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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John Johnson

Offering therapy in California
License: LMFT,MA,LMT
Relationship issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersCoaching
25 years of experience

Hello. I appreciate you taking the time to get to know more about me. I have been on planet earth for a long time. I so appreciate having the opportunity to see the consciousness of mankind expand in many ways. And in many ways, it has stayed the same. I would like to think that my life experience has allowed me to experience a range of emotions, trials and tribulations that contributes to my ability to listen and empathize with your situation. The primary trait I bring to the table is that of the wounded healer. I grew up in an abusive atmosphere, and spent most of my life trying to "figure it out". I have experienced many different types of therapy, many of them cathartic and body oriented. I have always found a sense of home in my body. We now know that the heart and the gut both have more neurotransmitters than the brain. I also try to convey the power of Mother Earth to support you on your journey. You are never really alone. The mind is not always the best place to look for solutions, especially for body issues and trauma. Research has proven this to be the case. I have lived in many places, travelled the world, and look forward to spending my elder years sharing what i have learned. I love the West Coast. I grew up in New York City. while there I was a teacher, a dog trainer, a professional dancer, and I performed off off Broadway doing Primal Theatre. I performed for many years doing Playback Theater, a wonderful form where we played back audience member's stories for them. I have been an entrepreneur and business owner for decades, providing tools and information to help people live a happy, healthy, long life. I have coached and worked with many business owners and family businesses. I am confident that I can provide you with a compassionate ear, be a witness to your areas of concern, and help move you towards your goals and aspirations.

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Michelle Garibaldi

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

Greetings, I am happy that you have taken these first, critical steps, toward reaching your goals. I am excited at the prospect of being able to walk with you along your journey. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California and have over 15 years of experience in providing services to those who are looking to improve or enrich their lives in some way. I am a clinician who believes in walking with clients along a collaborative path toward betterment. I will help you clearly establish what you would like to improve and/or what you envision for your future. I have a warm and empathic counseling style, combined with a variety of counseling approaches that are active and result-driven. Using techniques from Cognitive Behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, solution focused therapy, we will help you get where you would like to go. I specialize in issues involving family problems, parenting issues, relationship issues, abuse and survivor work, grief work, trauma, and issues affecting children and adolescents. Congratulations on taking that all-important step of researching how to improve your life journey. I truly hope we can walk together toward a future of balance, stability, and satisfaction.

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Asianya Jones

Offering therapy in California
Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesDepression
3 years of experience

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.

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Antonia Sloan

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
13 years of experience

I am licensed in California and Washington with 13 years of professional work experience. I specialize in helping children, teens, & adults who are struggling with depression, anxiety, current life stressors &/or have experienced traumatic events. In my practice, I honor everyone's individual story & use client-centered approaches to support the development of self-worth, personal strengths & coping skills. I strive to create a warm, collaborative atmosphere and view it as the foundation for meaningful work with my clients. My unique approach to counseling includes traditional talk therapy with the option of adding art therapy techniques to assist my clients down the path to recovery and healing. Art therapy is a great tool in my work with children & teens. It provides both verbal & nonverbal methods of working through intense emotions & teaches ways to reorganize the thought patterns that lead to depression/anxiety, feelings of loneliness/lack of self-worth & interpersonal struggles with peers & family members. I aspire to find the best approach that will enable you to gain insights, achieve personal growth and develop happiness within your life and personal relationships. I believe that each of us has the capacity for change and look forward to assisting you in your journey.

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Evelyn "Elaine" Allen

Offering therapy in California
Family conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefAnger managementCoping with life changes
32 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 32 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with family conflicts, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & anger management. 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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Dr. Joni Carrasco

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseParenting issuesAnger managementCompassion fatigue
17 years of experience

I am licensed in California and Utah with 17 years of professional work experience. 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. I have a neurological disorder that sometimes impacts my speech patterns, however it does not impact me cognitively. Because of my speech impediment I'm only taking new clients on "Chat" sessions, for now. I use worksheets and help to find support group suggestions on the Better Help platform for almost everyone. I love those resources, they really work!

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Maria Lopez-Boles

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
20 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 20 years of professional work experience. I am bilingual (English/Spanish). I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self-esteem, and confidence, & depression. 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!

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Stella Cuomo

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesGriefSelf esteem
8 years of experience

I am licensed in California with 8 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship issues, & coping with grief and loss. 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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Patricia Nelson

Offering therapy in California
License: LCSW-R
Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseDepression
25 years of experience

I am a Social Worker licensed in New York State with over 25 years experience working as a psychotherapist and life coach. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, addiction, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, OCD and ADHD. I also helped many people who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse. My counseling style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating anyone 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. It takes courage to seek for a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. If you are ready to take that step I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!

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Marilyn Jhung

Offering therapy in California
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesIntimacy-related issuesDepressionCoping with life changes
15 years of experience

GASLIGHTING; NARCISSIST ABUSE; CODEPENDENCY; TOXIC BONDING / ATTACHMENT; HI-CONFLICT RELATIONSHIP: Gaslighting is a form of psychological/emotional abuse where the abuser manipulates situations repeatedly to trick the victim into doubting his/her own memory, perception & sanity. You're accused of doing something that you know you didn't do or say. Often belittled, demeaned, and raged upon. You walk on eggshells & constantly need to watch what you say for fear your partner might blow up. You often feel confused & now distrust yourself; have trouble making decisions & feel like you lost yourself or don't know the person you used to be. If you're experiencing relational trauma from Narcissist or Borderline personality disorder abuse, or in a toxic bonding/attachment where you have the same arguments over & over again with no resolutions, feel overwhelmed with anger and deep resentments, lack emotional and sexual intimacy, feel skeptical or suspicious of your partner and wonder, "What am I doing here? Is it really worth the struggle?", take your first step and schedule your session today! Sometimes getting the right help, at the right time can make all the difference in getting the clarity you need to move forward. It helps to shine a light in the dark corners of the psyche to understand the impulses that makes us behave unconsciously & keeps us stick in old, unproductive patterns of behavior. My expertise lies in guiding individuals and couples through these complex issues using a variety of therapeutic modalities, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Attachment-Based Therapy, the Gottman Method, Imago Relationship Therapy, the Inner Child Model, Mindfulness-Based CBT Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy. By tailoring my approach to your unique needs, we can address the root causes of your pain and foster deeper and meaningful changes. Inner pain can serve as a catalyst for growth, offering insights into unresolved issues within yourself and your relationships. Through my active and direct approach, integrating therapy with coaching, I aim to facilitate efficient and meaningful transformation. Take the first step towards healing and growth by scheduling your first session today!

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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