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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Janet Lengsfelder

Offering therapy in California
License: LMFT,RN
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefParenting issuesDepression
25 years of experience

I was a nurse first. As I worked in various settings with the goal of helping people recover from illness I realized that those who were motivated by a support team who knew them and helped them do the work of healing were the survivors. I decided I wanted to go on to learn more about how to help the whole person. My graduate degree followed by a three year training in Gestalt therapy gave me the tools to provide this deeper level of emotional first aid. As a fellow traveler along the road of life I know we all have challenges but I also have gained the wisdom to see that we have choices. I guide people to become aware of their life themes with the goal of strengthening their sense of self. Getting a handle on one’s self is very centering and stabilizing. It doesn’t eliminate anxiety or hard times, but it usually changes the perception of catastrophe and the feeling of panic into more manageable perceptions of disappointment and feelings of pain or sadness. I challenge you to risk living fully, to learn and grow from the challenges that life presents. Only then can you experience real joy. I am honored to be witness to your process.

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Katherine Weller

Offering therapy in California
License: LMFT
Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficulties
30 years of experience

I’d like to introduce myself. I am a practicing psychotherapist licensed in both Washington and California. My licensure is as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) since 1989. My training working with individuals and families is informed by an educational and experiential foundation in human systems, so my perspective is through the lens of our human experience in context, both historic and present day. Early family experiences, present day relationships, work and school environments and community surroundings all impact our view of ourselves, others, and our relationship to the world. I am excited to work with each of you to discover what can create for you a sense of hope, promise, self-regard, and general increased emotional health. Together we will look to those positive possibilities to inspire action to address and change what holds you back and stands in the way of a true sense of wellbeing and personal agency. I have worked in the field for a long time in multiple settings from hospitals and public health to military bases, agencies, and small practice offices in rural and urban communities; from these varied experiences I have developed so much respect for the diversity of human experience and the personal and unique nature of each individual’s set of challenges. I am trained in many approaches and find that the core of effective work is the quality relationship with you, the client, and the level of understanding and trust that grows out of listening, challenging, and encouraging positive action. I will draw from a number of proven effective models of therapy as appropriate to help you find your way, and our work will be dedicated to moving you towards your personal goals. I truly look forward to our time together.

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Sherry Farrell

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

My name is Sherry Farrell. I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. I earned a bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University in Clinical Psychology and went on to earn a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco. My story is unique in that I worked in the field of psychology for roughly 5 years and then turned to teaching young people while raising my own children. This allowed me to gain a broad understanding of how children and families operate in a clinical, educational and social setting. I am now prepared to take that knowledge and apply it once again toward my work with clients. I have provided therapy in a clinic, alternative and mainstream school setting. In my work with children, I have helped those struggling with Conduct Disorder, ADHD, depression, social isolation, anxiety, suicide ideation, abuse and family stress. I have worked with couples and families facing addiction, infidelity, parenting challenges, mood disorders, physical challenges and divorce. My work with individuals mainly dealt with anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, and navigating life transitions. In session I rely on a variety of therapeutic techniques and styles which include Solution Focused, Client Centered, Narrative, Motivational, Existential and Cognitive Behavioral therapy. I thoroughly enjoy getting to know every client I meet on a deep level. I value creating a relationship built on compassion, understanding, safety and respect. I believe my role is to meet clients where they are and work as a team to process difficulties and create strategies that will lead to positive, lasting change. Seeking therapy can bring up feelings of fear and uncertainty. Once you make that first step, you are embarking on a journey of self discovery that will allow us to work as a team to move from a place of stress and discomfort to one of hope, relief and enduring change. I can't wait to meet you! Years of clinical experience: 5

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Dennis Forfa

Offering therapy in California
License: MA,LMFT
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefSelf esteemCoping with life changes
15 years of experience

When you feel like you're spinning your wheels, therapy can provide traction you need to get your life moving forward. Therapy can help you learn how to stop struggling with creative stagnation, worry, self-doubt, lack of motivation, loneliness, homesickness, or the pain of loss. Therapy can help get you unstuck from repeated struggles with yourself and difficulties with others. In our meetings, you and I will work together to identify roadblocks that keep holding you back. I will assist you in creating permanent strategies for getting past those roadblocks, empowering you to: * Navigate life's transitions with clarity and intention * Strengthen relationships, improve communication, and cultivate more meaningful connections * Process grief and come to peace with losses * Foster resilience and mental toughness to face challenges with determination * Tap into creative problem-solving and deep artistry * Embody your core values and show up for life with integrity and purpose Together, we will work on unlocking your potential to build a more complete, fulfilling, dynamic, and purposeful life. I am available for live sessions (video or phone) from early morning through afternoon on weekdays. Early risers, take note! Depending on the day, I may have morning appointments available as early as 4:00 AM Pacific/5:00 AM Mountain/6:00 AM Central/7:00 AM Eastern, and sometimes earlier. I am licensed to provide therapy when you are physically located in California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, or Maine.

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Mary Baez

Offering therapy in California
License: LMFT
Stress, AnxietyAddictionsFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseDepression
16 years of experience

Hi my name is Mary Baez. I am a Marriage and Family Therapist registered in the state of California. I have been working in the mental health field for fifteen years in a varieties of settings, giving me a wealth of knowledge on human behavior. Beyond my educational qualifications I have learned and continue to learn from the clients I have had the pleasure and honor of serving throughout my years of clinical practice. The learning never stops and the resiliency of the human spirit is amazing. I also am a clinical supervisor of up and coming therapists. It is of upmost importance to me to build a trusting therapist/client relationship in the beginning of the therapeutic process. This is done by listening with my whole heart in a non-judgmental stance to allow for soulful sharing and feeling heard and understood. My basic approach to therapy is Person Centered, which purports unconditional positive regard. The interventions I use are eclectic and tailored to the unique and individual needs of each client. I work from a holistic and strength based philosophy to assist clients in going within to find their truth and act upon it by living a life worth living based on self-discovery. Clinical Approaches: Trauma Focused Therapy EMDR Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Solution Focused Therapy

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Jonathan Kabat

Offering therapy in California
License: LMFT
Trauma and abuse
10 years of experience

You have questions. They are in your heart; and therefore, weigh heavily on your heart. They may appear to be unanswerable. Perhaps they are. They may arise in your thoughts or they may not. These questions come in feelings, images, sensations, dreams, and most importantly longings. We very often attempt to satisfy these longings through insufficient means. Our longings go unmet as we do the same things, try the same strategies, without success. You might be asking, "how do I change these patterns?" As a systems therapist I explore with you the vast territory of life in fine detail so you may better recognize the impacts of experience on you and realize your impacts on life. We collaborate on ways to change and I support your practice of developing new approaches to achieve what your heart truly longs for. Therapy is quite like a quest to find the ways you can be the best 'you.' It's a guided quest for navigating challenges, often catastrophes, and finding a way forward towards your heart's calling. I draw from many approaches to integration and revealing wholeness. Because I have found that integrating one's whole being requires approaching life's challenges from many perspectives and trying different methods to facilitate change. I have studied transpersonal and systems approaches to understanding the causes and conditions which arise in our human experience. I have trained in somatic, emotional, and cognitive therapies; which often, integrates the way we sense, feel, and think about our experience. Much of my approach is informed by applied ecopsychology, eco-therapy, and climate psychology. I am particularly interested in working with individual experiencing strong emotional reactions to the changes we are experiencing in the ecological systems and society at this time. I support individuals who are experiencing eco-rage, eco-despair, eco anxiety, all arising from eco-empathy and ultimately returning to a deep care and concern for Earth. The entire world around us; and therefore we as individuals, are going through tremendous changes. Integrating this experience and finding compassion, resilience, and purposeful action is my passion. I will seek to assist you in finding your personal way towards your own clarity and purpose. Jonathan Kabat LMFT 129217

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Cindy Cothran

Offering therapy in California
License: LPC-MHSP
Stress, AnxietyLGBTRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseDepression
18 years of experience

Hello, starting therapy can be tough and I hope to make the first steps easier if possible. It is my belief that therapy can be a place of emotional refuge and I work hard to let each person know that their best interest comes first. I hope that through understanding and gentle humor, we can find connection and work on the challenges that brought you to seek a therapist. Whether you are experiencing anxiety, depression, a loss, life changes, trauma or some other circumstance, I hope to support and help you through the situation. I have been a therapist for more than 15 years and in that time I have honed a flexible set of therapy skills that I adapt to match your personal life goals. No matter which therapeutic approach I am utilizing, my style is always sincere and wholehearted. I believe in the goodness of all people and that we are all worthy of respect. I do lean toward evidenced-based therapeutic approaches and I am trained in a variety of models/ techniques. If I had to describe my therapeutic style in a few words, I would say that I am an attachment-based therapist with an eclectic therapy style as I draw from such approaches as mindfulness, solution based therapy, cognitive behavioral approaches, Hakomi, somatic approaches and EMDR. I look forward to working with you as you take the next step to living the life you want to live!

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Autry Jamison

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

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology. I have worked with individuals, couples, families, and groups for over 8 years, in person and telehealth. I am currently licensed in California and Texas. I was the Executive Director at Discovery Counseling Center for several years and transitioned to Director-at-Large in 2022 when I relocated to San Antonio, TX to focus on my nonprofit, Isaiah D. Jamison Community Wellness Center. We are a community and faith-based organization that offers multiple programs and services that is fluid and designed to provide a continuity of care for the population we serve. I am currently providing consultation, training, and clinical supervision to staff and colleagues at Discovery Counseling Center in Morgan Hill, CA. Due to my journey and rich exposure to multicultural, diversity, and intersectional experiences: I can effectively serve culturally diverse populations from all SES. I also appreciate the beautiful diversity in God's creations, and am open to assisting/supporting clients from the Queer Community. My clinical experience includes helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & 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 am here to help you heal, explore, and discover a full healthier you. I enjoy working from an integrative approach that is uniquely tailored to help meet the needs of clients based on their individual experiences. I also have a compassion for teaching individuals how to connect, communicate, utilize resources, and build and restore relationships. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started! You can find additional information about me by visiting my website or on Psychology Today at: https://idjcommunitywc.org/ or https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/autry-jamison-san-antonio-tx/347822

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Robert Lizardy

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyLGBTRelationship issuesCareer difficultiesDepression
7 years of experience

I am a licensed LMFT in both California and Oregon with 7 years of professional work experience. 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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Jennifer Buer

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsSelf esteemDepressionCoping 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 and anxiety, family conflicts, 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!

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Mari Conti

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsSelf esteemCoping with life changes
12 years of experience

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California with over 15 years of clinical work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship and/or family issues. In addition I can assist in increasing motivation, self esteem, and confidence. Using a strength based approach, and a little humor, I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. We will work together to create a 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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Donelle Anderson

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseSelf esteemCoping with life changes
20 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, family conflicts, 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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Karen Pekarcik

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyGriefParenting issuesSelf esteemCoping with life changes
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, trauma and abuse, 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. 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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Ana Rayo

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefCoping 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, anxiety, coping with grief, coping with loss, coping with life changes, relationship 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. 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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Melinda Meeks

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefIntimacy-related issuesDepression
23 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 23 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, coping with grief, coping with loss, & intimacy related issues. I also have experience working with 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!

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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