Meet the Estes Therapy team
San Diego Marriage Counselors & Individual Therapists
Take a look around and find the right therapist for you. Think of us as your relationship consultants. We are your neutral third party that can help you untangle the emotions and figure out what’s really going on.
You Are Not In It Alone
At Estes Therapy, we understand that each client walks into our office with a different experience and background, and the same is true of our therapist team. We’re not a “one size fits all” practice. We tailor our counseling sessions toward your specific needs and therapeutic goals. Our Marriage and Family Therapists are all excellent at what they do, and finding a good personality match between you and your counselor is the best way to help you achieve permanent, positive change.
We want everyone who walks in our door to get the tools they need, long-term. For both individuals and couples, our psychotherapy sessions are relaxed, collaborative, and effective. We want to hear your story. Therapy with a member of the Estes Therapy team is compassionate and down-to-earth, offering both empathy and lasting results. We’re not here to put a band-aid on the issues. We’re here to get to the root of the issue in order to facilitate lasting change and success in your goals.
Today, we are a group practice with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Associate Marriage and Family Therapists, Associate Professional Clinical Counselors, and a whole team of behind-the-scenes administrative staff! We are so ecstatic to have such a diverse team of amazing therapists, but the journey for Estes Therapy all started with owner and founder, Jennine Estes Powell!
Meet Our Therapists
All Therapists are Available via Telehealth to Clients Anywhere in California
Mission Valley Team
Kate Nicholson
Associate MFT
Danielle Pawling
Associate MFT
Lauryn Plush
Licensed PCC
Jessica Hattersley
Associate MFT
Joe Salvati
Licensed CSW, Supervisor
Aly Allen
Associate MFT
Kavon Banejad
Associate MFT
Cynthia Savage
Associate MFT
Jennine Estes Powell
Owner, MFT, Supervisor
Liz Barajas
Associate MFT
Sarah O’Leary
Licensed MFT, Supervisor
Oceanside Team
Danielle Pawling
Associate MFT
Aly Allen
Associate MFT
Cynthia Savage
Associate MFT
Jennine Estes Powell
Owner, MFT, Supervisor
Administrative Team
Joe Salvati
Licensed CSW, Supervisor
Jennine Estes Powell
Owner, MFT, Supervisor
Sarah O’Leary
Licensed MFT, Supervisor
Kianna Rodriguez-Garcia
Clinical Administrator
How It All Began
As a teen, I found myself reaching out to others and helping my friends navigate through difficult times in their lives. Connecting with people was very natural for me and I enjoyed understanding how people interact and behave. I knew from an early age that counseling was the direction I wanted to take my career in.
In 1997, I began my education in psychology at Point Loma Nazarene University with a major in general psychology and a minor in Spanish. Two years into my bachelor’s degree, I decided to go on an adventure and live in Spain for a semester to solidify my Spanish. I went to school full-time at Bilbao University and also interned at a center called “Tximeleta” (meaning butterfly in the Basque language).
I was completely out of my element — I was traveling alone, living in an unfamiliar culture, and trying to establish myself without family and friends. I ended up learning so much while I was in Spain, both personally and professionally. It was an incredible experience whose lessons — developing relationships in a challenging environment, keeping a strong sense of self and growing personal confidence — I still draw on today and try to teach to my clients.
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a short-term, research based counseling working with couples. The therapy approach has successfully proven to have long-term lasting results for couples. The EFT focuses on creating a secure relationship by helping couples learn how to stop old communication patterns, decrease their reactivity (either quickly snapping or shutting down), and create an emotionally safe relationship. We quickly and effectively find the cause of the problem and heal it, rather than simply patching things over with Band-Aids.
Our experienced team can help you find the perfect customized match for your relationship needs.
EFT helps couples to be more emotionally responsive, available, and accessible to one another through communicating and less reactivity. Emotionally Focused Therapy also focuses on repairing the relationship and healing old wounds. Each therapist has proficient experience as well as a strong educational foundation, but you will have the ability to choose which counselor best suits your needs. Our goal is to accelerate your personal and relationship growth through the use of Emotion Focused Therapy for couples. Other therapies we use for helping couples reach their goals include Gottman Method Couples Therapy and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) for couples. You can check out our awesome team of therapists here!
Find a Therapist You Connect With
We believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is built on trust and understanding. We know that for many clients, feeling truly seen and heard means connecting with a therapist who shares a similar background, language, or lived experience. Our diverse team is here to support you.
Find the right therapist for your unique journey:
Schedule an Appointment
If you have any questions or want to get in touch to discuss a booking please click the buttons below or give us a call (619) 558-0001 for Mission Valley services and (760) 575-4059 for Oceanside services.