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 8,972 licensed providers accepting most major insurance plans.
My name is Jeffrey W. Danese, MS, MA, LMHC, LPCC, and I am a licensed mental health counselor in Washington State and California, currently based in Sacramento. I bring over 15 years of clinical experience across private practice, inpatient and outpatient mental health settings, and college counseling, along with a an academic background teaching psychology, religious studies, and the history of science in higher education from UCSB, FSU, and 10 years at SJSU to various community colleges in the Puget Sound region and in North Florida and cross-cultural experiences such as living in Taiwan, Zambia, Germany and traveling around the world; I studied Spanish, German, and Chinese language, world history and religions, psychology, evolutionary psychology and the cognitive science of religion; was raised Catholic but ordained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand; and continue to meditate, explore and read broadly. One of my favorite quotes is by the Roman writer, Terence: "I am human and there is nothing human foreign to me." (or, Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto. -- Publius Terentius Afer, 165 BCE)
Hi! I'm Devon. Thanks for stopping by. I believe therapy should be strive to be an authentic and enjoyable experience. I value and prioritize authentic communication. Ideally, I want your sessions to feel like you're having a friendly conversation while endeavoring to find pragmatic and helpful ways to approach your concerns. Your emotional safety along with trust, warmth and honesty are deeply important to me.
I specialize in helping Women at all stages of life. I have extensive experience working with clients on their relationships. I have additional clinical training in substance abuse, disordered eating, perinatal mood disorders and parenting issues.
You’ve spent a lifetime caring for everyone else. My job is to help you finally exhale.
I’m Melissa Lou Koerner, LCSW — a therapist with 20+ years of experience helping people navigate the messy, meaningful, and often hilarious business of being human. I’m a generalist at heart, which means you don’t have to fit into a diagnostic box to work with me. If it’s part of your story, it’s welcome in the room.
Over the years I’ve supported adults, couples, families, caregivers, Veterans, adoptive families, and folks moving through grief, trauma, identity shifts, and major life transitions. From school hallways to hospice rooms to VA clinics to private practice, I’ve learned one thing over and over: people are far more resilient than they realize.
My style is warm, grounded, and practical. I blend trauma‐informed care, attachment work, and evidence‐based approaches with a healthy dose of humor — because sometimes the only way through a hard moment is to laugh at how absurd life can be.
And while I’m a true generalist, I’ll admit my favorite work these days is helping adults untangle enmeshment, estrangement, and parentification. There’s something powerful about watching people reclaim space in their own lives after years of carrying roles that were never theirs to begin with.
If you’re looking for a therapist who can help you untangle what’s heavy, honor what’s hopeful, and
Maybe you’re newly sober, or not sure you want to be. Maybe you lost someone and the world kept moving when yours didn’t. Or maybe you’re trying to hold yourself together while everything feels like it’s falling apart. If that resonates with you, you’re in the right place. I've spent the better part of a decade working with individuals, couples, and families in the fields of addiction and grief; in both substance abuse treatment settings and solo as an Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist. I’ve also worked in hospice and I’m experienced in working with people with complex trauma and mental health challenges.
I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years of experience in healthcare. I work with adolescents, teenagers, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, mood disorders, life transitions, and emotional burnout.
My goal is to create a safe, supportive, and judgment-free environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered. I understand that mental health is deeply connected to daily life, relationships, culture, and personal experiences, and I take a compassionate, whole-person approach to care.
I’m Rachel Benjamin, and I help individuals and couples navigate life’s challenges to build more authentic, connected, and empowered lives. Together, we’ll identify the patterns and barriers that have been holding you back and work toward lasting change around your strengths and values. If you are thinking about starting therapy, or returning after some time away, but feeling unsure, you’re not alone. Taking that first step can bring up a mix of emotions. If you’re wondering whether now is the right time, it likely means you’re ready to begin exploring meaningful change.
If you are navigating the quiet weight of relationship wounds, identity
questions, or emotional patterns that have followed you for years without
fully understanding why, I specialize in exactly this kind of work. I am a
Latina therapist who provides services in Spanish and English, bringing a
culturally affirming lens to every session. I practice in Santa Clarita with
specialized tools including Brainspotting and IFS for deeper healing.
Hi, I’m a therapist who believes you don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone. My approach is client-centered, meaning we’ll work together to focus on your goals and what matters most to you. I strive to create a safe, supportive space where you feel comfortable being open and truly heard. Whether you’re dealing with stress, depression, trauma, grief, anxiety, or life transitions, I’m here to walk alongside you every step of the way.
I’m an LCSW. I really enjoy getting to know my clients and building a strong therapeutic relationship with them. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, sense of self, and also high achievers. Many things can stir up emotions, past experiences and trauma. My goal is to help you understand and work through those experiences and feelings. I'll help you reconnect with your inner strength and resilience, moving past the painful experiences that may be holding you back. I can support you in letting go of negative self-views, reducing your levels of distress, and building a renewed sense of confidence, worth, and peace. This process is about helping you both heal and rediscover the core strengths and values that make you, you.
As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I am dedicated to helping people feel like themselves again. I provide compassionate, evidence based care for anxiety and depression, ADHD, PTSD, bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions.My goal is to create a judgement free space where patients feel heard and receive personalized treatment that fits their lives
Welcome. I'm Roxy, dedicated to helping you find what you are looking for in therapy. My goal is to offer a safe, compassionate space where you can heal and grow.
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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