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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Merry Walensa

Offering therapy in California
License: MA
Relationship issuesGriefSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes
17 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 17 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients cope with grief and loss, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & career planning and/or difficulties on the job. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I do integrative work including spirituality, related to the psychological-philosophical work often referred to as existential theory, that is inclusive. I create for ALL my clients a space that is 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 making change. I am here to support & empower you on this journey. Please note: that ALL new clients need to sign up for a VIDEO appointment FIRST before a phone or chat may be used.For new comers. I also highly recommend keeping your appointments and cancelling by giving advanced notices when ever possible. I appreciate that COURTEOUS. Thank you.

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Cindy DeNuccio

Offering therapy in California
Relationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesDepression
32 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 32 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, & parenting issues. While people's problems may be similar, each individual is unique, and their path to growth is specific to only themself. 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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Jeremiah Hein

Offering therapy in California
LGBTRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseBipolar disorderDepression
8 years of experience

Hi. Sometimes our past, & present can hurt, can cause pain and suffering that prevents us from living the present and future lives that we want and deserve. Please allow me to assist you in taking a load off of your back that you’re carrying in this ongoing journey we call life. This life can be hard to live in & challenging, let me help you develop the armor, & equip the best weapons, to fight this fight. We will work together so that anxiety, anger, depression, or any other negative emotional state, will not get in the way of you achieving your goals & living a values driven life worth living that is full of meaning & purpose. I can help you in processing unresolved trauma, grief, guilt and shame, anger, sadness, anxiety, addiction, etc. Maybe you’re stressed out from work, relationships, partners, family, friends, life. Maybe you’d like assistance in being able to communicate better, say no to others, asserting yourself, putting your wants, needs, & desires 1st for a change. If you want an unbiased professional person to talk to who wont judge you, message me. I am a Licensed Therapist with 8 years of work experience. I help people with depression, anxiety, unresolved trauma, grief, LGBTQ+ issues and identity, etc. Let me support you in this journey.

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Courtney Brown

Offering therapy in California
Trauma and abuseAnger managementDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
17 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 17 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with trauma and abuse, anger management, depression, & 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. 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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Andrea Throndson

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesGriefDepression
14 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship issues, & coping with grief and loss. 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. I have expertise in grief, addictions and trauma. I also am certified in DBT. 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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Lorrie Herzberg

Offering therapy in California
License: MSW,LCSW,LICSW
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseGriefSelf esteemCoping with life changes
30 years of experience

I am licensed in Massachusetts and California, have 30 years as a clinical social worker. I have expertise in helping clients with stress and anxiety, life transitions, aging parents, trauma, coping with grief and loss, and exploration of life challenges. You deserve respect, sensitivity, and compassion. Our dialog and treatment plan will be designed to meet your unique and specific needs and I will make available research-validated and cutting edge modalities. 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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Melissa Beck

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesIntimacy-related issuesSelf 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, intimacy related issues, & 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. 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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Kaete Elliott

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyLGBTRelationship issuesAnger managementDepression
24 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 24 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, lgbtq+ related issues, relationship issues, & anger management. 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.

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Jeremeka McBride

Offering therapy in California
License: LCSW
Relationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefSelf esteemDepression
9 years of experience

Welcome! My goal is to provide quality services to clients by establishing relationships that encourage growth and mutual respect. I am a licensed clinical social worker who has been providing therapy services for over 5 years. I believe therapy is a tool that you can use to navigate anything, big or small. I believe that therapy is beneficial to everyone and being in therapy allows you to express yourself in a judgment free environment. I am licensed and trained to work with children, adolescents, adults, and families with varying levels of psychological and relational concerns. My primary therapeutic use is solution-focused counseling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I am here to guide you, advise you, provide strong active listening skills, support, and direct you in finding the solutions to your struggles. My goal is to use my best judgement and experienced clinical skill sets to direct you along your journey I look forward to working with you!

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Sarah Barber

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

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.

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Sigfrido Urtecho

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyLGBTDepressionCoping with life changes
14 years of experience

I am a licensed bilingual Latino therapist in California with 14 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, lgbtq+ related issues, & 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. 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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Zoya Raysberg-Bellman

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesAnger managementDepressionCoping with life changes
22 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 22 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, anger management, & 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.

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Dijana Fiorentino

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression
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, trauma and abuse, & 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. 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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Amy Martinez

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsParenting issuesDepressionCoping with life changes
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, trauma, abuse, parenting issues, & 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. 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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Steven Jackson

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyGriefSelf esteemCoping with life changes
15 years of experience

I am licensed in California and have 15 years of professional work experience. I have experience helping clients with stress, anxiety, grief, loss, motivation, self-esteem, and confidence, as well as 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. The first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am direct and here to support you in that process.

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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