Therapist in El Cajon, CA | Trauma & PTSD
Rebuilding a life or a business after displacement, war, or migration takes a kind of resilience that rarely gets named for what it actually is. I work with people in El Cajon who are ready to move past old survival strategies and start actually becoming a better version of themselves. My clients include veterans, men, and women carrying trauma, PTSD, or anger shaped by both service and lived history, and this is equally an affirming space for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and neurodivergent clients who want a clinician who takes cultural context seriously rather than treating it as background.
Home to one of the largest Chaldean and Afghan communities in the country, with East County neighborhoods stretching from Rancho San Diego toward the mountains, and small businesses lining Main Street and Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon carries a texture built by generations of people starting over. Many clients here are leading families, congregations, or businesses shaped by displacement long before they ever set foot in this valley.
A community built by people who have already survived enormous upheaval tends to treat ongoing hypervigilance as simply normal, which makes it easy to overlook how much it still costs someone underneath. Many clients arrive after counseling that never made room for war, displacement, or cultural identity as real clinical context. As a bilingual, bicultural, neurodivergent clinician, I built this practice to meet that history directly rather than smoothing it over.

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 El Cajon often come to individual therapy carrying history that predates their current life entirely, shaped by displacement, service, or a body that processes the world differently. This work treats race, culture, sexuality, and neurodivergence as central rather than incidental. Clients tend to notice clearer thinking, steadier relationships, and a real sense of agency returning. Sessions are available virtually or in person throughout East County.
Trauma shaped by war, migration, or service often hides behind a life that looks stable and rebuilt from the outside, while a body underneath stays braced for the next disruption. These patterns can persist for years even as someone thrives on paper. Over time, clients tend to notice their nervous system settling and real safety returning. Sessions are offered virtually or in person, paced to what feels sustainable.
Hypervigilance and disrupted sleep are common among clients who have already survived enormous upheaval, often treated as simply part of who they are rather than a nervous system stuck in an old pattern. Relief tends to come gradually, with reactions softening and rest genuinely improving. Sessions prioritize pacing and safety, offered virtually or in person, never requiring exposure before someone is ready.
Men in El Cajon are often expected to rebuild and provide without ever naming what it costs them personally, and this work exists for the ones ready to actually feel steady instead of just surviving well. Sessions are offered virtually or in person for men across East County, honoring cultural context directly.
Cultural, religious, and generational expectations around intimacy can make disconnection or shame especially difficult to bring up here, even privately. This work creates room for those patterns to be named without judgment, so communication and closeness can genuinely grow. Sessions are offered virtually or in person, always respecting cultural context.
Carrying history shaped by displacement or service alongside daily family and business pressure can leave anger with nowhere healthy to go. This work builds real space between the trigger and the reaction, protecting relationships instead of straining them. Sessions are offered virtually or in person with real accountability.
Veterans in El Cajon, including many who served after arriving in this country, often carry both military discipline and displacement history that complicate any simple sense of home. This work supports moving from a highly structured environment into one you now define yourself, honoring both histories directly. Sessions are available virtually or in person.
Organizations, congregations, and community groups across El Cajon, including military connected and refugee serving organizations, reach out when their people are functioning but quietly struggling. This consulting and speaking work builds real clarity and psychological safety into culturally complex environments. Engagements are offered in person locally or virtually.

I serve clients in this location

I work with people throughout El Cajon and the greater East County, including La Mesa and Santee, offering both in person and virtual sessions grounded in the real cultural and historical 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 rebuilding lives in El Cajon. 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.