Frequently Asked Questions
Where is your office?
For in-person visits with Dr. Veronica Cardenas, you can visit us at:
Kiln Rancho Bernardo
17190 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite 200
San Diego, California 92128
What are your hours?
How long are your sessions?
Initial intake – 60 minutes.
Follow-up visits – 55-60 minutes.
How do I set up an appointment?
Call (619) 333-6764 or complete information link on this webpage.
What is your cancellation policy?
What age ranges do you work with?
Adults 18 years of age and above.
Do you work with women, men, couples?
What do you actually do in sessions with clients?
In subsequent sessions, we will target the issues we identified and explore all possible ways to address them. You will learn tools that will help you cope when things feel uncertain so that you can stay centered, focused, and take one day at a time.
Do your clients receive assignments between sessions?
What modalities do you use?
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Meaning-Centered Therapy
Legacy Therapy
Grief Therapy
Mother Loss Grief
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (A.R.T.)
Are Dr. Veronica Cardenas and Dr. Caroline Cárdenas related?
Dr. Veronica Cardenas & Dr. Caroline Cárdenas: Our Story
Two professionals, one shared mission: to walk alongside individuals and families impacted by cancer with grace, clarity, and compassion.
Though Dr. Veronica Cardenas and Dr. Caroline Cárdenas share the same last name, they are not related—their connection is built on years of collaboration, trust, and a shared devotion to ethically care for individuals and families impacted by cancer. Their professional relationship began at UC San Diego Health’s Moores Cancer Center, where Dr. Veronica Cardenas served as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Dr. Caroline Cárdenas, while working toward her Ph.D. in Psychology, served as a Certified Breast Care Nurse within Breast Surgical Oncology. As two of the few Spanish-speaking providers on their interdisciplinary team, they offered clear communication and culturally responsive care to patients and caregivers navigating the complexities of the cancer experience—including diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care. Their partnership is rooted in mutual respect and a shared calling to serve with grace, humility, and compassion. Today, they continue that work through the Center for Psycho-Oncology Care, united in their commitment to creating healing spaces for all those they support.
What’s the difference between a Ph.D., LMFT, AMFT and Coach
Understanding the Overlap and Distinctions
While each provider brings a distinct lens to care, there are natural areas of overlap. Licensed Clinical Psychologists (Ph.D. or Psy.D), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), and Associate Marriage and Family Therapists (AMFTs) are all trained to provide psychotherapy and are licensed—or practicing under supervision—to diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Their clinical work extends beyond individual care and may also include therapy for couples, families, and groups, with a focus on relational dynamics, psychological symptoms, trauma, grief, and emotional regulation. These professionals often integrate evidence-based modalities into their work and may incorporate coaching techniques—such as goal-setting, psychoeducation, and lifestyle support—when appropriate. It’s important to note that licensed psychotherapists are bound by state licensure laws and may only work with clients residing in the state(s) where they are licensed.
Psycho-Oncology Coaches, while not licensed to provide mental health treatment, are trained to offer non-clinical, emotionally attuned support to individuals and caregivers affected by cancer. Their work focuses on reflection, emotional clarity, resilience, and meaning-making. Using tools such as narrative exploration and strengths-based dialogue, Psycho-Oncology Coaches help clients navigate identity changes, caregiver fatigue, anticipatory grief, and other emotional challenges without engaging in clinical mental health care. Because coaching is not regulated by state licensure, Psycho-Oncology Coaching can be accessed virtually by clients and caregivers across the United States.
The key distinctions lie in scope of practice, licensure, and clinical responsibility.
Psychotherapy—offered by Licensed Clinical Psychologists, LMFTs, and AMFTs—is a licensed medical service that addresses mental health conditions, symptom management, and long-term psychological care. It is often covered by health insurance and may involve treatment across individual, couple, or group settings. Coaching, by contrast, is a non-clinical service that supports emotional well-being, personal insight, and practical coping without entering the realm of diagnosis or medical treatment. At the Center for Psycho-Oncology Care, clients and caregivers are supported in selecting the provider and modality that best fits their unique needs—recognizing that healing is nuanced, multifaceted, and best served through thoughtful, personalized care.