San Diego Psychologist
for Trauma, Stress, and Burnout
Dr. Sage
My name is Dr. Sage Schuitevoerder (pronounced Skate-e-vor-der). Many of my clients call me Dr. S or Dr. Sage. I’m a therapist in San Diego for individuals dealing with PTSD, trauma, and stress. My approach is practical, evidence-based, and focused on helping you move forward—not just talk about problems.
Who I Help
Complex Trauma (C-PTSD)
Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse
Moral Injury
Occupational & Career Burnout
Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Chronic stress
How I work
My approach to therapy is practical, collaborative, and evidence-based. My goal is to both provide a safe space and empathy with tools to help my clients grow and move past difficult life experiences.
My formal training includes empirically supported ‘Gold Standard’ interventions for PTSD and Trauma such as:
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR).
I am also trained in other modalities such as:
Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Substance Abuse Disorders.
If you are interested in reading more about these interventions, you can read A Detailed Description of the Services I Offer.
My Experience and Training
I have spent over 25 years working in the field of psychology and have specialized training in evidence-based treatments for trauma and stress-related disorders. I completed my Master’s degree at California State University Northridge in 2005 and APA-accredited Ph.D. Doctoral Training at Alliant International University, San Diego and APA-accredited UCSD/VA San Diego Psychology Internship Program in 2011.
I have a Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (CPQ) from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board demonstrating my Education, Supervised Experience, and Successful Examination of Competency and Jurisprudence exams.
I have Published Peer-Reviewed Scientific Journal Articles on the topic of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Elderly. You can visit my Publications on Google Scholar.
I have owned and operated a private practice in San Diego as a therapist providing services for PTSD, trauma, and stress since 2013.
My Personal Philosophy
My philosophy of therapy is that most people are doing the best they can with the situations and experiences they have had. Many of the symptoms that bring people to therapy—stress, burnout, anxiety, avoidance, feeling stuck—are understandable responses to difficult experiences or prolonged stress.
I see therapy as a practical and collaborative process. My goal is to help people understand what is happening, learn effective strategies, and gradually face the things that have been difficult to face alone. Therapy should help people make real changes in their lives, not just talk about problems.
I also believe that people are often more resilient than they think. With the right tools, support, and approach, most people can learn to manage stress, process difficult experiences, and move forward in a way that feels natural.