Therapist in Carlsbad, CA | Trauma & PTSD
Building a career inside one of the country's densest biotech corridors means being expected to innovate under pressure every single day, often with little room to acknowledge the toll it takes. I work with people here who are ready to stop just managing that pressure and start truly becoming a better version of themselves. My clients include veterans, men, and women dealing with trauma, PTSD, anxiety, or anger built up over years of high stakes work, and this is equally an affirming space for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and neurodivergent clients who want to be met as full people, not just high performers.
From the research campuses clustered near Palomar Airport Road to the resort corridor along the coast, from Legoland to the village shops downtown, Carlsbad blends serious scientific ambition with a beach town front door. Clients here often move between labs and boardrooms during the day and a quiet coastal home at night, carrying the gap between those two worlds without much support to close it.
An industry built on precision and constant achievement tends to reward exactly the traits that quietly cost people the most: hyperfocus, self reliance, and an inability to fully switch off. Many clients have tried therapy that stayed intellectual and never reached the nervous system underneath the achievement. As a bilingual, bicultural, neurodivergent clinician, I approach that pattern differently: not correcting your drive, but finally understanding what built it and helping you direct it on your own terms.

Here’s what’s included

Step 1: Grounded Intake & Shared Mapping

We start with a collaborative session where we slow down together, map what is happening in your body and your life, and name the systems, histories, and pressures that have shaped how you respond. This is not a checkbox process. It is a dialogue where your story is treated as real knowledge, not a problem waiting to be fixed.

Step 2: Freirean Praxis Sessions (Reflection + Action)

In ongoing one on one sessions, we reflect critically on your patterns, triggers, and environments, then translate that insight into small, concrete actions that honor your values and your nervous system. You leave each session with one to three grounded practices to try, nothing overwhelming, just doable steps toward more dignity, choice, and ease.

Step 3: Integration, Reclaiming, and Future Alignment

We regularly pause to notice what is shifting: how you feel in your body, how your relationships and boundaries are changing, and what taking control of your life actually looks like now. Together we refine what is working and build a sustainable way of leading and living that stays aligned with your values long after the session ends.

My services and specializations

People in Carlsbad's research and biotech community often arrive at individual therapy after years of solving everyone else's problems while quietly ignoring their own. This work treats race, sexuality, and neurodivergence as real, relevant context rather than details to work around. Clients tend to notice sharper clarity, steadier relationships, and a genuine sense of agency returning to their days. Sessions are available virtually or in person along the coast.
An environment built on precision and constant output tends to bury trauma under a highly functional exterior, where emotional shutdown or a body stuck on alert can pass unnoticed for years. These patterns often persist quietly even while a career looks entirely successful from the outside. Over time, clients tend to notice their nervous system settling and real presence returning. Sessions are offered virtually or in person, at a pace that feels sustainable.
Hypervigilance and disrupted sleep can hide easily behind a culture that already rewards long hours and constant alertness. Many clients here have normalized these symptoms for years, assuming they are simply part of working hard. Relief tends to come gradually, with reactions softening and rest genuinely improving over time. Sessions prioritize pacing and safety, offered virtually or in person.
Men in high stakes research and executive roles here are often praised precisely for the traits that are quietly costing them the most. This work exists for the ones ready to actually feel steady instead of just appearing composed. Underneath the achievement is usually exhaustion or a quiet sense that something does not add up. Sessions are offered virtually or in person for men across the coast.
Long hours and constant achievement pressure can quietly erode intimacy, leaving many clients carrying shame they never bring up even with a partner. This work makes space for that shame to soften and for connection to feel authentic instead of another item to optimize. Sessions explore what stress and self protection have shaped over time, offered virtually or in person, without judgment.
High stakes deadlines and constant problem solving can leave reactions running hotter than a situation actually calls for, often protecting something more vulnerable underneath. This work builds real space between the trigger and the response, protecting relationships instead of straining them. Clients tend to notice calmer households and steadier communication. Sessions are offered virtually or in person with real accountability.
Veterans who transition into Carlsbad's research and technology sector often carry discipline that no longer has an obvious outlet, alongside identity questions the new career does not automatically answer. This work supports moving from a highly structured environment into one you now define yourself. Clients tend to find steadier footing and choices that feel genuinely their own. Sessions are available virtually or in person.
Organizations and teams in Carlsbad's biotech and research community reach out when their people are technically performing but quietly struggling underneath. This consulting and speaking work builds real clarity and psychological safety into high performance cultures. People tend to leave steadier, with communication that holds up under pressure. Engagements are offered in person locally or virtually.

I serve clients in this location

I work with people throughout Carlsbad and the surrounding coast, including Encinitas and Vista, offering both in person and virtual sessions built for schedules that rarely leave much open room. My approach stays grounded in real, sustainable change rather than quick fixes for a high achieving community.

“Richard’s work reflects both intellectual depth and genuine care. He brings clarity, discipline, and empathy to every role, making him an exceptional clinician and consultant.”

— Academic & Clinical Reference

“Richard combines clinical skill with deep leadership. He brings clarity, compassion, and structure to complex environments, empowering individuals and families to move forward with dignity and accountability.”

— Keith D. Washington, LCSW, DCSW

“Richard’s leadership in high-pressure military systems stood out immediately. His ability to balance clinical judgment, teamwork, and mission readiness makes him a trusted guide in complex, real-world settings.”

— Senior Military Supervisor

“What sets Richard apart is his ability to connect systems, people, and purpose. He leads with integrity, cultural awareness, and a deep respect for lived experience.”

— Community Mental Health Colleague

“Richard creates spaces where growth feels possible. His approach is thoughtful, structured, and human—especially for those navigating leadership, identity, and high-stakes environments.”

— Professional Peer

“Richard’s work reflects both intellectual depth and genuine care. He brings clarity, discipline, and empathy to every role, making him an exceptional clinician and consultant.”

— Academic & Clinical Reference

“Richard combines clinical skill with deep leadership. He brings clarity, compassion, and structure to complex environments, empowering individuals and families to move forward with dignity and accountability.”

— Keith D. Washington, LCSW, DCSW

Testimonials

Portrait of a smiling man in dark clothing against a black background

I'm Dr. Richard De La Garza- and I’m a Mexican American / Chicano Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, doctoral scholar, and U.S. Army veteran with more than twenty years across hospitals, community clinics, and federal systems. As a bilingual, bicultural, neurodivergent clinician, I bring that same understanding to the veterans, men, women, and BIPOC, LGBTQ, and neurodivergent clients building high stakes careers in Carlsbad. People don't just recover here. They rise.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How does this work?

    We start with a complimentary 15‑minute consultation to see whether we’re a good fit and to answer any initial questions. If we decide to work together, we’ll schedule your first full session and complete intake forms through a secure online portal.


    In our sessions, we meet virtually (or in person if you’re in San Diego, CA and choose that option). We’ll slow down, map what’s going on in your life and body, and set goals together rather than imposing a one‑size‑fits‑all plan.


    I draw from several approaches—including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma‑informed care, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), strength‑based and compassion‑based practices—while centering intersectionality and cultural context. That means we look not only at your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, but also at how identity, history, and systems shape your experience. Each session is a mix of reflection and concrete practices, so you leave with 1–3 grounded steps to try between sessions.


    Therapy is typically weekly or bi‑weekly at first, and we’ll regularly check in about how it’s going, what’s shifting, and whether the frequency or focus needs to be adjusted.

  • Can I use insurance?

    I do not accept insurance at this time. All services are self‑pay, and payment is due at the time of service.


    Many clients choose to use HSA/FSA funds or speak with their insurance provider about any out‑of‑network benefits that might apply. I’m happy to answer questions about fees and payment so you can make an informed decision before beginning.


    You also have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of the expected costs of your services, in line with the No Surprises Act.

  • What technology do I need?

    Virtual sessions are held through a secure, HIPAA‑compliant video platform.


    You’ll need:


    • A stable internet connection
    • A smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera and microphone
    • A private, quiet space where you feel comfortable speaking openly
    • Headphones or earbuds (recommended for privacy and sound quality)

    Before each session, you’ll receive a link by email; you simply click it at your appointment time—no special software is required beyond an up‑to‑date browser.

  • What happens if I need to cancel?

    Life happens, and sometimes you need to reschedule. I ask for at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or change an appointment.


    • Cancellations or reschedules made more than 24 hours in advance: no fee.
    • Cancellations, reschedules, or no‑shows within 24 hours of your appointment: you will be responsible for the full session fee.

    This policy helps protect the time I set aside for you and ensures that appointments are available for others who may be waiting. If you’re unsure whether you’ll be able to attend, please reach out as soon as you can so we can explore options.

  • Good Faith Estimate

    What is a Good Faith Estimate?


    If you are paying out of pocket (not using insurance), you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) outlining the expected cost of your therapy.


    A Good Faith Estimate includes:


    • Describes the type of services we’re planning (for example, weekly 50-minute sessions)
    • Outlines the estimated total cost over a period of time (for example, 3–6 months)
    • Is provided in writing before we begin ongoing therapy

    This is an estimate, not a contract. If we adjust your treatment plan—such as meeting more or less often—I will update the estimate to reflect our new agreement.


    Under the No Surprises Act, if your actual charges are significantly higher than the estimate, you may have the right to dispute the bill. This law is designed to promote transparency, so you can make informed decisions about your care.