Providers

TROY NICKELL, LMFT

Troy Nickell is President of PsyNamic and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Private Practice since 2014. He works with individuals and couples mindfully reach their goals and overcome any obstacles that may be in their way.

In his therapy sessions in Solana Beach, CA, Troy uses an Integrative approach with an emphasis in Mindfulness-Based, Cognitive-Behavioral, EMDR, and Psychodynamic techniques. He currently works with a broad spectrum of clients in his private practice. Among his areas of expertise are the treatment of anxieties (including trauma), stress reduction, addictions, self empowerment and self actualization, relationship and employment struggles, grief and loss, as well as spiritual dilemmas. To schedule a counseling or therapy session with him, contact us today!

Outside of his Therapy Practice, Troy utilizes mindfulness techniques to help businesses and other large groups overcome stress and operate more efficiently. Troy provides these services in a variety of settings, including working with small, medium, and large size businesses to provide employees the tools to function at a higher level, as well as working with community organizations and private coaching for individuals to overcome stress.

History: Troy has worked in a variety of settings, which included the treatment of the Severe Mentally Ill, Military Veterans, substance abuse and addicts, the chronically homeless, as well as adolescents with emotional distress.

Growing up in the Los Angeles area he later relocated to North County San Diego in 2008. Establishing a home here, he now enjoys the outdoors, including surfing, beach volleyball, and much more that this great city has to offer.

Troy received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and his Master’s of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology.

License: Marriage and Family Therapist, License No. 82993

(Previous) Executive Member of the Board of Directors San Diego North County chapter of CAMFT

Member of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist (CAMFT)

Extensively Trained in EMDR and Mindfulness-Based Techniques

JONATHAN STEIN, LMFT

I am a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT) in Solana Beach, CA and have been working in mental health and counseling in various clinical settings for over 18 years. I am trained in evidence-based models including CBT, strength-based solution focused, mindfulness-based and trauma informed therapy.

I specialize in working with mood disorders, relationship issues, anxiety. I believe that to embrace change is to embrace life. I also consult and support families and friends of those that have a loved one suffering mental illness and don’t know what to do.

History: Jon has extensive background of providing mental health services in a variety of settings including residential, inpatient, emergency mental health and outpatient clinics. Jon has worked with individuals suffering from substance abuse issues and severe mental illness. Jon has worked with clients of all ages
from elementary school aged to geriatric population. In his other role Jon works with Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT).

Originally form Colorado Jon has called San Diego home since 2003. He enjoys reading, movies, travel, making art, visiting museums and spending time outdoors.

Jon received his Bachelor’s in Psychology and Fine Art from University of Colorado, Boulder and Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family Clinical Therapy.

License: Marriage and Family Therapist, License No. 98774
Member of American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
(Previous) Executive Member of the Board of Directors San Diego North County chapter of California
Association of Marriage and Family Therapist (CAMFT)

CHRISTIE MONTGOMERY, LCSW

Christie Montgomery is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who utilizes an adaptive approach to help clients experience their full potential. She believe that the time you give to therapy is valuable and Her job is to honor that by helping you achieve the goals of your choosing. With that belief in mind, she utilize a connection-centered approach to help clients to alter their perspectives, behaviors and mindset to achieve a more centered and empowered life experience. She uses an integrative approach to help her clients including CBT, DBT, psychodynamic theory, trauma informed therapy and mindfulness practices.

Christie has worked extensively with clients who experienced trauma and attachment injuries. As well as clients experiencing extreme feelings of suicidality and even psychosis. She specializes in relationships issues, low-self-esteem, depression/anxiety and clients who have experienced trauma and are now attempting to change patterns of behaviors in their lives.

Originally from New Mexico, Christie completed her Bachelors of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico and her Masters of Social Work at Yeshiva University in New York City. Christie provides therapy for individuals/couples and has a passion for working with groups.

Outside of professional endeavors, Christie enjoys being a Mom, traveling and theater.

License: Licensed Clinical Social Worker License No. 104256

Nila Anderson, LMFT

Nila Anderson specializes in helping clients overcome anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and relational distress. Nila is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California and in Colorado. Nila has a masters degree in Counseling Psychology from NU and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SDSU. Nila has 13 years of clinical experience in outpatient mental health therapy and in crisis intervention services. Nila interweaves experiential, attachment, emotion focused, and mindfulness practices. She provides trauma informed care and is trained in evidenced based modalities such as Accelerated, Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Attachment Core Pattern Therapy (ACPT).

Nila views her role of a therapist as an “emotion coach.” She is there to walk beside you, guide you, and support you as you experience the fullness and complexity of your emotions. It isn’t always easy, sometimes there is pain, but along the way there is a beautiful, new way of life. Nila’s approach to therapy is relational, full of warmth. and unconditional support. Nila’s clients often express a deep sense of safety and trust in their relationship, which helps them navigate life’s challenges and find healing.

Nila gently helps clients confront their deepest feelings, face what in life isn’t working, adopt a plan for, and endure the discomfort of change. She helps clients explore their past, undo long standing adaptations, discard habits so entrenched that they may have become part of their identity, clear a path to change, and make a way back to their authentic self.

When working with couples, Nila takes a historical and attachment approach to help them discover how their childhood experiences influence how they currently relate as a spouse and as a parent. Nila believes each spouse‘s childhood history is important to explore because it shapes the way they currently view relationships. By looking through the lens of attachment, Nila can help couples discover and heal the roots of repetitive fightsor frustrating attachment core patterns.

Nila’s education, training, and years of experience as a licensed clinician in outpatient mental health and crisis intervention services have given her the means needed to bring clients hope, healing, relief, and transformation.

Eunice Lee, AMFT

Eunice Lee is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor with a background in mental health care for adults in various outpatient hospital clinics and young adults in an academic setting. She has had experience in areas such as crisis, anxiety and depression, trauma, and intimate partner violence.

Taking a person-centered and solutions-focused approach, Eunice will prioritize your goals and values (whether cultural, religious/spiritual, political, etc.) during your time in therapy, while helping you make the necessary changes you feel are best for you to experience a thriving life.

Eunice received her Bachelor of Arts in at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology.

Melanie Scott, AMFT

Melanie is a registered Associate Marriage & Family Therapist with the Board of Behavioral Sciences in the State of California. She graduated from Pepperdine University with a Master’s Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy.

Melanie provides her clients with an opportunity to be seen, heard, and celebrated for who they are, while partnering with them as they lean into all that they wish to become next. Her intuitive approach goes beyond the head, opening pathways for clients to dive into unknown parts of themselves — for a deeper sense of alignment and aliveness. Her directive, no-nonsense style of therapy sheds light on patterns & conditioning which are outdated so that freer ways of being can emerge, at last.

She draws upon Gestalt, solution-focused & psychodynamic approaches to help her clients tackle their most challenging issues. Melanie enjoys working with adults, teens, couples & families and has extensive experience helping clients through relationship challenges while encouraging the development of healthy communication skills & deeper intimacy.

In addition to being a therapist, Melanie has worked as a mental health coach for the past 8 years. As a coach, she provides life, career, and relationship mentorship to hard-working clients who want to up-level their lives in meaningful ways. Melanie also spent 14 years in a prior career counseling clients on a variety of legal matters as a litigation attorney and trained extensively in mediation and conflict resolution techniques.

Samuel Guntner, LMFT

Sam believes in the ideas of genuineness, empathetic understanding, and unconditional positive regard for my clients. His goal is to demonstrate acceptance for my clients from a holistic perspective that includes every aspect of who they are. Understanding all of the facets and intersecting identities that make up a person, allows him to support them at his best. He also wishes to provide his clients with useful tools that can help people to be their best selves both within a relationship and individually.

He offers a warm and kind presence that allows his clients to speak without judgment. His approach is also highly focused on the underlying feelings that inform how we navigate life. Utilizing a balance between compassion and direct communication, his aim to create an atmosphere that is kind and comforting while respecting the needs for honesty and respect for the work we do.

He utilizes a person-centered approach with cognitive-behavioral and Gestalt techniques. One of his specialties is working with men’s mental health issues, however he has extensive experience supporting women and individuals with diverse gender identities as well. He also specializes in working with grief, anxiety, self-esteem and using mindfulness to navigate our emotional responses. Sam works with couples utilizing the Gottman Method of couples’ therapy. With couples he specialize in communication building, restoring trust, and premarital counseling.

Lynn Finnell, LMFT

Lynn is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with nearly 20 years of experience helping individuals, couples, and families struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, anger and/or relationship challenges.

Lynn enjoys working with adults, couples, adolescents and families. Her treatment approach is client-centered, with emphasis in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Family Systems, Mindfulness Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy. Lynn also has an emphasis on Trauma Focused Treatment.

Lynn utilizes a non-judgmental approach, where a safe place is created and a Client is fully heard before helpful solutions are explored, processed and integrated.

Along with working in private practice, Lynn has extensive experience addiction and facilities-based treatment. She is certified in addiction treatment, and has also taught psychology and addiction classes to graduate students at Brandman University, which kept her current and up to date with changes and cutting-edge treatment in the field.