Finding a therapist in California can be challenging. Even in some of the biggest California cities, barriers to treatment, like concerns about cost or a lack of available providers, can make finding in-person therapy difficult. If you’re looking for mental health care in the Golden State, consider an online therapy platform like BetterHelp.

BetterHelp therapists have extensive experience and can help you work to overcome your unique challenges and meet your highest potential. From young adults needing help managing the effects of ADHD to seniors struggling to heal from events of the past, therapists can help adults of any age navigate the challenges in their lives and learn how to improve their mental wellness.

If you’re looking for a licensed therapist, CA has many online options available. Contact one of the providers below to schedule your first session and learn more about the benefits of online treatment.

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Sharlese Jones

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemCareer difficulties
18 years of experience

I've been doing therapy for over 10 years, helping various needs. I'm a licensed LMFT that has assisted children, teens and families in learning new skills to manage, anger, depression, anxiety, stress, build confidence, self esteem building, transgender issues, and various other situations. It's a joy to walk help people within their search for healing, insight, and empowerment. Sometimes it is hard to access the inner guide we have due to outside influences, fear, doubt, or from being out of alignment. Asking for help is one of the hardest things you can do, but can be very rewarding. As a therapist, I strive to help you connect to your authentic self in order to help you have more for filling experiences on your life journey. I applaud your courage for taking the first steps towards positive change through therapy. If you are ready to take that step I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!

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Alyssa Eisman

Offering therapy in California
License: LCSW
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsSelf esteemCoping with life changes
12 years of experience

Welcome and thank you for visiting my BetterHelp profile! Seeking therapy takes a great deal of courage and I commend you for exploring therapy as a tool for self-exploration and growth. Many people find that building a supportive and collaborative relationship with their therapist contributes to the overall effectiveness and success of therapy. I strive to offer a safe and non-judgmental environment with a commitment to placing the highest priority on your care. We will work together to identify and address your concerns in order to foster meaningful change in your life. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of California with over 12 years of clinical experience in both the mental health and addiction fields. I specialize in working with adolescents and adults struggling with issues and symptoms related to depression, anxiety, body image, self-esteem, social obstacles, substance abuse, and family conflict. ​I earned my undergraduate degree from University of California San Diego where I majored in Music Humanities and minored in Sociology. I continued my education at University of Southern California and earned my master's degree in Social Work. I have experience providing treatment in a variety of settings, including school-based individual and group therapy services for elementary, middle and high school students, domestic violence shelter services, outpatient substance abuse services, and in-home services for families of children with special needs. I utilize a cognitive-behavioral approach with a strengths-based and solution-focused perspective and am certified in motivational interviewing (MI) and problem solving therapy (PST). That being said, I recognize that not all therapeutic styles work for every individual. I strive to find a style and approach that best fits each person I work with. I am also a practicing musician and some people find utilizing music to be an effective therapeutic approach. Music provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult expressing themselves in words and can provide a safe outlet for expression of feelings. I find it incredibly fulfilling to help support individuals who are looking to be the best version of themselves and would love to connect with you to start working together! Please read below regarding my current availability for live sessions and messaging and feel free to contact me to set up an appointment that works best with your schedule. I look forward to hearing from you! Live sessions (video, phone, chat): Live sessions are up to 45 minutes and can be held through video, phone, or live chat. I always try to keep my calendar up to date with availability for live sessions. To schedule an appointment, please go to my scheduling tab and you can book the time slot that fits best for you. There are certain weeks where I will have more or less availability, depending on client needs. Feel free to message me to see if additional time slots are available. I will always do my best to accommodate scheduling. ** Please note: live sessions are not required! I offer live sessions for clients that would like to utilize different modalities. However, clients are free to message me through the chatroom feature 24/7. The chatroom is completely confidential and secure. I generally check messages between 8:00am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday, and always do my best to respond to messages within 24 hours. However, I do take weekends and holidays off, so please expect slower responses during that time.

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Shallymar Bender

Offering therapy in California
License: LCSW
Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsSelf esteemDepression
9 years of experience

Hello and welcome to BetterHelp! My name is Shallymar Bender and Iearned my Masters in Social Work in California in 2013 and have practiced in California since. I have experience in working with children ages 0-21 in individual and group settings, as well as working with parents to provide parenting skills and techniques to help achieve the child's goals. I have worked with children independently in school settings, office settings, as well as in their homes. My focus was helping to stabilize crisis situations (i.e. depression, anxiety, bipolar, etc.) as well as helping to maintain progress that had been made. In providing services, I have also acted as a parent partner in team treatments, and with this I helped parents learn and apply skills and techniques to promote positive behaviors and improve relationship with child and parents. Currently, I have been working with individuals struggling with depression and/or anxiety, providing support in meeting personal goals, as well as providing education about future goals individuals may have (i.e. college, work force, etc.). I use skills from Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) as well as other areas to help individuals work toward feeling better. I feel that being open minded and non-judgmental is important when someone shares their personal story with me, as well as the client's comfort in working with a therapist. I do want to ensure that you are comfortable in the therapy relationship with me as it is important for you to get the best fit as possible. My focus is strength based, meaning I see strength in all my clients and will use this to empower clients to improve and work through life's struggles. I look forward to working with you and help you to meet your goals. Feel free to message me and we can connect and discuss best therapy methods for you. Thank you, Shallymar

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Ellie Trotta

Offering therapy in California
License: MA, LPCC
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefSelf esteemDepression
7 years of experience

I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with six years of experience helping clients with a variety of issues, including depression, anxiety, OCD, self-esteem issues, addictions, trauma, geriatric issues, career challenges, and chronic mental illness. I also have experience helping clients with trauma due to physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, as well as individuals who "feel stuck" due to emotional turmoil or relationship issues resulting from childhood abuse or abandonment. I graduated with my Master of Arts degree in psychology in 2016 and am currently a PsyD candidate in clinical psychology. I view the therapist-client relationship as something that is highly sacred and treat my clients with respect, sensitivity, and unconditional positive regard. I believe validation and empathy are necessary parts of the therapeutic process and I treat clients with a warm and compassionate approach. My therapeutic approach also includes DBT, CBT, ACT, experiential, client-centered psychodynamic, mindfulness, narrative, inner child work, solution-focused, and humanistic techniques, specifically tailored to the needs of my client. I also help empower my clients to be experts of their own lives; I am the tour guide but this is your therapeutic journey and I will be respectful of working at a pace that is comfortable for you. It takes courage to take these first steps in your therapeutic journey and I want to congratulate you for your decision to prioritize yourself in order to obtain a happier and more fulfilled life. I look forward to working with you. LPCC license 6558 listed as Elishka Trotta

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Dr. Patrice Fortune

Offering therapy in California
License: PhD, LMFT
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefDepressionCoaching
28 years of experience

Welcome to my page, my name is Patrice! Great appreciation for your interest and stopping by. Experience personalized one-to-one mental healthcare with concierge services. I specialize in customized mental healthcare with close therapeutic relationships developed as your dedicated therapist. Enjoy a range of conveniences and supportive care to fit your mental health, work, and lifestyle needs. Specializing in heart-mind connections with individuals, couples, corporate professionals, first responders, military and veteran challenges for emotional balance, mental clarity, and sustained resilience improves the immune system, health, and confidence. Devoted to enriching life with over two decades of experience assisting clients through an effective, compassionate process to gain inner confidence, build unshakable resilience, remove success blocks, develop loving, lasting relationships, and discover your life's purpose. You will have an opportunity to learn simple steps that you may seamlessly incorporate to produce dramatic, life-changing results and generate an abundant life on your terms. Find your inner strength and discover your true potential through collaborative care. When you are ready to take the first step, your compassionate, experienced concierge mental healthcare therapist can empower you. Once again, welcome to my practice. Thank you for considering my concierge services to assist you with your sensitive concerns. It is a pleasure and honor to serve you!

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Shannon Amabile

Offering therapy in California
License: LMFT
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefCoping with life changes
8 years of experience

Hi there! I’m Shannon and I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Los Angeles, California. I have been working with creative clients in entertainment since 2015. I have extensive experience supporting the nuanced social and emotional challenges creative professionals face. I aim to help clients navigate the emotional experience of interacting with the “machine” of entertainment and the culture it’s built on and around, so they can cultivate a meaningful and joyful quality of life. I strive to empower clients to process and resolve interpersonal and personal struggles, heal from the pain that echoes from those struggles and prepare clients to feel confident and equipped to meet and overcome future challenges. I like to use solution-oriented models with a focus on behavioral interventions, to hopefully bring clients a sense of relief as soon as possible and help empower them to make the changes they want to make. I'm passionate about working from a curiosity based, non-judgemental stance and feel privileged to provide space for clients to tell their stories and feel heard. My work centers on cultivating hope, promoting self-trust by enabling self-discovery, self-identification and self interpretation as well as improving communication skills and building mindfulness and de-escalation skills in moments of crisis. I like to empower clients to value that they are the expert in their lives and validate their ability to be the agent of change. I have worked in educational, residential, corporate and production related settings as well as in office and virtually. I have experience supporting clients who face depression, anxiety, challenges in romantic relationships, child rearing, parenting issues as well as personal growth and adjustment/transition issues, including grief/loss, long term maintenance and recovery from addiction, past personal and family of origin related trauma and abuse, interpersonal relational struggles in personal life and collaborative career relationships. The modalities I use in psychotherapeutic treatment are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. I also utilize Bowen Family Systems, Existential Therapy and Trauma Focused CBT.

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Glenn Jacob-Oviatt

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyAnger managementSelf esteemDepressionADHD
5 years of experience

My name is Glenn Jacob-Oviatt (he/his) and I am a Social Worker licensed in California. For the past five years, I worked at an adult mental health inpatient facility, organizing and leading groups focused on anxiety reduction, DBT skills, anger management, mindfulness, communication skills, and self-expression through art and writing. I specialize in working with adults who experience anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and challenges adjusting to stressful life events. I also have a passion for writing and narrative-focused therapy and utilize a person-centered approach to therapy with elements of mindfulness, CBT, DBT, and ACT. My goal as a therapist is to accompany you and nurture your growth as you develop insights, engage in practices to enhance your well-being, and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns.

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Zeree Adams

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietySelf esteemBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changes
15 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 15 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, bipolar disorder, & depression. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

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Margaret Calvert

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyAnger managementDepression
15 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 15 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, family conflicts, & anger management. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

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Lydia Meroll

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyLGBTTrauma and abuseGriefCoping with life changes
6 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 6 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, lgbtq+ related issues, trauma and abuse, & coping with grief and loss. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

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Dr. Elena Michaels

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemCoping with life changesCoaching
31 years of experience

I am a licensed psychotherapist in with over 31 years of experience and currently have my private practice in Santa Clarita, California. A few areas I work with are stress and anxiety, relationship issues, enhancing clear communication, motivation, self esteem and confidence, coping with life changes and more. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you...even if you feel you have "lost your way" temporarily. It takes courage to reach out, be vulnerable and find someone that may be able to help you create a more fulfilling and happy life and it takes courage and support to take the first steps towards making changes. I hope to help you become more of a master of your life, instead of a victim of circumstances. I am here to support & empower you, as well as guide you in that journey. I have a background in the entertainment business, am non-religious but have a spiritual approach. I am also a meditation teacher and life coach. I tend to be solution-focused, helping clients move forward to greater self empowerment. My sessions are phone sessions (no video). You can find out more about me at DrElena.com I look forward to working with you! Warm regards, Dr. Elena :)

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Zachary Hensley

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
5 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

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Lydia Yonan

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseDepression
5 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & trauma and abuse. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

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Jessica Barba

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietySelf esteemCoping with life changes
8 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 8 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, motivation, self esteem, & confidence. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

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Jenny Vaz

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietySelf esteemCoping with life changes
11 years of experience

Hi! I'm Jenny. I'm a LMFT in California with 11 years of professional work experience. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey. I was born and raised in San Francisco. I enjoy going to art shows and dancing for fun. I also have a dog, Mia, who I take on adventures and keeps me busy getting my daily steps in : ).

How can therapists in California support you?

Therapists in California can practice many types of counseling, from marriage and family therapy to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). They may also assist you with symptoms of depression, stress, or anxiety.

Therapists may help you set and achieve career goals, work on current issues you may be facing, or address your past. Over 32,349,851 people live in California, and one out of five Americans has a mental health condition. Searching for licensed professionals in California may help you find mental health support for personal growth, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health concerns. You do not need a mental health diagnosis to seek support from one of BetterHelp's licensed providers above.  

The mental health field can include psychiatric medication management, online therapy, marriage counseling, couples therapy, clinical social work, licensed counseling, and other mental health services in person and online. Seeing a licensed provider can help you navigate mental health conditions and life circumstances through mindfulness and other specialized techniques.

Please note that BetterHelp does not offer diagnostic or medication management services.

Why are many residents in the state of California working with a licensed counselor?

People reach out for mental health support for a variety of reasons. Many individuals work with a counselor for general life advice, while others may attend therapy for a specific concern. Whether you live in a large city or a smaller county in California, BetterHelp can match you with a licensed professional tailored to your preferences noted when you sign up.

Mental health counselors in California support clients with varying issues, which can include:

  • Challenging situations or life stressors
  • Eating disorders
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Depression or depressive conditions
  • Adjustment issues
  • Emotional support for a terminal illness
  • Chronic pain emotional support
  • Grief
  • Personality disorders
  • Trauma
  • Relationship conflicts and concerns

Finding a therapist that takes new clients in online therapy can be the first step in finding a treatment plan that works for you. Your therapist can provide a safe space for you to focus on self-care and well-being.

If you're interested in speaking to one of the therapists above or being matched with a counselor in 24 to 48 hours, consider signing up for BetterHelp. BetterHelp has over 35,000 providers, including those listed above.

Emergency services

If you are experiencing a crisis or emergency, don't use this site's online services. If you are in life-threatening danger, call 911. If you require support for a crisis, reach out to the hotlines below:

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Some commonly asked questions can be found below.

How much does a therapist cost?

Mental health professionals can differ in price. Forbes found that the average cost of in-person therapy in the US is around $100 to $200 per hour. Pricing can also vary based on your location. 

BetterHelp offers payment plans of $60 to $90 per session, charged monthly in a lump sum. You can also take advantage of this pricing on one of BetterHelp's sister platforms, like ReGain for couples or TeenCounseling for teens aged 13 to 19.

Many therapists may be upfront about their pricing and whether or not they take health insurance from the beginning. Additionally, some in your area may offer a sliding scale plan to allow those with lower incomes to pay less for therapy. However, services online can often save individuals a few hundred dollars per month.

How do I know if I should get a therapist?

Mental health services and mental health providers may help you navigate various concerns. You do not need a diagnosis or condition to attend therapy; You can discuss grief, relationship concerns, stress, or life changes and ask for general advice. A counselor may help you gain power over your life and emotions while you navigate day-to-day experiences.

Mental health issues don't always present as a crisis. Many professionals provide talk therapy and support for life transitions, skills learning, relationship problems, or life coaching. Online therapy sessions in California can allow clients seeking therapy to experience professional help through video, phone, or live chat sessions without commuting to an office.

Does insurance cover therapy?

Different counseling services can vary in cost. Therapists must apply to accept insurance through insurance companies, which may take time and money, so not every therapist offers services through insurance. If you cannot find a therapist that accepts your plan, BetterHelp may be cheaper than visiting an in-person therapist.

Is online therapy safe?

Online therapy through BetterHelp and its sister platforms is safe. Therapists are licensed, experienced, and vetted before being contracted with the platform. If you experience any concerns with your therapist, you change your counselor through the platform or app at any time.

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