Therapist in Chula Vista, CA | Trauma & PTSD
Leading a household, a business, or a career while straddling two cultures and two languages takes a particular kind of stamina, one that rarely gets acknowledged out loud. I work with people in this community who are ready to move past old survival habits and start actually becoming a better version of themselves. My clients include veterans, men, women, and couples, and this is equally a home for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and neurodivergent clients who want a bilingual, bicultural clinician who understands what it costs to carry two worlds at once.
From the growing business corridors near Otay Ranch to the older neighborhoods closer to the bayfront, from Southwestern College to the busy retail stretch along Third Avenue, this is a city shaped by families building something across generations. Its closeness to the border and its deep binational ties mean many clients here are navigating leadership in two languages and two systems at once, often for the first time in their family's history.
Being the one who translates, negotiates, and holds a family or a team together across cultural lines is its own quiet labor, one this city runs on every day. Many clients arrive having tried therapy that never made room for that context, treating their bicultural identity as background noise instead of the real terrain. As a bilingual, bicultural, neurodivergent clinician myself, I built this practice to meet that terrain directly, treating your full story as the starting point rather than something to explain away first.

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

Clients in Chula Vista often come to individual therapy after years of holding a family, a business, or a team together in more than one language and more than one culture. The work here treats that full context, including race, sexuality, and neurodivergence, as essential rather than incidental. What shifts over time is a real sense of agency, steadier relationships, and permission to stop translating yourself before you can even begin to be understood. Sessions are available virtually or in person for clients throughout the South Bay.
Many clients here carry trauma shaped by migration, family history, or their own service, patterns that show up as a body that will not fully relax even when the danger has long passed. Emotional shutdown, unpredictable reactions, and constant alertness often live quietly underneath a life that looks stable from the outside. Over time, the nervous system begins to settle and presence starts to feel possible again. Sessions are offered virtually or in person, paced to what actually feels sustainable.
Hypervigilance, disrupted sleep, and a body braced for the next demand are common here, especially among clients who have spent years being the steady one for everyone else. These symptoms often go unnamed for a long time, treated as just part of who someone is rather than a nervous system stuck in an old pattern. Relief looks like softer reactions, better rest, and a growing capacity to stay present. Sessions prioritize safety and pacing, offered virtually or in person.
Men in Chula Vista are often raised to provide, protect, and never show the cost of doing so, and this work exists for the ones ready to set that script down. Underneath the composure is usually exhaustion, irritability, or a quiet sense that something is not adding up. What changes is the ability to actually feel something without it threatening the whole structure they have built. Sessions are offered virtually or in person for men across the South Bay.
Cultural and religious expectations around intimacy can make disconnection or shame feel impossible to bring up, even with a partner. This work creates a space where those patterns can be named without judgment, so communication and closeness have room to actually grow. Clients tend to notice softened shame and a connection that feels honest instead of performed. Sessions are available virtually or in person.
Carrying pressure from work, family, and cultural expectation all at once tends to leave little room for anger to go anywhere healthy. This work builds real space between the trigger and the reaction, along with communication that protects rather than damages relationships. Clients tend to notice steadier households and less internal pressure carried home each day. Sessions are offered virtually or in person with real accountability.
Veterans in this binational community often carry both military discipline and deep family expectation, a combination that can make the transition to civilian life feel especially heavy. This work supports moving from a highly structured environment into one you now define for yourself, honoring both military culture and cultural heritage directly. Clients tend to find steadier footing and decisions that feel like their own. Sessions are available virtually or in person.
Organizations across the South Bay, including binational and military connected teams, reach out when their people are technically functioning but quietly struggling. This consulting and speaking work builds clarity and psychological safety into teams carrying real cultural and operational complexity. People tend to walk away 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 Chula Vista and the greater South Bay, including National City, Otay Mesa, and Bonita, offering both in person and virtual sessions for clients balancing demanding schedules across two languages and two cultures. My approach stays grounded in the real, binational texture of this community rather than treating it as an afterthought.

“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 lives across two cultures in Chula Vista. 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.