Find a therapist in Bakersfield, CA — covered by insurance


Top therapists in Bakersfield, CA accepting new patients
Connect with empowering, solution-oriented providers in Bakersfield neighborhoods including Downtown, East Bakersfield, and Southwest Bakersfield. Headway offers flexible scheduling with availability as soon as next day, free intake consultations, and 8,969 licensed providers accepting most major insurance plans.
Hello, I provide a supportive and nonjudgemental space for clients. I have experience working with individuals with a trauma/PTSD experience. My approach is in helping clients build insight with compassion. I believe therapy is a space to help an individual grow and heal.
Hi, I’m Naheed. I work with adults (18+) who are navigating anxiety, depression, postpartum depression, relationship challenges, and life transitions.
I believe therapy is a collaborative journey built on compassion, patience, and respect. Every person’s story and experiences are unique, and my goal is to create a safe, supportive space where you feel comfortable being yourself, exploring your experiences, and working toward meaningful change.
I understand that these experiences can affect emotional well-being, relationships, self-esteem, and how individuals view themselves and the world around them. My approach is trauma-informed, focusing on creating a space where clients feel heard, validated, and empowered as they work toward healing and personal growth.
In addition to my clinical experience, I bring personal understanding of women’s mental health experiences, including the challenges associated with postpartum depression. This perspective allows me to approach therapy with compassion and empathy while supporting women as they navigate the emotional, relational, and identity changes that can come with motherhood and major life transitions.
Hi, I’m Dalicia Mack-Nowell, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I work with adults who are navigating anxiety, depression, everyday stress, life transitions, burnout, and relationship challenges. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or just not like yourself lately, you don’t have to figure it out alone. I’m here to support you in making sense of what you’re going through and finding a way forward that feels right for you.
Are you an adult feeling stuck after difficult experiences, a major life change, or a season of self-doubt? I support adults working through trauma, life transitions, stress, and questions of identity and self-worth. Together, we can make space for what you have been carrying and reconnect with your strengths. I believe you are capable of healing and building a life that feels meaningful to you. My role is to listen with care, meet you where you are, and help you discover what works for your whole self.
Hello and welcome! My name is Shannon Merritt and I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT). I am based in Southern California and offer telehealth services to clients across the state. My expertise includes supporting individuals through life transitions, managing depression and anxiety, coping with loss, and addressing various mental health challenges. I am also passionate about helping people recover from addiction and/or trauma.
What is your approach to therapy?I draw from various modalities and tailor my approach to each individual and their specific needs. I aim to create a safe and supportive environment where clients feel at ease, can build resilience, and ultimately thrive. My communication style is straightforward, calm, and approachable. I offer clear and honest feedback in order to foster clients' wellbeing while developing hope for their future.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions. Clients can expect to develop valuable insight and gain the tools needed to make meaningful changes in their lives.
Hi, I'm Aviva, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Life can become difficult when stress, burnout, relationship problems, body image concerns, or past experiences begin to affect your daily life. Sometimes people seek therapy because they are exhausted from trying to manage everything on their own. I believe in working together to create solutions that will give a different perspective or a way to break patterns that no longer work for them. I have experience with patterns that no longer suit you and have learned methods to work through them.
I'm Olivia Hanley, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Ventura, California. I completed my MSW at USC and have spent the last four years doing this work because I believe people deserve real, substantive support — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
I specialize in maternal mental health (postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, and the identity shift that comes with motherhood), anxiety and trauma in teens and adults, and play-based therapy for children and adolescents. I work with clients across California via telehealth and am in-network with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Cigna, and Carelon Behavioral Health.
I tend to attract clients who are high-functioning but quietly struggling — moms who look like they have it together, teens who internalize everything, and adults who've been "fine" for a long time and are finally ready not to be. I'm direct, curious, and warm. I will challenge you — gently — when it's useful.
With more than 20 years of experience, I have helped adults, children, and families navigate life’s challenges and create meaningful change. I hold both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Social Work and believe there is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. I see therapy as a partnership, where you set the direction and I provide support, guidance, and encouragement along the way.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with more than 4 years of experience. I have experience working with clients facing a variety of emotional and life challenges, including anxiety, depression, stress, adjustment difficulties, trauma-related concerns, and postpartum disorders. I provide evidence-based psychotherapy that supports emotional wellbeing, healthy coping skills, and personal growth in a supportive and nonjudgmental environment.
My therapeutic approach is integrated and tailored to meet your unique needs. I often draw from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational interviewing.
I am a multi-state licensed therapist across California, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas, specializing in helping adults navigate deep-seated mental health challenges alongside intense personal and professional transitions.
With vast clinical experience, I have served as a university career counselor, a specialist for healthcare professionals, and a dedicated clinician within both the US Navy Family Advocacy Program and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
My practice provides a highly supportive, practical space for college students, working adults at all career stages, healthcare workers, service members, Veterans, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
I blend empathetic listening with deep clinical insight to help you manage and heal from:
Core Mental Health & Neurodivergence:
Anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, and identity exploration.
Trauma & Life Impact:
Complex trauma, PTSD, grief, loss, and managing chronic medical conditions.
Daily Survival:
Severe career burnout, relationship problems, and navigating life's overlapping pressures.
I work with people navigating their evolving identity, self-worth, relationships, life purpose, and psychedelic integration. Often high-functioning but privately struggling, or simply needing trusted support in a safe space to tend to the soul and grow. The foundation of my work as a clinician is psychodynamic psychotherapy. But the therapeutic space is not bound by clinical measurements or a rigid psychology. Far beyond clinical diagnosis, therapy is the path towards wholeness in Self, vitality in daily life and relationships, and creative expression of the soul. I am a perpetual student of depth psychology and completing certification as a Jungian analyst.
You might be feeling overwhelmed, stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, or carrying the weight of past experiences. I’m Melissa, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and I’m here to support you. I offer a warm, steady space where you can feel safe, heard, and in control of your healing. Using EMDR and trauma-informed CBT, we’ll work together to help you feel more grounded, build self-compassion, and create healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
I am a board‐certified clinical therapist with a strong foundation in narrative therapy, helping clients explore and reshape the stories that influence their lives. In recent years, I’ve supported children ages 5–17 as well as adults navigating a wide range of emotional experiences, including anxiety, depression, grief, and gender affirmation.
About our therapists serving Bakersfield, CA



- 98%Anxiety
- 92%Depression
- 88%Stress management
- 82%Relationship issues
- 79%Trauma

- 98%Aetna
- 79%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 77%Cigna
- 75%Anthem Blue Cross California
- 66%Blue Shield of California

- 97%English
- 17%Spanish
- 2%Farsi
- 1%Mandarin
- 1%Hindi

- 90%Online only
- 10%In-person or online

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

- 48%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 31%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 7%Clinical Psychologist
- 7%Nurse Practitioner
- 7%Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

- 100%Individual therapy
- 37%Family therapy
- 23%Couples therapy
- 15%Child or adolescent therapy
Frequently asked questions


Find the right therapist for you
Headway makes it easy to find support for your mental health — from finding the right provider, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Therapist in Bakersfield
Searching for therapists in Bakersfield starts with knowing what kind of support you want. Therapists can help with concerns like anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, grief, and life transitions. As you compare options, look for a therapist whose training, listed specialties, and therapy approach match what you want to focus on. Provider bios can help you understand whether a therapist uses approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, or trauma-informed care.
Bakersfield has local therapy options across areas like Downtown, East Bakersfield, and Southwest Bakersfield, while virtual appointments can add more flexibility if office location or commute time matters. When narrowing your search, consider appointment availability, whether a therapist is accepting new patients, and whether they offer a free phone consultation before your first session. Reading each profile can also help you understand a therapist’s communication style, session structure, and experience with concerns similar to yours.
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 understand what you may pay before you book. Headway makes that process easier by helping you find licensed therapists, check your insurance details to confirm coverage for your area, see estimated costs upfront, review detailed bios, and book directly when you’re ready.
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