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Family therapy and counseling in Bakersfield, CA


Top family therapists in Bakersfield, CA
Strengthen family bonds in Bakersfield with evidence-based therapy from 3,355 licensed providers. Headway connects families across neighborhoods like Downtown, Westchester, and Stockdale with compassionate therapists who specialize in communication, conflict resolution, and attachment repair.
Marquetta McCleod is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 17 years of experience serving children, families, and individuals through a trauma-informed and culturally responsive lens. Her professional journey spans more than 15 years in social services, including extensive work with Child Protective Services (CPS) in both emergency response and ongoing support. She has also provided guidance to diverse populations through county health and social service programs, including CalWORKs recipients, families experiencing homelessness, and individuals with disabilities.
Licensed since 2019, Marquetta brings a compassionate and practical approach to therapy, leadership, and community outreach. As the Founder and Executive Director of MNM Project HOPE, a nonprofit she has successfully led for the past four years, she has built a haven of healing that offers low-to-no-cost mental health services, outreach, and training for emerging clinicians.
Grounded in her values of spirituality, leadership, and reliability, Marquetta is dedicated to empowering underserved communities and nurturing the next generation of culturally competent therapists. Her vision is to make holistic, heart-centered care accessible to all, while inspiring hope, growth, and lasting change in every life she touches.
You've done meaningful therapeutic work and you're ready to go deeper. You're successful in the external markers of your life, but you know there's more—greater depth, connection, and purpose waiting for you. You've addressed foundational trauma, and now you want to explore subtler patterns: how you hold back in intimacy, the meanings you're searching for, the fuller expression of yourself you sense is possible. You may be curious about psychedelic-assisted therapy as a tool for profound insight. You're not dealing with crisis, but are looking for a guide who can support you in moving from survival to fully living in your wholeness.
I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a PhD and 34 years of experience, offering telehealth therapy to clients in California. I'm most in my element with people who are learning their needs, what's getting in their way and feel ready to meet their challenges. My clients come from all walks of life. I help those who are too hard on themselves to become their own best friend.
I create a warm environment to work collaboratively on achieving your objectives. I've been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for over 20 years. I specialize in relationships, anxiety, depression, fears/phobias, couples work, creativity, career enhancement among other goals. I have an eclectic treatment modality including psychodynamic, self-psychology, cognitive-behavioral, hypnotherapy and NLP.
I'm Setareh Sassani, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 151973), providing individual therapy in California via telehealth. I specialize in anxiety, relationship issues, self-esteem, communication, and life transitions, helping clients build healthier relationships and live more fulfilling lives.
I am dedicated to helping individuals make meaningful, lasting changes by developing coping skills that fit their unique life experiences. With over 20 years of experience in addiction treatment and mental health services, I bring a grounded, compassionate, and client‐centered approach to therapy. I believe that you know yourself better than anyone else, and my role is to support you in uncovering your strengths, healing from past experiences, and building a life that feels more balanced and fulfilling.
My specialties include substance use disorders, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, and co‐occurring mental health challenges. I am committed to helping clients improve their relationships, reduce stress, and strengthen their sense of self‐worth. I focus on the whole person—mind, body, and environment—because growth in one area naturally supports growth in all others.
About our family therapists in Bakersfield, CA



- 98%Anxiety
- 95%Depression
- 90%Stress management
- 87%Relationship issues
- 85%Family issues

- 98%Aetna
- 85%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 82%Cigna
- 79%Anthem Blue Cross California
- 73%Blue Shield of California

- 97%English
- 19%Spanish
- 2%Farsi
- 1%Mandarin
- 1%Russian

- 88%Online only
- 12%In-person or online

- 79%Woman
- 20%Man
- 1%Non-binary

- 56%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 27%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 6%Clinical Psychologist
- 6%Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
- 5%Nurse Practitioner

- 100%Family therapy
- 100%Individual therapy
- 42%Couples therapy
- 28%Child or adolescent therapy
Frequently asked questions


Find the right counselor for your family
Headway makes it easier to find family-focused support — from finding the right provider, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Family Therapist in Bakersfield
Searching for family therapists in Bakersfield starts with finding someone who fits what your family is navigating. Family therapy can support concerns like parenting conflict, adolescent struggles, blended family dynamics, and communication across generations. A family therapist is trained to work with the relational system, rather than only one person. As you compare Bakersfield therapists, look for specialties and approaches that match your needs, such as family systems therapy, structural family therapy, or experience with teens, parents, and caregivers.
In a mid-size city like Bakersfield, local fit and scheduling both matter. Some families prefer in-person therapy in Bakersfield, CA, while others use virtual sessions to make it easier for multiple family members to attend from different locations. Session structure may also vary — some appointments may include the full family, while others may focus on parents, siblings, or individual family members. Before booking, read each therapist’s profile to understand their approach, availability, and whether they offer a free phone consultation to discuss fit.
Therapy in Bakersfield can be a significant investment without insurance. Using in-network insurance is one of the most reliable ways to reduce session costs and see your estimated out-of-pocket cost before you book. Headway helps you find family therapists in Bakersfield who are accepting new patients and offer clear scheduling options. Nationally, Headway partners with a wide range of insurance plans, and you can enter your insurance details to confirm coverage for your specific area. You can browse therapists, review bios, and book directly when you’re ready.
If anyone in your family is experiencing or worried about abuse, threats, or coercion, joint family or couples therapy usually isn't the right starting point — individual support is safer. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453) and National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788\) can help you think through next steps.
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