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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Mark Yeung

Offering therapy in California
License: LCSW,MPH
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefDepressionCoaching
12 years of experience

I imagine you may be experiencing a number of emotions. Are you feeling overwhelmed by the process of selecting a counselor? Hopeful about the possibility of receiving support and making change? Skeptical about how an online therapist profile can actually give you a sense of a therapist's approach and how you might be able to work with them? You're not alone. I can tell you facts about me. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in the States of California, Oregon and Washington. I attended the University of California, Berkeley and received Masters in Social Work (MSW) and Public Health (MPH) and have had over 10 years of experience providing counseling to the medically sick, terminally ill, the bereaved, veterans and many others. I am experienced in and often use Dialectical Behavioral therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and I use a Humanistic approach that is Solution-Focused. These are techniques and approaches that you can Google to learn more about me but they alone may not tell you if you and I will work well together. Beyond the technical trainings and skills, here is who I am. I believe in therapy. I believe the statement that “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”. Practicing therapy gives me the opportunity and joy of practicing caring in a professional and skilled way. The therapy outcomes research bears this out: Across all treatment approaches, the most important correlates of positive therapy outcomes are: 1. Therapist characteristics (empathy, warmth, genuineness) 2. Alliance between therapist and client 3. Adoption of new behaviors by client Contact me if this sounds like a good fit.

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Nicole Forester

Offering therapy in California
License: LPCC,MT-BC,NCC
Stress, AnxietyAddictionsTrauma and abuseGriefDepression
16 years of experience

Hello - My name is Nicole Forester . I welcome you. I recognize the energy it takes to seek support. What I can offer is non-judgmental listening to help you hear your own voice. I invite you to be as direct and unedited as you are comfortable. I believe speaking your full truth is the best place to start. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (CA), a Licensed Professional Counselor (CO) and a Nationally Board-Certified Music Therapist. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Therapy from Utah State University in 2002 followed by an internship at Bethany Children’s Home in Pennsylvania. I graduated with a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix in 2007. I have worked in a variety of settings: University Neuropsychiatric Institute, Inpatient Units, Addiction Recovery Utah Youth Village, In-Home Crisis Team Project Reality, Outpatient Addiction Services and Dual-Diagnosis Arbour Counseling Services, Outpatient Services, Intensive-Outpatient Program Groups Hospice by the Bay, Children and Teens in Hospice Established Private Practice in 2012-2019 in San Francisco. I encourage you to interview your therapist to find a good fit. Feel free to connect with me. We can talk about what kind of support you seek. I will do my best to answer any questions you might have about this process. I believe that having someone to listen objectively can be very helpful. I appreciate the courage it takes to ask for help. Take good care. Hope to hear from you.

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Harvey Pacht

Offering therapy in California
License: MA, LMFT,Life Coach Certificate
Relationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesSelf esteemCareer difficulties
3 years of experience

I have been coaching people for the past 15 years. My training is based primarily within the Strategic Family Systems school. This experience has been honed through the Tony Robbins-Cloe Madanes Training Center certification program. I have also had extensive experience coaching people within Landmark Worldwide. This all gets combined with my background as an Orthodox Jew and the wisdom that this tradition brings regardless of whether a client is "religious" or not. My main focus is on working with couples who are fighting or communicate in such a way that they come away feeling more distant, lonely, frustrated and eventually resentful. These couples have developed a pattern of interaction. When we work together, I have you bring the fight to me!! I will interrupt your pattern and train you to interact so that what previously drove you apart, will now leave you connected with a feeling of closeness and love. We will work together to create new emotional patterns that have you fulfill your needs in a way that is good for you, good for others in your life and good for society as well. Let's set up a time to explore what you want to accomplish and how you would like your life to be so you can be back in the driver's seat of living life.

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Dr. Gail Masterson

Offering therapy in California
License: PhD
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes
28 years of experience

Are you finding it difficult to navigate these uncertain times or feel that you’ve lost your way? Are you on your path, but progress is thwarted by circumstances not of your own making or beyond your control? Sometimes muddling through is the best any of us can do or expect of ourselves. Perhaps the uncertainty we are all facing is a blessing in disguise, because with uncertainty comes opportunity. If you’d like to explore what opportunities you have to find your footing or get things moving, sharing your story is the first step. With over 25 years experience practicing psychotherapy and having gone where I didn’t know I was going, I understand life’s challenges and the possibility for a more creative and meaningful life by venturing into unknown territory. My belief is that you know what you need to do to improve your life and with coaching and questioning you are capable of finding the best solutions. I have my BA in Humanities, MA in Marriage Family Therapy, PhD in Psychology, and am licensed in California as a Marriage Family Therapist. I have had extensive experience with teletherapy, having worked with David Viscott, MD, one of the first psychotherapists to have a nationally syndicated talk radio show, who had clients from all over the country call into the Viscott Center for Natural Therapy where our approach was brief solution oriented therapy. I also had extended, in-depth psychotherapy as part of my training and beyond because of my interest in exploring the self. I’m familiar and comfortable with both short and longer term therapy. I’ve worked with couples, families, and individuals ranging from teenage years to older adults at the end of their lives. I understand taking the first step can be difficult. I also know you can start before you’re ready! I’m here to listen, encourage, support, and collaborate with you until the correct path becomes clear.

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Zachary Martin

Offering therapy in California
License: LCSW
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
5 years of experience

Thank you for your consideration. I come by my profession honestly. I have always been known as a calming individual in my social circle. This led me to a helping profession early on. I worked in adult residential facilities for persons with development disabilities while I pursued my education. In 2008, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a minor in psychology. My philosophy degree is uncommon for a therapist. However, I believe that greatly assists my work. This is especially relevant with CBT and existential crisis work. I graduated with my master’s degree in Social Work in 2013. My post graduate experience includes foster/adoption work, child welfare investigations, inpatient hospitalization, interdisciplinary teams, and outpatient therapy. My diverse experience gives me a strong perspective of the contributing factors that lead to mental illness. I have been practicing outpatient therapy for the last four years. My therapeutic approach draws upon cognitive behavioral, narrative, mindfulness, solution focused, motivational interviewing, and psychodynamic theories. My primary goal is to create a comfortable environment for patients in which they are able to freely express themselves. From there, I work closely with patients to find interventions that will produce results for them.

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Dr. Vincent Camarda

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

I am licensed in California with 34 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & coping with life changes. 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 sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

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Monique Young

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyLGBTTrauma and abuseGriefDepression
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, 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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Darlene Melendez

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsSelf esteemDepression
10 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, motivation, self esteem, & confidence. I also have experience working with depression. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. 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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Vicki Barker

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
14 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 14 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, trauma, abuse, motivation, self esteem, confidence, & depression. 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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Mary Naimie

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes
30 years of experience

I am licensed in California and Nevada with 30 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, coping with grief, coping with loss, & career difficulties. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. 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 sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

How can a counselor support you?

Therapists 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 CA, and one out of five Americans has a mental health condition. Searching for local licensed professionals 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 a BetterHelp therapist does not offer diagnostic or medication management services.

Why do people choose to work 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, BetterHelp can match you with a licensed professional tailored to your preferences noted when you sign up.

The mental health therapists in California support clients with varying issues through therapy, such as:

  • 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 to contact in a crisis

If you are experiencing a crisis or emergency, don't use the BetterHelp site. 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 of the most commonly asked questions about therapy can be found in the section 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.

When should I get a therapist in California?

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 can allow clients seeking therapy to experience professional help through video, phone, or live chat sessions without commuting to an office.

Does insurance cover the cost of 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 the safe option?

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.

In today's fast-paced society, mental well-being has become a cornerstone of a fulfilling life. Amid the daily challenges and stressors that can overwhelm even the most resilient individuals, seeking professional guidance often offers a path to clarity and balance. The journey toward improved emotional health involves understanding personal triggers, embracing self-compassion, and developing effective coping strategies. While self-help books and online resources provide valuable information, nothing compares to the personalized support offered by a qualified mental health professional. One-on-one sessions with experienced experts can help uncover the underlying issues contributing to anxiety, depression, or other emotional hurdles. With a careful and empathetic approach, these professionals tailor their advice to suit individual needs, ensuring that each person receives strategies that work best for their unique circumstances. Whether through cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness practices, or other innovative methods, the aim is to foster resilience and empower individuals to take control of their inner lives. For those living in bustling urban centers, engaging in face-to-face sessions in a welcoming environment can be particularly beneficial. Access to a caring clinician provides not only a safe space to explore difficult emotions but also builds a support network essential for long-term recovery. The process encourages self-reflection and greater insight into behavioral patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. While the journey can be challenging at times, the rewards include enhanced emotional stability, improved interpersonal relationships, and a renewed sense of self-worth. In one notable case, the guidance provided by a highly trained therapist proved instrumental in navigating a tumultuous period. Through structured sessions and tailored interventions, the individual learned to identify stressors and develop healthier responses to adversity. This experience underscored the transformative impact that dedicated support can have on one's overall quality of life. In a region like Texas, community-based initiatives and accessible mental health programs further reinforce the value of professional help. These efforts emphasize early intervention, preventive care, and continuous support, ensuring that more people are equipped to face life's inevitable challenges. Ultimately, investing in mental well-being is an act of self-care that yields lifelong benefits. By embracing professional support, individuals can unlock new levels of emotional resilience and discover pathways to a brighter, more balanced future. Each step taken toward healing represents a commitment to personal growth, enabling a life filled with renewed optimism and strength. Embracing this transformative journey consistently paves the way for deeper understanding, lasting peace, and meaningful personal progress.
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