Therapists serving clients in Cathedral City, CA

Who am I? My name is Dr. Damaris Conrad and I have been in practice as a licensed Marriage, Family Psychotherapist for the past 24 years. I hold licenses as an MFT in California and in Idaho, and Clinical Supervision certification. I also teach online in Masters/ Doctoral programs for CACREP Therapy program in Higher Ed and have been teaching for well over 20 years. I have been married to the same man for 41 years and I will be the first one to admit that marriage is one of the toughest relationships you can commit to. We have walked through many hills and valleys, and there were days we wondered if our marriage would survive or become a statistic. Together, we have 2 adult children who are married and are enjoying their love and life partnerships for the past several years. My Focus in Therapy My commitment to providing high-quality psychotherapy is backed by over 24+ years of experience. Combining evidence-based methods, a comprehensive knowledge of current research and a compassionate partnership with each unique individual, I offer support to help solve problems and assist in making healthy decisions, adjusting comfortably to change, while providing tools to overcome the emotional distress that keeps us stuck. Our work together will be tailored to your specific goals and will incorporate approaches drawn from the Integrative Model of Therapy which includes Psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioral, Family Systems while sometimes including a bit of Narrative or Collaborative forms of therapy, in order to help you create the life you want. My clients often tell me that I tend to get to the “juggler quickly” while gently assisting you as we move through the ambivalence, resistance, or pain which may be underlying the stuck feeling when faced with life changes. My job is to provide non-judgmental support and help you explore the steps needed to move forward, whether it's overcoming anxiety, depression or trauma, conquering anger or behavioral issues, addressing relationship and/or family challenges, gaining clarity on career frustrations or transitions, managing issues related to aging, improving communication or reducing stress. I tend to see my role as a coach, co-collaborator, and will partner with you, walk alongside of you, and believe in getting down into the trenches to tackle the obstacles, find the skills, tools, and answers together. My clients often tell me that I am NOT the type of therapist that sits silently by in session by just giving you the occasional head nod and verbal “uh-huh”. Instead, I give direct feedback, and actively challenge you to dig deeper, or look closer, stay with the tension, as we unlock and extract the answers together. It is my desire to bring hope, optimism, humility and humor to my work and feel that it is an honor to be invited on each new journey. You will be treated with respect, care and compassion while also receiving constructive guidance to help you navigate the murky waters. What do I do in my spare time? In my spare time, I have been writing on the issues of my heart. I am the author of 3 books which include The Fork in the Road: When your Spouse goes Left and You go Right, and a book on reversing Diabetes Naturally and gaining back our health and life, and another book called Just Desserts: Sugar Free and Low Carb Desserts for the Sweet Tooth in All of Us! I also play the piano, love to read, serve in various roles at church, love to entertain, and enjoy some forms of camping and hiking, and white-water rafting with our family and friends. Passions in Therapy You might think it a bit strange that a Psychotherapist would write on health-related issues, but it is important to understand the connection between mind, body, spirit. When we are stressed or going through long term or chronic conflict, it often manifests in medical and health disorders, weight and sleep issues. If left unchecked, it can hinder or impact the way we see the world through our emotions, cognition's, psychological-mental health, and in many cases affects our spiritual and physical health. Have you ever heard someone tell you that they can’t sleep, or they are overeating, or all they want to do is lie down and shut the world off? Often this is due to the unrecognized toll and stress or long-term conflict in relationships, which can steal from our bodies, health, and emotions, not to mention our peace of mind. We learn to push these things down deep inside and we don’t necessarily make the connection between the anxiety or depression that we are feeling, and the way it may be manifesting (symptomatically) within our bodies and what our bodies may be trying to tell us. I have personally lived in a very long-term situation with chronic stress and at times, it can feel like you are either going to explode (or even implode) if something doesn’t change soon. It is important to help us make that mind-body connection and learn the value of incorporating specific tools in taking care of ourselves. Sometimes, this can be as simple as removing something off of our to-do list, and other times it can mean heading to the doctor to rule out what is behind our physical symptoms. Another passion I hold dear is working and specializing in issues with couples in crisis. Marriage and family issues have their own unique markers and when we are in crisis, we try many things to bring back the peace and status quo. Sometimes the tools and skills we have may not be enough, and we need to explore what is maintaining the symptoms and why we keep getting stuck into the same old patterns. Together, we will work on identifying what those patterns are, the role the patterns of (behaviors, beliefs, attitudes) serve while we explore how to navigate the minefields that threaten to blow up our relationships. Population(s) and Issues I Serve The population I work with include Individuals, Couples, Families. Whether you are looking for premarital counseling, or you are involved in a marriage of many years, many of us find that we need someone to walk alongside us, as we identify and push through the barriers. Here is a just a small sample of issues I work with which include but are not limited to the following: • Marital Issues (intimacy, fidelity and infidelity, destructive behavior patterns, communication challenges, trauma, abuse, etc., parenting, infertility, sexual issues, in-laws, boundaries, work-life-ministry balance, Stages of Marriage & Parenting, Conflict Resolution, sexual issues, aging, empty nest,) • Stress, Anxiety, Depression • Forgiveness • Relationship Issues (Boundaries, Assertiveness, Mindfulness, Communication, Self Esteem & Other Esteem, Identity, Multi-Generational Patterns) • Premarital • ADHD (Adults, Adolescents, Children) • Woman’s Issues • Health & Wellness: Adjustment & Growth • Trauma and Different Forms of Abuse, Victimization • TBI, PTSD • Military • Ministry Couples, • Grief & Loss • Divorce & Separation (Challenges, Recovery, Healing) • Parenting • Blended Family Issues • Career /Vocational Transitions and Challenges Services Offered Live, Phone, Chat, Video It takes courage to seek a more fulfilling and happier life while addressing the issues, uncovering blind spots, and identifying needed changes. I would be honored to walk this path with you, support the needed steps give you feedback, and empower you throughout the journey. If you are looking for an experienced, skilled, and compassionate therapist, then let’s get started, today! Dr. Damaris Conrad

Shannon Lee is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. Shannon has over 30 years of experience working with children and families in various settings. Shannon has worked with high profile families, including royalty, traveling to different countries, broadening her understanding and appreciation for the cultural variety and cultural differences that exist in the world.   She has over 20 years of experience working as a therapist with a highly diverse population of individuals, couples, children, adolescents, and families. Shannon has a positive, supportive manner with a direct solution-focused approach. Shannon is down to earth and uses laughter, humor, art, music, and creativity to reach children, adolescents, and adults.    Her focus is on the present. She is working with each client to purge past painful experiences, coaching each client to acquire and apply skills to help them improve functioning and decrease maladaptive symptoms. She believes that each client is unique and tailors each session to that client and their needs. She collaborates with the individual concerning goals and works toward assisting them in meeting their goals to live life fully with a positive outlook.    She will work to empower each client, using an enthusiastic nonjudgmental approach. Open discussion of the direction of the session will help the client meet their needs and goals. At the same time, gentle confrontation of issues supports change as appropriate to increase coping skills and awareness.    Shannon has extensive experience working with children and adolescents. She has worked with children and teens from privileged backgrounds to those underprivileged, lacking resources, and family support. Shannon has run several residential group homes (Level 12) for nearly ten years, with a diverse population of children and teens placed in residential care due to severe behavioral and emotional problems. She has worked with abused, neglected, and delinquent children as well as children and teens struggling with teen issues and parent conflict. She has worked closely with the Department of Probation and other community organizations. She was collaborating to promote juveniles to acquire skills to assist them in making healthy choices and move forward confidently in their lives, to reunite with their families, and be successful in the home, community, and school settings.    Her work with parents is to encourage them to gain positive parenting skills. She works closely with each parent, modeling and coaching the use of effective communication skills to increase positive interactions with children. Encouragement to parents includes using a positive and practical approach with children. Support to parents to validate and understand their children, as well as increasing consistency, follow-through, and positive parenting techniques, provides an encouraging environment. Encouragement to parents includes taking responsibility for parenting, receiving, and accepting support to implement new strategies, resulting in improved relationships.    The therapeutic environment provided is warm, caring, and confidential, focusing on the client-therapist relationship and effective treatment. Depending on presenting information and goals, Shannon will use several treatment modalities to assist each client with improving functioning and using the well researched, effective methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy, including DBT and several other treatment modalities, tailored to suit the client. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy-D.B.T. is an evidence-based approach for effectively treating impulsive behavior, oppositional defiant behavior, and self-injuring behavior. Originally designed by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was specifically used for individuals with self-harm behaviors such as self-cutting, suicide thoughts, urges to suicide, and suicide attempts. More recent use of DBT addresses other problems, including anxiety, eating disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol and drug problems. DBT is an “empirically supported treatment,” researched in clinical trials and shown to be effective in reducing self-harm behaviors and emotional dyscontrol. Trained in DBT, Shannon uses this modality, or components of this modality when working with many of her clients. Other approaches for treatment include eclectic, humanistic, positive psychology, parent coaching, family/marital therapy, and existential. The approach for treatment depends on each client and their presenting problems and goals.    When Shannon is not working, she is surfing, creating, making art, or music. Shannon also appreciates education and learning and is regularly pursuing educational goals. Currently, she continues to pursue her doctorate with a plan to continue to help children, teens, parents, and families. Providing effective treatment and staying informed with current developments and research in psychology is necessary and rewarding for Shannon.

Hello there! Your search for help has led you to this moment. My name is Chester, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I’ve been fortunate to have worked with unique populations that have shaped my therapeutic approach. I have worked as a school-based social worker with inner-city children, teenagers, and at-risk young adults; veterans in homeless and residential treatment programs settings; and military service members. My fields of expertise are trauma (child abuse, domestic violence); anxiety and depression; substance abuse; and relationship issues. I am fully committed to your success by being empathetic, non-judgmental, and compassionate. I will be your biggest advocate, and work with you through an interactive and collaborative process from start to finish. Thank you for placing your trust in me, and I look forward to meeting and working with you.

Hello! My name is Marisa and I am a Licensed Clinical Social worker (LCSW) in the state of California and Licensed Independent Social Worker in the state of South Carolina (LISW). I have ten years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with overcoming/coping with addictions, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & coping with life changes. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in California with 26 years of professional work experience. I am fluently bilingual in Spanish and English. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, & anger management. I have worked with many clients in various stages of life and have helped them get through some tough situations. I believe you are the expert of your story and you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming obstacles that challenge you. Seeking help takes courage so I commend you for your courage. I am glad you are making a choice to live a more fulfilling life and I am here to support you in that process.

I am a licensed California psychologist with more than 30 years of professional experience. I work to help clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & coping with life changes. I attempt to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in California with 9 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, eating disorders, & anger management. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in California with 15 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, depression, & coping with life changes. I also have experience working with compassion fatigue. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in California with 17 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, lgbtq+ related issues, & trauma and abuse. I also have experience working with executive and professional coaching. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in California with 8 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!