Therapists in California

I am passionate about helping people find balance and peace in their lives whether they are struggling with relationship issues, mental health symptoms, or every day life stressors. I believe the therapeutic relationship we create is one of the most important components of a successful outcome. I strive to make people feel comfortable by remaining open minded, non-judgemental and genuine. I offer a strength based approach (utilizing DBT, Mindfulness, CBT and Solution Focused Therapy) to the people I work with and the situations they are dealing with because I strongly believe every individual has the capability to promote healthy change in their lives when they are ready and willing. Life is already hectic with never ending to-do lists and responsibilities that it can be easy to fall out of balance and begin to feel overwhelmed by it all. I feel confident that we can problem solve ways to help you regain that balance. I take a holistic approach to assessing the areas of your life that are causing the imbalances and help you develop ways to either cope with the circumstances or find other solutions to help alleviate suffering. I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California and have been working in the mental health field since 2000. I have been licensed since 2011 and before that worked as a behavior specialist . Most of my career has been working in the school system, juvenile detention centers and residential facilities for youth removed from their homes. I have worked extensively with children, adolescents and their parents. I am also passionate about the mind, body and soul connection and am constantly researching and learning new ways to improve this important connection within myself so that I can share insights and knowledge with others looking to do so as well. Important: Please Read I do work a full time job Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm Pacific Standard Time and will therefore be unavailable during those hours to respond. I have designated virtual office hours so that you will know when I am available online to either respond to messages you have sent me, or to provide a Live session (message chat, video, or phone call) if requested. Response time to messages varies Monday-Friday depending on when the message was sent and when my online office hours are that day. Typically response times can range from within the hour to 36 hours but could be up to 48 hours depending on the number and length of the messages received. It is very important to me to put together a thoughtful response rather than a rushed one, so thank you in advance for your understanding and patience. Betterhelp Virtual Therapy Office Hours Currently, Scheduled on an individual basis *I am not currently accepting new clients * Please keep in mind I am not typically available on the weekends but you are still free to send me messages as often as you need over the weekend and I will follow up with you on Monday during my office hours. Effective 11/7/2018, therapy appointments will be scheduled as follows: 30 minute appointments are actually 25 minute sessions, allowing for 5 minutes to write a note or take a quick break in between sessions. 60 minute appointments are actually 50 minute sessions (just like if you were to attend a therapy session in person), allowing for 10 minutes to write a note or take a quick break in between sessions. Betterhelp is still working on making changes to allow for sessions to be booked in hour blocks rather than 30 minute blocks. This will certainly help prevent people being able to book 30 minute blocks back to back, especially when they wanted a full hour and I can’t always get into the system quickly enough to block the 30 minutes following the scheduled time to guarantee an hour session. Please note this does happen from time to time and I do my best to avoid disrupting everyone's schedule to accommodate needs. I encourage you all to try and set up regular session times each week to ensure you have access to services more regular. While I do my best to accommodate last minute changes or requests, I also know I am not always able to do so and want to make sure you are getting what you need without a gap in being seen regularly. I have been working with Betterhelp now for over a year and a half during which time I have been evaluating my own habits and making efforts to improve my own self-care so that I can always be my most optimal to best serve you all. In that process I have come up with some ways to have more effective balance in responding to messages each day without sacrificing my own self-care time. If we have a regular scheduled therapy session that week, I will be responding to additional messages within approximately 48 hours. If we don’t have a therapy session scheduled that week, I will be responding to messages within approximately 24 hours. This will ensure that my time is being given to each of you more equally but also taking into consideration individual needs. Any messages received after 1pm on Friday, or Saturday and Sunday will be responded to on Monday during my online hours (6:00-9:30PM PST).

Welcome! My name is Emily Vierra and I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. Many of us experience difficulties at different points in our lives and need help to overcome these obstacles. It takes courage to ask for help and I commend you for reaching out. Many of us need a safe place to share our feelings and I am here to help you talk openly without judgment. I approach therapy with respect, compassion, and empathy. I will work collaboratively with you to help you identify your needs and work through these difficult experiences. I have over 13 years experience working with individuals, families, and couples dealing with a wide range of issues in numerous settings. I have experience working with all ages, from very young children to elderly adults. I am currently working with foster children ages 0-18 in an outpatient clinic as well as their parents, foster parents, and other family members. I also am currently working in a private practice setting with children and adults who have been a victim of a crime. This includes sexual/physical abuse, domestic violence, and the death of a loved one. Prior to this, I have experience working at a hospice clinic, an outpatient clinic with individuals, couples, and families dealing with daily life stressors, and a clinic with at-risk children displaying behavioral issues at home/school. These positions have given me extensive experience treating depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal/homicidal ideations, PTSD, trauma and abuse, relationship issues, family conflict, parent/child issues, adjustment disorders, anger management, at-risk behaviors, conduct disorders, self-esteem/self-worth issues, and so forth. I take an eclectic approach with therapy and will tailor my treatment based on your specific needs and goals. I will utilize different modalities including Cognitive-Behavioral, Solution-Focused, Family Systems, Humanistic, Client-Centered, etc. In terms of availability, I check and respond to messages several times a day. I am flexible with my schedule and understand that you may have obligations during the day and am happy to accommodate most schedules, including nights and weekends. I look forward to working with you!

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

Hello, I am Danielle. I am licensed in California with 17 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, anger management, motivation, self esteem, sexuality & depression. 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 am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Minnesota and California with over 15 years experience working as a counselor and therapist. I have worked with individuals experiencing a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, eating disorder, grief and loss, relationship issues, emotion management, stress, work/life balance, and trauma. My therapy style is empathic and accepting. My approach combines cognitive behavior, dialectical behavior, solution focused and relational-cultural therapy. I believe that therapy is most effective when there is a therapeutic partnership that is genuine, compassionate, empathetic, and supportive of client choices. I respect and value the experiences in your life that contribute to you choosing therapy. Our work together will be based on your individual treatment plan goals with a focus on building skills to create changes in your life. It takes courage and hope to reach out for help. I am honored to be part of your journey toward health and wellness!

I am licensed in California with 20 years of professional work experience, primarily as a school social worker and school counselor working with teens and their families. I’m excited to also branch out and provide therapy to young adults, adults and couples. I have experience working with a variety of issues; from grief & loss, PTSD, ADHD, depression and anxiety to family conflicts, blended families, separation/divorce and co-parenting, as well as with issues impacting self-esteem, and confidence. I’m excited to work with clients to create an open and safe environment toward better self-expression, understanding & growth! ** I work part-time for BetterHelp and have limited availability. However, during June and July I have some additional time slots available, in which I can offer new clients approximately 4-6 sessions. If you are currently in need of short-term therapy to deal with a particular situation/issue, please feel free to book an open time slot. If you are looking to continue with the same therapist for more than 6 sessions, I most likely won't be able to accommodate on-going sessions after mid August, and I would recommend letting BetterHelp know to match you with a different therapist who has more on-going availability. Feel free to message me on this platform if you have any questions or need further clarification. Take good care!

I am licensed in California with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & 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 seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process. *Please note that I do not provide any letters.

I am licensed in California with 6 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, parenting issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming limiting beliefs and other challenges hindering your personal growth. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process of being the best version of yourself.

I am a psychotherapist in California with over 10 years of professional experience in helping people. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, cultural adjustment problems, trauma, abuse, and depression. I also have experience working with young adults, adults, and older adults of different cultural backgrounds. I use evidenced-based techniques including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interview techniques depending on what might be needed to help you reach your mental health or life goals. I look forward to supporting you as you continue to cope with different life changes and challenges. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life. I am here to support you as you take the first steps in that journey of making positive changes. I have a BA in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. I am also fluent in Cantonese.

I am licensed in California with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, anger management, motivation, self esteem, confidence, & career difficulties. I also have experience working with 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.