Therapist in Los Angeles, CA | Trauma & PTSD
Running a career, a household, or an entire production out of Los Angeles rarely leaves room to fall apart quietly, let alone ask for help. I offer virtual therapy for people across the city who are ready to stop white knuckling their way through pressure and start actually becoming a better version of themselves. Many clients, including veterans, men, and women, are carrying trauma, PTSD, anxiety, or anger that never gets acknowledged out loud, and this is equally an affirming space for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and neurodivergent clients who want a clinician who understands the weight of being watched, judged, or expected to perform.
From the studio lots stretching across Burbank and Culver City to the trading floors downtown, from the hospital systems near USC to the tech offices filling Playa Vista, Los Angeles asks its leaders to perform composure across an enormous, sprawling map. Clients drive in from Silver Lake, commute out of the Valley, or split time between Westside offices and Eastside homes, and the city rarely gives anyone a natural pause between one identity and the next.
A city this size and this image conscious tends to turn composure into a full time performance, and many clients have learned to treat their exhaustion as the price of admission. I have found that leaders here often arrive having tried therapy that stayed surface level, never getting past the resume to the actual nervous system underneath it. My own experience as a bilingual, bicultural, neurodivergent clinician shapes how I work: not managing your drive down, but finally understanding what built it and putting it to use on your 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 across Los Angeles come to individual therapy carrying pressure that has nowhere else to go, whether it comes from an industry that never stops watching, a title, or a body that simply processes the world differently. The work here is not about performing wellness for anyone else, it is about deconstructing the story you have been carrying and reconstructing one that is actually yours. Clients tend to notice sharper thinking, steadier relationships, and a growing sense that their life belongs to them again. Race, sexuality, and neurodivergence are treated as real context rather than side notes, and sessions are offered virtually for the convenience of a city this spread out.
Many clients in Los Angeles have been running on adrenaline for so long that stillness itself feels unsafe, a common result of trauma that never got named or addressed. Emotional shutdown, unpredictable reactions, and a nervous system stuck on alert often hide behind a composed, high functioning exterior in this city. Over time, the goal is a body that can finally register safety instead of constant threat, with clearer boundaries and steadier days following close behind. Virtual sessions make this accessible no matter which side of the city you call home.
Hypervigilance, disrupted sleep, and intrusive memories tend to get dismissed in a city built on appearances, treated as quirks instead of what they actually are. Clients carrying PTSD often normalize these symptoms for years before finally naming them. Progress here looks gradual and real: calmer nights, softer reactions, and a growing ability to stay in the present instead of getting pulled backward. Sessions move at your pace, never forcing exposure before you are ready, and are available virtually throughout greater Los Angeles.
Men across Los Angeles often learn early that composure is currency, and this work exists for the ones ready to stop spending themselves down to stay presentable. Underneath the performance is usually irritability, disconnection, or a nagging sense that something does not add up. What shifts is the ability to actually feel something without it threatening the whole structure, along with steadier relationships and clearer thinking. Sessions are offered virtually for men across the city who need flexibility around demanding schedules.
Disconnection and performance pressure in intimacy show up often in a city that rewards image over honesty, and many clients carry private shame about it while everything else looks fine from the outside. This work makes room for that shame to soften, for communication to actually improve, and for intimacy to feel like connection instead of another performance. Sessions explore the patterns underneath without judgment, offered virtually for clients throughout the Los Angeles area.
Traffic, deadlines, and a relentless pace leave many Los Angeles clients short fused in ways that surprise even them, reactions that are usually protecting something more vulnerable underneath. The work here builds real space between what triggers you and how you respond, along with communication that does not leave collateral damage in its wake. Clients tend to notice steadier relationships and less internal pressure carried home at the end of the day. Sessions are available virtually with real accountability built in.
Veterans building a second career in an industry town like Los Angeles often carry discipline that no longer has an obvious place to land, alongside identity questions that outlast the uniform. This work supports the shift out of a highly structured environment into one you now have to define entirely on your own terms. Clients tend to find a steadier nervous system and decisions that feel like choices rather than old reflexes. Sessions honor military culture directly and are available virtually anywhere in greater LA.
Organizations across Los Angeles, including military connected and veteran serving groups, reach out when performance looks fine on paper but the culture underneath is fraying. This consulting and speaking work builds psychological safety and clearer communication into teams carrying real operational pressure. People tend to walk away steadier and less reactive, with systems that support people instead of just output. Engagements are available through workshops, keynotes, or virtual consultation.

I serve clients in this location

I offer virtual therapy to people throughout Los Angeles, from the Westside to the Valley, from Downtown to the Eastside, built for a city where commute times alone can eat up half a day. My approach stays grounded and direct for veterans, men, women, and BIPOC, LGBTQ, and neurodivergent clients whose responsibility does not pause for traffic or a fifty minute hour.

“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 offer people across Los Angeles a virtual practice grounded in real understanding rather than performance. 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.