Margretta Shen (CA License)

$250/session

650-434-2563

Telehealth & In Person

margretta Shen, LMFT

Hi, I am glad you are here!

If you're carrying the weight of anxiety, burnout, unhealed wounds, or the quiet ache of not quite belonging — you don't have to figure it out alone.

One of my favorite proverbs goes like this: "Watch over your heart with all diligence. For from it flows the springs of life."

Our well-being is deeply connected to the condition of our hearts. When a heart is wounded and left unhealed, it ripples into every area of life — our sense of self, our relationships, and our ability to move forward. Yet watching over our hearts shouldn't be a one-person job, especially when healing and restoration are needed after surviving pain and suffering.

My name is Margretta. I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist in California, offering virtual sessions to California residents and in-person sessions in central San Diego.

I specialize in Christian counseling and particularly enjoy working with Christian faith communities, ministry leaders, and church workers. I also have years of experience working with women who have experienced sexual, emotional, or spiritual abuse, as well as individuals (15+), couples, and families navigating life's challenges.

I bring an integrative, holistic approach — drawing on CBT, Restoration Therapy, Psychodynamic, Mindfulness, and other trauma-informed methods — alongside training in pastoral care and spiritual formation. I believe lasting transformation happens when we tend to the whole person: mind, body, and soul. For clients who want their spiritual life to be part of the healing process, I offer faith-integrated therapy in a space that honors both clinical care and spiritual insights.

I was born and raised in China and speak Mandarin and Cantonese fluently, and I have lived in multiple cities and countries. Ongoing life experiences have shaped my curiosity about others' stories and equipped me with empathy, cross-cultural communication, and a deep commitment to meeting each person where they are. 

I'm quick to recognize the strengths and potential in others and am committed to working with you with honesty, compassion, and grace.

I look forward to hearing your stories and journeying together with you.

Thank you for choosing courage for yourself today.

Specialized areas: 

Christian Counseling

Anxiety, Depression & Stress Management

Trauma & Grief

Self-Identity & Personal Growth

Relationships & Family

Life Transitions & Adjustment

Client population: 

Individuals (15+)

Couples & Families