Licensed to practice in California and accepts 60 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and PTSD and 8 more.
Herschel O'Brien
I’m Herschel O’Brien, a clinical counselor with extensive experience in trauma-informed, client-centered care. I specialize in helping individuals navigate emotional challenges, build resilience, and reconnect with their strengths. My approach is grounded, compassionate, and collaborative, drawing from modalities like mindfulness, narrative therapy, and systems thinking. Whether you're facing trauma, mood instability, or life transitions, I offer a safe space where healing is possible and meaningful growth can take root. I believe in empowering clients to become the authors of their own lives, with clarity, confidence, and emotional insight.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, I’ll take time to understand what brings you to therapy and what you hope to gain. We’ll explore your history, current challenges, and strengths in a way that feels safe and collaborative. You’ll have space to share at your own pace, and I’ll offer reflections and questions to help us begin building a therapeutic plan that fits your needs. My goal is to help you feel seen, supported, and grounded from the very start.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My greatest strengths lie in my ability to integrate trauma-informed care with mindfulness, narrative therapy, and systems thinking. I bring a calm, grounded presence to sessions, helping clients feel safe enough to explore even the most difficult emotions. With advanced skills in clinical documentation and case conceptualization, I ensure that treatment is both compassionate and effective. My lived experience and professional training allow me to connect deeply with clients, offering insight, empathy, and strategies that foster real change.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I work best with individuals who are navigating anxiety, stress, and the emotional weight of work, family, or relational conflict. My ideal clients are thoughtful, self‑aware, and open to exploring their internal world—even if they’re unsure where to begin. They may feel overwhelmed, stuck in old patterns, or disconnected from their needs, yet they’re motivated to understand themselves more deeply and create meaningful change. I’m especially well‑suited for clients who value a warm, grounded therapeutic space where curiosity, compassion, and cultural humility guide the work. Whether someone is processing life transitions, healing from relational wounds, or striving to strengthen emotional regulation, I support them in building clarity, resilience, and a more empowered relationship with themselves.
Specialties
Top specialties
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma and PTSD
Other specialties
Anger Management
Coping Skills
Family Conflict
Grief
Peer Relationships
Self Esteem
Spirituality
Suicidal Ideation
I identify as
Man
Serves ages
Adults (18 to 64)
Elders (65 and above)
Teenagers (13 to 17)
Licensed in
California
Accepts
Aetna
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Ambetter from Health Net
Amerihealth Administrators
Anthem
Blue Cross
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Shield
Blue Shield of California - Medi-Cal
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
Sutter Health Plan
IHSS Healthy Workers
Cash - $100 per session
Centivo
Central California Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal)
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
GTEB
Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Health Net (Commercial)
Health Net (Medi-Cal)
Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley (Medi-Cal)
CalViva Health (Medi-Cal)
Health Plan of San Joaquin/Mountain Valley Health Plan – Medi-Cal
L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal)
San Francisco Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Santa Clara Family Health Plan - Medi-Cal
Scripps Health Plan
Sharp Health Plan
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
Location
Virtual
My treatment methods
Narrative
In our work together, I’ll help you explore the stories you tell about yourself and your life. Through narrative therapy, we’ll identify patterns that may be holding you back and create new, empowering ways of understanding your experiences. This approach is collaborative, strengths-based, and designed to help you feel more in control of your journey.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
In my practice, I’ll provide a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings freely. Person-centered therapy means I’ll listen with empathy and respect, helping you feel supported and understood as you work toward healing and self-discovery.
Trauma Informed Care
Trauma-informed care is central to my practice. I approach every client with an understanding of how trauma can shape emotional, behavioral, and relational patterns. My work integrates safety, choice, collaboration, and empowerment—ensuring that clients feel respected and supported throughout the therapeutic process. I draw from modalities like CRM, mindfulness, and narrative therapy to help clients regulate, reframe, and reclaim their stories.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I use IFS-informed approaches to help clients explore the different “parts” of themselves—each with its own voice, emotion, and role. This method allows for deep self-understanding and healing by fostering compassion toward internal conflicts. I integrate IFS with trauma-informed care and mindfulness to support clients in building a trusting relationship with their core Self and navigating emotional complexity with clarity and grace
8 ratings with written reviews
May 25, 2026
Herschel is great. He is very calm and understanding and made me feel at ease, almost immediately. He listened to me and didn’t rush or move too fast with the session. I am definitely going to have more sessions!
Verified client, age 35-44
March 12, 2026
I really appreciate Herschel's services! He's very kind, open-hearted, and compassionate/empathetic. I feel validated for my feelings and he's very solution-oriented when it comes to addressing my issues. I feel safe with him and I don't feel judged. He's a Christian counselor so there's many values that are ingrained in his counseling services that I find very comforting and empowering. I wish he could have served as my therapist sooner, but I'm grateful I'm receiving his services now.
Verified client, age 25-34
January 19, 2026
on my 4th or 5th session so far i believe, and its really good to feel heard by him. he's a great listener and is great at dissecting the mouthful i give him from time to time. even when i feel i didn't really make any sense, he reassures me that its okay and normal. he really makes me feel like the problems I'm experiencing are not problems but positive things that i can work with. he talks slow with good pauses giving me a change to reflect and analyze what he said. 10/10 :)