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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Denae Leigon

Offering therapy in California
License: LMFT
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesParenting issuesDepressionCoping with life changes
32 years of experience

I am a family and marriage counselor licensed in California with over 30 years experience. I worked for 19 years as a therapist and supervisor at a county Children's Mental Health Department. While there I had the opportunity to lead parenting classes, lead support groups, and work with clients to improve communication and stability. The couples and families presented with a range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, adoption issues, attachment issues, abuse and trauma, and ADHD. In addition, I was the therapist for Juvenile Hall. My counseling style is compassionate and open. I use a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach that is client driven. I know it takes courage to be vulnerable and I strive to provide a safe and trusting connection in order to benefit my client. The road to growth can be challenging and exciting, but it can lead to the life you have envisioned. I am here to support you on that path.

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Anita Vaccaro

Offering therapy in California
License: MA,LMFT
Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseSelf esteemCoaching
20 years of experience

Anita holds a Bachelor of Arts in the Behavioral Sciences, and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. Her profession has spanned over twenty five years working with individual issues in private practice, conducting groups and working with a wide variety of issues using the latest science based techniques to ensure the best possible outcome. She has worked with families & relationships, children & teens, family of origin and lifetime trauma, self esteem issues, general life dissatisfaction issues, and business & executive coaching. With an extensive career, Anita tailors treatment to your specific needs with expertise and precision. So many times we attend seminars, read books, and buy very expensive programs, which may be great, however, it's not long before you find that nothing sticks, leaving you needing more and more therapy. In the same way, you may also find that the most well intended communication therapy techniques don't seem to work when put into action with real life people. Or perhaps you find that you do so well in some areas of your life , but that doesn't translate to all areas. Anita addresses these issues and more, utilizing the latest research on the role of the brain to instigate and sustain lasting change. Her insights and approach have been featured on radio, podcasts, television, as well as, within the psychology community. In addition, she holds a teacher certification in meditation practices and is currently getting certified as a Brain Health therapist.

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Eliot Rosenstock

Offering therapy in California
License: M.A., Clinical Psychology
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefBipolar disorderDepression
8 years of experience

Hello, my name is Eliot Rosenstock. I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and I want to help you feel better. Let’s talk about what you want, and where you want to go in life. In my practice, I utilize dream analysis as well as a more cognitive-rational approach to integrate the unconscious and conscious mind to achieve your desired result from therapy. When you come to therapy, you want a concrete, positive change in your life. I don’t believe the idea that you come to therapy to feel better is very complex, nor do I believe you need your values totally rearranged to achieve a result which is life changing! Some therapists offer you a totally different way of seeing things, where as I want to offer you a clearer you. I don’t want to turn you into me, nor do I offer you a fast food religious experience. Through our conscious minds as well as our unconscious minds, we hold the key to a life where we feel better, more fulfilled, and less compromised by negative feelings and symptoms. Let’s help get you to the best you: feeling good, and thinking clearly!

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Teresa Cole

Offering therapy in California
License: LPCC
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseDepression
16 years of experience

I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) since 2014. I specialize in trauma (EMDR certified), grief and loss, career, disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, depression, anxiety, relationships, life transitions, spiritual issues, etc. I provide counseling for individuals, couples, and families dealing with all types of issues and mental health disorders. My approach is process oriented, solution based, and goal directed while providing psycho-education and resources. I use a variety of modalities that include EMDR, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Expressive Arts, couples counseling, addiction counseling, etc. I will help you access your inner strength and build tools to cope, grow, and heal.

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Seán Harrington

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseParenting issuesSelf esteem
25 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 26 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with family conflicts, trauma and abuse, & parenting issues. 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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Vaughn Baker

Offering therapy in California
Relationship issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCoping with life changesCoaching
30 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 30 years of professional work experience. I have experience working with Individuals and Couples, as well as resolving conflict in all types of relationship issues, Parenting education, Anger management/Domestic violence issues, Motivation, Self esteem and Confidence building, & Coping with life changes, and Stress/ Anxiety. 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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Joanne Nitchman

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefDepression
8 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 8 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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Victoria Villa

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseSelf 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 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 seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

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Jonathon Yassanye

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyLGBTAnger managementDepressionCoping with life changes
6 years of experience

LIFE CAN BE FULFILLING! We have ALL experienced stress, anger, anxiety and depression at different points of time, yet sometimes having one or all of these emotions can be overwhelming to the point of creating constant dysfunction in day-to-day living. Therapy is a liberating avenue to explore oneself and find inner peace that may be hidden under internal and external factors. It is important to feel heard and validated, especially when one is at their wits’ end. I am a firm believer in meeting each client where they are at in their journey of life and learning how they would like to approach their presenting problem(s), whether it be though visiting past experiences or keeping the discussion within the present moment; we will be able to co-create an individualized plan to help alleviate symptoms, as well as promote a healthier you, through psychoeducation, healthy interventions and self-care techniques. I am a graduate of Case Western Reserve University and bring six years of clinical expertise to the field of adult mental health. During graduate school, I interned at Circle Health Services (formerly The Free Clinic) in Cleveland, Ohio, where I advanced my therapeutic skills in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), anger management skill training and brief psychodynamic therapies, while keeping a person-centered approach to the therapeutic relationship with my clients. Later, I had the privilege to join Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland (JFSA), where I completed additional education in Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Here, I learned not only about different causes of cognitive decline and the biological facets that may be affected, but how to engage with an individual no matter what stage of cognitive impairment they are experiencing. In addition to working with affected individuals, I provided on-going psychotherapy to family caregivers, to help reduce the stress and burden that often occurs while caregiving. Throughout my time at JFSA, I earned my clinical license in social work, while being supervised by a clinical social worker who helped deepen my breadth of knowledge in Gestalt therapy, as well as grief and loss, experientialism, depression and anxiety. I have been trained by the co-founder, Dr. Carey Sherman, PhD., to facilitate the Savvy Caregiver Program and by Dr. Elizabeth O’Toole, MD, to administer an array of psychological measures, including the GDS, MoCA, PHQ-9, The Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, QOL-AD, and the Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy. Additionally, I have completed training and one-on-one supervision with Dr. Todd Pressman PhD. who created and certified me in his Deconstructing Anxiety model. https://toddpressman.com/certified-practitioners/

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Erica Fitts

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

I am licensed in California with 9 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 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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Leticia Miramontes Pelayo

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

With 12 years of professional work experience (Certified: Individual-CBT, Alcohol and Drug Counselor {12 step Based}, CRC-Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and licensed in California), and working with various communities with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. I am aware and clear that you are the one who makes the decisions for your life. Supporting your growth with patience, and kindness, as well as acknowledging and reminding you of the value and importance you hold is my goal . With a collaborative approach, we will help identify and remediate cognitive, mental, and emotional issues, including personal growth, adjustment to disability, and psychosocial and environmental problems. Having overwhelming stress and anxiety, having experienced past trauma and abuse, lacking motivation, lowered self esteem, and confidence, & depression needs nurturing and understanding. Aiming to Understand adds balance to life. Empowering individuals to deal adequately with life situations, reduce stress, experience growth, change behavior, and make well-informed rational decisions is important. Being in an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment is the created safe space that is waiting for 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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Garysha Youngblood

Offering therapy in California
AddictionsLGBTTrauma and abuseSelf esteemCoping with life changes
6 years of experience

Hello! I am Garysha Youngblood, a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist in California. Through my 6 years of experience I've served people within locked, legal and recovery settings. My primary work is to empower clients to achieve the life they want and deserve. Within that work, I have supported people through the following issues: coping with addictions, lgbtq+ related issues, trauma and abuse, motivation, self esteem, and confidence. Let's explore these things with curiosity and compassion.

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Shannon Shaffer Peterson

Offering therapy in California
Self esteemBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
35 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 40 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with motivation, self esteem, and confidence, bipolar disorder, 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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Tiffani Walton

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseGriefSelf esteemDepression
13 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 13 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. 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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Myriam Nunez

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyGriefSelf esteemDepressionCoping 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 and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, 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 sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started! NOTE: If you are a Kaiser Permanente member, I am unable to accept you as a client even though you are not utilizing your healthcare insurance in this platform.

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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