Our Team
Jessica Martin
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Hi, I am Jessica Martin, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 10 years of experience and growing. This includes work with a variety of life’s challenges including anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, family conflict, anger, and substance abuse as well as experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. I am EMDR and substance abuse trained with knowledge in a plethora of topics including abuse, domestic violence, and harm reduction strategies. I am a CalGETS provider and trained to support in overcoming gambling addiction. I also have experience in different treatment modalities; however, I tailor my treatment approach to the specific needs of my clients.
I view the therapeutic relationship as a collaborative endeavor to work through life challenges and believe that everyone has the ability to create inner peace and learn how to utilize their strengths to get them to the places where they want to be. You are brave and I commend you for your strength in taking the first step to seeking the support you need.
My personal philosophy is that difficult times present an opportunity to grow emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually, although it might not feel that way at the time. I am here to support, challenge, reflect, listen, and grow with you to help you to be the person that you always wanted to be.
Katherine Dickerson
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
I have experience working with adolescents, teens, and adults, as well as elderly clients with a wide range of concerns including: anxiety, depression, behavioral complaints, relationship issues, autism, self-esteem and acceptance, sexuality, trauma, PTSD, and Domestic Violence. My setting is a safe, inclusive, non- judgmental space to build a trusting and collaborative therapeutic relationship.
As you read my profile I want you to know that asking for help or support is not easy. You are brave in taking this first step.
My focus with clients is to build trust, rapport, and a comfortable relationship where you feel like you would like to talk about things that are difficult.
While I work with individuals, my training as an LMFT means we will look at how your upbringing, past environments, and current relationships could be impacting your mental health.
Together, we will use Internal Family Systems (IFS) / Attachment-Based Therapy, Solution-Focused, and Trauma-Based Therapy to unpack old survival strategies that no longer serve you, thus helping you ground yourself in who you want to be.
Tarina Kollars
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
My name is Tarina Kollars, LMFT, and I started out in the mental health field in 2009. I was a residence assistant at a transitional home for the homeless called Downtown Safe Haven. At the time I was working to become a math teacher; however, as I progressed in my education and the state of California changed to Common Core standards in the classroom, I realized the only thing I loved more than math was helping people with mental health concerns, particularly because they represent a group frequently misunderstood by others. Thus, after one year in a Master of Education program and having already received my bachelor’s in psychology, I decided to pursue my Master’s in clinical psychology. I graduated in 2016 and started my pre-licensed work with several different populations, including women and children who had recently fled domestic violence (DV), adults in crisis, the severely mentally ill (18-25 years old), and adults with drug and alcohol concerns. It was towards the end of gathering my three thousand plus hours that I realized I need to get more family and children hours to become licensed. I then started working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and depression. I not only enjoyed working with these families but realized it took me back to what I was looking for as a teacher: making a difference for children both through my work with them and by helping parents better understand and connect to their children.
A little about me: I have some fun interests, including baseball (go Padres!), the color orange, puzzles (I’m currently working on a 2,000 piece puzzle), turtles, true crime (I’m a Forensic Files junkie), comedy, and my kids (oops, I mean our dogs!): “Romeo” (because he’s a lover), “Otis” (he’s our old man), “Frankie” (who only likes me when I feed him), and “Mia,” our only girl. They are all foster fails and of course our current foster is “Bear,” who is as cute as a polar bear cub but as mean as a polar bear mom protecting her pups. I’m also born and raised in San Diego, so I’ll admit I would consider myself weather-spoiled.
Email us to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation now.