Lynda Lennox, MFT

I have long been fascinated by the influences of family culture and society on how a person experiences the world, and how the individual’s world of personality, perceptions and experiences creates another layer of who we each are. This is what lead me to blend psychology with cultural anthropology for my undergraduate degree at UC Santa Barbara.

That fascination also has taken me into a wide range of my own interests that include travel, dog walking, reading, and creative writing. I cherish good friendships and family, along with good food, lively conversation, and great story telling – which gives me the strong belief in laughter and love as healing forces.

Teaching parenting (and, similarly, supervising interns) lends a teacherly aspect to my personality as a therapist, and a person – I relish introducing clients to new concepts and perspectives, and watching your growthful learning.

My own experiences of raising a strong willed child gives me much empathy for parents. Being part of a blended family and adjusting to some major life changes myself grounds my clinical training in the real world.

Understanding the difficulties of families dealing with addiction, mental illness and loss brings to your sessions the advantage of someone who has seen first hand how stressful and out of control these challenges can feel. I know that thriving and surviving are possible with some faith in yourself and a supportive environment in which to process feelings and explore new possibilities. I can offer you that.

Perhaps it is the combination of my fascinations, experiences, interests, training, and life roles that have provided me with the desire to extend warmth and compassion, and to use humor to support and gently challenge you in working through your difficulties. I offer you a place and a process in which to feel safe and have a beneficial experience with therapy.

Amy Chirichetti, LCSW

I know what you’re experiencing because I’ve been there. For the last decade I’ve moved three times because of my husband’s reassignments. I’ve met many women, heard and shared many stories of this unique culture of the military. Like you, I felt at times like there was no one out there who will listen and be able to understand.

But I knew that change can be a good and exciting thing, and that we sometimes fear or stress about it more than we need to. I found healthy ways to deal with the stress of deployments, being the single parent due to deployments, having a career and handling the homefront – and I can help you do the same.

I hold a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s in social work from Tulane. Because I specialize in working with young adults in life transitions, I especially enjoy working with military families and your adjustments with the military culture. I work well with crisis situations, and have more than 10 years of experience working with individuals who are diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders.

Whether you need counseling yourself, or are concerned about your child or teen, I have the skills, training, and a special interest in working with you.

Kirsten Petersen, MA, MFT

I believe that therapy is a safe place where you are able to focus on yourself – to make sense of your stressors, to figure out how to adapt to them, and to take steps to enhance your emotional well-being and to reach your goals.

Since obtaining a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, I have worked with individuals of all ages, as well as couples and families in times of stress. I have worked in various settings, including non-profit agencies, counseling centers, and schools. Throughout the years, my work has been focused on interpersonal relationships, life transitions, grief and loss, depression, self-esteem, anxiety, substance use, and decision-making.

In addition to working with adults, I have extensive experience in play and talk therapy with children and adolescents. I believe that children also need a place of their own in which they can explore their struggles, family and peer relationships, traumatic experiences, school stress, and behavioral issues. I have been consistently inspired by the children and teenagers with whom I have had the privilege to work.

I am committed to providing a confidential and respectful therapeutic environment. I pride myself on being personable, empathetic, non-judgmental, and reliable. I hope that you will feel free to contact me to see if we will be a good match in working with each other.

Jenny Palmiotto, LMFT

My mom tells me that I've want to be a therapist since I was 4 years old. I’m not sure I even knew what a therapist was back then. Since then, I had a few wonderful therapists in my life and I did in fact become a therapist. My job can be so gratifying. The resiliency of people always surprises me.

I received my undergraduate degree from UCSB in Psychology and Religious Studies. Like most, I had a blast there. I even learned a few things including that I really wanted to pursue a career in therapy. After college, I started working with families with special needs and relationship issues. I became certified in Relationship Development Intervention. Subsequently, I received my masters in Marital and Family Therapy from USD.

As a licensed therapist, I enjoy treating individuals and couples that are struggling to enjoy life. San Diego can be a wonderful place to live, so much to do and see. But sometimes we are in a stage of our lives that makes it difficult to enjoy our jobs, loved ones, and ourselves. I can help you get out of that slump and into a new phase of your life.

For more information call Beach Psychotherapy (877) 293-8123

Beach Psychotherapy accepts Blue Shield and Tricare in network and most ppo's out of network.