Therapist in La Jolla, CA | Trauma & PTSD
Publishing, leading a lab, or running a department comes with a particular kind of pressure that rarely looks like pressure from the outside. I work with people in this community 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 working through trauma, PTSD, or anxiety built up over years of academic and research intensity, and this is equally an affirming space for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and neurodivergent clients who want a clinician who sees the whole person behind the credentials.
Anchored by UC San Diego and the research institutions clustered along Torrey Pines Road, with the cliffs, the cove, and the village shops close behind, La Jolla holds an unusual concentration of scientific and academic leadership in a very small footprint. Clients here move between labs, hospitals, and lecture halls, often carrying institutional pressure that follows them home to streets that otherwise look entirely peaceful.
A community this dense with academic achievement tends to treat exhaustion as simply the cost of being taken seriously, which makes it easy to overlook how much that cost actually is. Many clients arrive after therapy that engaged their intellect without ever reaching their nervous system. As a bilingual, bicultural, neurodivergent clinician, I built this practice to work with the whole picture, not just the credentials attached to it, treating your drive as a skill to understand rather than a problem to manage.

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 La Jolla's academic and research community often arrive at individual therapy having achieved everything they set out to and still feeling quietly unsettled underneath it. This work treats race, sexuality, and neurodivergence as genuine context rather than details to smooth over. Clients tend to notice clearer thinking, steadier relationships, and a real sense of agency returning. Sessions are available virtually or in person near the coast.
A high achieving academic environment tends to bury trauma under a composed, credentialed exterior, where emotional shutdown or a constantly alert body can go unnoticed for years. These patterns often persist quietly even while a career looks entirely successful. Over time, clients tend to notice their nervous system settling and real safety returning. Sessions are offered virtually or in person, at a sustainable pace.
Hypervigilance and disrupted sleep often get reframed here as simply being a rigorous person, when they are actually a nervous system stuck in an old pattern. Relief tends to come gradually, with reactions softening and genuine rest becoming possible again. Sessions prioritize pacing and safety over speed, offered virtually or in person.
Men in demanding academic and research work here are often rewarded for the exact traits that are quietly wearing them down. This work exists for the ones ready to feel steady instead of simply appearing accomplished. Underneath the achievement is often exhaustion or a nagging sense that something does not add up. Sessions are offered virtually or in person for men across the community.
Years of intellectual and institutional pressure can quietly erode intimacy, leaving many clients carrying private shame about it while their career looks entirely fine. This work makes room for that shame to soften and for connection to feel real instead of another obligation. Sessions explore what stress and self protection have shaped, offered virtually or in person, without judgment.
Constant institutional pressure and high stakes deadlines can leave reactions running hotter than a moment actually warrants, usually 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 move into academic or research careers here often carry discipline that no longer has an obvious outlet, alongside identity questions a new title does not automatically resolve. This work supports the shift from a highly structured environment into one you now define yourself. Clients tend to find steadier footing and decisions that feel genuinely their own. Sessions are available virtually or in person.
Institutions and teams in La Jolla's academic and research community reach out when their people are performing on paper but struggling underneath. This consulting and speaking work builds real clarity and psychological safety into high pressure environments. People tend to leave steadier, with communication that holds up under scrutiny. Engagements are offered in person locally or virtually.

I serve clients in this location

I work with people throughout La Jolla and the surrounding coast, including Del Mar and central San Diego, offering both in person and virtual sessions built for demanding academic and research schedules. My approach stays grounded in real, sustainable change rather than intellectual insight alone.

“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 academic and research careers in La Jolla. 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.