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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Rachel Fuller

Offering therapy in California
License: LPCC
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
6 years of experience

Congratulations! It takes courage to ask for help. Hopefully we can work as a team to improve your perspective, way of thinking and overall approach to live. My name is Rachel Fuller and I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor practicing in Southern California for the past 5 years. I grew up in the Philadelphia/ New Jersey and graduated with my Masters from the University of Pennsylvania. As a result I have the benefit of an East coast straightforward and honest approach mixed with SoCal creativity and compassion. Life has changed for everyone over the past few months on a small or large scale. As with any disruption, many people are experiencing any number of emotions : anxiety, loss, uncertainty or depression. It is essential during this time that we maintain human connection and communicate our thoughts, desires, needs and feelings. I hope to provide support for clients of any age who are struggling, want to learn more about themselves or simply need someone to listen. I don't have a "cookie cutter" approach to therapy- I value feedback and flexibility to find the best fit for my clients. I look forward to meeting you!

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Esmeralda Huizar Leon

Offering therapy in California
License: LCSW
Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsDepression
3 years of experience

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California with over 7 years of experience working as a counselor. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, domestic violence and substance use. I also helped many people who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse. My counseling style is friendly and solution focused. I believe in treating anyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and I don't believe in stigmatizing labels. My approach combines cognitive-behavioral, client centered, talk therapy and crisis intervention counseling. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek for a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. 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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christine joseph

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietySelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
25 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 20 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, depression, & coping with life changes. 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.

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Laura Case

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefDepressionCoping with life changes
21 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 21 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, coping with grief and loss, & 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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Lauren Prina

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

I am licensed in California with 4 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. 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. Kenneth Parker

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsParenting issuesDepression
40 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 40 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & parenting issues. 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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Gregory Keeler

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyLGBTSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
27 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 27 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, lgbtq+ related 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. 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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James Barger

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyLGBTTrauma and abuseGriefDepression
15 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 14 years of professional work experience in psychotherapy. I also have an additional 17 years of experience in the mental health field. 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. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process. I look forward to working together as a team to address issues that may be holding you back and developing skills and strategies to help you succeed.

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Cassandra Vetter

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsSelf esteemCoping 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 and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. 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.

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Juho Kim

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyAnger managementSelf 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, anger management, 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. 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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Carol Coleman

Offering therapy in California
Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefSelf esteem
34 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 33 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, & coping with grief and loss. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialogue 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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Dale Hamilton

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseGriefDepression
29 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 29 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship 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. 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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Anita Cooper-Marquez

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseCoping 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, relationship issues, family conflicts, & trauma and abuse. 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 commend you for getting started!

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Jill Tiedeman

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemDepression
14 years of experience

Hi. I'm Jill Tiedeman, a licensed marriage and family therapist for over fourteen years based in California. Whether you are young and just getting started, wise in years, or somewhere in between, life, as we are only all too aware, is not always smooth sailing. As your therapist, I provide you with both skills and tools to help you learn to successfully navigate rough waters. Reaching out for help to either unravel the pain of your past or squarely face an uncertain or challenging future is clearly not easy, and the decision to seek out professional therapy is both brave and courageous. The good news, however, is you will almost always experience and enhancement to the quality of your day-to-day life as a result of your efforts. Client-centered therapy is at the heart of what I do, and the first thing you will instantly note is that I do not – and will not – judge you. Rather, we will become a closely knit team working together to help you move beyond both your physical and mental pain and to re-establish positive and productive life patterns. My methodology combines both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy techniques to help you to: - Increase mindfulness and distress tolerance - Decrease depression and anger - Reduce and manage negative thought patterns Assisting and guiding you along your road to recovery and both a fulfilling and mindful life is my foremost goal. I have worked for many years with clients in mental health crisis as well as clients with relationship challenges, life transition issues, depression, anxiety, and more. I also have knowledge about chronic illness and chronic pain and how to get through life in spite of the ups and downs. I have experience with clients of all ages, lifestyles, and addictions. Chances are very good that you can change your life, and, in that process, restore both the happiness and peace you seek and deserve. I look forward to working with you soon!

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Dr. America Dinsmore

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesParenting issuesSelf esteemDepression
15 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 15 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting issues, motivation, self esteem, & confidence. I also have experience working with 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. 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.

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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