Counseling/Therapy
Choosing a general therapist is challenging for many people and finding an experienced gender therapist can feel even more intimidatingly complicated. Here are some guidelines and resources to help make your search easier:
Who is a gender therapist? Not all clinicians who state that they treat transgender individuals have the same level of experience. The link below will help you ask the right questions to make sure that your gender therapist has the training, experience and sensitivity to be right for you, your child or your family:
http://www.ryansallans.com/trans/finding-a-trans-friendly-therapist
What if I have more questions? You may also contact any of the following therapists for support in accessing therapy or other gender resource referrals:
Ben Geilhufe, MA, LPCC (covering therapy and gender-affirmative training referrals in Santa Cruz and the greater Bay Area)
Young children, adolescents, adults, families
1406 Mission Street, Santa Cruz CA 95060
206-679-7218
Harper Cheaney, LMFT (Santa Cruz and San Jose/Mountain View)
Children, adolescents, adults, families
725 Front St. #200, Santa Cruz CA 95060
2680 Bayshore Pkwy, #101, Mountain View, CA 94043
831-471-714
Maren Martin, LCSW (covering the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas)
Adults, couples, sex therapy, trans teens/families
207 16th Street, #305, Pacific Grove, CA. 93950
831-375-1134
maren@marenmartin.com
Other Santa Cruz County Therapists
Connie Batten, LMFT
Life-threatening illness, grief/loss, life transitions, couples
340 Soquel Ave Suite 103, Santa Cruz CA 95062
831-425-4432
Melissa Bernstein, LMFT
Individual, family, groups, children, adolescents, adults, servicios bilingues
740 Front Street #360, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831-713-7876
Sally Blumenthal-McGannon, LMFT
HIV, all ages, families, grief/loss, life transitions, life threatening illness
823 Cathedral Dr, Aptos CA 95003
831-685-4728
Erin Bucci, MFT
303Potrero #45-204, Santa Cruz CA 95060
831-247-2503
Victoria Campbell, LMFT
Adolescents, adults, couples, groups
903 Pacific Ave, Suite 207B, Santa Cruz CA 95060
831-588-7631
Eileen Cavalier, LMFT
Families, couples, trans family members, dual diagnosis
740 Front St Suite 360, Santa Cruz CA 95060
831-425-3118
Mischa Eovaldi, LCSW
Bilingual (Spanish/English), EMDR, teens, elderly
8065 Aptos St. Aptos CA 95003
831-685-3219
Family Service Agency of the Central Coast
11 Alexander St. #D, Watsonville CA 95076
First Step Counseling, youth, families, Medi-Cal
831-728-9975 ext. 207
Finn Gratton, LMFT
Children, adults, families, somatic work
725 Front St. #200, Santa Cruz CA 95060
2680 Bayshore Parkway #101, Mt View CA 94043
831-429-7899
Micah Hammond, LPCC
Eating disorders, body image, grief/loss, EMDR
Ride the Wave Recovery
104 Walnut Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831-275-5481
Shane Hill, Ph.D.
Awareness-centered therapy and mindfulness practices for adults and couples
Office on Westside of SC, near Mission St. and Bay St.
PO Box 573, Santa Cruz CA 95061
831-423-0849
info@shane-hill.com
Chris Hogeland, LCSW
Bilingual (Spanish/English), CBT, DBT, Trauma, homeless
115-A Coral Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831-454-5195
Kaleo Kaluhiwa, LMFT
Youth, Adults, Couples, Families
HIV, Life Transitions, somatic and meditative approaches, DBT, IFS
CareTeam/County of Santa Cruz: 831-454-4321,
Private Practice:
550 Water Street, C-2, Santa Cruz
831-222-0068
Suzanne Nicholas, Ph.D.
Adolescents, young adults, adults, couples
1406 Mission St. Santa Cruz CA 95060
831-462-0341
Kristin Olafson, LCSW
Youth and families, Medi-Cal only
Children’s Mental Health, SC County
831-454-5288
River Ornellas, MA, AMFT #103379
They/Them
Supervised by Katherine Zwick, LPCC #3334
Ride The Wave Recovery
104 Walnut Ave Suite 200, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831-275-5481
669-256-0955
river@ridethewaverecovery.com
Anna Paganelli, LMFT
Adults, adolescents, individuals, couples, families
340 Soquel Ave Suite 107, Santa Cruz CA 95062
831-425-7400
Andrew Purchin, LCSW
Children, teens, families, EMDR
550 Water St #C-2, Santa Cruz CA 95060
831-460-0241
Ride The Wave Recovery
Outpatient therapy for clients of all genders recovering from eating disorders, addictions, codependency and trauma.
104 Walnut Ave Suite 200, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831-275-5481
admin@ridethewaverecover
John Seltzer, MFTI
555 Soquel Avenue #280 Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831-515-8381
Sean Senechal, MA, BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) Therapist
Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Therapy, Behavior Activation, Cognitive Work, Coaching: School/Life/Career
Chidren, Teens, Adults; Students; NeuroDiverse & NeuroTypical
Trans Non Binary Gender Fluid Queer
526 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz CA 95060
650-866-1499
Shawn Smith, MFTI, PCI, CADCII
147 S. River Street #234-A, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831-588-7063
Jan Sollom-Brotherton, LMFT
Adults, College Students, Adolescents
303 Portrero #05C, Santa Cruz CA 95066
510-658-1931
Judy Van Maasdam, M.A.
1515 El Camino Real Suite E, Palo Alto CA 94306
650-326-4645
Katherine M. Zwick, LPCC, CGP
Ride The Wave Recovery
104 Walnut Ave Suite 200, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831 275 5481
admin@ridethewaverecovery.com
UCSC
Amy Mandell, LMFT
Counseling Therapist
University of California Santa Cruz
Counseling and Psychological Services
831-502-7193
Monterey Area
Stephen L. Braveman
Board Certified Sex Therapist and Gender Specialist
494 Alvarado St., Suite A
Monterey, CA 93940
Tel: 831-375-7553
Carmen Martin, LMFT
200 Camino Aguajito, Suite 304
Monterey, CA 93940
831-277-1877
Counseling and Therapy Services (CATS)
CATS is a program of Community Human Services in collaboration with John XXIII AIDS Ministry and Monterey County AIDS Project. Provides receive free, confidential counseling (English or Spanish) to improve your mental or emotional health. Our LGBT-affirmative staff, including an LGBT-identified psychotherapist, provide a safe and supportive space in which LGBT and/or HIV+ individuals and their families can receive counseling. Potential counseling issues include gender identity and intersexuality. Services are available in Salinas and Seaside by appointment.
Phone: 831-757-7915 (appointments) or 831-442-3959 (information)
Santa Cruz Area general therapists
Deborah Abbott, MA, LMFT
25+ years of serving Santa Cruz’s GLBTIQ+ community. Extensive experience with trans, genderqueer & gender expansive individuals, family, and friends.
Offices in Santa Cruz and Soquel
831.345.1925
debabbott.lmft@gmail.com
T. Antonia Broccoli, MSW, LCSW
Transgender Therapist/Clinical Social Worker
Specialties: Gender Queer/FTM/Questioning/Intersex
5905 Soquel drive, Suite 200
Soquel, CA 95073
Tel: 831-566-4409
Melissa Fritchle, MA LMFT
Holistic Psychotherapist, Sex Therapist and Gender Specialist
CA Lic Marriage and Family Therapist #48627
Appts available in Capitola
Tel: 831-471-5797
Rebecca Leib, Ph.D
Clinical psychologist specializing in children and adolescents
Specialties: Intensive outpatient services, gender and sexuality, trauma/sexual abuse, self harm
6216a Highway 9
Felton, CA, 95018
Tel: 831-419-5699
Peninsula and San Francisco Areas
Kara Kasteen
1190 Bascom Avenue #205
San Jose, CA
95128
Tel: 408-673-8646
Lida Vala, LMFT
125 East Sunnyoaks Ave., Suite 115
Campbell, CA
95008
Tel: 408-430-7530
lida.vala@gmail.com
Lyon-Martin Mental Health Services
Lyon-Martin recognizes the relationship between the physical, emotional and psychological aspects of a patient’s health. Our philosophy is to offer a holistic approach to care, attempting to address each of these factors. To that end, our mental health providers closely collaborate with our medical providers to offer a range of services that support patients’ emotional and psychological well-being. These services are affirmative, sex-positive, respectful and culturally sensitive.
1735 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Tel: 415-565-7667 ext 351
Support Groups
Santa Cruz
Transgender Peer Support Group
Our moderated, open group allows everyone to share their experiences and meet others in friendly surroundings. All transgender brothers and sisters are welcome to attend.We meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month:
7:30-9:30 pm.
Diversity Center
1117 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA
GenderQueer Peer Support Group
Our moderated, open group allows everyone to share their experiences and meet others in friendly surroundings. This is a space for non-binary, genderqueer, gender-expansive and agender folks, and welcomes those exploring their genders. We meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month:
7:30-9:00 pm
Diversity Center
1117 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA
Group currently meeting over zoom, email trans@diversitycenter.org for the link.
Transmen Peer Support Group
This is an FTM support and social connections group. We meet every second and fourth Sunday of the month. We welcome SOFFAS (Significant Others, Family, Friends, and Allies) on the fourth Sunday of the month.
6:00-7:30 pm.
Diversity Center
1117 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA
Blender – Trans Support Group at UCSC
We are a safe space community made up of all variations under the Trans* rainbow and Allies. Whether you are actively out, just recently questioning, or are simply looking for a community, we are the place for you. Come join us for practical advice on transitioning or coming out; watch a movie with us; or plot to take over the world. It’s all up to you!
So, whether you are: Transgender, Intersex, Two Spirit, Genderqueer, Questioning, an Ally…or something we haven’t yet heard about we are talking to you! Hope to see all you lovely people there!
We meet on Friday’s from 5:30 – 8:00 pm at the Cantu Queer Center. Please note: Our meetings are open to allies every 4th Friday of the month only.
To email us: blender.ucsc.cantu@gmail.com
Transfamilies: Celebrating our gender diverse children
We are a community of parents and families supporting our transgender children and each other through shared experience and the process of understanding transgender issues.
Our meetings are for parents and adult family members. We also have family gatherings throughout the year that include our children and all family members.
Meetings are 3-5 the first Saturday of the month in Santa Cruz and and the 3rd Saturday of the month in Watsonville.
Meeting are currently being held over zoom on the first and third Saturday of the month from 3pm-4:30pm, email transfamiliesscc@gmail.com for a link.
TransLove
A Group for Partners, Spouses, BFFs, Lovers, and Significant Others. A safe space for non-trans (cis) individuals who are dating, in love with, close friends with or partnered/married to a transgender person. Come explore feelings, learn about the transition process, discuss relationship, receive support and create community. Meets Mondays, twice monthly, in Soquel. Co-facilitated by Deb Abbott, MA, LMFT and Chrissann McCann, PhD. $25/meeting. (Not a drop-in group.)
Info/registration:debabbott.lmft@gmail.com or 831.345.1925.
Monterey
Transgender Support Group
This group offers a safe and supportive place for individuals with gender identity issues. It is open to both MtFs and FtMs who have already transitioned or are looking to do so. This is by reservation only. Sorry no drop-ins. Group meetings are held every 2nd Saturday of each month from 10am-12pm and are $25 per session. Group is facilitated by Stephen L. Braveman, LMFT, DST
494 Alvarado St., Suite A
Monterey, CA 93940
Tel: 831-375-7553
San Francisco/Bay Area
Transgender Support Group
A support group for transgender women and men seeking peer support. Meets Friday 8-9:30pm.
The Pacific Center
2712 Telegraph Ave
Berkeley, CA 94705
Tel: 510-548-8283
Dimensions Clinic Youth Group
This group is run by trans counselors and TG/GV young people 25 & under are welcome to attend on a drop-in basis. The group is held at Dimensions Clinic every Thursday from 6:30-7:30pm.
Castro-Mission Health Center
3850 17th St.
San Francisco, CA 94114
St. James Infirmary Peer Counseling
Peer Counseling sessions are provided by staff on a drop-in basis. These sessions provide non-judgmental individual and/or group support services which focus on a variety of topics which affect the quality of life and safety of Sex Workers.
Lyon-Martin Group Therapy
A variety of groups for women, lesbians and transgender people in a safe and compassionate environment.
LGBT youth Space
Counseling and resources for LGBT youth ages 13-25
452 South First St.
San Jose, CA 95113
Tel: 408-343-7940
