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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Lauren Miller

Offering therapy in California
License: LCSW
Stress, AnxietySelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepressionCoping with life changes
5 years of experience

Hello! Asking for help during a difficult time is not easy, so I want to make sure you feel comfortable, heard, respected, and cared for as you process whatever you need help with. I hope to help by creating a safe place to let you explore what you need to feel better now and in the future. I have my Master's in Social Work and am licensed in California and Texas. In a family treatment center, I worked with children, adolescents, and adults struggling with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and trauma/abuse. I've also helped adults struggling with developmental disabilities, substance abuse addictions, adjustment disorder, and other mental health challenges discover and reach long and short term personal, emotional, and professional goals. I am a client-centered counselor focused on helping you reach your personal therapeutic goals during our time together. I believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship to help individuals and couples become more self aware and work through challenges they struggle with independently. I am trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing techniques. These tools help many individuals understand what they want from therapy, and help us work together to get you where you want to be. We go at the pace that you are ready for and I will check in to ensure that you are feeling comfortable with the pace and progress all along this journey. You've taken a great step towards enhancing your emotional and mental health. I look forward to working on the next steps with you.

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Karena Franses

Offering therapy in California
License: LCSW
AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesGriefSelf esteem
28 years of experience

Welcome and thank you for taking the time to read my profile page. It has been my aspiration and commitment through my work life to collaborate with those seeking help and together make every effort to understand what is causing the suffering and in doing so to find some relief from the pain. I have been a practicing Buddhist for many years, and I meditate daily. I love that His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, “Kindness is my religion," because we all need it, we all benefit from it when we give it and receive it and without it life is just harder and lonelier. Buddhism informs my life and therefore my work. It has helped bring humility and compassion to my life and work. I believe that the answers to each person’s suffering lies within themselves. Most work involves clearing the clouds that mask the liberation in each of us. My work life has played out in two quite different areas of care. The first was a county hospital, and the second a private practice, both in San Francisco. I worked for 21 years as a social work supervisor in a busy outpatient HIV clinic with 2,800 patients. Motivational Interviewing was the most effective type of counseling to use with the population we worked with. In the other setting, I had a small psychodynamic self-psychology informed psychotherapy practice, working with individuals and couples. Both settings offered me the opportunity to discover, explore and develop different skills as I encountered the vast diversity of human experience, where pain, trauma, and resilience came together as a gift to be tended with care, love, and compassion. At the hospital AIDS clinic, we were initially faced with dying patients so much of the work involved just being with the dying. As fewer patients died when the medications improved, we were then faced with issues of severe addiction, trauma, depression, and a population who had experienced ongoing racism, homophobia, poverty, and homelessness. At my private practice, I met with clients who presented also with addiction issues and in addition those with relationship problems, impact of homophobia, body image issues, self-harm, trauma, and abuse. I could never have imagined such a career when I started out. Now I feel deep appreciation and gratitude to all the clients and patients I served on this path. To all those who shaped my career, and taught me how to be a social worker and therapist through their kind and generous feedback, which at times let me know how much I meant to them, and at other times how I missed an opportunity to be empathic. I hope we get a chance to meet and explore whatever issues are of most concern to you and together work to clear the clouds and find relief. Thank you again for your kind attention.

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William Watson

Offering therapy in California
License: MA, LCSW
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseAnger managementDepression
30 years of experience

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker licensed in California with over 30 years of experience working as a Psychiatric Social Worker and Psychotherapist. I have worked with forensic clients with a wide range of concerns including major mental illness, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, OCD and ADHD. I also helped many people who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse and helped those who have instigated physical trauma or emotional abuse. My clients have included both men and women My counseling style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating all humans with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. My approach combines cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic and rational-emotive counseling. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. I am an attentive listener and a clear communicator. My work is to hear your concerns and to empower self-improvement. I understand that fear often accompanies the need for self-development. Very often life becomes more manageable simply through a sense of self-understanding. Few activities can match the serenity of being comfortable in one’s self-knowledge. If this feel right for you, then I look forward to talking with you. Specialties • Stress, Anxiety • Addictions • Relationship issues • Trauma and abuse • Depression Also experienced in: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Family conflicts , Grief , Intimacy-related issues , Sleeping disorders , Parenting issues , Anger management , Self-esteem , Career difficulties , Bipolar disorder , Coping with life changes, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Blended Family Issues , Codependency , Control Issues , Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster , Divorce and Separation, Drug and Alcohol Addiction , Family Problems Hospice and End of Life Counseling , Infidelity , Isolation/Loneliness , Jealousy , Midlife Crisis , Money and Financial Issues , Panic Disorder and Panic Attacks , Post-traumatic Stress , Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling) Licensing LCSW #24174 (Expires: 12/31-2022)

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Kriss Light

Offering therapy in California
License: LMFT
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefDepression
15 years of experience

I am a Jungian Certificated Psychotherapist. You will hear the language of Self, Shadow, Anima, Animus and Individuation. Depth Psychology is interested in all ages. All Peoples. All Understandings. "How does it work?" people ask. By making the Unconscious, Conscious. Therapist and patient become curious together, about your life. Psychotherapy is the inner journey towards understanding ourselves. Your journey. By making conscious our unconscious (often complicated) feelings, we project them less onto the world and less onto others. This process, brings self acceptance and peace to the soul. I look forward to sitting with you. Many events in life bring us into therapy. Loss, Transitions, Trauma, Stressors, our Health. We come to a crossroads, not knowing which way is the right way. In Depth Psychology we sort through our feelings, values, and what essentially matters to us. This brings clarity, and we begin to trust the signs of our life, no matter what the challenges have become. My interests are Comparative Religion and Jungian Studies. I am a musician, which helps me support the Creative in you and your journey. Please call me anytime, and I will get back to you within 24 hours. I offer a free phone consult so that we might discern if I would be the right therapist for you. If I am not, I will do my best to provide 3 referrals.

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Michele Rowland-Bird

Offering therapy in California
License: LCSW
Stress, AnxietyLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsDepression
28 years of experience

I have been a licensed clinical social worker for over 28 years in California. My clinical experience includes working with children, families and adults, including those who are or have been in the foster care system. I am someone who enjoys listening and working with all different kinds of people; I believe that everyone deserves to live their best lives, and therapy is an excellent path to achieve that goal. In my practice, I teach cognitive behavioral skills, assisting clients to identify their inaccurate thoughts and change them to thoughts that are grounded in reality. Once thoughts begin changing, feelings and actions also change, allowing for new healing experiences. This approach is particularly effective for people who are experiencing depression and anxiety. Please note that I do not practice either messaging therapy or couples therapy. Beginning the wellness journey is a courageous step, and I look forward to working with you!

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Antonia Allison

Offering therapy in California
Anger management
6 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 10 years of professional work experience as a clinician. I have a system for clients wanting to stop being so easily angered. 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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Leslie Moya

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyGriefSelf esteemDepressionCompassion fatigue
5 years of experience

I am licensed in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico and Texas with 3 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!

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Kandie Brown

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression
5 years of experience

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California. I have a Master’s degree in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, TX. I follow a systemic approach to therapy and believe that to understand people and their challenges it is important to understand the systems and relationships they are a part of. I believe that the therapeutic relationship should be one of authenticity, collaboration and one that feels safe and supportive. I focus on the client’s strength and resiliency. I strive to help clients find tools to cope with life’s stresses. I use a humanistic approach, CBT, existential, EMDR, narrative, solution focused, and mindfulness approaches and/or other modalities tailored to the client's needs. I strive to help clients find more adaptive habits that lead to more meaningful and fulfilling lives. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, depression, relationship issues, anger management, trauma, abuse and low-motivation, lack of self-esteem and lack of confidence. I work with my clients in California 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 and empower you in that journey. About me: I enjoy gardening, quilting, researching, reading, walking, hiking, travel and enjoying my dog and family.

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Monique Gary

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseAnger managementSelf esteemDepression
17 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 17 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger management, & 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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Michele Tarlow

Offering therapy in California
Family conflictsParenting issuesSelf esteemADHD
29 years of experience

I am licensed clinical social worker residing in California with 29 years of professional work experience. I grew up in New York and moved to California 24 years ago. I have a masters degree n social work, a pupil personnel credential in school social work, and specialize in working with children and their families in all challenges that arise in their lives. I look at the biopsychosocial model and provide a safe place to discuss any issues that may arise in your daily life. I have experience in helping clients with family conflicts, parenting issues, and motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I also have experience working with concentration, memory and focus (ADHD). 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. I look forward to meeting you and helping you through this difficult time no matter how big or small the issue may seem.

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Meshanette Johnson-Sims

Offering therapy in California
Relationship issuesTrauma and abuseGriefSelf esteemCoaching
14 years of experience

I am licensed in California with over 20 years of professional work experience in mental health. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, 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. My approach is not one size fits all. I can appreciate that taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage so you can be proud of yourself for getting started!

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Tina Kelley

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyLGBTParenting issuesDepressionCompassion fatigue
12 years of experience

Tina Kelley is an LMFT in California with over a decade of professional experience. She has experience working with children, teens, young adults, members of the LGBTQ+ community, parents, and those on the autism spectrum, and their families. She supports her clients moving through feelings of depression, and anxiety, codependency, family conflicts, and burnout. Tina uses an integrative and trauma informed approach to therapy.

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Ana Guzman-Wiley

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyLGBTSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
6 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 6 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, lgbtq+ related issues, motivation, self esteem, confidence, & depression. 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!

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Jennifer Pelo

Offering therapy in California
License: MA,LPC,NCC
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseCoping with life changes
9 years of experience

Greetings! I am a licensed professional counselor and have been a professional School counselor for the past 20 years. I started a private practice 9 years ago. My philosophy of therapy is all about building a solid relationship with you. You will need to feel you can trust me first. I also believe that each person holds their own answers to life’s questions. You have the wisdom and strength inside of you to know what to do. I am here to support you and walk beside you on this part of the journey. Trying therapy for the first time takes courage. It can also be hard if you have tried therapy in the past and didn’t have a good experience. People are different, so not every therapist or type of therapy will fit the best for every person. You will know what is best for you and I will always respect your right to choose that. Please feel free to reach out and let me know if you are interested in working together!

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Christie Byrd

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyLGBTTrauma and abuseDepressionADHD
20 years of experience

Hello there, thanks for stopping by. I’m looking forward to meeting you to assess if we are a good fit for each other. I am licensed in California with 20 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, LGBTQIA+ related issues, trauma, abuse, depression, ADHD, relationship issues, grief and loss, shame and guilt, interpersonal conflict, family dynamics and addiction. 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!

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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