Therapists in California

I believe that therapy can heal, but I also know that telling a stranger about your deepest pain can be a strange feeling. Perhaps you've been feeling sad, depressed or worried, and hopeless that anything in your life can change. Or maybe you aren't sure what you would even want help with. You know you feel bad, but if someone were to ask you "How can I help?", you aren't sure what you would say. These problems can feel permanent and unsolvable. After all, something feels broken and unfixable, so how could you not feel that it takes all the energy you have just to get up in the morning and go about your day? Depression or anxiety can also feel isolating, as if nobody else could possibly understand. You may have even received advice from people who you feel mean well but can't understand what you're going through. Depression and anxiety are not permanent or unfixable, and therapy can help. Imagine feeling peace of mind, and excited about life and its possibilities. It starts by learning about you and going at your pace. As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with over 16 years experience working with adults and teens, I've seen therapy work, and I feel lucky that I get to be part of that journey for others.

Welcome! I'm Patricia Soto, a compassionate Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist committed to guiding individuals towards mental well-being and empowerment though all seasons in life. With a focus on addressing depression, self-esteem, anxiety, grief, life transitions, work-related stress, and challenges within relationships and families, I'm dedicated to helping you harness your innate strengths and work on your journey to healing and happiness.

I choose to practice trauma-informed care because intention and corrective experiences are important aspects of healing. I provide individual therapy to assist clients in identify new ways of coping, communicating, and finding sustainable solutions. I value helping clients identify strategies they can apply towards stressors that are impacting their lives in order to experience relief from suffering, develop healthy skills, and improve confidence.

I am a licensed therapist in the state of California with over 25 years of counseling experience. I work primarily with individuals. I have worked with clients with many different struggles including anxiety, depression, addiction, relational issues, sex addiction, empowerment, and self-esteem issues. Therapy can be a safe, non-judgmental supportive environment to help you talk through these challenges, find balance, and start feeling like yourself again. Whether you’re going through a tough life transition, struggling in your relationship, feeling unworthy, not good enough or wanting to let go of unhealthy habits, we can take the steps forward together.

My name is Arakel Aristakessian and I am a first generation American of Armenian immigrants. There is never a lack of drama in my family and I think it is important to be mindful of cultural expectations and norms when navigating conflict. In this fashion, I use an individualized approach to meet my clients' needs. My style of therapy is grounded in the person-centered approach. I practice listening with empathy to my client’s lived experiences. I remind myself that it is not my place to judge anyone for their past choices. It is my responsibility to respond honestly and respectfully. My hope is to mediate shame, so that people feel comfortable and safe in opening up about what is troubling them. Once the therapeutic space feels safe, only then can various treatment methods truly be effective.

With nearly a decade of experience supporting adults, I bring a holistic, trauma-informed lens to therapy—creating a space where you’re invited to (re)discover your true nature and build genuine confidence. I’m a certified mindfulness meditation teacher, and I weave presence and curiosity into every session. My goal is to foster a trusting, collaborative relationship so we can explore difficult thoughts, complex emotions, and life’s challenges together, with care and clarity

Congratulations on taking this major step towards seeking a higher quality of life, whether for yourself or a loved one! Though your situation is unique and will require targeted goals, these past several years have left many people feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, hopeless, helpless and/or “mentally foggy.” Sometimes, entire families are scrambling to figure out how to manage the ripple effect of one member’s mental illness, and how to help maintain a quality of life for everyone involved. As an LMFT, I help clients with topics such as recovery from trauma, adjustment to major life changes, managing mood dysregulation, stabilizing activities of daily living, and implementing healthy coping skills. Even events generally considered to be “good” (such as buying a house, getting a promotion, or getting married) rate high on the stress index. Your list of concerns will be unique to you and will require a targeted approach to building goals. I am especially interested in coping with grief/loss/trauma, reconstructing lives according to choices rather than reactions, blended and bi/multi-cultural families, our LGBTQ communities, the multi-generational ripple effect of mental illness on families, and the dual diagnosis of developmental disability and mental illness. While talk therapy and EMDR are my primary modalities, I believe strongly in the healing effects of creativity, visualization and somatic work.

You might be in a very dark sad and lonely place, or you may be feeling intense anxiety and sometimes even panic or perhaps you are dealing with a lot of pain and uncertainty due to illness or disability. Right now, you’re at the point of knowing that something has to change, you’re ready but you just don’t know how to do it on your own. You want to feel better. You just want to be yourself again, maybe a different or better version of yourself. As your therapist I can be a flashlight as you walk through this shadowy path that you find yourself on right now. Whether I use solution focused therapy, DBT, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, trauma informed CBT, Emotionally Focused couples therapy or a mix, what matters most is the safe environment we will create so that you can share openly and allow yourself to be vulnerable with someone who will truly listen, support and empower you as you create the best version of yourself possible.

I am a licensed therapist with extensive experience supporting individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. I know that life happens, and we are all human, and as such, that is how I approach my treatment. I believe connection and shared experiences can be the most beneficial tool in therapy. I am passionate about fostering a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel empowered to explore their emotions, build resilience, and create meaningful change.

Mr. Daniel Hernandez, LCSW-S has experienced enormous success helping his clients in his 36-year career in the human services field... 27 as a clinician. He has seen tens of thousands of clients in practice. He is a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP), which allows him to discuss the impact of dietary routines as it relates to one's mental health. He also has extensive experience as a Clinical Trauma & Anxiety Professional. Mr. Hernandez specializes in inspiring empowerment within people who have difficulties with trauma, grief & loss, and emotional burnout to move forward with the rest of their lives. He also specializes in helping people to develop anger management mastery skills. Mr. Hernandez often uses a mental-spiritual empowerment approach to help his clients develop the necessary skill of inner healing. Mr. Hernandez is a licensed clinical social worker-supervisor in Texas and has an LCSW in California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and is authorized to conduct teletherapy in Florida. Mr. Hernandez completed his professional training as a master social worker from Our Lady of the Lake University in 1998 and his bachelor’s was earned from St. Mary’s University in social studies in 1988, both schools are located in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Hernandez has been married 30 years and has two adult children. He loves traveling for the enjoyment of nature and culture with his family and friends. He also loves spending time with people he meets and learns from everybody.

I'm Yashica a LMFT located in Simi Valley, California. I am a seasoned mental health therapist with over two decades of clinical knowledge and experience. My approach to therapy is rooted in the belief that hope is the catalyst for change. By helping you challenge and replace irrational thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes, I aim to set you free to embrace transformation.

Hello, my name is Brigitta. I empower individuals to take back their lives by identifying their strengths, identity, and learn useful skills to help develop a future with hope and expectation. Together, we will explore what is making you stuck by utilizing a holistic approach and address issues of the mind, body, and spirit to strengthen you as an individual. I utilize elements of various modalities with each individual to find out where the wounds began, to close the doors to an unresolved past, to reframe negative core beliefs and its maladaptive influence, and to work towards healthy goals for your future. I can integrate faith-based counseling to build resilience and hope at your request. Our sessions will be a place of safety, growth, and rejuvenation for your soul. I will meet you with a non-judgmental and compassionate approach. As we build our therapeutic relationship, the process of healing and restoration will come. I cannot wait to meet you!

Trained in a range of therapeutic approaches, I am available to help clients navigate trauma, anxiety, relational issues, communication skills, depression, and stress management . As a first generation Eritrean American born and raised in the Bay Area, I struggled with a sense of belonging throughout my adolescence, often straddling the line between multiple identities and insecurities surrounding the idea of not being “American enough" and not being “African enough.” Early on in college, I took a psychology class that helped me further understand the human condition and its applications in my own life. I learned transformative concepts in terms of moods, relationships, and behaviors, prompting me to further pursue the field of psychology. Since then, I have taken it upon myself to get advanced training in various therapeutic approaches, which I believe help clients get the most out of their therapy experience.

As your therapist, I strive to facilitate a connection with you built on trust, safety, and honesty. I utilize empathy and compassion to help my client reach their goals and support them. I have been a therapist for 5 years, working with people of all ages. I utilize all forms of therapy including individual and couples therapy to help you meet your needs as best as possible.

Hi! I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a doctorate degree in P-12 Educational Leadership and a Masters degree, in Social Work. I have over 12 years of experience working with children, families, and adults in both in-person and telehealth. Through strength-based and culturally sensitive approaches, I support children and families who are dealing with a multitude of challenges including anxiety, trauma, ADHD, depression. Having professional experience working at a Children’s hospital, I utilize a family systems approach to child therapy and worked closely with children with complex medical and/or mental health challenges. I also have extensive experience with leading parent support groups and social skills groups for kids. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my three kids, going to the beach, and baking.

If you’re a client who works with me, you can trust that you have a therapist with the highest level of education and training (B.A from Princeton; Ph.D. from UCLA), extensive experience working with individuals and couples, and a record of professional accomplishment (University Professor, Director of a Graduate Program in Counseling, author of multiple books and articles in the areas of Clinical Psychology and Human Development.) In addition to my work in psychology, I have a background in the creative arts as a Grammy award-winning songwriter and a published novelist. Because of this added dimension, some of my clients have welcomed suggestions for excellent stories, novels, movies, or television shows that depict characters who face similar challenges to their own and our discussions of these works and characters have provided these clients with another valuable source of understanding and growth. On a personal note, I grew up on the East Coast before relocating to California and I’m the father of two daughters.

Hi, I’m Vanda Kim, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker based in California. I have worked in the mental health field for over 17 years. My experience includes working in medical, school, and private practice settings, where I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals through many of life’s challenges. I’m passionate about building genuine connections with people from diverse cultural and personal backgrounds and deeply value the unique stories and perspectives each person brings to therapy.

Hi! I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and graduated with my Masters from the University of Southern California in 2014. I work with people who are struggling with their self identity due to anxiety and depression. I lead with understanding and commitment toward seeing the fullness of my clients. I enjoy working with clients to see the dualities that exist within our world in order to help them meet their goals.

Hello and welcome to the journey of becoming an even more incredible version of yourself! I'm Sarah, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I am so looking forward to meeting with you. I am a strengths-based, client centered, and solutions focused therapist. Together we will work to develop skills based on your strengths to help you thrive in your life. Our time together will be a collaboration between us to make sure that you are working on the areas that you feel will most benefit you and even those that you may not consider needing change.

Hi, I am Danielle. Do you find yourself struggling with motivation or struggling with negative feelings? Are you continuously worrying, resulting in feeling exhausted and irritable? Are you wondering if you will feel normal again? I provide help for those experiencing stress, excessive worry, burnout and lingering unhappiness. I am empathetic, warm, and direct. I am supportive and respectful of clients while offering insight.

Hi! I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) who's been practicing for the past 7 years. I primarily work with adults who may be struggling with a variety of issues: anxiety, depression, work stress/career transitions, ADHD/ADD, anger management, and eating disorders. I have a passion for working with adults dealing with issues related to their relationship with food and/or body image concerns - finding myself serving as a co-chair of the Male Eating Disorder Special Interest Group (SIG) for the Academy for Eating Disorders.

Hello there! My name is Justin Altman, and I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. My approach to therapy is simple; I'm here to provide non-judgmental and positive support to my clients while occasionally applying a little gentle pressure to encourage them to grow and ultimately thrive. While my primary area of focus is working with individuals in the LGBTQ+, Polyamory/Open relationship, and Kink/BDSM communities, throughout my career I have worked with individuals from all walks of life to help them overcome the barriers keeping them from achieving their goals. At this time, I am accepting only clients for individual therapy - not couples/families.

Hi, I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and my goal is to support you by building on the strengths you already have. I work with people going through life transitions, depression, anxiety, self-esteem challenges, school stress, adjustment concerns, and trauma. I know that reaching out for help can feel overwhelming, so I strive to create a safe, welcoming space where you can share openly without judgment. In our work together, I use proven approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) while also focusing on what makes you resilient and unique. Whether you’re navigating a big change, working through difficult emotions, or wanting to better understand yourself, I’ll be here to walk alongside you. My hope is that our time together helps you feel supported, empowered, and more confident in facing life’s challenges

I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California. I have 15 years of experience helping individuals cope with the challenges they face in their lives. I have a specialty in treating individuals struggling with alcohol and substance use. I also have been trained in Brainspotting techniques that reduce the effect traumas and other upsetting life events have on a person's ability to find the happiness they want from life.

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and over 15 years of experience in the mental health field. I specialize in working with adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and dual diagnoses. My approach is compassionate, culturally sensitive, and focused on treating the whole person—I utilize evidence-based and self-empowering modalities to help clients gain insight, heal from within, and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I specialize in working with adults and young adults navigating life transitions, emotional challenges, and recovery from substance use. My clinical experience has been shaped by years of working in community mental health and substance counseling settings, where I’ve supported individuals from diverse backgrounds facing a wide range of mental health struggles. At the heart of my approach is a strong belief that healing begins when we reconnect with what truly matters to us. I work collaboratively with each client to explore their personal values—helping them gain clarity, build emotional resilience, and make meaningful choices aligned with who they are and who they want to become. My goal is to provide a compassionate, grounded space where you can grow, heal, and move forward at your own pace.