Your mental state can feel like a harvest. Sometimes, you're having a great harvest and can prepare for rough weather ahead of you. Other times, it feels as though your mental state is barren, and you can’t survive the upcoming storm. A counselor based in Visalia can help you get back your mental state and help your harvest.
Visalia is known for its agriculture. Farming and agriculture helps the world sustain itself. In life, you need your own sense of sustainability, and the person who can help you is a counselor. Speak to one today and see how they can help you.

Eric Howell
INTRODUCTION Hello my name is Eric Howell, and I want to welcome you to Better Help. I am a Marriage and Family Therapist, and have been licensed in California for more than 15 years. I am originally from the North East. I am third generation in this country, of a mixed European decent. I moved to California when I was 25. I have worked in a variety of settings, including: Non Profit, Government, and Private Practice. Whether you are a first timer to therapy, or you have been a client before, I want to acknowledge and congratulate that you took the first step in reaching out to get some help today. This is a big first step. _________________________________________________________________ SPECIALTIES • Depression • Anxiety • Life Changes • Grief and Loss • Self Esteem • Relationship Issues • Family Stressors/conflicts • Anger Management • Mood Swings • Sexual Orientation • Communication • Having a family member with a Chronic and Persistent Mental Illness ALSO EXPERIENCE IN: Substance Abuse, addiction, trauma and abuse, multi-cultural experiences, children to older adult, aging, bipolar disorder, co-dependency, career difficulties, intimacy issues, blockage to creativity. CLINICAL APPROACHES: Cognitive Behavioral, Gestalt, Humanistic, Attachment Based Theory, Psychodynamic, Narrative Therapy, Post-Modern Theory, and Solution Focused. WHO AM I -PERSONAL BACKGROUND Because choosing who you pick for a therapist is essential, I have decided to share some personal information about myself along with how I approach therapy. Although it is lengthy, I believe it will be helpful for you in choosing if I will be the right therapist for you. So with that said, I came to becoming a therapist after having such a positive experience with therapy myself. So, I come to you not only as an experienced therapist, but with a deep understanding of what it is like to be a client. I was approaching 30, when I was feeling as if my life was no longer working for me, and I was deeply unhappy. I made a commitment to attending weekly individual therapy sessions to get help. The safe space my therapist created was critical in helping me explore and understand the factors that were contributing to my unhappiness. It allowed me to look inward and reflect on painful experiences that have happened and shaped me. Revisiting these experiences in a safe supportive environment helped me better understand how they impacted me, and incorporate them into my being. As this process progressed, my therapist provided me with psychoeducation, giving me new coping skills, improving my communication, and seeing things with a new and different perspective allowing further change to happen. I started feeling as if I could direct my own life, and not have life directing me. I was brought up Catholic, but do not see myself as a religious person, but have a deeply spiritual understanding of the world. This can easily be brought to our sessions if it will be of use to your experience. I also have the unique experience of growing up with close family members who have been diagnosed with serious mental health disorders, such as Schizophrenia. With this comes unique challenges for all members of a family system. Understanding how this has impacted you, navigating and managing your relationship with these family members can be complicated and stressful, as well extremely rewarding. I have a depth of knowledge and experience with multiple areas within Mental Health, including Chronic and Persistent Mental Disorders, if this is something that has impacted your life either with a family member or close friends we can spend time understanding its impact. I am a gay male and have had training and experience at the Gay and Lesbian Center in Los Angeles. This impacts how I see the world and my perspective. Although, I see myself as an all-inclusive therapist this is a self-disclosure to assist with you choosing the right therapist for you. _______________________________________________________________ ELEMENTS OF MY PERSONAL STYLE OF INDIVIDUAL THERAPY Balance and creating Meaning are critical in being a whole fulfilled being. How we blend and focus our time is important in shaping your mood and overall mental health. Exploring how you currently spend your time with the mixture of family, intimacy, career/work, social, community, serving others, spiritual, being in nature, and engaging in creative endeavors will be part of our work together. One of the key ingredients to a successful experience in therapy is your experience with your therapist. It will be my focus and goal to offer you a warm friendly environment free of judgement. This will allow the space for you to understand your unique life experience and how it has shaped you. I do believe unraveling how culture, gender, gender preference, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and family dynamics impact you and your world. I believe it is an important part of understanding who you are. It is particularly important in our sessions for you to feel listened to. This is one of my strengths that I will be bringing to our sessions. My ability to put my full attention and focus on listening to what you have to say, and formulating what it all means. Often growing up, or in our daily lives, the people around us may not have the time or attention to allow us to feel fully understood. My goal is to have you feel fully listened to and understood. I believe in a collaborative approach, where we work together to understand your problem, and develop goals for therapy. It is important from the beginning, that the goals we develop together are realistic and achievable. I welcome feedback, when you feel as if the sessions are no longer effective for you, or if I am not in tuned to your experience. There will be times I will remain silent to provide you the space to search within yourself for the answers. There are other times I will be providing you feedback from a place of concern and healing to help you learn about yourself and encourage change. Another important part of our sessions is providing you with psychoeducation. Whether it is introducing you to new coping skills, teaching you effective communication skills, helping you make sense of what your experience is, putting experiences into a context, being able to put words to your thoughts and emotions. This often helps you feel as if you are getting something more concrete from our sessions. This is an area where providing handouts to read or to complete can be helpful. If this is something you appreciate, we can certainly incorporate more of it in our sessions. Also, if you respond well to reading and increasing your education in a particular area that we may be discussing. Please let me know, I will see if we can add some recommendations to our sessions for us to discuss. Lastly, I typically blend an eclectic mix of therapeutic interventions to assist and support you. This helps me tailor interventions to your unique needs. The on-line experience is different than in person, so I believe it is important to acknowledge this. There are some real strengths, such as convenience, and affordability. I am hoping to hearing feedback to improve your virtual therapy experience. Some clinical theories inherently are more conducive in a virtual setting, so this will be taken into in account due to the medium in which we will be working together. I believe in exploring the past, when appropriate, to understand your present, but not staying stuck in the past. I want to help your today. Join now, don't put it off any longer.

Perla Ray
I am Dual licensed in California with 17 years of professional work experience. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and was awarded a certification as a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, depression in all life cycles, struggling young adults , coping with chemical dependency, trauma and abuse, healing from toxic relationships & bipolar disorder to name a few. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment in order to achieve healing. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

Karen Egertson
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, & parenting issues. I also have experience working with 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.

Nicole Stalker
I am a licensed clinical social worker licensed in Colorado and California with 14 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self esteem and confidence, child behavior, grief and loss, & compassion fatigue. My therapy approach is warm and interactive. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. My approach is client-centered and solution-focused. 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.

Asianya Jones
I am licensed in California with 3 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, & intimacy related 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. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

Ashley Duckgeischel
I am licensed in California with 7 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. 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. As a Christian, I acknowledge the importance of individual faith as a important reference point in each individuals lives. When requested, I find it helpful to use Scripture and other Biblical principles to help clients identify important value systems to bring them greater strength, joy, and peace in their lives.

Tara Rappaport
I am licensed in California with 6 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, intimacy related 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 seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

Abria Hoskins
I am licensed in California with 14 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship 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.

Lindy Kilcrease
I am licensed in California with 3 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, lgbtq+ related issues, parenting issues, & 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.

Tonya Meeks
I am licensed in California with 16 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, lgbtq+ related issues, relationship issues, career difficulties, & executive coaching. I also have experience working with professional coaching. 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. With extensive experience in dual diagnosis, addiction, and complex trauma, I, Tonya Meeks, bring a unique blend of clinical insight and creative practice to my work as a drama therapist. I have worked in both private practice and in residential and primary psychological treatment settings, where I specialize in guiding the entire family system toward healing and resilience. My approach is direct, empathetic, and deeply intuitive, informed by my training in depth psychotherapy and enriched by my background in performance. I am passionate about helping people embrace and express their creativity, believing that everyone has a creative spirit meant to flourish. I especially enjoy working with artists, creatives, and those wishing to explore or develop their creative capacities. In recent years, I have also focused on supporting individuals and families affected by autism. I work closely with both parents and children on the spectrum, helping to foster communication, empathy, and growth through creative and therapeutic interventions tailored to each family’s unique needs. My approach is collaborative and supportive, recognizing the strengths and individual needs of each family member within the broader family system. Since becoming a mother, I have expanded my focus to include issues surrounding infertility, motherhood, and parenting. As someone who has walked the path of infertility and chosen single motherhood, I bring a unique perspective and deep empathy to clients navigating these experiences. I understand firsthand the profound joys and challenges of parenthood and aim to support others in a way that is both grounded and affirming. In our work together, I am committed to walking alongside you on even the darkest paths, helping you find the light at every turn. My goal is to be a steadfast presence, guiding you toward healing, creativity, and a deeper understanding of yourself.
Find a therapist serving clients in California
What types of therapists are available to clients in Visalia?
Understanding the type of therapy you'd like to search for is crucial before finding a therapist or psychologist. Be sure to narrow your search for therapists in Visalia that can offer psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), therapeutic talk therapy, group therapy, marriage and family therapy for individuals or couples, or couples therapy depending on your needs.
Licensed therapists & mental health professionals available through BetterHelp's online platform
Mental health therapists in Visalia available through BetterHelp are accredited as psychologists to help individuals and couples. Visalia therapists' credentials can include licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and clinician or doctor of psychology (PsyD). Regardless of their licensure, Visalia therapists are trained in any type of therapy in the Visalia region and in the state of California.
How can a therapist help you destress, manage your emotions, and guide you towards the life you want?
Therapists in Visalia can help clients in improving healthy relationships, communication skills, working through life transitions, couples challenges, managing a mood disorder, improving coping skills, self help tips, offer life coaching, family life, or change in negative thinking patterns. A therapist in Visalia may also provide a safe place and validation for clients experiencing emotional pain, or that simply want a psychological assessment.
Is it better to find a mental health counselor or therapist in Visalia offering online therapy or in person?
Studies show online therapy can be just as effective as in-person counseling. Online therapy with licensed counselors is often more affordable, with BetterHelp pricing ranging from $65-$100 weekly, while in person therapy can cost up to $200 per session.