BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
The North County LGBTQ Resource Center provides clinical service intakes and referrals at low or no cost. Therapy intake sessions are provided by several trainees and associates. Our associates are pre and post graduate directly supervised by Dr. Nicole Kent. We provide consultations every day, Monday to Friday, by appointment only. Your session fee is based on a sliding scale approach. Sliding scale is anything between $25 to $65 per session.
To be referred to a specialist to receive psychotherapy services from North County LGBTQ Resource Center, please complete the confidential form linked below.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM
Dr. Nicole Kent (she/hers) is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice, specializing in trauma. She ran the Our Circle youth group for 20 years, providing social support for LGBTQIA+ youth, ages 14-18. Nicole is providing clinical supervision for the Center’s therapy interns, who are providing much needed support for our community. Nicole lives in Oceanside with her wife, two children, and lots of pets.
Although Stephen grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, he considers Southern California his home. Prior to his recent graduation from Alliant International University’s Marriage and Family Therapy program, Stephen spent a year at USC’s School of Social Work. Both at Alliant and USC, Stephen focused research on the specific needs of LGBTQIA+ populations, particularly adolescents and young adults confronting the destructive effects of minority stress.
In addition to providing counseling to the LGBTQIA+ community, Stephen also serves as a court appointed special advocate (CASA), assisting youth in foster care through advocacy and mentorship.
While Stephen identifies as a cisgender gay man, he is passionate about working with all gender, sexual, romantic, and intersectional minority populations, as well as those currently questioning their own identities and social locations. Stephen provides services to individuals, families and couples, including those engaged in open, polyamorous, and other consensual non-monogamous relationship styles.
Jodi grew up on a small farm in Texas and received her degree in psychology from the
University of North Texas in 1998. Her experience as a small business owner, mindfulness instructor, and parent of two inspired her current beliefs and piqued her interest to begin graduate school in marriage and family therapy in 2018. Jodi currently lives in Carlsbad and enjoys spending time with her two teenagers, dog, and cat; she also enjoys cooking, gardening, and watching a good sitcom.
Jodi is passionate about working with LGBTQIA clients and offering affirming and inclusive therapy. Her perspective is strengths-based, and she believes in the importance of deconstructing beliefs based on larger systems of power and decentering cisheteronormativity to support clients in their authentic gender and sexual expression and in living meaningful and fulfilling lives.
You are the foremost expert on your own life, and my role as your therapist is to assist you in uncovering the deep self-knowledge that already resides within you. Together, we'll challenge and reframe the outdated stories that have shaped your past, transforming them into empowering narratives that resonate with your true self. In our sessions, we'll focus on highlighting your strengths, skills, and positive experiences to foster resilience and a stronger sense of self-worth.
My approach as a therapist is deeply informed by narrative theory, viewed through a feminist, anti-capitalist, fat/body-positive, and LGBTQ-affirmative perspective. As a trans and non-binary individual, I understand firsthand how narrative therapy can support queer people in finding and connecting with affirming communities, which is crucial for LGBTQIA+ individuals. My goal is to guide you toward becoming the person you aspire to be, so you can embrace a life filled with happiness, fulfillment, and joy.
A little bit about me:
* I’m trans and non-binary
* Receiving my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy
* Fat/body-positive
* Non-monogamous affirming
* Anti-capitalist
* Interested in psychodynamic and internal family systems approaches
Jules was born and raised in San Diego and has lived in various places since graduating from UC Santa Barbara in 2020 with a BS in Psychological and Brain Sciences. They have lived on the central coast, in Southern Germany, and are now in San Diego living with their two pugs. She brings an expanded worldview and a desire to learn into her work. Jules has clinical and life experience with severe mental illness, substance use disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, minority stress, and trauma-informed care.
Jules is a member of the LGBT community and is passionate about providing culturally competent care to all clients. They use a strengths-based, humanistic approach. Jules explores life narratives, validates and empowers client identities, and supports client autonomy and growth.
Rebecca is a native of San Diego. She graduated from San Diego State University with her bachelor's in psychology and is currently enrolled in the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program at National University, working towards her master's degree as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Rebecca is a trainee and will graduate in 2024. Her interests include personalized card making, photography, puzzles, and spending time with her wife and children.
Rebecca is part of the LGBTQ community, and as such, she has been an advocate for acceptance, inclusion, empowerment, and affirmation and leads with a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) outlook as a positive way to think, believe, and react to life’s challenges. Rebecca supports autonomy, sexual expression, gender expression, and individuality as a foundation for life and growth and should be accessible to all.
Alissa grew up in Encinitas but moved to Hawaii after high school in pursuit of greater diversity, cultural experience, and connection to nature. There, she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Hawaii at Hilo (2000), opened a surf shop, and started a family. In 2013, Alissa returned to Carlsbad where she now resides with her three teenagers, one of whom is transgender, and three cats.
A compassionate professional, cancer survivor, and proud ally, Alissa collaborates with clients to co-create empowering and affirming narratives that honor their diverse identities and experiences. She is committed to providing informed, culturally sensitive care to LGBTQ individuals, fostering self-acceptance, and creating a more inclusive and supportive society.
Alissa is a graduate student at National University pursuing a Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor licensure. She genuinely loves to study psychology and work with people. She also enjoys hiking, yoga, painting, and all things Aloha.
Simone is an East Coast transplant, loving her new life in North County. She is a private practice owner, specializing in anxiety and trauma. Simone has been in the behavioral health field for over 30 years working in many different types of treatment facilities, with diverse cultures, and diagnoses.
Simone began specializing in working with the LGBTQIA+ population after attending the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference in 2017. She has extended training in this specialization and cofounded the Rainbow Group at Jefferson Hospital in Cherry Hill, NJ.
Simone’s mission is to help her clients discover and harness their innate, universal strength and to support them in their journey of healing, growth and empowerment.
Simone volunteers her time with Free Mom Hugs, and at the NCLGBT Resource Center.
Leti is a Local Osider, born & raised in the Eastside community of Oceanside. Born to Immigrant parents from Mexico, who came here for a better life. Since an early age she decided to never take for granted, her parents sacrifice. She earned an Associates degree in Business & Bachelor’s degree in Criminal justice Administration; And in 2015 was inducted into her Elementary school Hall of Fame for her entrepreneurial efforts.
After many roles in the community, she Decided to take a leap of faith and focus fully on her Community Organization/Small business NVRSTP, better known as Neverstop. She is the founder and host of NVRSTP Shining’s BeYOUtiful Project, a Local Women Empowerment movement; As well as the wife to her middle school sweetheart and a parent to four Kiddos, the oldest whom is Transgender. Fun Fact: Leti was titled Little Miss Oceanside at the age of five.
Her love and passion for her community (especially the lgbtq family) is what keeps her motivated and moving forward. She is thrilled about this new direction and growth opportunity.
Becky grew up on the east coast between Maine and Florida and moved to Los Angeles in 2016 for new and bigger opportunities of growth in social change and finding new purpose in life. She then moved closer to San Diego and found passion for women and gender studies at Cal State San Marcos where she completed her bachelors in 2023. Becky is now attending Alliant International University’s online program with the expectation of graduating in 2025.
Becky has long worked with social work, neurodiversity and children and has moved that work into her professional life with hopes to pursue further work in the LGBTQIA+ community and rights as well as women’s rights. With passion for the LGBTQIA+ community and focusing on strengths based work, informed care, and affirming clients she is committed to providing safe and supportive care for clients.