Therapists in California

As a supportive therapist, I fully assist clients to achieve empowerment and life of satisfaction. I effectively collaborate with clients to increase self-compassion and supportive social connections to live a life of independence and courage. With non-judgmental empathy, I listen to help clients understand their losses and even unendurable psychological pains, and provide ongoing support with therapeutic insight and expertise in a confidential setting.

Christopher Lawver is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 18 years of experience in private practice and community mental health settings. He graduated from Antioch University Los Angeles with an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and the University of Southern California B.A. Communication Arts and Sciences. Chris Lawver has practiced in West Hollywood and San Francisco, California, specializing in substance use and addiction recovery, codependency and relationship evaluation, and self-empowerment in diverse populations. In 2010, Lawver received a certification in Psychoanalysis from The Los Angeles Institute of Psychoanalytic Studies on the Brentwood campus, adding insight-orientated therapy to an impressive skill set. Chris Lawver has worked at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Sciences and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian community services, Jeffrey Goodman special care clinic with HIV/AIDS services and underserved communities of color and LGBTQ people. In San Francisco, he worked with formerly incarcerated individuals to find their way forward after being released and re-integrated into the community to find jobs and stability. He has worked in community mental health settings, practicing CBT and DBT modalities with severe mental illness and dual diagnosis. He’s expanded in recent years to include modern wisdom, energy work and conscious raising approaches, and Kundalini yoga. He has formulated a unique therapeutic approach with an eclectic interpersonal and interactive style. He is warm, with a good heart and an empathic understanding. Drawing upon personal and professional experiences with grief, addiction, and adversity, he empowers clients’ humanity, creativity, and achievements in society. Awareness, Insight, Action > Change

Hi there and great job on taking that first step in considering if therapy is right for you. I invite you to come with me on a journey of your own choosing where we will walk together in darkness to find the light you’ve been seeking. Whether it’s life’s little annoying stressors or more complex issues, as a trauma survivor myself, I know firsthand what this is like and wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Whether you choose me or another therapist, make the choice to just give it a try. Sometimes all you need is another person to hold the light while you do the work you need to heal.

Hello. my name is Diane Gibbs and i have been a licensed clinical social worker since 2008. I have worked inpatient and outpatient mental health. I am Rogerian trained, which means i have awareness of my boundaries and the clts boundaries. I am clt centered, being aware of my transference in the therapy relationship; often using the transference for clt growth. I am humanistic, which means any one of us can experience disturbance of mood, thought, or emotion; simply because we are human. As a clt centered therapist my role is to hold a mirror up as to allow the clt to witness their experience and offer reccomendations for tx plan. Also, empowering the clt to connect and use their strengths; support, spirituality or agnostic beliefs. I have used various modality interventions including meditation, visualization, and exposure acclimation. I have worked with 5 yo to 80+ yr old. My experience is broad, from post partum to end of life issues and many life stages in between. Whether its anxiety or depression. From bipolar to ocd or schizophrenia; i work at creating a safe environment where boundaries are clear and the clt feels free to discuss their issues in safety and privacy.

My name is Judy Jordan and I am a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist with over 20 years years of professional experience in counseling with children, adolescents, adults, and families. I took an evening course in Psychology 5 when starting school, and by the end of it , I knew I wanted to become a therapist. I was drawn to understanding people on a deeper level and helping them through their struggles. With support from my dad, I left my job and went back to school starting from scratch. I loved every minute of learning and felt more certain with each class that I was on the right path. My dedication paid off...I earned straight A's and received the Academic Achievement Award in Psychology. More importantly I found a sense of purpose in supporting others on their mental health journeys.

I am a licensed clinical social worker in the state of California and I have been practicing since 2001. I graduated from the School of Social Work at Columbia University in the City of New York and have experience working with children and families, adolescents, transitional youth, young adults, elder adults, men, women, LGBTQ+, and the justice-involved. In this day and age, so many of us are bombarded with the day-to-day and simply living blindly, meaninglessly. So many tend to suppress and ignore just to survive. If you are experiencing a crossroads presently and wish to get out of being stuck, if you want to improve your relationships with your loved ones, or if you just want to be able to process safely and receive genuine and practical feedback, you may want to consider scheduling a therapy session with me.

Hi, I am Matthew Ortega! I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the beautiful, sunny state of California with nearly 15 years of experience working with clients in the community. Are you longing for more right now? Is ADHD executive dysfunction ruling your day? Are you needing help coping with a new diagnosis of Bipolar disorder or OCD? Or are you looking for a safe place to discuss topics with your spouse, validate your feelings and restore your relationship to its former glory? I help empower individuals and couples of all ages and relationship statuses to overcome their obstacles and live a happy and fulfilling life. I use an educational and interactive approach to elevate and validate you. My approach offers cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, dialectical behavioral, solution-focused, harm reduction, and trauma-informed perspectives as needed for YOUR unique situation. Together we dig deep to bring forth your most rewarding and fulfilling life. I take pride in leaving the stigmatizing labels at the door, here you are welcomed as you are! I believe it takes great strength and courage to take the first step in connecting with a therapist. My goal is to make you comfortable and empowered throughout the entire experience. If you’re ready to make the commitment and put in the honest effort to dig deep and blossom, then I am here to support you! I look forward to working with you and building this relationship!

Hello, I am Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I have been in the field for over twenty years. I generally see Adults for Individual Therapy and Couples Counseling. I am also a Registered Addiction Specialist. My life experiences and education makes it possible for me to meet Individuals and Couples where they are emotionally to assist them through their Therapeutics Journey.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I received a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles, where I specialized in the Psychology of Trauma. I support individuals of all ages in processing a wide range of issues, including but not limited to, substance use disorder and various patterns of addiction, intimate partner issues, trauma, both current and past involving families and work environments, depression, self-esteem, anxiety, and relationship difficulties.

I am Dr. Paul Fernandez. I have been a licensed therapist and psychologist for more than 30+ years. I have spent my career concentrating on providing mental health services to the Latino/Hispanic community in Southern California, with a special emphasis in substance abuse, addiction recovery, anxiety/stress, depression, and anger management. I bring a unique, spiritual, Latino/Hispanic perspective to mental health counseling that focuses on the needs of our community. Soy el Dr. Pablo Fernández. He sido terapeuta y psicólogo autorizado durante más de 30 años. He pasado mi carrera concentrándome en brindar servicios de salud mental a la comunidad latina/hispana en el sur de California, con especial énfasis en abuso de sustancias, recuperación de adicciones, ansiedad/estrés, depresión y manejo de la ira. Aporto una perspectiva única, espiritual, latina/hispana al asesoramiento de salud mental que se centra en las necesidades de nuestra comunidad.

Hello! My name is Joey Ritkes (he/him) and I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in California. I received my Masters from San Jose State University and my PhD from Alliant International University. I primarily support the LGBTQ+ Community, particularly children and adolescents. Although I do work with clients from various backgrounds and identities. I have experience working with individuals, couples, and families.

A Licensed Marriage Family Therapy with 8 years experience working within both non profits and government agencies. Eager to provide a comprehensive treatment for clients who are seeking to change for the better. A bilingual in Spanish and English individual who is ready and highly driven to provide a supportive and nurturing approach to psychotherapy, which will allow clients to thrive and grow.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of experience as a psychotherapist, complemented by my background as a veteran of the United States Armed Forces. My clinical training includes a Master’s in Social Work with a focus on Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality, which informs my understanding of how diverse life experiences shape individuals’ perspectives and interactions with their environments. This foundation allows me to approach therapy with cultural humility and a deep appreciation for the complexities of identity and systemic influences. In my practice, I utilize a person-centered, solution-focused approach that prioritizes client autonomy and self-determination. I collaborate closely with clients to identify their unique challenges and barriers, empowering them to develop realistic and meaningful short-term and long-term goals. Together, we explore and optimize the therapeutic tools that clients have already been using, while considering the introduction of additional strategies when appropriate. My goal is to support clients in creating actionable plans that align with their values and aspirations, fostering resilience and sustainable growth in both their present lives and future endeavors.

Hi there, my name’s Ephraim Tokar. I'm a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 20+ years of experience. My specialties consist of relationships, men’s issues, career counseling, and psychosomatic illnesses. I received my Bachelors degree in Child Psychology, working initially with the adolescent population before transitioning over to adults. I then received my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Whether it's individuals or couples, I'm happy to get to work with whomever comes my way. I do my best to facilitate a warm, trusting environment. Looking forward to meeting with you soon!

My approach is solution focused. I am not primarily concerned with how or why your present challenge developed but will focus instead on helping you to find a way forward. I hope to elicit and reinforce your positive attributes and competencies and help you access your inner strength. Your ability to change or improve your situation depends on your desire to do so and my job is to awaken that desire within you. The biggest challenge all of us face is negative thinking. This is a reflection of our own disappointment of what we see when we look inside ourselves. By improving our self-image through accentuating our positive qualities we begin to see the world in a more positive light. A sure way of feeling better about ourselves is to find something good in every other human being. Note: I do not write letters or fill out forms regarding disability due to behavioral health issues.

I aim to support individuals, couples and groups to connect with and express their true selves. With a solid relationship with ourselves and our support systems we are able to overcome many of lifes challenges. Unfortunately, a lot is out of our control, but I like to highlight our strengths in recognizing what is in our control and take back our own power to live the life we want and deserve.

I was a CPS Social Worker before I was a therapist. Both of my degrees are in Social Work. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and hold licenses in California, Washington, and Oregon. I am very responsive, and your story matters to me. I have been practicing for 7 years. I assist clients ages 12 and older who are struggling with their mental health.

Hi, my name is Dr. Nikki Ruffin. I am a licensed clinical professional counselor in the state of Illinois a licensed professional clinical counselor in the state of California and a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Indiana. I have my doctorate in Counseling and Education and I've been in practice for about 20 years. I work mostly with adults with anxiety, depression, grief, and loss and trauma, as well as life transitions and relationship issues.