Calm logo
Calm has teamed up with Grow Therapy to connect you with a mental health therapist who accepts your health insurance.
Rated 4.8 stars out of 5, 5 ratings

Tara Zandi

LICSW, 17 years of experience

Solution oriented
Authentic
Intelligent

About me

Meet Tara Zandi, LICSW – a compassionate and highly skilled therapist with over a decade of experience supporting adults, children, and families. Tara holds a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and an MSW in Clinical Social Work, blending deep academic knowledge with practical expertise. She’s trained in a powerful range of evidence-based approaches, including CBT, DBT, PCIT, EMDR, and even yoga for children—offering a holistic and personalized approach to healing. Whether working through depression, anxiety, or behavioral health challenges, Tara meets her clients with empathy, insight, and culturally sensitive care. Fluent in English and Farsi, Tara creates a welcoming space for diverse communities to feel seen, heard, and supported on their journey toward wellness.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

The first therapy session is all about getting to know each other and beginning to build a strong, trusting connection. We’ll talk about what brings you to therapy, what you’re hoping to work on, and any questions or concerns you might have. It’s a chance for you to share your story—and just as importantly, for you to get a feel for who I am and how I work. This session is focused on rapport building—we won’t dive too deep too fast. Instead, we’ll create a comfortable space where you feel safe, seen, and respected. From there, we can start to explore your goals and begin shaping a treatment plan that feels right for you.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

What stands out about my therapeutic approach is the balance I bring between compassion and candor. I’m highly attuned to the emotional tone of a room and can quickly sense what a client needs in the moment—whether it’s space to process, direct feedback, or structured guidance. My communication is honest and clear, but always delivered with care and respect. I use evidence-based methods like PCIT and EMDR, which are highly effective when clients commit to the process. These approaches are not only grounded in research, but designed to produce real, lasting change. I believe in working collaboratively and consistently to help clients meet their goals and feel empowered in their growth.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My ideal client is a child, adolescent, adult, or family seeking support for issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or behavioral challenges. I work especially well with clients who value a structured, evidence-based approach and are open to techniques like CBT, DBT, EMDR, and parent-child therapy. I am a strong fit for culturally diverse individuals. for example, Farsi-speaking clients, who are looking for a therapist who understands their cultural background and can offer care in their native language. Whether it’s a parent seeking help for a child’s behavior or an adult managing stress or trauma, I offer compassionate, skilled support in a safe and inclusive space.

Specialties

Top specialties

Child or Adolescent
Parenting
Trauma and PTSD

Other specialties

ADHD
Anger Management
Coping Skills
Depression
Family Therapy
Life Transitions
Mood Disorders
Peer Relationships
School Issues

I identify as

Woman

Serves ages

Adults (18 to 64)
Children (6 to 12)
Teenagers (13 to 17)

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

Masters in clinical psychology and masters in Clinical social work with concentration on CBD and DBT

Child Parent Psychotherapy

providing PCIT and other parenting skills education to parents and facilitating session between parents and children

Dialectical Behavior (DBT)

Masters in clinical psychology and masters in Clinical social work with concentration on CBD and DBT

EMDR

trained EMDR- have been using this treatment method for 3 years now

Parent-Child Interaction (PCIT)

trained and certified in PCIT- have been using this treatment method for 6-7 years now

Location

Virtual

Licensed in

California
District of Columbia
Maryland
Virginia

Accepts

Aetna
Aetna - WebTPA
All Savers
Anthem
Blue Cross Blue Shield
AvMed
Blue Shield (MHSA) Magellan
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
Cash - $190 per session
Cigna
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Health Plan of San Joaquin - Medi-Cal
Humana - Medicare
Humana Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
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)
Scripps Health Plan
Sharp Health Plan
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicaid
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
Rated 4.8 stars out of 5, 5 ratings
This provider hasn’t received any written reviews yet. We started collecting written reviews January 1, 2025.

Tara Zandi is fully booked.