Lara Zappaterra, Ph.D.

Hello and welcome. My name is Lara Zappaterra and I am a licensed clinical psychologist in San Diego, California (lic # PSY31872). You are taking a courageous step by seeking support and it is natural to feel ambivalence. For over a decade, I have worked with adolescents, adults, and couples to overcome struggles and enhance their lives. I obtained my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at George Washington University, my M.A. in Clinical Psychology at Columbia University, and my B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy at the University of California, San Diego. Please take some time to explore my website and learn more about me and my approach to therapy.

I am in a continual process of discovery and rediscovery in my profession. My training has been in multiple modalities and settings, but I immerse myself most in a combination of emotionally-focused and attachment-based empirically-supported treatments. I tailor my approach to that which is most helpful to you. Together, we work to identify the core issues binding you. My passion is to help you breathe freely— experiencing relief, resilience, compassion, and greater emotional and cognitive flexibility. I would be honored to join you on your journey.

A California native, I straddled two worlds growing up as a first-generation American, living between California and Italy. Ultimately, this broadened my perspective to the multitudes that define us all. While it is understandable that in making sense of our world we seek to reduce the dimensionality of concepts, there exists no “right way,” no trite category that sufficiently captures the complexities of the human experience or one’s identity. Comfort with contradiction and accepting one’s multitudes has allowed me to explore human nature without being confined by its boundaries.

We all exist in relationships, whether those relationships are to other individuals, culture, values, identities, or our own experiences and ideals of our past, present, and future selves. Often, we learn strategies to keep ourselves safe as we navigate the world; however, these strategies may no longer serve their original purpose or may be employed in ways that block us from growing and fulfilling our authentic selves, potentials, and values.

It is in relationship that we adapted these strategies; it is through the therapeutic relationship that we heal.

To learn more information or to request a free 20 minute consultation, please contact me at (858) 245-6768 or at Lara@DrLaraZappaterra.com. I look forward to hearing from you.