Our Psychologists

---

San Diego Psychotherapy Associates is led by experienced, licensed clinical psychologists who take a collaborative and individualized approach to care. Each psychologist brings a distinct professional background, clinical experience, and therapeutic perspective.

Dr. Lea Zweig, PsyD
 

Licensed Clinical Psychologist in San Diego

Dr. Lea Zweig, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in San Diego, California (PSY29254). She provides individualized psychological care using a collaborative and compassionate approach that considers each client's personal experiences, goals, strengths, and challenges.

Dr. Zweig works with adolescents and adults experiencing a range of concerns, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, learning differences, grief and loss, anger, family conflict, and significant life transitions. Her clinical work focuses on helping clients better understand patterns that may affect emotional well-being and develop practical strategies for meaningful change.

Her clinical work incorporates evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), when appropriate for the client's needs. Treatment is individualized according to each client's circumstances and goals.  

Dr. Melee Pal, PsyD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist in San Diego

Dr. Melee K. Pal, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in San Diego, California (PSY31079). She provides compassionate, culturally informed psychological care and works collaboratively with clients to understand the emotional, behavioral, interpersonal, and life circumstances affecting their well-being.

Dr. Pal's clinical interests include anxiety, mood concerns, eating disorders, women's mental health, work-life balance, life transitions, bicultural identity, acculturation, and LGBTQ+ concerns. Her background also includes experience in settings where psychological and medical concerns intersect, allowing her to consider the broader context of each client's health and life experiences.

Her therapeutic approach may incorporate evidence-based methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Motivational Interviewing, depending on the client's needs and treatment goals.

Dr. Rita Romero, PhD 

 Choosing a psychologist is an important personal decision. There is no single therapist who is right for everyone, and the best fit often depends on your primary concerns, goals, preferred therapeutic approach, and the type of support you are seeking.

Not sure who to choose?

You do not need to make the choice alone; Book a complimentary consultation to speak directly with Dr. Romero to discuss your particular needs, goals, and questions, and she will assist you in making the best clinical and personality fit. 

Our psychologists work with clients experiencing a variety of emotional, behavioral, interpersonal, and life concerns. Treatment is individualized based on the client's needs and goals.

Anxiety Therapy

Learn how psychological therapy can help you understand anxiety, develop coping strategies, and improve daily functioning.

ADHD Therapy

Explore individualized psychological support for ADHD-related challenges, including attention, organization, emotional regulation, and executive functioning.

Trauma & PTSD Therapy

Learn about trauma-informed psychological care for people experiencing the effects of traumatic experiences.

Depression Therapy

Receive individualized support for persistent sadness, low motivation, negative thinking, and other depressive symptoms.

Stress Management

Develop practical strategies for managing stress and improving emotional balance.

Life Transitions

Get support when navigating significant personal, professional, relationship, or family changes.

Self-Esteem Counseling

Work toward greater self-awareness, confidence, and a healthier relationship with yourself.

Women's Mental Health

Explore psychological support for concerns that may affect women at different stages of life.

Important: Only include and link to services that SDPA currently offers. 

At San Diego Psychotherapy Associates, psychological care is individualized rather than based on a one-size-fits-all model. Our psychologists consider each client's concerns, history, goals, strengths, and circumstances when developing a treatment approach.

Depending on the psychologist and presenting concern, treatment may incorporate evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Motivational Interviewing, and other clinically appropriate methods.

The goal is not simply to identify symptoms. Therapy can also help clients develop insight, strengthen coping skills, understand behavioral and emotional patterns, improve relationships, and work toward meaningful changes in their daily lives.

Your psychologist will discuss the treatment approach with you and determine what is appropriate based on your individual needs. 

Choosing a psychologist is about more than finding someone who treats a particular concern. It is also about finding professional care that considers your individual circumstances, goals, and clinical needs.

San Diego Psychotherapy Associates brings together doctoral-level psychologists with different areas of clinical expertise, allowing the practice to provide individualized psychological care based on each client's needs. 

Doctoral-Level Psychologists

Our team includes licensed clinical psychologists with doctoral-level training and professional experience.

Individualized Treatment

Therapy is tailored to each client's circumstances, concerns, goals, and treatment needs.

Evidence-Based Approaches

Our psychologists use established therapeutic approaches when clinically appropriate.

Multiple Areas of Expertise

Our team provides support across areas including anxiety, ADHD, trauma, mood concerns, life transitions, stress, and other psychological concerns.

Experienced Clinical Leadership

SDPA is led by Dr. Rita Romero, PhD, who brings more than 25 years of professional experience.

San Diego-Based Psychological Care

Our practice serves individuals seeking psychological services in San Diego, California.

San Diego Psychotherapy Associates is a San Diego-based psychological practice providing individualized care through licensed clinical psychologists. The practice is led by Dr. Rita Romero, PhD, and includes Dr. Lea Zweig, PsyD, and Dr. Melee Pal, PsyD.

The team provides psychological services for a range of concerns, including anxiety, ADHD, trauma-related concerns, mood concerns, life transitions, stress, and other mental health needs.

Our psychologists bring diverse training and professional experience to the practice, enabling SDPA to provide individualized care rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. 

Finding the right psychologist can take time, and you do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

If you are looking for psychological support in San Diego, contact San Diego Psychotherapy Associates to speak directly with Dr. Romero about your particular needs, goals, and questions. She will assist you in determining the best clinical and personality fit based on your individual circumstances.

Take the first step toward understanding your options and finding appropriate psychological support.