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Catherine Galindo

Licensed Clinical Social Worker #LCSW - 127393
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Catherine Galindo, LCSW, PPSC

Licensed Clinical Social Worker #LCSW - 127393
(424) 438-2888

With more than 10 years of experience, I am passionate about helping people create meaningful change in their lives through genuine relationships, practical guidance, and faith-informed support. My work has included serving culturally diverse communities, including young adult and adult individuals, families and children, first responders and their families, and active-duty and veterans and their families. Clients often appreciate my honest and approachable style, as well as the wisdom, insight, and humor I bring into the counseling process. Together we will identify practical steps that support your goals, build on the progress made between sessions, and create lasting growth as you pursue the healthiest version of yourself, with God’s help and direction.

Carlsbad - Tue, Wed, Thu & FriOnline Counseling - Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri

About

God is the ultimate counselor. And when God changes our hearts, it leads to transformation in our lives. Just like in our relationship with the Lord, change comes with intention. Scripture says “seek and you will find” (Matthew 7:7–8) and look for God like hidden treasure (Proverbs 2:4–5). Just showing up to therapy can bring about positive, meaningful change in your life. By offering faith-based counseling for children, teens, adults, and families, my aim is to guide you toward both internal and external transformation in each aspect of your life—emotionally, mentally, spiritually, physically, and relationally.

My Goal as a Christian Counselor

I aim to create a space where you can feel comfortable being real and wrestling with what God has given you to lead you through this world. My hope is that through our work together, you will grow in your knowledge of God, deepen your understanding of yourself, and discover that surrender is freedom. Through proven therapeutic tools, we will work to identify your symptoms and concerns, then develop a customized treatment plan to effect the changes you desire.

What I Offer in Christian Counseling

I take a very practical, solution-focused approach in my work as a counselor. Using evidence-based methods through a faith-based lens, I’m confident that with God’s direction, we can come up with real-life ways to generate positive change in your life. God’s promises are sure. The Bible says when we seek Him we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). It is my honor to facilitate the healing, growth, and freedom found in Christ by helping to illuminate for you what God has shared with us in His Word.

My Approach to Christian Counseling

Counseling is a beautiful reflection of the invitation that we receive from Christ to be in relationship with Him. Just as He invites us to come as we are, as a Christian counselor, I invite you to come to therapy as you are. I offer a space where you can be honest about everything. As you feel comfortable, you can share whatever stress you carry, then we will organize and prioritize to help you achieve your desired goals.

Biography

Qualifications & Experience

I have a Master of Social Work from University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from University of California, Davis.

I have certifications in several areas, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and parenting support and education. I also completed intensive training in identifying, caring for, and resourcing individuals experiencing domestic violence. In addition, I have completed training in play therapy methods, CBT for differing presenting stressors like anxiety, depression, and trauma, post-traumatic stress methods, suicide prevention, and attention and hyperactivity neurodivergence.

Positions that I have held before and while working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker have been valuable roles in helping me become a more insightful and empathic clinician. Those positions included practically supporting people through life’s stresses, teaching, and managing programs that provided supportive services.

My Call to Christian Counseling

While serving as a missionary in Ireland after college, I had the opportunity to change the course of my future. I wanted to step into a role that allowed me to use the spiritual gifts God had been developing in me throughout my life, of wisdom, discernment, and hospitality. Social work and counseling have been God’s way of using those gifts practically in service of others for His kingdom. I find great joy in counseling, which I have always felt is an affirmation of where God wants me to use my talents to reflect His love and the freedom found in Christ.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

The Bible is clear that God cares deeply about our joy and our rest. I’m always trying in every season to practice and develop those rhythms in my own life and for my clients. If I am not in my office, you will find me doing some sort of activity out in the sun. I enjoy being with my family and thinking about and eating food. I enjoy being creative, which includes making all genres of music my personal soundtrack throughout my day. When I am able to stop myself from buying so much coffee, I collect enough money to put new stamps in my passport.

Services and Specialities

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

  • Attention and Hyperactivity Neurodivergence (including ADHD)
  • Anger Management
  • Anxiety
  • Counseling for Active-duty, Veterans, and First Responders
  • Counseling for Children
  • Counseling for Teens
  • Depression
  • Family Counseling
  • Individual Counseling
  • Online Counseling
  • Parenting Education and Support
  • Personal Development
  • Relationship Issues
  • Spiritual Development
  • Trauma

Attention and Hyperactivity Neurodivergence (including ADHD)

Managing neurodiversity starts with a deeper understanding of yourself. I will start by working with you to explore how neurodiversity impacts life for you, then we will work together to either adjust or learn new skills to increase focus and task. Counseling ADHD takes a different approach, which means I will adopt a more coaching-style feel, including check-in, accountability, and solution-focused work.

Depression

One of the biggest parts of managing depression is figuring out how it shows up in your life. We will work together to historically look at your symptoms and how they currently present. With a faith-based lens, we will then work to find ways to reduce the areas that are causing the most intense symptoms, asking God to lead you out of the darkness and into His glorious light.

Trauma

Several therapeutic methods have proven to help reduce the “un-fun” parts of trauma, including regulation and processing. I will work with you increase your skills in regulating the physical symptoms of trauma, then we will work together to make sense of the things that happened to you, leaning on God’s kindness and guidance along the way.

Anxiety

Anxiety is counterintuitive when learning to manage the physical symptoms that come from it. We will work together to explore the sources of your anxiety, then make changes to the way you mentally approach those things and how to reduce the worry altogether. Using a combination of biblical teaching and evidence-based practices, we will seek ways to cast your cares on the Lord.

Counseling for Children / Parenting Support

Children are generally very forthright and direct. I offer parenting support to help you address challenging behaviors. Together we will explore what concerns are coming up for your or your child, then discuss how to adjust accordingly, using principles from Scripture combined with proven therapeutic techniques. We’ll continue to follow up with skills for both you and your child to implement in order to change behaviors in a positive way as you look to the Lord for enabling and direction.

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 – Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
  • Online Counseling – Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals 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 Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), some 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 children, adolescents, and adult 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.

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