Callista (they/them, she/her) is a white, queer, non-binary associate therapist. Callista is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (141253) with the state of California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences. They have two years of experience working with a broad range of people including those who are LGBTQIA+, disabled, blind and vision impaired, serious mental illness, bipolar, psychosis, ADHD, ASD, TBI, suicidal ideation, and chronic pain. Callista works with teens to older adults, individuals and relational dynamics, as well as groups.

Callista’s work is trauma-focused and clients will be assessed for trauma symptoms as trauma often impacts one’s sleep, focus, appetite, relationships, and mental health. Callista uses an eclectic approach to therapy by integrating Emotionally Focused Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical and Behavioral Therapy, and Narrative Therapy techniques.

More about me:

I began my work in therapy at Kickstart Program - Clarvida in San Diego County, building relationships with adolescents to young adults exhibiting signs of early psychosis. Through this work I provided short and long-term therapy navigating trauma, grief, life transitions, and the body’s reaction to stress. During that time I was providing psychoeducation to community members about psychosis symptoms and the disorders that often are diagnosed such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Major Depression, BPD, PTSD, and OCD. I traveled the county providing in-school, in-home, office, and telehealth sessions. While completing my degree, I worked part-time as a caregiver for older adults in the community. After two years working at Kickstart, I decided to pivot to working with older adults and disabled adults at San Diego Center for the Blind. There, I conducted group therapy and individual sessions for ages 18 to 105, in-home, office, and telehealth sessions for those who recently lost their vision, are vision impaired, or blind.

I received my MA in Marital and Family Therapy from University of San Diego and my BS in Psychology with a minor in Media Studies from University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Today I can be found spending time with my cats and working at The Relationship Institute. At The Relationship Institute, I work as a telehealth clinican serving the state of California and offering individual, relational, and group therapy.