Chris Mazzo, LMFT

I help teens, young adults, and families navigate anxiety, overwhelming emotions, and relationship struggles so they can feel more confident, communicate more openly, and find their way back to connection.

You want things to feel better, but you may not know where to start. Maybe your teen is pulling away, everyday conversations turn into arguments, or you’re worried about what they’re keeping inside. Maybe you’re a young adult who looks like you’re doing fine while privately feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unsure of yourself. Whatever brings you here, there is room to talk about it.

I’m Chris Mazzo, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with teens, young adults, and families. I help clients navigate anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, substance use concerns, and the challenges of growing up and growing apart. Together, we work toward greater self-confidence, more manageable emotions, and relationships where you feel heard.

My approach is warm, honest, and practical. I want to understand what life feels like for you, what matters to you, and what you hope will change. We’ll make room for difficult conversations while also developing tools you can use when stress rises, conflict happens, or familiar patterns take over.

For teens, I focus on building a relationship where they feel respected and comfortable being themselves—even if they’re skeptical about therapy or don’t have much to say at first. For parents, I offer space to speak openly about the worry, frustration, and uncertainty that can come with raising a struggling child. In family sessions, I help everyone understand what’s happening beneath the arguments and practice new ways of listening, responding, and connecting.

I also work with young adults navigating independence, relationships, school, work, and questions about who they want to become. We can explore what keeps you stuck and work on making decisions, setting boundaries, and handling emotions with greater confidence.

Before opening my private practice, I spent more than five years working in intensive treatment programs with adolescents and families facing significant mental health challenges. I bring that experience, along with advanced training in adolescent mental health, anxiety, ADHD, and trauma, to my work today. Depending on your needs, our work may include cognitive behavioral approaches, skills for managing intense emotions, or EMDR.

My own early experience with therapy helped shape my commitment to this work. I know how much it matters to feel understood when you’re struggling. As a parent myself, I also appreciate how deeply you can care about your child and still feel unsure how to reach them.

I offer in-person sessions in Carlsbad and online therapy throughout California. If you’re considering therapy for yourself, your teen, or your family, reach out for a free consultation. We can talk about what’s been difficult, what you’d like to change, and whether working together feels like a good fit. You don’t need to know exactly what to say to begin.