PSYCHOTHERAPY & EVIDENCE-INFORMED CARE

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    • Home
    • Book Appointment
    • Meet Dr. Cortez
    • Areas of Focus
    • Therapeutic Approach
    • Contact Me
    • FAQ'S
    • In Crisis? Get Help Now
    • Español
    • Colleague Consult
    • Join the team
    • Make A Difference

  • Home
  • Book Appointment
  • Meet Dr. Cortez
  • Areas of Focus
  • Therapeutic Approach
  • Contact Me
  • FAQ'S
  • In Crisis? Get Help Now
  • Español
  • Colleague Consult
  • Join the team
  • Make A Difference

If life’s waves feel overwhelming, I am here to support you with tools to navigate them.

Areas I Work With, (in no particular order)

Complex Trauma

Complex Trauma

Complex Trauma

Do you sometimes feel disconnected from your body, your emotions, or even your surroundings, as though you're watching your life from a distance? Or does prolonged or repeated trauma leave you feeling fragmented, foggy, or unsure of who you really are underneath it all? Complex trauma can affect your memory, sense of safety, and ability to feel present in your own life. With specialized trauma-informed care, it's possible to feel more grounded, reconnect with yourself, and reclaim a sense of safety in the present. 

Mood Disorders

Complex Trauma

Complex Trauma

Do you feel persistently low or empty, like joy is hard to reach even in moments that used to feel good? Or does your mood swing between intense highs and lows: energy, impulsivity, or racing thoughts followed by exhaustion or despair? Mood disorders can affect your energy, sleep, relationships, and sense of hope, making it hard to trust your own mood from week to week. They're not a sign of weakness or something you can just think your way out of. With the right support, you can understand your patterns, find relief, and build a more stable, purposeful life. You don't have to do it alone.

Anxiety

Complex Trauma

Borderline Personality Disorder

Are you feeling worried, irritable, or having trouble concentrating, making everyday life harder? You might find yourself stuck in endless rumination that drains your energy. Maybe you avoid activities or second-guess yourself out of fear of failure or negative outcomes. You do not have to face this alone. Support is here to help you regain confidence and calm. 

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Do you experience intense emotions that feel impossible to turn down, unstable relationships, or a shifting sense of who you are? Perhaps you swing between idealizing and fearing the people closest to you, or feel a deep terror of being abandoned. BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) can leave you feeling exhausted, misunderstood, or at odds with your own mind. These experiences are not a reflection of your character or your worth. With compassionate, trauma informed care, it’s possible to build emotional stability, strengthen relationships, and reconnect with a steadier sense of self. 

Couples/Family Therapy

Borderline Personality Disorder

Sexual & Gender Questions

Do you and your family feel stuck in the same conflicts, struggling to hear or understand one another? Or do you and your partner find yourselves caught in recurring arguments, growing distant, or unsure how to reconnect? Relationship and family struggles can affect trust, communication, and your sense of closeness, making it hard to feel supported by the people closest to you. These challenges aren't a sign of a broken family or relationship, or something you should just push through alone. With the right support, you can rebuild connection, communicate more openly, and create healthier, more resilient bonds. 

Sexual & Gender Questions

Borderline Personality Disorder

Sexual & Gender Questions

 Are you grappling with questions or challenges related to your sexual or gender identity? You might be experiencing feelings of confusion, isolation, or anxiety as you explore who you are. Perhaps you're navigating societal pressures, seeking acceptance, or looking for a space to openly express your authentic self. These feelings can sometimes lead to stress, sadness, or a sense of disconnection. You don't have to navigate this journey in solitude. Support is available to help you find clarity, confidence, and a path to self-acceptance.

Grief & Loss

Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders

ADHD and Attention Difficulties

Are you struggling with the pain of losing someone or something important to you? Grief can shake you to your core, leaving you feeling lost, disoriented, or entirely alone, even when others are near. You might feel waves of sadness, confusion, anger, or even numbness, sometimes all within the same day. There is no right way to grieve and no timeline you need to follow. Healing is not about moving on, but about learning to carry the loss differently, step by step. With the right support, it’s possible to find hope, meaning, and strength again. 

ADHD and Attention Difficulties

Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders

ADHD and Attention Difficulties

Do you often feel scattered, forgetful, or like you’re constantly playing catch-up—no matter how hard you try? Living with ADHD can mean battling restlessness, impulsivity, or struggling to follow through on tasks and responsibilities. You may feel misunderstood or frustrated with yourself, even though you’re trying your best. With the right support and strategies, it’s possible to harness your strengths, create structure, and move through life with more confidence and clarity. You don’t have to navigate it alone.

Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders

Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders

Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders

Do intrusive thoughts or repetitive urges feel hard to manage? You may find yourself stuck in cycles of anxiety and rituals that are exhausting and time consuming. This can also include related patterns such as skin picking, hair pulling, or other compulsive behaviors. You are not alone. With the right support, it is possible to shift your relationship to these thoughts and reduce the hold they have on your daily life.

Psychosis

Substance Use & Co-Occurring Disorders

Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders

Do you notice unusual thoughts, perceptions, or beliefs that do not quite fit reality, while still managing daily responsibilities like work, school, or family? Perhaps you have been told your experiences resemble psychosis, or you sense something shifting in how you perceive the world, and it feels isolating or frightening to talk about. These experiences do not define you or your capabilities. With the right support, it’s possible to understand what’s happening, stay grounded, and continue living a full and meaningful life. 

Substance Use & Co-Occurring Disorders

Substance Use & Co-Occurring Disorders

Substance Use & Co-Occurring Disorders

Are you relying on alcohol or other substances to cope with stress, pain, or emotions that feel too big to face? Or do you find yourself caught between wanting to change and feeling unable to, especially when substance use is tangled up with anxiety, depression, or trauma? Substance use can affect your relationships, health, and sense of control, making it hard to know where the substance ends and you begin. With the right support, it's possible to address what's underneath the struggle, build healthier coping tools, and move toward lasting recovery, at a pace that feels right for you.

  • Home
  • Book Appointment
  • Meet Dr. Cortez
  • Areas of Focus
  • Therapeutic Approach
  • Contact Me
  • FAQ'S
  • Español
  • Colleague Consult
  • Join the team
  • Make A Difference

Cortez Psychological Services, Inc.

924 Anacapa Street | Unit 4E | Santa Barbara | California | 93101

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