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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Rika Lopez

Offering therapy in California
License: LMFT
AddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseGriefDepression
15 years of experience

Hi, my name is Rika Lopez and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with almost 15 years of experience working with adults, couples, and families. I am a CSAT (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist) working with those who struggle with compulsive and repetitive behaviors such as pornography addiction, infidelity, "hook up" apps, and other sexually impulsive patterns. Not only do I work with individuals who struggle with these sexually acting out behaviors but also partners who have been betrayed or hurt in their romantic relationships/marriages. As a Christian therapist, I find it also of value to work with faith based clients who feel immense guilt and shame due to their sexual addictions. Sadly many churches do not offer a safe environment for people struggling with sexual addiction to be heard, noticed, or even counseled. This is such a tragic reality. My hope and prayer is that many spiritual communities will begin to expose themselves to real issues and start having difficult conversations with their congregation so people will not silently suffer and drown in their loneliness and isolation. There are tangible and practical resources to help you with your sexual addiction. Aside from sex addiction clients, my work with those who suffer from depression, anxiety, and trauma have allowed me to gain further insight into their world which thus helped me become more effective in providing tools and techniques into their day to day functioning. Thru CBT, IFS, Attachment based, and Systems theory, we can dig into the core of where and how these unhealthy behaviors are coming from. Therapy is a process so there are no quick fixes or changes that happen over night but I guarantee you that as you stay focused and committed, you will begin to see incremental changes in your life. Let's begin this new journey today! You are not alone in this. You are seen, you are noticed, you are heard. Allow me to walk alongside you so that we can begin to unfold your pain and hurt and get the help that you need!

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Brigette Girardey

Offering therapy in California
License: MA,LMFT
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseGriefSelf esteem
13 years of experience

Hello! My name is Brigette and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in East Bay, California. I have 10 years experience working with clients, providing therapeutic counseling services. I have worked with a diverse population of clients ranging from children, teens, adults, and elders. I provide services for individuals and families assisting with issues such as depression, isolation, anxiety, self esteem, trauma, loss, relationship issues, parenting issues, and more. I enjoy working with individuals from all walks of life and backgrounds and I value genuineness and collaboration with my clients. I provide a safe and supportive holding environment that is authentic and nonjudgmental in nature. I tailor my specific approach depending on client situation, needs, and goals for therapy. As well as draw from theories such as CBT, Solution Focused, Family Systems, and Client Centered modalities. Growth and change are encouraged through self reflection and finding practical solutions to problems. Making a change can feel overwhelming and scary, but if you are ready to take the first step and begin the road to a new way of life, I am here to help uplift and support you! I appreciate your courage and I look froward to hearing from you!

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Meghan Todd

Offering therapy in California
License: MA,LMFT
Family conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefParenting issuesCoping with life changes
4 years of experience

Hello there! My name is Meghan Todd and I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with experience working with children, teens, individuals, and families. I use a strengths-based, warm but direct approach. I pull from different models depending on each client's individual needs. I especially focus on motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, drama therapy, and strategic family therapy. With special training in drama therapy, I bring a uniquely creative lens to all of my work, whether or not you wish to engage with drama therapy in particular. Through it all, I believe in being client-centered and meeting the client where they currently are on their journey. I have familiarity with many areas, including depression, stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, and life changes. In the past, I have focused on treating parenting issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and motivation and self-esteem. Please ask me if I can help with whatever you are currently needing! Life is constantly unstable, changing at every moment. I am here to support and guide you through it all. I work to empower you and highlight your strengths, to build up the resiliency that already exists inside you to help you face whatever may challenge you. I will be happy to walk in front of you as a guide, beside you as a companion, or behind you as a supportive follower on your path of healing. Thank you so much for sharing your time and energy with me! I look forward to getting to know you and helping in whatever therapeutic ways I can.

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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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Angelique Gettle

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseGriefSelf esteemCoping with life changes
25 years of experience

As a marriage and family therapist licensed in the state of California, I have over 25 years experience working with a diverse population; That experience has led me to help people with trauma, PTSD, women's issues, grief, addictions and attachment related disorders. I also utilize art therapy and animal therapy in my clinical practice. My counseling style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, believing that every client is unique in their own perception and life experience. My approach combines a more humanistic, dynamic approach. I also enjoy rational-emotive based therapy and Minuchin’s Structural approach. It takes courage to seek therapy and to take those first steps toward actual change. If you are ready to take that step I am here to listen, support, and empower you to do so. I look forward to working with you!

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John Henry

Offering therapy in California
License: LMFT
LGBTFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseParenting issuesDepression
31 years of experience

My name is John Henry, M.Ed., LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist). I have practiced as a mental health clinician for thirty-one years. Prior to working in the mental health field, I was an educator for thirteen years. During ten of those thirteen years, I acquired an expertise in early childhood education where I conducted parenting workshops and provided supervision and consultation in early childhood education classrooms. My clinical mental health experience includes working with trauma, LGBQT issues, anxiety, depression, work issues, relationships including couples work, dealing with parenting challenges, and providing consultation for twenty years to teachers in Oakland, California after school programs. I have provided numerous parenting workshops over the years for assisting parents in developing effective communication skills with their children. These workshops included managing the child's behavior, understanding the underlying feelings and meaning of the behavior, and problem resolution. I have extensive work in providing individual, adolescent, family, couples, and adult therapy. For about twenty-three years, I provided training and supervision to graduate school interns and mental health clinicians. My experience is varied and across settings. I have worked mostly within a community mental health organization with additional experience in latency age children in a group home setting and as an adolescent and family therapist in a psychiatric hospital setting. My theoretical approach is psychodynamic that focuses on the clients relationships with others in their life that impact their daily life functioning. Relationships are a key element in how we relate and interact with others. During the sessions, I am compassionate and empathic . I also use eclectic approaches such as trauma focused treatment, cognitive behavioral strategies, family structural work, solution based therapy, and client centered approaches.

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Jennifer Gaumer

Offering therapy in California
License: MSW,LCSW
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsParenting issuesAnger management
13 years of experience

Welcome! My name is Jennifer Boden Gaumer and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Southern California with over ten years of experience in providing therapy services. I have worked in many therapeutic settings including: a hospital-based child guidance clinic, residential treatment center, and community-based professional parenting program for teenagers in foster care. I work with clients with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, parenting problems, ADHD, OCD and, learning disabilities. As a trained forensic interviewer, I have also helped many people who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse. Originally from Connecticut, I relocated to Southern California in 2009. I earned my Masters in Social Work degree from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work in 2001. My undergraduate degree is in Psychology from Clark University in Massachusetts. My counseling style is warm, interactive, and caring. I use various forms of psychotherapy (e.g., talk-therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and problem-solving therapy) to help my clients develop the tools necessary to address and/or relieve troubling symptoms and make positive improvements to their lives. The journey to starting a therapeutic relationship is one built on courage, strength, and trust. It takes courage to recognize the need for help, strength to believe in yourself, and trust in the therapeutic process. Outside of being a therapist, I am an avid gardener and home renovation fan. I also enjoy reading, going to the beach, and traveling to new places with my husband and two daughters. I look forward to working with you!

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Cristian Iordan

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

Trained at Loma Linda University licensed as Marital and Family Therapist and Ordained as Minister, I have experience working in both outpatient and inpatient settings with youth and adults dealing with a variety of mental health issues. Licensed in California, with over 12 years of experience I specialize in treatment for Anxiety, Depression, Medical professionals' mental health, Premarital counseling, Spirituality & religion based issues. My approach to psychotherapeutic treatment resembles a gym workout: first there is the hard, challenging and often frustrating work, followed by a rewarding sense of peaceful healing. Knowing that change is often challenging, I assist and accompany my patients to explore and embrace the benefits of positive change throughout the entire journey of healing. Humans are fascinating masterpieces; the human mind - a captivating marvel! In the course of life's journey many experiences shape who we are, who we become. Our ability to adapt to circumstances is not the only asset to navigate life, as our mind has the amazing ability to affect a positive transformation: "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2

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Teresa Paris

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyParenting issuesSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
9 years of experience

Welcome! I am licensed Therapist in California with 9 years of professional work experience. I have had the privilege of working with many diverse populations. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety and depression, parenting issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. The foundation of my practice relies on helping you identify your strengths. Together, we 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 change. I am here to support and empower you in that journey.

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Eileen Banados

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseDepressionCoping with life changes
16 years of experience

I am licensed in California, Nevada, and Maryland with 16 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & 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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Linda Uribe

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseGriefCareer difficultiesDepression
18 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 18 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & 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 sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

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Roxanna Haro

Offering therapy in California
Relationship issuesGriefSelf esteemCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
8 years of experience

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker licensed in California with 7 years of professional work one on one and group based therapeutic experience. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, coping with grief, coping with loss, motivation, self esteem, & confidence. I also have experience working with coping with life changes and seasonal changes (seasonal depression/ Holiday Blues). I strive 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 of self-help and healing.

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Kathleen Jansen

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseDepressionCoping with life changes
11 years of experience

Hi there, I'm Kathleen! Hello! I’m Katie, an LMFT with a passion for helping individuals navigate their personal journeys. I have spent the last 11 years working as a therapist to do just that. When I'm not practicing therapy, I'm reading, playing video games, attending my kids' activities, and going on adventures with my family. My approach My approach is collaborative and tailored to each person’s unique needs, utilizing techniques from CBT, DBT, Somatic Therapy, EMDR, Brain spotting, aggression replacement therapy, and person-centered therapy. I’m here to listen, support, and empower you as we work together toward your goals. I look forward to meeting you! My focus I studied at the University of Houston for my undergrad in Anthropology and the University of Houston Clear Lake for my Master's degree in Counseling. I specialize in trauma, codependency, adolescent issues, behavioral modification, self-harm, relationship issues, and autism. I believe in creating a safe and supportive environment for my clients. However, I’m open to working with anyone who is looking to better understand themselves and unlock their potential. My communication style I listen to my clients, engage honestly, and tell them the things they need to hear. Every therapy relationship is different and every person is different - together we will come up with an approach that is feasible and maintainable to support your growth. My journey to mental healthcare I had my own challenges as a teen and young adult that led me to need help. I do not think I would be where I am today without the support of my therapist during those dark times. I want to help others not have to make the same mistakes I did and be able to find their light. My goals for you Together we look at where you want to be and what the barriers are stopping you from getting there; then we find ways to remove or go around those barriers by setting small manageable goals. My first session with you Our first session will be a getting-to-know-you session where I gather a brief history of your challenges and start learning about you.

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Patricia Diaz

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyGriefCareer difficultiesDepressionCoping with life changes
16 years of experience

Hello! I am licensed therapist (LMFT) in California with 16 years of professional experience in a variety of clinical settings. I have experience in helping clients with work stress, anxiety, depression, life transitions, coping with grief and loss, motivation, self esteem, confidence and much more. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have strengths that will assist you in overcoming issues that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy is not always easy and I'm glad you have decided to work on your mental health.

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Kimberly "Kim" Woolley

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseCareer difficultiesDepression
24 years of experience

I am licensed in California with over 20 years of professional experience in the mental health field. I have worked in Medical Social Work helping individuals and families with sudden loss, injury, and chronic illness. I have worked with people and communities impacted by disasters. My expertise includes helping clients manage stress, anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, depression, abuse, and career difficulties. I also have significant experience working with individuals in high-stress professions, including first responders, law enforcement, and veterans. I believe you are the expert of your own story, and together, we can identify the strengths that will help you overcome life’s challenges. Taking the first step toward therapy is a powerful choice, and I am here to support you every step of the way.

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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