Tara McGrath (She/Her)

I am collaborative with my clients - I know a lot, but so do you. Building self-compassion is a cornerstone of my work with clients. We are all so hard on ourselves. I am a secular-identified therapist, but we might do plenty of discussing how religious practices may have impacted you or caused you harm and distress . I hold a psychology undergraduate degree from UC San Diego. My master’s degree (SDSU, Jan 2005) and professional license are in marriage and family therapy, so even though I don’t work with couples, my work with individuals often focuses on relationships with important others. I have a broad spectrum of experience including bereavement counseling, transgender mental health evaluations, intensive outpatient program, DBT skills teaching, and counseling military active duty and spouses.

I’m a member of the LGBTQ+ community and have been with my wife for over eight years. I’m an “exvangelical” atheist-leaning agnostic. I work to acknowledge my social privileges and I recognize the power structures that enable those privileges. I live and work on stolen Kumeyaay land. I love to learn, and I strive to maintain an attitude of curiosity. One of my favorite quotes: “ The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” (Socrates) I believe self compassion is the key to progressing through many of our challenges. I also believe that safe and genuine human connection can be healing. I value integrity and authenticity. While you won’t get to know everything about me, you’ll get a sense of who I am. However, the boundaries I keep are just as important. Talk therapy involves an intentionally lopsided relationship, since it’s my job to take care of you and not the other way around.