Octave
Joanna Garay avatar
LPCCshe/her

Joanna Garay

VirtualIn-PersonHigh Satisfaction Rate

2 years of experience

Verified by Octave

Licensed

In California

In-Network

Accepting 7 Insurance providers

Meet Joanna

If you’re struggling with attachment issues, life transitions, trauma, racial stress, addiction, anxiety, or depression, you don’t have to face it alone. If you’re feeling misunderstood, isolated, or like a burden to those around you, I am here to hold space for you. Sometimes life feels dark, stagnant, or far from what we expected, and simple reassurance isn’t enough. I can help you process emotions, gain new perspectives, and develop tools to help life feel meaningful again. Healing takes time, space, and support. I offer services in both Spanish and English.

If you’re feeling misunderstood, isolated, or like a burden to those around you, I am here to hold space for you.

Communication Style

  • Authentic
  • Direct
  • Empowering
  • Engaging
  • Warm

Specialties & Approaches

Specialties

  • Anxiety
  • Burnout
  • Cultural Issues/Racial Stress
  • Depression
  • Family Conflict (1 adult in session)
  • Grief
  • Individual Therapy
  • Life Transitions

Focus Areas

  • BIPOC
  • Geriatric clients
  • Parents
  • Veterans
  • First responders
  • Immigrants
  • Students

Approach

Licensed In

Locations

Virtual appointments available for California residents

1901 fourth Ave
Suite B100, San Diego, California 92101

Good to know

Session Details

Practices in

Languages

Additional

Interests

I enjoy traveling, spending time with my dogs, and finding cute coffee shops.

Credentials & Verification

Verified by Octave

License number

#18265 • California • LPCC

Education

MS - Rehabilitation Counseling, San Diego State University

Joanna Garay, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor License #18265 (exp December 2026)

Calculate Cost & Insurance

$28

/ session on average with insurance

What insurance do you have?

Frequently asked questions

Joanna Garay accepts Blue Shield of California, Anthem Blue Cross of CA, Out-of-State BlueCard PPO, Prime Health, Health Net, Cigna Healthcare/Evernorth, and Centivo. Octave clients pay an average of $28 per session through insurance, and more than 95% pay less than $45 per session. Your exact cost depends on your plan’s copay or deductible. You can use the cost estimator to see what you would pay before your first session. If you would rather pay out of pocket, self-pay sessions in California are estimated at $205-250 per session.

Joanna Garay is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). Joanna is licensed to practice in California, so clients located in California can book sessions. Joanna’s California license number is 18265, and you can look it up through the state licensing board. Octave verifies every therapist’s license before they begin seeing clients, and licenses are kept current as a condition of practicing with Octave.

Joanna Garay has been practicing therapy for 2 years. Joanna’s education and training include MS - Rehabilitation Counseling, San Diego State University. Over that time, Joanna has worked closely with BIPOC, Geriatric clients, Parents, Veterans, First responders, Immigrants, and Students.

Joanna Garay works with BIPOC, Geriatric clients, Parents, Veterans, First responders, Immigrants, and Students and specializes in Anxiety, Burnout, Cultural Issues/Racial Stress, Depression, Family Conflict, Grief, Life Transitions, Men's Issues, Relationship Concerns, Stress, and Workplace Stress. These are the areas where Joanna spends most of their clinical time. If the concern you want help with isn’t listed here, a Care Navigator can tell you whether Joanna is a good fit or match you with another Octave therapist who specializes in it.

Joanna Garay draws on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Harm Reduction, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic, Solution-Focused, and Strengths-Based. In sessions, Joanna’s style is authentic, direct, empowering, engaging, and warm. In Joanna’s words: “If you’re feeling misunderstood, isolated, or like a burden to those around you, I am here to hold space for you.”

Joanna Garay (she/her) offers therapy in English and Spanish. Joanna identifies as Hispanic/Latinx.

Joanna Garay offers online sessions over secure video as well as in-person sessions at 1901 fourth Ave in San Diego. Joanna is licensed in California, and you need to be located in that state at the time of each session. All you need is a device with a camera and a stable internet connection.

Your first session with Joanna Garay is a chance to talk through what brought you to therapy and what you want to work on. Joanna will ask about your background, your current concerns, and your goals, and together you will start shaping a plan for your sessions. It is also a chance to see whether Joanna’s style feels like a good fit for you. After their first session, 9 in 10 Octave clients say their therapy experience has been good or better.

Learn how ratings and reviews work

Octave regularly asks clients to select a rating based on their experience about their provider about their therapy sessions. Providers are prohibited from soliciting reviews from their clients.

Only clients who have completed a session with this provider can leave a rating for them.

Similar therapists in California

Juana Gonzalez headshot

Available Oct 28 @ 4:30 PM

Juana Gonzalez

LCSW • Clinical Therapist

Specializes in Anger Issues, Anxiety, Burnout

View Profile
Gricelda Saldivar-Napoles headshot

Available Oct 28 @ 12:00 AM

Gricelda Saldivar-Napoles

LCSW • Clinical Therapist

Specializes in Addiction (not substance use), Anger Issues, Anxiety

View Profile
Paola Tapia headshot

Available Oct 27 @ 3:00 PM

Paola Tapia

LCSW • Clinical Therapist

Specializes in Anger Issues, Anxiety, Burnout

View Profile
Mercedes Borrayo headshot

Available Oct 27 @ 1:00 PM

Mercedes Borrayo

LMFT • Clinical Therapist

Specializes in ADHD, Anxiety, Burnout

View Profile

Ready to start with Joanna?

Most new clients have their first session within a week. You can change therapists at any time, at no cost.

Book with Joanna
Browse more therapists

Book with Joanna