About Aspiring Families

An Expert Team and A Center for Mental Health and Wellness in San Diego, CA

Here for you in San Diego And California

We are a highly experienced team of expert psychologists, medical doctors, educational specialists, expressive and somatic arts therapists, and behavioral specialists who meet with you for in-person or tele-health individualized sessions.

Aspiring Families is a premier private mental health and wellness center in Del Mar/Carmel Valley, founded and directed by Azmaira Maker, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist with over twenty five years of expertise.

Areas of Focus

We provide multiple mental health services with a range of assessments, therapy, and treatment approaches for effective change.

Our exceptional psychologists, doctors, and educators collaborate closely with you to provide individualized, evidenced based, and holistic assessments, therapy, and treatment for adults, college students, children, adolescents, families, and seniors.

Telehealth services via secure video and phone calls
Psychological, Neuropsychological, Educational, and Developmental, and Diagnostic
Testing/Assessments
Individual Adult, Child, Family, and Group Therapy
Play Therapy
Behavioral Interventions
Expressive Arts Therapy
Somatic Therapy
Medical Consultations and Medications
Vocational and College Counseling
Academic Support
Neurofeedback for Adults, Adolescents, and Children
In-Home and In-School Observations and Interventions

Dr. Maker is a true gem. If you are able to work with her count yourself as lucky. She is brilliant, kind, caring, respectful and thoughtful. She hones in on what’s at the core of your issues and, with great empathy, helps you identify the best tools and support needed to navigate through what may be troubling times. She has been a true gift and has helped me be a better version of myself everyday.

What You Can Expect

We recognize that your well-being and your family’s well-being is of the utmost importance and that you may need assistance sooner rather than later. Hence, we provide no waiting lists and concierge level services to all our clients that includes:

Your calls are returned within 24 hours.
You can schedule an appointment within 1-2 weeks.
Referrals and follow-ups are made within the week.
Collaboration with pediatricians, schools, physicians, psychiatrists, and other professionals occurs within a week.

Submit an Online Inquiry Now to Schedule Your 15 minute Intake with Dr. Maker.

Our Philosophy

We integrate and utilize the most effective therapy and treatment interventions from varying evidence-based approaches with an expert team of clinicians to simultaneously address multiple needs to promote change and wellness.

Assessment & Treatment

We provide a multi-modal assessment and therapeutic treatment plan utilizing different approaches catered to your specific and unique individual and family needs.

Evidence-Based Treatment

We provide evidence-based treatment by integrating developmental and scientific research with clinical expertise to determine the most effective course of interventions for you, your child, and your family.

Service Flexibility

We provide flexibility in our services so that you, your child, and your family may receive high quality therapy services that tailors to your unique values, strengths, and needs.

Holistic Treatments

We provide an integrative holistic, bio-psycho-social therapeutic approach that addresses the whole person, the family system, and professional, school, college, and home environments.

I have had the great honor of calling Dr. Maker a colleague for more than five years. During this time, we have had many opportunities to collaborate on care and have been consistently impressed with her thoughtfulness, intelligence, and her impeccable follow through as a clinician. Both our shared patients and my referred patients have been empowered to adapt to challenges, effect positive change, and thrive under her expert guidance. Dr. Maker’s passion for working with children, adolescents, and families is reflected not only in her practice, but also in her commitment to providing much-needed therapeutic resources to the greater community through her consultations, workshops, and books. I would not hesitate to refer patients or loved ones to Dr. Maker.

Dr. Roybal, Founder of True Life Center

About Dr. Azmaira Maker, Ph.D.

Azmaira H. Maker, Ph.D. has been selected five years in a row for the San Diego Awards for Psychologist and for Aspiring Families, Center for Mental Health and Wellness and now also qualifies for the 2023 San Diego Business Hall of Fame (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)

She works with people presenting with a range of vulnerabilities and stressors, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD, autism/spectrum and developmental difficulties, giftedness, divorce, trauma, loss (including pregnancy loss), infertility, relationship/interpersonal struggles, adoption and attachment.

Dr. Maker and her expert team work with individuals and families presenting with a range of vulnerabilities and stressors, including depression, anxiety, OCD, trauma, adoption, loss, interpersonal, behavioral, learning, and school challenges, giftedness, autism/spectrum, ADHD, executive functioning, and medical concerns.

“I was committed to writing these books because I love children, and connecting with and helping children makes me feel alive. Sometimes, even the smallest of interventions can profoundly shift a child’s developmental path and life experiences for the better, and when this occurs, my commitment and dedication to my work is reaffirmed. I am passionate about empowering children and enabling parents to be the best parents they can be.”

Dr. Azmaira H. Maker holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Vassar College (Phi Beta Kappa), and received her doctoral training at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Dr. Maker completed her post-doctoral fellowship training at the University of Michigan Hospital, Department of Psychiatry.

Her extensive experience in working with divorcing families, along with her specialized training at the Child Advocacy Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School provides her with extensive clinical skills and expert knowledge that guide the content of Family Changes and Where Did My Friend Go?

“My draw to my work is the intense relationship and trust I have with each person, each parent, and each child. I experience individuals as unique, a kaleidoscope of characteristics, thoughts, feelings, and ways of being. I thrive on the path of hard work, discovery, insight, and growth. I often use the word ‘transformation or transfiguration’ with my clients.”

Dr. Maker currently resides in San Diego with her family and is the founder of Aspiring Families, Center for Mental Health and Wellness in Del Mar. In her center, Dr. Maker and her specialist team of expert clinicians work with children, adolescents, families, individual adults, and seniors.

She work with people presenting with a range of vulnerabilities and stressors, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD, autism/spectrum and developmental difficulties, giftedness, divorce, trauma, loss (including pregnancy loss), infertility, relationship/interpersonal struggles, adoption and attachment.

Aspiring Families Books, Resources, and Blog

Dr. Maker is the author of two multi-award winning books on divorce and death. Aspiring Families is dedicated to educate, support, and empower families to thrive. The resources we provide for the community focus on theory-driven, clinically-founded, and research-based resources.