Therapists in California

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

I am your neighborhood therapist. I’m straightforward and matter-of-fact. I have no judgment and seek to assist you in understanding your patterns as well as increasing your understanding of yourself and the world around you. Therapy can help guide you towards creating the connection to self and to others which may be blocked by past, present, or future issues. I see therapy as a conversation and a safe space to explore your thoughts and possibilities. I have worked with individuals, couples, families, and groups of clients age 3 to 65 with issues ranging from anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, addiction, dysfunctional family dynamics, couples issues, domestic violence, child abuse, and transitional life stressors. I have 19 years of experience working in the field of counseling. I have been working in the field of addiction for almost 7 years. I graduated from California State University Fullerton in 2002 with an MS in Counseling and became a California Licensed Marriage Family Therapist in 2009. Let’s talk!

I am licensed in California with 6 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 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.

Hi, I am a practicing Licensed Professional Counselor for the past 25 years and have over 35 years working in the mental health field. My experience ranges from working on inpatient psychiatric units and in crisis response programs, to providing individual and family therapy. My therapeutic approach is always person centered, strengths based and goal oriented. Whether you are having a crisis in your life, have suffered a loss, are adjusting to changing situations in your life, or are just wanting to be happier and feel better about yourself, I can help you. I have a passion for helping the LBGTQ community, be that helping someone through the coming out process, improve family relationships and develop healthy confidence and self-esteem in a culture that is still sometimes condemning and unsupportive. I like to help family members of LGBTQ folks better understand and improve ways of showing loving support and overcoming any obstacles to being supportive. Another population that I have a passion for helping is Highly Sensitive People. Many people get diagnosed with major mental illnesses due to their symptoms of having difficulty coping with a stressful and chaotic world. Highly Sensitive people, and introverts, are often misunderstood and criticized for being themselves and end up feeling like something is wrong with them, when, in fact, they may just have traits that need to be understood, honored and respected. Our culture tends to value extroversion and toughness, and yet sensitives and introverts are some of the most creative, artistic, kind and empathetic people on the planet. Sensitivity and introversion are not problems or things to change, explain or defend. They are wonderful traits that you can understand better and therefore develop greater confidence and ways of communicating your needs and feelings. If you wonder if you are a Highly Hi Sensitive person, Google search Highly Sensitive Person self test and check out Elaine Aron’s work online. I enjoy and have experience working with folks who are neurodivergent and am part of the neurodivergent movement which emphasizes the person and how you may have a differently functioning brain, rather than focusing on clinical diagnoses that pathologize differently functioning brains. I like to help people develop deeper insights and understanding of their unique personality, and using such insight to improve communication, relationships and life choices. I frequently work with people on knowing and understanding their personality typology (based on Carl Jung’s work and Myers Briggs test) and will link you to free online tests to get the information you need to better understand yourself and how you fit with other personality types. This kind of insight therapy will help you throughout your life rather than just focusing on addressing the issues of today. If you can relate to any of this information, I may be a great therapy fit for you and would love to work with you. -Julie

I am licensed in California with over 12 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, family conflicts, parenting issues, & career difficulties. 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.

Hello, my name is Elizabeth Janca. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a counselor after my own experiences in play therapy and counseling. Having that safe space meant so much to me that I wanted to provide that opportunities for others. Born and raised south of Houston, TX, I pursued a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Texas A&M University followed by a Master’s in Counseling and Development at Texas Woman's University north of Dallas, TX. Over the last ten years I have had experience in direct therapy as an ABA therapist for children aged 2-12, play therapy with children aged 4-10, activity therapy with adolescents, talk therapy with adolescents and adults, and group therapy with adolescents and adults. Aside from my experience as a counselor, I also have three years’ experience in middle school education as an Academic Counselor and Administrator. I joined BetterHelp and Global Teletherapy with the hope of being able to continue to offer guidance and a safe space for children (5-12), teens (13-18), and young adults (19-35) as they navigate the challenges they encounter in life and school through client centered counseling. I primarily work out of Person/Client Centered Counseling, also known as Rogerian, which focuses on where the client drives the session in a nonjudgement space that facilities reflection. I also utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which focuses on challenging and changing unhelpful cognitive thoughts and behaviors, improving emotional regulation, and develop coping strategies. I look forward to working with you!

I am licensed in California with 22 years of professional work experience and I LOVE PEOPLE. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, family conflicts, parenting 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 here to help!

I am a licensed clinical social worker in California privileged to have 10+ years of professional work experience providing various therapies to my wonderful clients. After earning my bachelors degree in psychology at UC Davis, I worked at a school that served children with a primary diagnosis of autism. While I was a member of a team that helped teach 8-10 year old boys various skill acquisition tasks, I learned a great deal in this line of work as well. The program was loosely based on applied behavior analysis where we focused on using positive reinforcement to teach various competencies and decrease maladaptive coping skills. Following this I began providing ABA services in home for kids with autism aged 3-7yo. I worked helping kids learn more daily living skills, school readiness, behavior modification, and more. I then had a short stint as a nanny (and definitely used my behavior modification knowledge to my advantage). Following that I earned my MSW at the University of Southern California where I had an internship as a school counselor (and earned my PPSC), and at a partial hospitalization program at UCLA’s neuropsychiatric hospital working with families with kids who struggled with school for various reasons. Upon graduation I went back to ABA as a supervisor and managed a caseload of 10-15 families with children on the autism spectrum providing case management, parent training, staff training, program planning, behavior modification strategies and most importantly, doing all of this while building a strong and positive rapport with my clients and their families. Since 2017 I’ve shifted my focus to working with adults and focusing on relationship and life skills such as boundaries, mindfulness, anger management, assertiveness, how to choose a healthy partner, how to have a healthy relationship, emotion identification, expression, regulation, and communication. I also love exploring how our attachment styles and coherent narratives impact our ability and path of growth. I believe that the relationship between a therapist and a client is one that requires an important fit. It’s ok to shop around to find someone that fits you and if I’m the lucky therapist who works with your personality, then I truly look forward to working with you to improve your life. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started! Your mental health is worth EVERYTHING.

Welcome to Better Help! I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Virginia with experience working as a therapist with community mental health and in private practice. I have been trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and am a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist (Individual). The majority of my counseling experience has been working with clients who experience a wide range of concerns including mood disorders (depression, anxiety), relationship issues, life transitions, and parenting concerns. I also help many people who have experienced trauma or emotional abuse. I believe that with the proper supports and a growth mindset, we each can realize our potential and fulfill our purpose. Since each person’s experiences are unique, I utilize a person-centered, integrated approach which includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Dialectical Behavioral Therapy; Solution-Focused Brief Therapy; Mindfulness-Based and Strengths-Based approaches; and Motivational Interviewing. My focus is to help each individual heal, energize, and become aware of inner strengths by providing a neutral safe space, listening to concerns, and customizing a treatment plan to help individuals meet therapeutic goals. I promise to be accountable and accessible by creating a therapeutic environment that is welcoming to all identities. I look forward to working with you!

I am licensed in California with 5 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 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!