The office has soft lighting and it smells calming, and peaceful inside. Shows they care. Did some couples therapy with Liz and individual therapy with Aly. Liz helped my partner and I tremendously. And Aly has been working with me, and helping me so much. I absolutely recommend this place if you need some help :') read more

Estes Therapy San Diego - Counseling & Mental Health Near Me - San Diego, California

Kate Nicholson has been a trusted and reliable colleague of mine since 2022. Over the years, I have been constantly impressed by her clinical insight, professionalism, and genuine dedication to her clients. Throughout our graduate program, our professors were consistently highlighting Kate's excellent combination of strong clinical skills and authentic compassion. She has a natural ability to attune to her clients, and builds trust effectively and organically with a foundation of respect, understanding, and safety. Her warmth and presence allow her to connect with people in a meaningful way, while still maintaining the professionalism and structure needed to facilitate growth and change. As a fellow AMFT, perhaps what I admire most about Kate is her commitment to continued learning and excellence in this field. After graduate school, she pursued additional certification in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), reflecting both her passion for helping clients and her dedication to providing evidence-based, high-quality care. Out of our graduating cohort of 30+ individuals and only a handful being presented with awards, I vividly remember how appropriate our classmates agreed it was that Kate was selected for the "Outstanding Clinical Skills" award. She approaches her work thoughtfully and intentionally, always seeking ways to deepen her skills and better support the individuals who she works with. Kate's passion for therapy is evident in every aspect of her work, and I would confidently recommend her to anyone looking for a skilled, compassionate, and dedicated therapist. I highly recommend Estes Therapy, and I highly recommend Kate Nicholson. read more

Excellent, kind and caring therapists. I've only seen them remotely, but have had wonderful experiences over the past year. The front office is also really responsive to any billing requests which is appreciated when insurance is being a PITA. read more

They specialized in a emotional-treatment focused therapy which helps focus on the emotions behind how you feel/how the other person might feel. I don't recommend this treatment approach who's looking for a solution to one's problems. It was very frustrating when I presented my concerns to the reception/therapist in what I was looking for, which was more CBT/Trauma focus. The therapist said she was still opened to work with me even though my interest was not EFT which I expressed it was not suited with me with my past experience. I also filled out a form prior to treatment and clearly expressed that I wanted a solution to my concerns. However, the session was not productive and she kept on asking how I felt. Which I already explained how I felt. It felt like we were talking in circles. At the end of session, she expressed that she is not a solution treatment therapist. It was very frustrating because I clearly expressed multiples over the phone and on the form that I want a solution to my concerns but she expressed that she was still interested in treating me. This action demonstrated to me that she was more concerned in building a caseload when she knows that we weren't a good fit. read more

Liz continues to be a mentor of mine as an associate, as well as a teacher of mine while in SDSU MFT program. Liz is extremely knowledgable and able to understand and empathize with individuals and couples of various backgrounds, cultures, and frameworks of life. Her curious mind is always willing to explore, learn and unlearn, and stay close to clients stories. The type of care Liz brings into the session is authentic, empowering, non judgmental, and collaborative. Liz prioritizes listening to a client's unique story while helping them reframe their narrative to create positive change, viewing the client as the expert on their own life. read more

First time going to therapy and it has been the BEST experience with Sarah. She is so compassionate and kind and makes me feel 100% comfortable. My boyfriend also goes here now and also loves his therapist, Dana! Great ambiance and overall experience I stopped going here cause I relocated but I just wanted to shout out Kiana (the receptionist) as I randomly thought about her and how she ALWAYS greeted you upon arrival.... My current place doesn't do that and it made me realize it actually makes a difference! read more

Dana Pasculescu is a trusted peer whom I deeply admire, trust, and respect in the field. She is a non-judgmental, kind, skilled and gentle therapist. I've seen her meet clients with diverse backgrounds and experiences, wherever they are at in their journey and be a compassionate and curious ally to them. read more

Sarah O'Leary helped/saved my marriage. this place in overall is very neat and welcoming makes you feel very comfortable. highly recommend them. read more

I had the privilege of working alongside Liz as her co-therapist during our practicum. Liz has an incredible ability to create a safe, welcoming and supportive space where clients feel truly heard and valued. During our time together as co-therapists I was particularly impressed by how she tailored interventions to meet each client's unique needs and approached challenges with creativity and care. Liz approaches therapy with a decolonization lens, thoughtfully integrating culturally responsive practices to meet the diverse needs of her clients. read more

Erin is an extremely devoted, skillful, and caring clinician who I've been very grateful to work alongside. Her ability to work with a wide range of clients, whether couples, young children, teens, or families, is impressive. She is genuine, warm, and knowledgeable, giving her heart and time to her work and clients. It truly shows through the impact she is able to make in client's lives. As a social worker, I know the importance of offering a trauma informed care and client centered approach, both of which Erin ensures. As a colleague, I have been lucky to have her input on various evidence based practices, and she is wise beyond her years. Above all, Erin is kind and a top notch listener. I highly recommend Erin as a therapist! read more

I highly recommend Kate Nicholson as a premarital and couples therapist. She creates such a safe space to explore challenges and help you understand and grow with each other. She is genuinely dedicated to helping couples thrive, and her support is a true asset to any relationship. read more

I wanted to leave a review for my therapist sarah. I have been to therapy my whole adult life, and also in my youth. I've had an arrangement of different experiences, but my sessions with her have by far been the absolute most influential and habit changing. I feel like what I needed was tools to make the changes I wanted to see in my life , and she has been providing me with so many great ones. Whatever I come to her with I never feel shamed or embarrassed. She has definitely been my champion while still giving me guidance to achieve better directions. Thank you Sarah I can't express my gratitude enough. read more

Kate Nicholson brings such warmth, genuineness, and knowledge to every premarital and couples counseling session. Any couple is fortunate to have her as a partner and guide in navigating and deepening their relationship! read more

Kate Nicholson is an amazing therapist and i would definitely recommend her to anyone wanting to begin or renter therapy (:

We did couples therapy and it was a terrible experience for me, particularly as I look back on it. I was experiencing so much emotional abandonment, avoidance, always having something held over me or demanded of me in my marriage, when very very very little was being given in return emotionally. Little care, connection, concern, support, but lots of control. In my marriage at first, I felt stronger and balanced. And over the course of this year, the therapist used terms like "we just need to get you back online" as my ex-husband went on about his needs and demands. "Vulnerability and communication" aren't enough when continual damage is being done and there is no repair. I genuinely regret the choices I made to stick it out in therapy, and that I didn't have the language to fully express what was happening and what I needed. But I sure wished the therapist would have supported me more effectively in this process. I would hope they would know these patterns and can help people identify what's truly happening below the surface. I made choices to sacrifice myself to "save" the marriage and wish someone had given me a wake up call rather than put me through a year of a useless experience. read more

Young Ju, LMFT is a wonderful and caring therapist. He is passionate about what he does and it really shows! If you are looking for an experienced, compassionate and skilled therapist, look no further. Young has my highest recommendation! read more

Joe Salvati is everything you are looking for in a clinical therapist. I've had the pleasure of working with him over the past year and a half, and I'm inspired by his work ethic and commitment to his patients, as well as his craft. Joe boldly enters into the depths of his patients psychologies, solely for the purposes of assisting them in eliciting their own unique tools, skills, creativity and identity. Joe has a calm, friendly and patient presence that allows for others to explore and examine themselves without judgment. His authentic humanitarian approach presents several opportunities for him and his patients to quickly establish rapport and a solid foundation. His trauma-informed and inviting approach to therapy is extremely supportive of the patient who has even the smallest desire to be vulnerable while pursuing self-awareness, self determination, and true healing. Plus, he's got great "Dad jokes!" They are funny! Overall, he's a blessing, an all-time time wonderful clinician, and an all-time wonderful guy. Pick him up if you have the chance. He's your guy! read more

I've had the pleasure of working with Lauryn Plush as a colleague and as someone who assisted me when I pursued my undergraduate psychology degree. During my university years, there was one thing that made her stand out among other psychology students - her ability to genuinely care about the well-being of people and be empathetic towards others. In addition to being an active listener, Lauryn can take her knowledge of psychological concepts and theory and successfully apply it to those around her. Even as an undergraduate, she has always remained driven to pursue a career in marriage and family counseling. There are no words to describe how considerate she is. She goes above and beyond to ensure that everyone has a figure that they can confide in. In times when people truly need assistance to have someone listen to them, Lauryn is always there every time. When working with groups or families, she is able to make those around her better individuals through her positivity and approachability. Lauryn individually tailors her approaches to people by providing easy-to-understand terminology, experiences, and analogies to help other individuals strengthen and build upon their interpersonal relationships. She also has a great sense of humor and is really funny. read more

Unfortunately, I would not recommend Dana Sockolov as a marriage counselor to help with marital trauma. Although I never received a follow-up from Dana regarding the situation, the owner of Estes therapy reached out to me after I posted my original review. read more

I was going through a personal crisis almost seven years ago that had me contemplating self-harm for a moment. It was a singular thought that distressed me so much that I went to a close friend of mine who is a licensed MFT for some counsel. Since she would have had a conflict of interest in treating me due to our long-time friendship, she recommended a therapist who was a close friend that worked here at Estes Therapy. I was initially concerned that Alicia and I wouldn't click, even if she came with high recommendations from my friend. It was awkward for the first couple of sessions, but things ended up getting better with time. Alicia, along with my friend, literally saved my life. I went to therapy with Alicia for four years, on and off. Just talking for an hour every week at first, then every other week, and sometimes once or twice a month depending on what was happening in my life at work or in school. Some sessions, I will admit, weren't all that productive and I would feel like I was repeating the same sort of issues from session to session, but a lot of the time, the sessions were productive and a necessary release of the stresses in my life. It made me very sad that Alicia moved to another state and ended her time here, but by then, I felt like therapy wasn't really necessary anymore. I'll always be grateful for all the time I spent here with Alicia. I likely wouldn't be alive if it weren't for her and the therapy sessions I had with her. (I also did like that the office was tucked away in this anonymous looking office building complex, and that the room where the sessions took place looked out over some of the foliage in the back.) read more

My experience with Estes Therapy has been delightful. The staff was attentive when scheduling my first session and since then it has been great to schedule and reschedule my session online if I ever need. I have been seeing Lauryn for a few months now and it has been a wonderful experience. I have been going through some life transitions and she has been so supportive and helped me navigate life and all thats been thrown my way. Overall, I recommend this practice to those in search of a great therapist! read more

My wife and I were having some serious arguments we couldn't seem to shake. We chose Estes therapy to help us manage our disagreements. We worked with Dana. She is absolutely amazing. The style of therapy she focuses on is called EFT and strictly deals with your emotions. Dana is a true therapist who cares, is right there with you present the whole time and is skilled to be able to pick up on the nuances of what is really going on. Couldn't recommend her enough! read more

I have been seeing Lauryn Plush for a while and I am so happy that I found her. She is professional and passionate about what she does. No matter what problem I come to her with she is able to break them down and validate my emotions and challenges. She is exceptionally good at using analogies to help me understand my feelings and ways to change. I would recommend her to all my friends and family. read more

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Joe Salvati, LCSW, over the past 1.5 years. Joe has been someone I continuously learned from, as a fellow clinician and just as a human being. Joe's approach in individual therapy has been so successful, especially with teenage clients that have shown more resistance or present as "tough cookies". Joe is a therapist who is eager to learn and is always reflecting on his work. He is incredibly supportive, funny and is very much a team player. Joe has been one of the best people I've ever worked with and anyone in San Diego looking for a therapist will do great work with him. read more

I would give Aly Allen 10 stars if it were possible. I am so grateful to have met Aly and been able to receive such sage wisdom. Aly creates a safe environment to share and process through anything I am going through. She has offered tools that have been instrumental in my growth. I have seen not only my circumstances but everything in my life improve because of my time with her. read more

My boyfriend and I have been seeing Joe for the last few weeks for a couple therapy. We were hitting a rut and at a really low spot stuck in this resentment cycle. It was time to take action. I found Estes therapy online and due to the number of good reviews decided to go with them. We are so happy with all of Joe's help and guidance so far. Even my boyfriend who initially I was "dragging along" feels that the sessions have all been worthwhile and helpful. For anyone debating therapy, 100% worth the cost since it's an investment into yourself or your relationship. And can't recommend Joe enough. He's a true professional and great at what he does ! read more

These days it's so hard to find someone that really listens to you. I'm glad I found therapist Dana Pasculescu, I totally recommend her! She always knows how to ask the right questions tailored for my thoughts. She makes me feel confident about opening up and I always leave feeling better about myself. She is also very kind and profesional and I feel like every moment I spend in therapy is worth my while. read more

I highly recommend Ida Fariba for counseling. As an LMFT, I have had the pleasure to work with Ida in a professional capacity over the last few years. Ida is warm, empathic, and caring. She also brings a strong clinical background and holistic approach to her work. You will be in great hands with Ida. read more

I am a college student and have been going through a lot of recently. I was able to schedule online with Lauryn and it has be so helpful. I was first looking for a therapist to help me figure out what I wanted to do next after graduation but Ive gotten so much more out of our time together. Also, I love the handouts and that she always gave me a specific thing to think about or reflect on in between our sessions. read more

I'll admit, in the past I was the kind of person who thought therapy was for people with PROBLEM problems. But through my experience with Sarah, I've found that I have a greater understanding of myself, my emotions, and how my past has come up and influenced me throughout my life. I highly highly recommend working with Sarah if you haven't had therapy before. I felt so seen and supported. I wasn't really sure what to expect, and she helped me make goals and gave direction from what I was sharing with her. I've cried, I've laughed, I've gained confidence, and I've healed. read more

So grateful to have found YOUNG, LMFT! You truly cannot find a better person than him. He is kind, caring & has such a calm demeanor. You can just tell he loves what he does. read more

Dana Sockolov is a wonderful human being. In her presence, you immediately feel a sense of ease and compassion. She excels as a therapist in helping people to feel valued and cared for. As her colleague for multiple years, I feel incredibly confident referring anyone to her who needs comfort and acceptance; I would trust her with any of my own clients, friends, or family members. I feel lucky to know and work with Dana in this field- she is a true resource for trustworthy and genuine support. read more

I've had the pleasure of working alongside Dana S. for years now, and her compassion and understanding she offers clients is unmatched. She is such a grounding presence in an increasingly shifting world. I have seen her growth as a therapist and felt her encourage growth in others to pursue progress not perfection. She approaches each client with understanding, care, and charm. I highly recommend her for couples and individuals, in whatever challenges life may be presenting. read more

This is one of those practices that favors middle class clientele while disfavoring low income people. They do this by refusing outright to take any medical insurance while simultaneously not offering sliding fee scales (except for one therapist who only offers remote sessions; this is a tiny percentage given the size of this large group). When the staff member who answered my phone call shared this information with me, she also explained that I could try to get reimbursement through my insurance as a possible other option. But that is not guaranteed and it has the same problem of being an option that's only available to people who can afford to pay $150 for each weekly session out of pocket while they wait for a potential reimbursement that may never come or might not be for the full amount. That is simply not possible for low income people. At first, I found this very disappointing because a close friend had a good experience with one of these therapists years ago at a lowered hourly rate based on her income. I asked why that policy changed for that particular therapist and the person on the phone explained that with the high demand for therapy these days, the therapists at this practice have no need to offer those kinds of accommodations anymore. So essentially, the therapists there are doing everything they can to maximize what they take home while alienating certain members of the community who are at a financial disadvantage, like working class folks and students. My disappointment about this issue quickly waned when I realized that it's better for me not to place my mental health in the hands of people who are more focused on profits than on helping members of the community with mental health issues. I think their payment policies are unethical, but at the same time those policies reveal the true colors of these practitioners who should really be asking themselves why they chose the field they're in given that they possess such an immense lack of empathy for such a large part of the community they work in. read more

I've known Dana S. for over 8 years now, and know that she's an incredibly compassionate and caring therapist. I've had the privilege to witness her growth as a therapist, and can attest to her commitment to the best interest of her clients and her professional development. She's always seeking opportunities to learn and grow to better support the folks that she works with. Dana comes along side her clients in a person-centered, and strengths-based way. Her kindness and love for what she does is evident in the way that she works with her people. read more

I have known Dana Pasculescu for a few years now and i can confidently recommend her as a therapist. She is knowledgeable, has an impeccable work ethic and most importantly a lot of empathy. read more

I have not had official sessions through Estes Therapy, but offer a review based on years of deep conversations with one of their therapists, Dana Pasculescu. Dana is uniquely skilled at creating a safe, trusting space that allows introspective self-analysis. She listens with real empathy and attention, and does not hesitate to ask deep and probing questions. If she is an example of the practitioners at Estes, you are in very good hands. I have found her curiosity, insights and broad knowledge of therapeutic methods to be very helpful and am glad to give her my recommendation read more

I've been working with Estes Therapy for the past 6 months and it's been a fantastic working relationship. They are everything you want from a business - professional, thorough and trustworthy. Big thanks to Estes Therapy and I absolutely give them my recommendation. read more

Many thanks to Heather Frick and her expertise in helping with relational conflicts. Her professionalism and ability to get the root causes were very much appreciated. read more

Ida Fariba is an excellent choice if you are looking for a therapist. Her calming energy is infectious and she really knows how to create a warm, caring atmosphere. Ida is both youthful and wise, which makes her relatable to clients of all ages. I appreciate that Ida blends direct feedback with a nurturing gentleness. She is very skilled at Emotionally Focused therapy, which is helpful for both couples and individuals seeking support. She is knowledgable and sensitive when it comes to working with trauma and is trained in EMDR, one of the leading trauma therapies. Ida is a wonderful, reliable practitioner and overall good human. read more