Meet Saskya Caicedo | Licensed Clinical Social Worker / Owner & Therapist of The Therapy Garden

We had the good fortune of connecting with Saskya Caicedo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Saskya, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It was less of a big, calculated decision and more of a gradual realization that I wanted to do this work differently. After years in community mental health, I saw the gaps—especially for new moms and young women navigating trauma. I wanted to create a space where people felt truly understood, where therapy wasn’t just about checking boxes but about real, meaningful support.

Starting my own practice gave me the flexibility to show up for people in a way that felt more aligned with my values. It meant integrating the approaches that actually work, rather than just what fits into a system’s requirements. It also gave me room to slow down, to focus on quality over quantity, and to make therapy feel more accessible and personal.

It wasn’t an easy decision, but it felt necessary. And while running a business comes with challenges, it’s been worth it to build something that feels both sustainable and true to why I got into this work in the first place.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work in maternal mental health and trauma goes beyond treating symptoms—it’s about understanding how the world we live in shapes mental health. People aren’t broken; they’re often having a normal reaction to an unhealthy society. Anxiety, depression, burnout, and postpartum struggles don’t happen in a vacuum—they’re connected to systemic issues like unrealistic beauty standards, capitalism’s obsession with productivity, and the lack of real support for mothers.

I started in community mental health, where I saw both the impact of this work and the barriers that keep people from getting the care they need. That experience pushed me to create The Therapy Garden, a space where people can be met with real, meaningful support—not just as a diagnosis, but as whole individuals navigating a complex world. While I’ve since expanded into administrative work to help shape mental health systems on a broader scale, my heart is still in the direct, human side of this work.

At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to help people feel seen, understood, and supported in a way that acknowledges both their personal experiences and the larger systems at play. Healing isn’t about ‘fixing’ people—it’s about helping them find their way in a world that often makes it hard to thrive.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting for a week, we’d start in Oceanside with a walk along the pier, dinner at The Lab Oceanside, and drinks at the rooftop bar at Mission Pacific. If it’s a Thursday, we’d check out the Sunset Market for food, music, and local vendors.

We’d spend time in Encinitas at Swami’s Beach, grab tacos from The Taco Stand, and head to La Jolla for kayaking. Windansea Beach would be the perfect spot to catch the sunset.

Balboa Park would be a must for walking around or visiting a museum, followed by margaritas at Casa de Reyes in Old Town. In the evening, we’d check out Seaport Village, then have dinner at Born & Raised for a great meal in a stunning setting.

We’d grab coffee at Pannikin in Leucadia, explore Carlsbad Village, and have dinner at Campfire. A hike at Torrey Pines, brunch at Caroline’s Seaside Café, and dinner at Javier’s for good food and ocean views would round out another great day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Without a doubt, my mom. She’s been my constant—standing by me, believing in me, and empowering me to be the woman I am today. She’s strong, intelligent, and thoughtful, and so much of what I bring to my work is a reflection of the qualities I’ve learned from her. Her resilience and quiet strength have shaped the way I show up for others, and I’m endlessly grateful for that.

Book-wise, What Happened to You by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey was a game-changer. It put into words so many of the experiences I’ve had personally and professionally, shifting the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” That perspective is at the core of trauma-informed care, and it’s something I carry into every session, every conversation, and the way I think about healing.

Website: https://thetherapygardenca.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetherapygardenca/#

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-therapy-garden-ca/