bodies.
Heal from past trauma
Traumatic experiences—whether they're "big T" traumas or seemingly smaller painful moments—can replay in the body and mind long after they're over. Using trauma-focused approaches like EMDR and somatic work, we help teens process these experiences so they no longer control their present. This healing allows them to move forward without being stuck in patterns of fear, hypervigilance, or emotional numbness.
Strengthen relationships & communication
Therapy helps teens develop the skills to express their needs, set healthy boundaries, and navigate conflicts in relationships with family and friends. They learn to move beyond people-pleasing or shutting down, finding their authentic voice and building more genuine connections. As they grow in self-awareness and confidence, their relationships naturally become more fulfilling and balanced.
FAQs about therapy for adolescents
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There’s no wrong time to consider therapy for your teen. However, we especially recommend seeking professional support if your teen's struggles are affecting their daily functioning—school performance, relationships, sleep, eating, or mood. Other warning signs are withdrawal from activities they used to enjoy, significant changes in behavior, self-harm, substance use, or expressions of hopelessness. Trust your parental intuition—if you're concerned, it's worth exploring how therapy can help.
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The best therapy approach depends on your teen's specific needs. At Healing Balance Therapy, we use a blend of evidence-based, trauma-informed techniques to help teens with their unique struggles. Beyond specific methods, it’s most important to find a therapist your teen feels comfortable with—the relationship matters most.
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Parents are important partners in the process. While teens need confidential space to open up, therapists typically meet with parents periodically to share progress (without breaking trust) and provide guidance on supporting their teen at home. You'll learn skills for communicating more effectively, setting appropriate boundaries, and creating a supportive environment that reinforces the work happening in therapy.
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Finding the right therapeutic fit is essential for your teen's growth and healing. Here's what sets our practice apart:
Specialized expertise: Extensive experience treating eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, and depression in teens
Evidence-based approaches: EMDR- and IFS-trained therapists who use proven, trauma-informed methods
Authentic healing: All our therapists have done their own intensive personal healing work
Flexible options: Both in-person (La Mesa) and virtual availability to meet your family's needs
5-star ratings: Consistently excellent feedback from clients and families
Compassionate care: We create a safe, non-judgmental space where teens feel seen and supported
We offer free consultation calls so you can get a sense of our approach and determine if we're the right match for your teen's unique needs and goals. Book yours here.