Therapists in California

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California, I help adults and older adults manage anxiety by guiding them to identify and challenge negative thought patterns. Together, we’ll build practical coping skills so you can reclaim control and move toward a more fulfilling life.

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of experience supporting individuals through life’s challenges. I specialize in working with clients who speak only Cantonese or Mandarin, providing culturally sensitive care tailored to their unique needs. I partner with my clients to manage mood changes, strengthen relationships, and navigate major life transitions. In our work together, I aim to help you uncover your strengths, develop practical strategies, and gain the confidence to move forward. My ultimate goal is to support you in building a more balanced, meaningful, and fulfilling life.

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California, and I help adults work through anxiety by creating a caring and non-judgmental space where you can find relief and build lasting resilience. Together, we'll focus on tools and strategies that support your emotional well-being and help you move toward a more joyful, fulfilling life.

My name is Gary Youssef and I have been providing mental/behavioral health services for children, adolescents, adults and families for 25+ years. I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing mental/behavioral health issues impacting children and adults such as: career/school stressors, depression, anxiety, relational issues, parenting, family systems, medical challenges, healthy lifestyles, etc. I worked for 14 years as a therapist and program manager at the central outpatient psychiatry clinic at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego which is ranked as one of the top 10 children's hospitals in the United States by U.S. News and World report. I have helped provide behavioral health services for over 10,000 children, adults and families throughout San Diego County. In addition, I helped support U.S. service members and their families while working as a military family life counselor at Naval Medical Center-San Diego in Pediatrics. I also volunteered at San Diego Unified School District and coached little league. I love being a father to my two awesome sons and I enjoy athletics and cooking in my free time. I am practical and eclectic therapist combining elements from theoretical orientations such as cognitive behavioral therapy and solution focused therapy to help clients of all ages. The vast majority of my clients report that they had a good experience working with me and describe me as experienced, professional, friendly, kind, helpful and effective.

I'm a psychologist licensed in California, and I help adults cope with anxiety by offering a compassionate, strength-based approach that draws on CBT and mindfulness. Together, we'll work to understand your experiences and support your growth toward a more fulfilling life.

I help my clients realize their personal goals through a trauma-informed and empathic approach. My expertise is working with people who have experienced a traumatic event and/or are experiencing mental health struggles/issues, helping them uncover obstacles that hinder their ability to reach their fullest potential. My lived experience brought me to help others as I would have loved to be helped: someone to tell me I’m not alone. Life is hard, and traumas become unbearable without someone in your corner to help process what you have been through.

I’m a Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) who offers a warm, grounded space to slow things down, make sense of what you’re experiencing, and create meaningful change. My style is relational and attachment-informed—meaning we pay attention to patterns that show up in relationships, and how earlier experiences may shape the way you cope, connect, or protect yourself today. I’m also strengths-based and practical: we’ll build on what’s already working while using CBT tools to reduce overwhelm, challenge unhelpful thought loops, and practice skills that support steadier mood, boundaries, and healthier relationships. The impact my clients often experience is feeling more emotionally stable and confident in themselves, with a clearer understanding of their triggers and patterns. Over time, many people report improved self-compassion, stronger communication, more secure attachment in relationships, and an increased ability to tolerate difficult emotions without shutting down or spiraling. My goal is for you to leave therapy with both deeper insight and real-life tools so you can feel more connected, empowered, and able to live with authenticity and intention.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, I help adults manage anxiety using evidence-based tools like CBT, creating a safe and comfortable space where you set the pace and there's never any judgment or pressure.

I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, and I help adults navigate anxiety with compassion and proven methods like CBT and DBT. Together, we'll create a supportive space to help you overcome challenges and feel more confident moving forward.

Welcome, I am Cynthia. I am happy you are here and will encourage you to reach out to speak with me to see if you feel we would be a good fit. I have been in the Mental Health field for over 20+ years and have worked with the severely ill clients and those just struggling with life stressors. My goal for you will be to live the best version of your life that is possible and I will be right here with you for the journey.

I am a compassionate therapist trained in trauma-informed care and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I believe in creating a safe, supportive space where clients can explore their experiences, develop insight and build practical skills to navigate life's challenges. My approach focuses on helping individuals understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions and behaviors while fostering healing, resilience and meaningful change.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California, I help adults and older adults manage anxiety and life's challenges, drawing on over 12 years of experience to support more fulfilling relationships and a greater sense of peace.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, I help adults and older adults manage anxiety by creating supportive spaces to understand and navigate life’s challenges. I use approaches like trauma-informed care and CBT to offer practical tools for lasting change.

My name is Patricia Pasillas (LCSW) and I'm a first generation Latina located here in the heart of Southern California. Throughout the last 17 years of my career as a licensed clinical social worker I've build a solid reputation for not only breaking down the barriers within society but it's my eagerness to help open the doors for others that truly separates me from others in this line of work.

I help overwhelmed and burned-out adults navigate anxiety and major life transitions with a grounded, integrative approach to therapy. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 14 years of experience in the mental health field, I offer a calm, supportive space where you can slow down, reconnect, and feel understood. My work blends somatic awareness, mindfulness, and evidence-based therapy to help you regulate stress, restore balance, and build resilience. I'm also a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional. This informs my whole-person approach, with thoughtful attention to the nervous system, lifestyle influences, and nutrition as part of overall emotional well-being.

Hello and welcome. I’m Katherine, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works primarily with adults and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and major life transitions. My style is warm, straightforward, and collaborative. I’m not here to judge you or simply nod along—I’m here to really understand you, to name what’s been hard, and to help you move toward the life you actually want. Together, we’ll look at both what’s happening right now and the deeper patterns that keep pulling you back into the same cycles. I bring years of experience supporting people through breakups and divorce, career changes, identity shifts, family stress, and the quiet, internal crises that don’t always show on the outside. My goal is to offer a grounded, steady place where you can be honest, feel less alone, and start to rebuild your sense of self from the inside out.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work from USC, and I have been supporting individuals through life’s challenges for the past seven years. Throughout my career, I have worked with youth, young adults, and adults navigating anxiety, grief, trauma, and the ongoing impact of stress and emotional overwhelm. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, grounded, and infused with moments of humor when it helps create connection and ease. I draw from evidence based practices including EMDR, CBT, DBT, trauma informed care, and parts oriented work to create a therapeutic experience that feels personal and meaningful. My intention is to help clients understand themselves more deeply, process what has been weighing on them, and build the resilience and confidence needed to move toward a more balanced and fulfilling life. I believe healing is possible, and I am here to walk alongside you as you reconnect with your strength, clarity, and inner capacity for change.

We are all faced with challenges. These challenges can create limitations that interfere with gaining a sense of self, forming healthy relationships, and pursuing our goals. I believe we should not allow these obstacles to dictate how we respond to the environment around us. Learning healthy coping skills, challenging negative self talk, and setting effective boundaries can facilitate desired outcomes in our daily life. Given the opportunity, I would enjoy working with you right where you are. Let’s get to work!

I'm a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor that specializes in working with high-achieving individuals struggling with imposter syndrome, OCD, and health anxiety. I also provide sex therapy for concerns such as sexual dysfunction and pain. My approach is evidence-based, and fun. I have extensive training in the healthcare field and have worked alongside various specialties since 2015. During this time I also completed 2 residency programs in clinical pastoral education where I worked with physicians, nurses, hospital staff from various departments and collaborated care.

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California, and I help adults navigate anxiety by providing a supportive space to explore your experiences and build effective coping skills. Together, we'll use person-centered approaches to help you feel more confident and fulfilled in your life.

Janet Distefan, PhD LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She received a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego; an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from National University and a Ph.D. in Behavioral Epidemiology from the University of California, San Diego. She has been licensed since 2006 providing comprehensive clinical care for issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, bipolar disorder, relational difficulties, grief and loss, and major life transitions. Her clinical practice is collaborative and strength-based, drawing from cognitive-behavioral, object relations and attachment theories; and mindfulness-based stress reduction.

As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with over 15 years of experience, I am dedicated to creating a warm and inviting space where clients can feel safe and understood. My approach to therapy is deeply compassionate and tailored to each individual. During our sessions, I engage in open dialogues about your expectations, wants, needs, and desires, providing honest conversations about the reasons for seeking therapy and the timing of your journey. I am experienced in working with adults who experience anxiety, depression, relational conflicts, difficult life transitions, and addiction.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and I take a person-centered approach to therapy, meeting my clients exactly where they are and empowering them to take the lead in their healing journey. I have witnessed my clients trade anxiety for peace, stress for healthy boundaries, and hopelessness for a sense of fulfillment in life. Check out my practice website using the link below to learn more and book a free 15-minute consultation with me. https://willtohealtherapy.com/

You want to change your feelings, thoughts, or behaviors, but every time you try, it blows up in your face. (Not literally...hopefully.) How do you get unstuck?! The most important factor is the relationship with your therapist. My main focus is teaming up with you - not telling you what to do - to figure out how to help you create new patterns. My practice mostly revolves around increasing your awareness of what’s happening in your mind and your body – and above all, respecting your experience. My approach focuses on mindfulness, DBT, and post-traumatic growth. This takes work, but with the help of someone you trust, you absolutely can change the structure of your brain! As much as I may be in the most privileged of demographics (see photo), I’ve taken a lifetime’s worth of feeling inferior and deployed it for good: Being able to empathize with you, the client. I've worked extensively with anger, grief, substance use, LGBTQ+-related issues, insomnia, racial identity, relationship issues, sports performance, etc. I have an easygoing way of communicating with clients. My communication style definitely doesn't have that solemn, overly serious tone that you might see depicted in movie therapists. Just to forewarn: My sessions can and will include some (very lame) jokes here and there, but that does not mean I don't take your struggle seriously.

Hi! As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I specialize in providing compassionate and effective therapy to individuals, couples, and families. My practice focuses on addressing mental health challenges, navigating life transitions, and promoting overall well-being through evidence-based interventions and a client-centered approach. I am committed to creating a supportive and nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their concerns, develop coping strategies, and achieve their therapeutic goals.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California, I help adults break free from the cycle of anxiety by using practical, mindfulness-based techniques tailored to your unique needs. We'll work together to create a supportive space where you can gain clarity and develop lasting tools for resilience.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I help teens and adults in California find effective ways to manage anxiety and regain a sense of control. Together, we'll develop coping skills and create a supportive environment where you can feel accepted and start making real progress toward your goals.

Hello and welcome to a positive journey for a successful therapeutic experience! I am a licensed MFT in California, Colorado, and Oregon. I have thoroughly enjoyed working in healthcare since 1985, and I love my career with passion. I hold a BS in Psychology and an MS in Counseling, Marriage, Child, and Family Therapy. I have been practicing as a therapist for over 10 years. Further, I am a Certified Clinical/Complex Trauma Professional (CCTP-1&2), which includes working extensively with individuals who have experienced complex trauma. Along with working with individuals who have experienced traumatic stress, I am honored and privileged to provide psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to clients experiencing treatment resistant-depression, anxiety and PTSD. I am certified and provide Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Colorado. My emphasis includes working with children, adolescents, and adults, as well as the LGBTQIA2S+ population. Within the mental health field, I have worked with severely emotionally disturbed children and adolescents in residential treatment, group therapy practices, and presently I own and operate my current private practice. I practice traditional approaches as well as integrative, naturalistic, mindfulness and meditation, and holistic care. I am trained, certified, and passionate providing Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for clients struggling with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. My focus in mental and behavioral health encompasses and emphasizes meeting and connecting with my clients where they are and building a strong, safe, and trusting relationship. I sincerely believe in approaching my clients and their challenges in life with an open mind and gentle heart. I will always persevere to assist my clients with a healthy, natural, and realistic approach as it relates to their intentions and motivation for a successful life.

Welcome I am glad you are here. I am an expressive arts therapist, and I have dedicated my career to anti-oppression work. Creativity heals and can deepen the work you want to do, for those that want to explore in that way. I view therapy as both personal, interpersonal, social and that systemic issues impact healing. Therapy with me is honest, we may laugh together, or I may hold with you your biggest sorrows. You are the leader and I am here to facilitate and co-create the change you wish to achieve. We will chip away at stuckness together. I have also worked with people in county mental health who did not have a choice about being in therapy.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with adults and couples navigating anxiety, stress, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. My approach is supportive, practical, and collaborative. I help clients gain insight into patterns that may be holding them back while developing tools that create meaningful and lasting change. My goal is to create a space where you feel understood, supported, and empowered to move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

I am an LMFT with a deep passion for supporting children, adolescents, and adults through life's most difficult challenges. I work with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and relational difficulties, meeting clients with warmth, curiosity, and a genuine commitment to their healing. My path to this work is personal. My own journey through struggle, recovery, and transformation has profoundly shaped the therapist I am today. I bring lived understanding of what it means to face hard things and do the inner work, and that experience informs the depth of compassion and authenticity I bring to every client I have the privilege of working with. Whether I am working with a child navigating big emotions for the first time, a teenager struggling to find their footing, or an adult carrying the weight of burnout, relationship pain, or a life that no longer feels like their own, I show up with the same intention. To truly see you, to hold your story with care, and to walk alongside you as you find your way toward healing. I am also a certified yoga teacher with training in trauma-informed yoga, and I weave somatic awareness into my clinical work, honoring the deep connection between mind, body, and healing. With younger clients, I draw on play and art therapy modalities, meeting children and teens in the language that comes most naturally to them. Above all, I believe that people are capable of profound growth and change. I believe everyone deserves a space where they feel safe enough to be fully themselves, and I am deeply committed to creating that space for every person I work with. It is an honor to walk alongside clients in that process, and I bring my whole self to that work every single day.

My name is Shelly Keene, and I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist living in Anchorage, Alaska, while providing telehealth services to clients in California, the place I’ve called home for most of my life. I’m committed to creating a safe, supportive space where you can express your feelings openly and feel genuinely heard and validated. My approach is grounded in compassion, curiosity, and collaboration, and I work at your pace while honoring the fact that you are the expert of your own life. I draw from a range of evidence‑based modalities to tailor treatment to your unique needs, experiences, and goals. My intention is to help therapy feel approachable, empowering, and centered around what matters most to you.

I'm Sheldon like the TV show! (Big Bang Theory). I help analytical high-achieving adults who feel stuck in patterns of anxiety and depression untangle their inner world and reconnect with their deeper self-using insight-driven therapy, dream exploration, and a creative lens that helps them uncover what's been buried beneath the surface. Do you often say, "I'm successful on the outside but exhausted and anxious inside," "overthinking everything, but still feeling stuck," or being in a "constant sense of restlessness or dissatisfaction," or being a person who "struggles to access or name emotions clearly." I help clients have greater awareness and emotional clarity and begin to feel grounded, self-trusting and more internally connected. I hope to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms through deeper insight and ability to recognize and break unconscious patterns. I help clients discover meaning through creative exploration, and dream work. I want clients to increase their confidence in navigating relationships and decisions and moving from analysis paralysis to self-acceptance and expression. My areas of expertise are in Depression, Anxiety, Chronic Mental Illness, Risk Assessment, Trauma, PTSD and Substance Abuse Disorders.

Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here and ready to cultivate and nurture a better you. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over six years of clinical experience supporting children, transitional-aged youth, adults, and families. I have had the privilege of walking alongside individuals as they navigate painful challenges, life transitions, and periods of healing. I believe therapy is a collaborative process grounded in compassion, safety, and growth. It is truly an honor to support clients as they build resilience, gain insight, and move toward meaningful change. Being part of your healing journey is both fulfilling and joyful, and I am committed to meeting you where you are with empathy and care.

Hi, I’m Mimi, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. I help adults and older adults work through anxiety using a warm, integrative approach so you can feel more confident and in control of your life.

I enjoy working collaboratively to develop goals that are realistic, meaningful, and lead to positive change. I view therapy as a journey—one that helps you find steadier footing and supports you as you move along your unique path. Although much of my background has been in public service settings working with severe mental illness, acute crises, and trauma, I welcome concerns of any size. No problem is too small or too overwhelming to bring into therapy. I invite you to give the therapy process a chance to work for you! I have been in the behavioral health field for more than 30 years and have been licensed since 2012. I have a practical, down-to-Earth style with an open-minded, solution focused approach. There is likely no issue too complicated or difficult for me to work with. I like to establish a clear treatment path with attainable goals, making it easier for you. I encourage you to give the therapy process a chance to work for you. My goal is to offer steady support and thoughtful guidance as you discover a healing path that truly fits your life. While life can be challenging, you don’t have to navigate it alone—therapy can provide a safe space to find clarity, resilience, and hope.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over eight years of experience in the mental health field. My background includes work in Child Protective Services and as a medical social worker, which has shaped my compassionate, grounded, and holistic approach to therapy. These experiences have given me a deep respect for the strength people carry, even during life’s most difficult seasons. I value cultural awareness and honor each client’s unique identity and lived experience. Therapy with me is a collaborative process where we focus on meaningful, realistic goals that support emotional well-being and lasting change. I strive to create a warm, safe, and nonjudgmental space where you feel comfortable being yourself, exploring your concerns, and building on your existing strengths. I specialize in working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression and maternal mental health concerns, including the emotional changes that can occur during pregnancy, postpartum and early parenthood. I also support clients who are navigating questions around cultural identify, family expectations, and balancing personal values with cultural traditions. My goal is to help clients gain clarity, develop coping strategies and reconnect with their strengths. Whether you are adjusting to motherhood, managing anxiety or depression, or exploring your identity or life direction, therapy can be a space where you feel supported, understood and empowered. I provide a supportive space where you can slow down and process what you have been experiencing.

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California, and I help adults navigate anxiety with compassion and practical strategies. Together, we'll create a supportive space where you can build coping skills and find your path to greater peace.

I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist in California, and I help adults manage anxiety and everyday stress with a direct, compassionate approach. Using methods like CBT, DBT, and mindfulness, I work with you to find practical solutions that fit your life.

Growing up I was challenged with depression and anxiety along with familial dysfunction. When I heard about psychology in sixth grade, I decided I wanted to be a psychologist. After starting a family and enduring an abusive marriage I went back to school to become a mental health therapist. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and challenging others to open their minds to a different way of thinking. Working with individuals as well as parents and couples is rewarding and fostering change for healthier relationships is truly beautiful.

I’m Dr. Deanna Mercado, a Clinical Psychologist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience walking alongside individuals, couples, and families in their healing journeys. My work is grounded in depth psychology, which means we look beyond surface symptoms to explore the underlying emotional patterns, relational wounds, cultural narratives, and unconscious dynamics shaping your life. I believe many struggles , anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, identity questions, or life transitions , are invitations to deeper understanding. In our work together, we will gently explore your personal history, family stories, and internal world to uncover meaning, strengthen self-awareness, and restore connection to your authentic self. My approach is reflective, relational, and culturally attuned. I hold space for the complexities of identity, ancestry, and lived experience, recognizing that healing happens not only within the individual, but in relationship to culture, community, and the larger story of your life.

Starting therapy can feel like a big step, and you don’t have to take it alone. I work with individuals who may be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or navigating life transitions, relationship challenges, grief, or past trauma. My goal is to create a supportive, non-judgmental space where you feel heard, understood, and safe to explore what you’re going through. Together, we will build insight, strengthen coping skills, and help you move toward a life that feels more balanced, meaningful, and aligned with who you truly are.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, I help adults navigate anxiety by fostering authentic, supportive conversations and using approaches like CBT to encourage growth and self-honesty.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist providing telehealth services to children, adolescents, and adults across California. As a bilingual therapist fluent in Spanish, I have extensive experience supporting clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and deeply value culturally responsive care. I earned my Master of Science in Counseling, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, from California State University, Los Angeles, where I also completed my Bachelor of Arts in Child Development. My education and clinical training provided a strong foundation in evidence based practices, lifespan development, and relational dynamics, which continue to guide the way I support my clients. I work with individuals and families navigating anxiety, emotional overwhelm, life transitions, and relationship stress. I support children and adolescents in strengthening emotional regulation and coping skills, while helping adults manage stress, burnout, and personal growth with greater confidence and clarity. I believe meaningful change begins with connection. I meet each client where they are, creating a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you can feel heard, understood, and respected. My approach is collaborative and compassionate, focused on building resilience, increasing self awareness, and helping you develop practical tools that you can use in your everyday life. I offer flexible virtual sessions designed to fit into your schedule while providing accessible, high quality care.

Hi all! Have you ever wondered what life would be like free of anxiety and depressive symptoms? Are you feeling lost and in need of a purpose? I love helping folks recover from issues like anxiety, depression, OCD and complex post-traumatic stress. Healing and recovery are possible! I will work with you to establish small achievable goals we can take baby steps toward. I also believe in the importance of being able to explore and process feelings that were not safe to share in the past. Healing is a process that takes time and I will help guide you. I can help you get to the root of the issue and teach you skills you can use all of your life in various situations. I do inner-child/ inner-adult work for those interested, but I also use the more practical REBT to help shift rigid perspectives that keep us stuck. I know seeking therapy can feel scary and intimidating, you have already taken the brave step of seeking assistance. I will meet you with patience and empathy and help you realize the strength you never knew you had. Let's work together!

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, I help adults manage anxiety and overcome self-doubt using compassion-focused and solution-oriented approaches. Together, we can find clarity and create the space for you to heal, grow, and thrive.

With over 45 years of experience as a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in California, I help people of all ages understand and manage anxiety in a supportive and nurturing environment. Together, we’ll work on practical strategies to help you feel more in control and bring more calm to your life.

Hello! I'm Frankie, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in California. I've been working in the field since 2014. I take a person-centered approach and believe that you are the expert of your own life. I am interested in walking together through your experiences and providing you with a safe space to express yourself. I'm here to listen so you can feel heard.

Life can feel overwhelming when sadness, worry, or stress keep getting in the way of the life you want. I can help you find clarity, confidence, and balance again. Many of my clients are navigating relationship struggles, family conflict, or life transitions that leave them feeling stuck or uncertain. My approach is both collaborative and practical, combining evidence-based therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy with genuine compassion and support. I'm committed to forming a meaningful relationship with every client in a warm and supportive environment where you can feel safe when addressing issues of concern.

As a psychologist in California, I help adults explore and understand the roots of their anxiety so they can experience more clarity and peace. Together, we'll work to connect your past and present, guiding you toward greater confidence and joy.