
Tina Thomsen
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #149320
Santa Cruz Office Medi-Cal provider
Embarking on the path of self-exploration and growth can be scary, but it’s also exciting to learn new things about yourself, tap into your personal strengths, and discover your inner wisdom. As a fellow human, I am dedicated to self-work and am actively engaged in my own healing and growth, so I am personally familiar with the journey you are beginning (or continuing) and can relate to many of the feelings that may be coming up for you around seeking therapy.
I received my master’s degree in counseling psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology at Sofia University. I do not aim to pathologize; rather, I work to support clients in finding meaning and satisfaction in their lives. My theoretical orientation is integrative and whole person centered. I personalize my work with each client and employ modalities that will be most helpful for each individual. This includes incorporating and respecting cultural, spiritual, and values-based factors.
My goal in working with you would be to make sure you feel seen, heard, and understood, and to offer you support as you explore the issues bringing you to therapy. I can help you process your feelings around these issues so you can feel a greater sense of calm and peace around things that are distressing for you. You know yourself and your experiences better than anyone. I’m not here to give you advice or tell you what to do, but rather to offer guidance as you work toward finding your own answers.
Request an Appointment
To Request an Appointment at Shine a Light or NPCC, please fill out this form. We respond to inquiries Monday through Friday. All inquiries we receive on the weekends or holidays will be processed the next business day. Thank you for your patience. If you need immediate services, please call 911.
Therapist/Agency Referrals
Agency Inquiries
New Office in San Francisco!
Shine a Light Counseling Center is please to merge with New Perspectives Center for Counseling. NPCC has been serving the San Francisco community for thirty years. Now NPCC is transitioning to become the San Francisco site for Shine a Light. NPCC will retain its name, character and history. For information about NPCC or counseling in San Francisco:
New Perspectives Center for Counseling (link)
Emergency Contact
Shine a Light does not provide crisis services. If you have a mental health emergency, call 988 or 911. Or click here for more Crisis Resources
Telephone Contact
You can call Shine a Light at 831-996-1222, but we encourage you to use the email forms to the left. If you call, please leave the following:
- Phone number
- Preferred location
- Best times to meet
- Issue you want help with
- What insurance you have (if any)
FAX us at: 831-417-0443
Good Faith Estimate
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your therapy sessions will cost. Your fee will be set according to a sliding scale, in collaboration with your therapist, prior to your first counseling session. Total costs depend upon the number of sessions you choose to utilize.
If you have private health insurance and we are not in-network with your plan, please be aware that your costs for therapy may be less by using an in-network provider. This will depend upon your plan's deductible amounts and co-payments. In some cases, counseling at Shine a Light is less costly than using private insurance.
If you hope to use "out of network" benefits through your private insurance, please be aware that many plans will not reimburse for services provided by trainees. Please request an Associate level therapists for out-of-network billing.