Online therapy for skin conditions
Your skin is part of your story. It doesn’t have to be the whole of it.
Private video therapy for adults living with vitiligo, psoriasis, eczema, hidradenitis suppurativa, acne, alopecia and other visible or chronic skin conditions, with a licensed psychologist who has lived it.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
California Psych #23685
Doctor of Psychology., Behavioral Medicine emphasis
California School of Professional Psychology
Psychodermatology specialist
Member, Association for Psychocutaneous Medicine of North America]
Secure telehealth
HIPAA-compliant video sessions in California
I understand because I’ve lived it
I was in my early twenties when a white patch appeared on my forehead. I told myself it was nothing. Then it spread, and with it came questions about my future and how other people would see me. For a long time I hid, and I withdrew.
Over time I came to accept my vitiligo and stopped concealing it. That shift is what led me to build this practice.
My goal isn’t to push you toward accepting or hiding anything. It’s to support you through your own journey, at your pace.
I’m here to support you.
BIOGRAPHY
DR. MINA GUIRGUIS
I’m a licensed clinical psychologist (California Psych #23685) who specializes in psychodermatology, the connection between skin conditions and emotional wellbeing. I earned my Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Behavioral Medicine, from the California School of Professional Psychology in 2005, after completing a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology in 2003.
My training focused on providing psychological counseling to people whose medical conditions affect their daily lives. Today, I apply that training to helping people living with chronic and visible skin conditions manage the stress, anxiety, low mood, and isolation that can come with them.
I’m a proud member of the Association for Psychocutaneous Medicine of North America (APMNA), and I offer secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth sessions to adults throughout California. Because I live with vitiligo myself, I bring both clinical training and personal understanding to this work.
Interviews and media appearances:
Creaky Joints
The Visible and Invisible Symptoms of Psoriatic Disease (creakyjoints.org)
Healthy Women
How Psoriasis Affects Your Overall Well-Being - HealthyWomen
Healthy Women
Hair Loss Affects Many Aspects of Life - HealthyWomen
Health Central
How to Boost Your Self-Esteem With HS (healthcentral.com)
Popsugar Beauty
Is the Coronavirus Making Acne Worse? Breakouts on the Rise | PS Beauty
Sunday Riley
Psychodermatology: Skin Science You Need to Know - Sunday Edit (sundayriley.com)
HS Connect
Psychodermatology Interview with Dr. Mina Guirguis: Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) (youtube.com)
Skin Psych
Episode 2 - When Thoughts Feel Like Facts: Dr. Mina Guirguis on Changing the Way We Think About Our Acne | Listen to the Podcast on Spotify
Everyday Health
Tips for a Psoriasis-Friendly Thanksgiving
PRACTICE
AREAS
I take a personalized approach, focusing on your skin condition and the specific challenges you face. Together we’ll explore the thoughts and feelings that may be keeping you stuck and build practical, evidence-based strategies to help you feel more confident and in control.
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT)
Identify and change thought patterns and behaviors that interfere with daily life and add to distress.
SOLUTION FOCUSED BRIEF THERAPY (SFBT)
Short-term, goal-focused work for when you know what you want to change.
Couples and family support
Sessions for partners and relatives who want to understand and support you.
Online therapy
Secure video sessions from home anywhere in California.
You might be here because…
You’re tired of hiding
You cover up, avoid events, or rehearse answers to “what’s that on your skin?”
Worry or low mood has crept in
Anxiety, sadness, or self-criticism have grown alongside your condition.
You feel isolated
It’s hard to explain to people who haven’t lived with a visible condition.
Treatment feels overwhelming
Routines, appointments, and flare-ups wear you down and are hard to stick with.
SERVICES
I provide psychotherapy for adults whose skin conditions are affecting their emotional wellbeing. This field, called psychodermatology, looks at the connection between the skin and the mind. Many of my clients come to me with depression, anxiety, or social isolation that has grown alongside a condition such as vitiligo, psoriasis, eczema, hidradenitis suppurativa, acne, or alopecia.
I listen to what you’re going through, and we work together on the challenges that come with living with a skin condition. I use evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, to help you handle difficult situations with more confidence and ease.
My work focuses on the emotional and psychological side of dermatological conditions, including helping you stay on track with your medical treatment. Therapy works best as a partnership, so your involvement and openness matter, and I’ll support you at a pace that feels right for you.
Sessions are held by secure, HIPAA-compliant video, so you can meet from the comfort of your home anywhere in California.
CONTACT
DR. GUIRGUIS
Email: drguirguispsyd@gmail.com
Tel: 424-255-8127
To schedule a free 15 min consultation or a 50 min therapy session, please call, email me or complete the requested information below.
