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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Diaspora Therapy Group

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United States
Carlsbad, CA
Diaspora Therapy Group

Cultural and Gender Affirming, Holistic Psychotherapy

01/28/2026

This has been a lot. It’s hard to put words to what’s happening, and even harder to hold it all in our bodies. I hope you’re giving yourself space for grief, for anger, and for the small sparks of joy that remind us we’re still here.

I hope you’re finding ways to connect with the others, even when the world feels like it’s trying to pull us apart. We can’t control everything, but we can hold space for each other and that’s a pretty good start.

08/24/2025

Grief doesn’t always arrive as sadness. Sometimes it shows up with resentment; quiet, heavy, unspoken. Not just mourning what’s gone, but what was never given.

Many of us were taught to forgive quickly, to keep family struggles private, to be grateful no matter what. But grief tied to unfairness doesn’t disappear when we silence it. It lingers in the body- jaw tight, stomach unsettled, rituals avoided.

This post isn’t about forcing resolution. It’s about naming what’s there. Resentment can be both a signal and a weight. Honoring it doesn’t mean staying stuck- it means telling the truth of your experience without apology.

What has helped you carry both grief and resentment without losing yourself to either?

12/18/2024

We are incredibly proud to celebrate our co-founder, Dr. Kiley Dunne Lizama, on being named the winner of the *Rising Star* at the San Diego Business Journal’s 2024 Business Women of the Year Awards! This recognition is a testament to her unwavering dedication and leadership.

Dr. Dunne Lizama and our other co-founder, Rup, have worked tirelessly to create a safe and affirming space for our clients and team—one rooted in cultural humility, trauma-informed care, and a deep commitment to serving BIPOC and QTPOC communities.

This award is not only a reflection of Kiley’s vision, but also the amazing work done by the entire Diaspora Therapy Group team. Together, we show up for our clients and each other with care, resilience, and authenticity. We will continue to build this space together—prioritizing community, healing, and safety for all.

Here’s to the future, where we will keep pushing forward with awareness, compassion, and a commitment to making a lasting difference.

12/03/2024

We’re so excited to cheer on Dr. Kiley Dunne Lizama as a finalist for San Diego Business Journal’s Women of the Year!

Her journey has been full of grit, grace, and so much heart. She’s a true champion of leadership, community, and growth.

This is more than an award—it’s a celebration of the incredible impact she’s making with every step, every decision, and every ounce of passion she puts into her work.

We can’t wait to see what’s next for this powerhouse! Here’s to more trailblazing, innovating, and having FUN while doing it!

11/16/2024

My name is Chinwe Ezeonu, my pronouns are she/her, and I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at Diaspora Therapy Group. I, as a biracial woman proudly come from two very different ethnic backgrounds, which are Filipino and Nigerian. Growing up I witnessed that mental health both in Filipino and Nigerian cultures was unheard of or seen as a weakness, but through much reflection, continual growth, and my therapy, it has helped me mend my views on mental health more positively.

Ultimately, inspiring me to become a marriage and family therapist. In doing this it has pushed me as a therapist to break the negative stigma around mental health, work with/ address generational trauma, and give individuals specifically from different ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations the room to be heard and know that mental health is not something to be ashamed of.

As a therapist, I specialize in structural family, individual, art, play, CBT, and DBT therapy. I have worked with clients who have dealt with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, family troubles, grief, ADHD, etc.

I strongly believe the relationship between client and clinician is a team effort and a collaborative process. I believe in empowering/ elevating every person I come in contact with while working from a client-centered framework. As a therapist, I am honored to embark on your journey of healing and growth while uplifting you through.

08/13/2024

Say hello to Vanessa! 👋🏽

Hello, I am an Associate MFT and Registered Art Therapist. I am of Zapotec heritage, raised on Tataviam lands, known today as the Northeast San Fernando Valley. Identities I hold are being q***r, disabled, 1st gen, neurodiverse, and somewhere on the gender spectrum of being femme and beyond one gender. My commitment as an Anti-Imperialist/abolitionist therapist show up in the space in the ways I do not center tenants of white supremacy such as perfectionism, worship of written word, centrism/white comfort, and individualism. As a person of color, my lived experience has led me to center social justice in my work.

I understand the importance of clients knowing that their therapist is aware of the way systemic issues play a role in our mental health. I attune to issues of systemic oppression such as racism/white supremacy, colonization, capitalism, ableism, patriarchy, fatphobia, and other forms of structural violence and its related traumas. I am LGBTQ2s+ affirmative, anti-imperialist, centered in disability justice, and I offer compassionate, client centered care.
Areas of focus include intergenerational trauma, historical trauma, and centering marginalized peoples including BIpoc/ QT-BIpoc, children, the disabled community (I offer safe masked in-person sessions), the undocumented community, and the LGBTQ2s+ community.

Some of my therapeutic styles include Person-Centered Art Therapy (no art experience required) and Intergenerational Family Therapy while pulling from holistic approaches with the intention of tending to the body, mind, heart, and spiritual soul.

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08/12/2024

My name is Lamarre and I’m an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. A therapist’s role is to walk alongside clients in their journeys toward self-discovery, growth, and change. I believe holistic healing occurs through collaboration, honesty, and commitment. I practice therapy from a multicultural and intersectional lens to provide individualized care for each client. I have experience with children, adults, and couples struggling with challenges ranging from interpersonal conflicts, identity, family, mental health, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and attachment.

Coming from a background of multicultural counseling and social justice education, I tend to apply an eclectic approach to my theoretical frameworks. I feel it’s important to recognize how valuable race, sexuality, gender, religion, culture, socioeconomic status, spirituality, citizenship and education play a part in the experience of each person.

I cultivate a welcoming therapeutic space for clients to explore all aspects of their well-being during sessions. I provide a compassionate and empathetic approach with a therapeutic environment where you can feel welcomed, safe and supported. I look forward to working together with you on the path of self-exploration, development and transformation.

08/08/2024

We have some new faces on the team! ☺️

Meet Annissa!

Hello, I am Annissa and my pronouns are She/They. As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, I am dedicated to decolonizing mental health, advocacy work, and striving to dismantle systems of oppression. I grew up with a working-class background in a conservative, rural community in California’s Central Valley and identify as mixed, Latiné, and q***r. With my upbringing, I became quickly aware of how my intersecting identities are politicized and how easily my needs could be sacrificed to uphold systems of oppression. Since then, I have worked in DEI-centered positions to speak out against these practices and uplift other marginalized voices both alike and different from my own. In working with clients, I aim to meet them where they are in their healing journey while acknowledging and celebrating their intersectionality through empowerment, affirmation, and grief work both in and outside the therapy session.

Person-centered, multicultural, and feminist-based interventions heavily influence my approach to therapy. Each person comes into the session with a unique background, perspective, and insight into their own experiences, and I work collaboratively with individuals to foster a space where they feel safe, affirmed and included. I have experience working with diverse client issues including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, LGBTQIA+ and gender-expansive concerns, and look forward to exploring these and other issues with future clients.

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05/09/2024

Hiring! Please reach out to admin@diasporatherapygroup.com.

04/26/2024

Homemade pressure is a dedicated support group designed specifically for first-generation eldest daughters who navigate the unique challenges of their roles within their families and communities. This group provides a nurturing space for members to share experiences, challenges, and triumphs related to their dual cultural identities, responsibilities, and expectations.

Our sessions focus on themes such as navigating cultural and familial expectations, leadership within the family, personal identity development, and coping strategies for stress and pressure. Led by compassionate professionals who understand the complexities of being a first-generation eldest daughter, our group aims to empower participants to embrace their identities, build resilience, and foster a sense of community and understanding among peers. Join us to connect with others who share your experiences and to find support and guidance in your journey.

Address

5938 Priestly Drive Unit 103
Carlsbad, CA
92008

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.diasporatherapygroup.com/

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