Everyone Needs Help Sometimes
Our Santa Clarita Therapists, Pasadena Therapists, and Calabasas Therapists most commonly help with:
- Abandonment Issues / trauma
- Academic issues (grades, stress, bullying, major/path, passion, financial strain, family acceptance)
- ADHD / Neurodivergence
- Addiction (substance and non-substance such as internet, etc.)
- Adolescent issues
- Adolescent transgender ideation
- Adoption issues (with birth family, adoptive family, grief, etc.)
- Adulting (anxiety, driving, life skills, job interviews, housing, budgeting)
- Adults with toxic parents / partners
- Anger management
- Anxiety (GAD, separation, phobias)
- Attachment (healing attachment wounds and exploration of styles)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Behavioral issues
- Belonging (fitting in, social skills, hobbies, etc.)
- Bipolar Disorder (I and II)
- Body dysmorphia / shame
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Business or staff related stress
- Career (meaning/passion/purpose, interview anxiety, executive stress)
- Christian or faith-based counseling
- Chronic illness / terminal illness
- Chronic pain
- Codependency / trouble with boundaries
- Communication
- Concentration or focus issues
- Confidence issues / imposter syndrome
- Coping skills / life skills
- Dating (social skills, expectations, fear of rejection, apps, technology)
- Depersonalization (i.e. out of body)
- Depression (MDD, PMDD, etc.)
- Derealization (e.g., feeling like you are living in a video game or aren't real)
- Detransitioning (regret, grief, etc.)
- Disaster trauma (fire, gun violence)
- Discrimination (all forms/identities)
- Dissociation (zoning out, presence, DID, ego states, parts work, etc.)
- Distress tolerance (resilience building, management of somatic discomfort while stressed, etc.)
- Divorce
- Eating Disorders (and disordered eating habits)
- Ecological anxiety (climate change)
- Emotional Regulation
- Employment or financial issues
- Empowerment
- Empty nest (sadness, adjustment)
- Environmental anxiety (climate change, living situation, harmful contaminants, pollution, etc.)
- Executive coaching
- Family conflict
- Financial issues (poverty trauma, scarcity mindset, budgeting, etc.)
- Fear of missing out (FOMO)
- Focus (concentration, task completion, sense of time, etc.)
- Gender (dysphoria, acceptance, exploration, questions, family, etc.)
- Grief and loss (family, friends, pets)
- Hoarding (active or past, family boundaries, loss, adjustment, etc.)
- Ideological stress (beliefs different than family, friends, boss, etc.)
- Identity exploration / questioning
- Imposter syndrome
- Inability to say no / set boundaries
- Indecision / discernment issues
- Infertility (current and past)
- Infidelity (cheating, unfaithfulness)
- Inner child work
- Inner critic work
- Insomnia or other sleep issues
- Intellectualizing (avoiding, struggling to make real behavior change or be present in your body)
- Interpersonal effectiveness (making friends, maintaining relationships, job interviews, etc.)
- Irritability / anger / impatience
- Legal issues (stress, loss, finances)
- LGBTQIA+ related issues, support, and exploration, queer theory, etc.
- Life coaching / manifestation
- Life transitions
- Marital and premarital
- Medical trauma (invalidation, lack of diagnosis, physical trauma, family support or system failures)
- Meditation (breath, focus, thought judgement, visualization, oneness)
- Men's issues (pressure to provide, be "tough", be "handy", not "cry"/ real or perceived privilege / gender roles & responsibilities, dating, sex, men's health issues)
- Menopause (medical invalidation, mind/body impacts, grief/loss, currently available treatments, etc.)
- Mindfulness
- Negative self talk / self image
- Nightmares (annihilation, stress, loss, violence, vivid dreams, etc.)
- Non-religious / atheist counseling
- Obesity (weight loss, shame, etc.)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD including pure O, pure C, mental review, safety, pedophilic)
- Overachievement
- Over-employment / workaholism
- Overthinking / intrusive rumination
- Parenting (division of labor, family, discipline, boundaries, or political, religious, or educational conflict)
- Peer relationships
- Perfectionism / "Type A" distress
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD or CPTSD, including complex or single incident trauma)
- Pregnancy related (loss, infertility, family blending / boundaries, medical trauma, postpartum depression, anxiety, parenting, lack of support, resent of partner)
- Presence (learning to be present)
- Racial or identity-based trauma
- Rejection sensitivity
- Religious trauma / abuse
- Relationship issues
- Relationship structure (polyamory, ENM, kink, closing a relationship)
- School / academic issues
- Self-acceptance
- Self-confidence
- Self-doubt / second-guessing
- Self-esteem issues
- Self-hatred / self-loathing
- Sexual pain (insertion, lack of hormones, vaginismus, etc.)
- Sexual trauma / abuse / assault
- Sex therapy / dysfunction (lack of desire, arousal/orgasm, passion, fear of insertion, penetration, etc.)
- Shame
- Skin-picking / compulsive behavior
- Sleep (insomnia, paralysis, apnea)
- Social pressure / peer influence
- Social skills (eye contact, dating, friendship, work, general, etc.)
- Somatic (tension, stress or trauma stored in body, mindfulness)
- Spirituality / faith / exploration, confusion, rebellion, or rejection
- Sports performance / pressure / grief around injuries or competition
- Stress
- Suicidal ideation or past attempts
- Technology (addiction, anxiety, etc)
- Test anxiety or academic issues
- Tics or repetitive movements
- Toxic relationships / power dynamics / fear of speaking up
- Trauma (CPTSD or single incident)
- Traumatic attachment (avoidance, lack of boundaries, clinging, etc.)
- Underemployment or money stress
- Video game / technology addiction
- Weight loss / body shame
- Women's issues (gender norms & expectations, felt or lived lack of safety, pressure at home, work, or around appearance, women's health issues, parenting, care-taking, multi-tasking, etc.)
If you don't know what's it's called, but you know how you feel,
please know we also commonly help with all of the below:
Troubling Feelings or Symptoms
- Feeling out of control, overwhelmed, overloaded, or too stressed by daily life
- Feeling anxious, keyed up, on edge, tense, or irritable
- Inability to trust, let go of control, be vulnerable, or rely on others
- Feeling insecure, resentful, jealous, or often comparing yourself to others
- Low self-esteem, self-confidence, or self-worth
- Poor attention, memory, concentration, or focus
- Feeling hated for who you are, or afraid to be who you are (including around freedom of speech/ideas, beliefs, gender or sexual identity, religion, political affiliation, culture, race, immigration status, etc.)
- Feeling numb, outside your own body, or like you're watching your life from afar
- Perfectionistic, or have excessively high expectations for yourself or others
- Unable to find passion or purpose in life, career, relationships, etc.
- Feeling like you are in the wrong body, are the wrong gender, are wrong for thinking about gender the way you do, or have the wrong sexuality or ideas about sexuality
- Low energy, motivation, drive, or determination
- Difficulty making decisions big or small
- Feeling like you're behind in life as compared to friends and peers
- Feeling like you're not living up to your potential
- Feeling exhausted or tired or struggling with sleep issues or chronic fatigue
- Chronic loneliness, social isolation, fear of social situations or rejection
- Feeling empty, lost, scared, doomed, hopeless, or cursed
- Tendency to "people-please" instead of prioritizing yourself
- Excessive worry about what others think
- Hypersensitivity to real or perceived criticism, sensitivity to rejection
- Bad habits you wish to stop
- Old patterns you wish to break
- Sexual, intimacy, arousal, or desire issues
- Uncontrollable thoughts, moods, behaviors, or mood swings
- Excessive crying or inappropriate or uncontrollable tearfulness
- Racing thoughts, can't turn off your brain, constant rumination, self-doubt, or over-analyzing
- Issues surrounding pregnancy, infertility, baby blues, adjusting to parenthood, complications, still births, miscarriages, pregnancy loss, NICU, or feeling hyper-anxious about your ability to care for your child
- Issues surrounding adoption, searching for birth families, or family blending
- Artistic or creative "stuck-ness," writer's block, or no creative flow
- Violent or bizarre thoughts or nightmares; sleep paralysis or hallucinations
- Hearing, seeing, or feeling things that others tell you aren't there
- Feeling paranoid or like everyone is against you or out to get you
- Excessive energy, needing only small amounts of sleep, feeling invincible, or believing you have super-human abilities or destinies
- Attention-seeking behavior, dramatic behavior, addictive behavior, stealing, lying
- Hyperactive behavior, tics, restlessness, tension, or inability to focus / sit still
- Unhealthy coping skills (self-harm, addictive or risky behavior, avoidance, etc.)
- Communication issues (arguments, fear of or inability to articulate feelings/thoughts, fear of public speaking, fear of standing up to someone, etc.)
Life Stressors That Can Impact Mental Health
- Issues surrounding career indecision, job hunting, coworkers, or leading others
- Victim of trauma, abuse, neglect (physical, sexual, psychological, emotional)
- Abusive or toxic relationships, trying to leave toxic relationships
- LGBTQIA+ or other sexual or gender identity issues, inclusive of gender and relationship-expansive communities (Kink, BDSM, ENM, polyamory, open relationships, etc.), shame, regret, family or self acceptance or rejection, workplace stress, navigating transitioning, detransitioning, etc.
- Domestic violence, battering, beating, property damage, theft, anger issues
- Addictions (including gambling, substances, shopping, games, sex, technology)
- Parenting, co-parenting, family blending, communication, and behavioral Issues
- Adolescent/teen bullying, acting out, defiance, rebellion, academics, concerning peer influence (identity, gender, behavior, religion, internet usage, social media)
- Chronic pain or illness, limiting or terminal conditions, end-of-life phase, aging
- Self-harming, cutting, suicidality, suicidal thoughts or ideation
- Grief and loss (including death, pets, loss of body parts, illness, chronic pain, job loss, divorce, gender, injury, paralysis, infertility, miscarriage, body, youth)
- Disabilities (physical, motor, cognitive, mental, learning, behavioral, etc.)
- Sports performance or anxiety, post-competition blues
- Relationships (friends, family, coworkers, siblings, bosses, landlord, self, etc.)
- Academic, school, or general classroom environment issues
- Housing situation, living conditions, homelessness, landlord issues
- Economic/financial, poverty, legal, or justice concerns
- Abandonment, trauma, or neglect in childhood, attachment issues, or being a child of addicted or personality-disordered parents
Self-Improvment
- Empowering you to take results-driven action to better your life, family, relationships, career, community, or company
- Teaching you to employ assertive, authentic, honest, and productive communication
- Improving your motivation, decision-making capability, efficiency, and effectiveness in life, career, or business
- Increasing your self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence; owning and being proud of who you are, your identity, and/or proud of your community
- Uncovering and discovering the strengths you already have and helping you to employ those to maximize your potential and success, or your community's well-being
- Helping you find purpose, meaning, or passion in life, work, hobbies, sports, and relationships
The Formal Diagnosis List:
Our Care Providers are qualified to treat most of the below conditions. Please note the titles for these "disorders" are formal diagnoses titles within the DSM-5 used by the mental health and insurance industries at large. Caring Connected did not create these diagnosis names, nor do we endorse the potentially stigmatizing or exclusionary language within some of them. There are other, newer diagnosis names like "Complex PTSD" or "Traumatic Attachment" that we would love to see included in future versions of the DSM.
Anxiety Disorders
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Selective Mutism
- Specific Phobia (e.g., fear of blood)
- Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
- Panic Disorder (with or without Panic Attacks)
- Agoraphobia
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Depressive Disorders
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
- Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders
- Reactive Attachment Disorder
- Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Adjustment Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder
- Hoarding Disorder
- Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder)
- Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder
Feeding and Eating Disorders
- Pica
- Rumination Disorder
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
- Anorexia Nervosa (binge-eating and purging types)
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Binge-Eating Disorder
Sleep-Wake Disorders
- Insomnia Disorder
- Hypersomnolence Disorder
- Narcolepsy
- Breathing-Related Sleep Disorders (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea, Central Sleep Apnea, Sleep-Related Hypoventilation, Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders)
- Parasomnias (Non-Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Arousal Disorders, Nightmare Disorder, Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder, Restless Leg Syndrome)
Sexual Dysfunctions
- Delayed Ejaculation
- Erectile Disorder
- Female Orgasmic Disorder
- Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder
- Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder
- Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
- Premature (Early) Ejaculation
Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
- Alcohol-Related Disorders
- Caffeine-Related Disorders
- Cannabis-Related Disorders
- Hallucinogen-Related Disorders
- Inhalant-Related Disorders
- Opioid-Related Disorders
- Sedative-, Hypnotic-, or Anxiolytic-Related Disorders
- Stimulant-Related Disorders
- Tobacco-Related Disorders
- Non-Substance Related Disorders (Gambling Disorder)
Bipolar and Related Disorders
- Bipolar I Disorder
- Bipolar II Disorder
- Cyclothymic Disorder
Gender Dysphoria
- Gender Dysphoria (adult and adolescent)
Neurodevelopmental Disorders:
- Intellectual Disabilities (Intellectual Disability, Global Development Delay)
- Communication Disorders (Language Disorder, Speech Sound Disorder, Child-Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering), Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Learning Disorders
- Motor Disorders (Developmental Coordination Disorder, Stereotypic Movement Disorder), Tic Disorders (Tourette's Disorder, Motor or Vocal Tic Disorders)
Dissociative Disorders
- Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder)
- Dissociative Amnesia
- Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
- Somatic Symptom Disorder
- Illness Anxiety Disorder
- Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder)
- Factitious Disorder
Elimination Disorders
- Enuresis
- Encopresis
Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
- Schizotypal (Personality) Disorder
- Delusional Disorder
- Brief Psychotic Disorder
- Schizophreniform Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective Disorder
Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder
- Conduct Disorder
- Antisocial Personality Disorder
- Pyromania
- Kleptomania
Neurocognitive Disorders
- Delirium
- Major and Mild Neurocognitive Disorders (Due to Alzheimer's Disease, Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration, Lewy Body Disease, Vascular Neurocognitive Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, HIV Infection, Prion Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, or Multiple Etiologies)
Personality Disorders
- Cluster A Personality Disorders (Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Personal Disorders)
- Cluster B Personality Disorders (Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders)
- Cluster C Personality Disorders (Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders)
Paraphilic Disorders
- Voyeuristic Disorder
- Exhibitionistic Disorder
- Frotteuristic Disorder
- Sexual Masochism Disorder
- Sexual Sadism Disorder
- Pedophilic Disorder
- Fetishistic Disorder
- Transvestic Disorder
Other Conditions That May Be A Focus of Clinical Attention
- Relational Problems (Related to Family Upbringing: Parent-Child Relational Problem, Sibling Relational Problem, Upbringing Away From Parents, or Child Affected by Parental Relationship Distress. Related to Primary Support Group: Relationship Distress With Spouse or Intimate Partner, Disruption of Family by Separation or Divorce, High Expressed Emotion Level Within Family, Uncomplicated Bereavement)
- Abuse and Neglect (Child Abuse and Neglect: Physical, Sexual, Emotional, and/or Psychological. Spouse or Partner Violence and Abuse: Physical, Sexual, Emotional, and/or Psychological)
- Educational and Occupational Problems (Academic or Educational Problem, Problem Related to Current Military Deployment Status, Problem Related to Employment)
- Housing and Economic Problems (Homelessness, Inadequate Housing, Discord With Neighbor, Lodger, or Landlord, Problems Related to Living In A Residential Institution, Lack of Adequate Food or Safe Drinking Water, Extreme Poverty, Low Income, or Insufficient Social Insurance or Welfare Support)
- Problems Related to Social Environment (Phase of Life Problem, Problem Related to Living Alone, Acculturation Difficulty, Social Exclusion or Rejection, or Target of (Perceived) Adverse Discrimination or Persecution)
- Problems Related to Crime or Interaction With the Legal System (Victim of Crime, Conviction in Civil or Criminal Proceedings Without Imprisonment, Imprisonment or Incarceration, Problems Related to Relapse From Prison)
- Problems Related to Other Circumstances (Religious or Spiritual Problem, Unwanted Pregnancy, Problems Related to Parity, Discord With Social Service Providers Including Probation Officer, Case Manager, or Social Service Worker, Victim of Terrorism or Torture, Exposure to Disaster, War, or Other Hostilities)
- Circumstances of Personal History (Personal History of Psychological Trauma or Self-Harm, Military Deployment, Risk Factors Related to Lifestyle, Antisocial Behavior, Unavailability or Inaccessibility of Healthcare Facilities or Other Helping Agencies, Malingering, Overweight or Obese, Wandering Associated With A Mental Disorder, or Borderline Intellectual Functioning)
PLEASE NOTE: This page is not intended in any way to substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Diagnoses and treatment can only be provided by qualified mental health professionals. Our Care Providers are qualified mental health professionals but may only provide a diagnosis if they are actively treating you.