Mandye Yates (She/Her)

Associate Marriage & Family Therapist #160226

Supervised by: Jacqueline Plante, Director (CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #91084)

Phone: 714-248-5170

Email: mandye@gatherandgrowoc.com

what is your role at Gather and Grow Oc?

I believe that you know yourself better than anyone else ever could. My job is not to tell you who you are or what to do—it’s to help you uncover your own wisdom, support your growth, and equip you with tools to navigate what’s challenging.

school and training history

I hold an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles (2023–2025), where I focused on trauma-informed clinical practice. I also earned a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia (2010–2014), and a Master of Divinity from Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky (1998–2002). My undergraduate education includes a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Anthropology from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky (1994–1998). 

In addition to my formal degrees, I have completed specialized professional training in trauma care. This includes a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy course through the Medical University of South Carolina (June 2024). I have also completed Level 1 (2013) and Level 2 (2020) trainings in Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) through the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

INDIVIDUAL FOCUS

Clients often come to me to work through grief, trauma, relationship issues, spiritual abuse, and anxiety. These are heavy things, but you don’t have to carry them alone. I often use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in my practice because it offers reliable support for trauma, anxiety, and depression. I also draw on DBT, Attachment Theory, Family Systems, and Somatic Therapy, tailoring each approach to my clients' unique needs. Together, we’ll explore what’s troubling you, uncover patterns, and identify practices that move you toward healing and resilience.

what excites you about being part of the gather and grow oc community?

I am very excited to join the GGOC team. I love the cultural literacy, humility, and social competence expected from everyone on this team. I am grateful to work with such a skilled and devoted group of therapists and look forward to all we will learn together.

Currently scheduling clients tuesdays, wednesdays, and fridays.

Posts from the Grower’s Guide…

Mandye also holds specialized training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy through the Medical University of South Carolina and Level 1 and Level 2 trainings in Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) through the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University.

A Letter from Mandye

When people ask why they might choose to do therapy with me, I usually start here: I’m deeply curious, genuinely kind, and I believe that sometimes we need to laugh just as much as we need to cry. 

Therapy is hard work. It asks for vulnerability, honesty, and the courage to sit with what’s difficult. But that doesn’t mean it has to feel clinical or cold. My approach is warm, human, and real. I believe healing happens best in relationships that feel safe, grounded, and authentic. 

I bring over 20 years of experience as a local minister into my work as a therapist. I currently serve a progressive, LGBTQ+ affirming congregation, and I’m committed to creating inclusive, nonjudgmental spaces where people can bring their full selves—no matter their background, identity, or beliefs. 

I have what some might call a “holy envy” of diverse faith traditions, and I work comfortably with clients from a wide range of spiritual backgrounds—or none at all. Whether you are deeply religious, spiritually curious, wounded by faith, or actively avoiding anything that resembles organized religion, there is space for you here. 

I’ve walked alongside many people through the darkest parts of life: grief, trauma, family pain, spiritual abuse, and major life transitions. My training gives me tools, but my work is also shaped by deep, lived empathy. 

Outside the therapy room, I love reading (ask me what I’m reading right now), playing with my dog, spending time by the ocean, and gathering around a board game with friends or family. These everyday joys ground me, and they remind me that therapy isn’t only about making sense of pain—it’s also about reconnecting with what brings you life. 

If you’re looking for a therapist who is compassionate, grounded, and deeply invested in your well-being, I would be honored to walk with you for a season of your journey. 

Warmly, 

Mandye Yates

You can contact Mandye directly at 714-248-5170 or mandye@gatherandgrowoc.com. View other therapist profiles HERE.