Cassidy Mangio-Gonzales

Biography

Qualifications & Experience

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with an undergraduate degree from University of California, San Diego and a Master of Science from Loma Linda University Health.

My Call to Christian Counseling

Through my personal experience, I realized that healing often occurs when an individual has someone walking beside them, helping them see their own strength, and empowering them to move forward with purpose. I can see how powerful human connection can be in transforming pain into growth. That belief, combined with my passion for serving others, made therapy not just a career but a calling. This is where my skills, heart, faith in God, and sense of purpose align.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I enjoy going to the beach, taking mission trips, and participating in various community service events and activities.

Services and Specialities

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

• Abandonment and Neglect
• ADHD
• Aging and Geriatric Issues
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chemical Dependency
• Coaching
• Codependency
• Counseling for Children
• Counseling for Teens
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Grief and Loss
• Group Counseling
• Individual Counseling
• Infidelity and Affairs
• Marriage Counseling
• Men’s Issues
• OCD
• Online Counseling
• Personal Development
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Premarital Counseling
• Professional Development
• Psychiatric Care Services
• Psychological Testing
• Relationship Issues
• Sex and Porn Addiction
• Sexual Abuse
• Spiritual Development
• Trauma
• Weight Loss
• Women’s Issues

Relationship Issues

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I’m trained to understand relationship dynamics – even when working with you individually. I will help you reflect on patterns, identify what’s working and what’s not, and develop new tools for communication, emotional safety, and self-respect. Sometimes, healing a relationship means learning how to show up differently. Other times, it means learning to let go. You don’t have to navigate it alone. My approach is compassionate, practical, and focused on helping you build healthier relationships – with others and yourself.

Trauma

My work in high-intensity, crisis-driven environments has shaped my ability to support clients facing trauma with both compassion and stability. I’ve worked with individuals in some of their darkest moments—experiencing loss, abuse, violence, and emotional breakdowns—and I understand how trauma can disrupt your sense of safety, identity, and control.

Codependency

Through my years working in inpatient treatment settings, I’ve seen firsthand how addiction and codependency are deeply intertwined. Where there’s substance use, there’s often a parallel struggle with boundaries, identity, and enmeshment in relationships. My experience in this environment taught me to look beyond surface symptoms and into the relational patterns that keep people stuck.

Codependency isn’t just about “being too nice” or “putting others first”—it’s often a survival strategy rooted in trauma, fear of abandonment, or the belief that our worth is tied to caretaking or control. I help clients untangle these patterns with compassion and clarity. We work on building self-trust, setting healthy boundaries, and rediscovering who they are outside of someone else’s needs or chaos.

Sex and Porn Addiction

Working with individuals who have committed sexual offenses taught me how to hold space for difficult conversations with empathy, accountability, and structure. It gave me a deeper understanding of the complexity behind sexual behavior – how trauma, shame, secrecy, and unmet emotional needs can feed unhealthy patterns. If you or someone you love is struggling with sex or pornography addiction, help is available. Contact our office today.

Individual Counseling

Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, stress, trauma, relationship issues, or feeling disconnected from your purpose, I will meet you where you are. My approach is warm, grounded, and collaborative. I don’t just focus on problems – we focus on goals, growth, and healing. I help you gain insight, find new perspectives, and take actionable steps toward the life you want to create.

Payment and Forms

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

• Carlsbad – Thursday and Saturday
• Online Counseling – Thursday and Saturday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals and groups looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session, the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment, the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), most insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out-of-Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction may be added for credit card payments.