Find a therapist in El Cajon, CA — covered by insurance


Top therapists in El Cajon, CA accepting new patients
Find mental health support in El Cajon with 8,991 licensed providers ready to help. Headway connects you with therapists in Rancho San Diego, Lakeside, and Bostonia who offer flexible in-person and virtual sessions covered by insurance. Many patients pay $0 per session—start your free intake call today.
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.
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.
I am known for working well with individuals who are shy and who may be fearful of entering therapy. I have a specialization in the diagnosis/assessment and treatment of AD/HD and learning disorders such as dyslexia. My therapeutic approach is primarily based on cognitive behavioral and Dialectic Behavior theories . Pragmatism describes my approach to treatment. Management of chronic mental illness, and adjustment issues relating to ethnic/cultural/generational and religious issues are also areas which I specialize in.
I believe that at times addressing questions pertaining to meaning in life can be as important as changing behavioral patterns and emotions. Specific treatment modalities I use are ultimately dependent upon the needs of each individual and the established efficac of a particular therapeutic intervention. Socratic questioning is often used to help individuals gain personal insight. I will be happy to work in conjunction with a psychiatrist or other physician.
My ethnic background is Chinese, Okinawan, and Japanese. I grew up in Hawaii and have interned at clinics specializing in Asian/Pacific Islander clients.
Currently I work as Learning Disabilities Specialist at Santa Monica College. I have assisted students in receiving testing accommodations on the SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, Bar Exam, MCAT, medical Step exams and medical licensure exams, and DAT. I have worked as a LD Specialist at UCL, the University of Hawaii, and UC Berkeley. I was a Psychology Professor for over 12 years in my earlier career.
I specialize in helping clients navigating trauma, anxiety, panic disorder, depression, LGBTQ+ issues, grief, & much more. I earned my MSW from New York University in 2011 and have worked as a forensic social worker in NYC at The Legal Aid Society & have also worked with Gay Men's Health Crisis, Services for the Underserved, Footsteps & Office of the Appellate Defender. I moved to Los Angeles in 2017 and have been in private practice since 2018.
Listen.... Life happens and it's during the tough and difficult times that as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker I'm here to offer a safe space of affirmation.... and accountability
Hello, and thank you for visiting my profile. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with nearly 20 years of experience supporting individuals across all stages of life—from young children to older adults.
I specialize in treating a wide range of mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and trauma-related issues. I also work with clients dealing with ADHD, panic disorder, hoarding disorder, body-focused repetitive behaviors, such as hair pulling and skin picking, and life transitions.
As a bilingual therapist (English/Japanese), I also bring deep cultural awareness to my work. I understand the complex dynamics that come with cross-cultural identity, immigration, and intergenerational communication, and I strive to create a healing space that honors your background and experiences.
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.
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've worked for 8 years helping people get in touch with what they want. I've primarily worked with individuals navigating difficult life and interpersonal transitions, supporting professionals who are navigating career changes, and folks embarking on post-graduate educational pursuits.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist, I am passionate about helping individuals optimize their overall mental health. I have a BA in Psychology from Cal State Fullerton, a MS in counseling from Cal State Los Angeles and have been practicing for nearly a decade. I am currently working with clients statewide via telehealth.
Life can feel overwhelming when you are dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, stress, trauma, or a major life transition. You may appear to have everything together while privately feeling emotionally exhausted, worried, stuck, or unsure about what comes next. I provide a supportive space where you can talk openly, better understand what you are experiencing, and develop practical tools to help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 20 years of professional experience. My educational background includes the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and my experience includes behavioral health, medical social work, trauma-informed care, grief and loss, chronic health concerns, caregiver support, and major life transitions.
My therapeutic style is warm, compassionate, collaborative, and practical. I help clients identify patterns, strengthen coping skills, improve emotional regulation, build healthier boundaries, increase confidence, and make meaningful changes in daily life. I individualize treatment because therapy is not one-size-fits-all.
I provide online therapy to adults throughout California and Nevada, including professionals, caregivers, and individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship or family stress, work-related stress, health-related concerns, or significant life changes. For clients who desire it, I also offer Christian faith-integrated therapy, incorporating faith, prayer, spiritual values, and biblical principles in a way that is comfortable and meaningful to you.
You do not have to be in crisis to begin therapy. Sometimes you simply know that something needs to change. Together, we can work toward healthier coping, stronger relationships, greater emotional well-being, and a renewed sense of direction and hope.
No matter where you are on your journey, HOPE Abounds.
I'm a Southern California-based Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist here to tell you that therapy doesn't have to be an utter drag. Think of me as your personal guide through the chaos that is life. I’m your therapist, but also your transformative guide to help uncover your authentic self. Whether your brain is running on 50 open tabs (hello, to my fellow ADHD/neurodivergence folks!) or you're navigating the beautiful complexity of your LGBTQIA+ identity, I fully embrace a "come exactly as you are" approach. No masks, no scripts, just raw authenticity.
I help teens and adults untangle the messy webs of anxiety, depression, and those oh too stressful family or relational dynamics. Therapy shouldn’t just be check boxes, that is why we will mix and match tools until we find the perfect recipe for your growth. Life is a wild ride, but you don't have to navigate the shadows alone. Let's empower your journey and find some light in the cosmic weirdness of it all.
It takes real courage to take this first step toward prioritizing your mental health, and I want to honor that. Beginning therapy can feel vulnerable, unfamiliar, or even intimidating, and I understand that. Maybe you’ve spent a long time in survival mode, developing ways of coping that helped you get through hard experiences but may no longer serve you. That can show up as disconnecting from yourself or others, struggling with boundaries, or carrying a story about yourself shaped by cultural or relational expectations. Wherever you are, we can start exactly where you are.
About our therapists located within 20 miles of El Cajon, CA



- 98%Anxiety
- 94%Depression
- 90%Stress management
- 87%Relationship issues
- 74%Family issues

- 100%Aetna
- 66%Anthem Blue Cross California
- 63%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 53%Providence Health Plan
- 50%Cigna

- 90%English
- 29%Spanish
- 2%American Sign Language
- 2%Arabic
- 2%French

- 94%In-person or online
- 6%In-person only

- 69%Woman
- 31%Man

- 56%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 18%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 13%Clinical Psychologist
- 10%Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
- 2%Medical Doctor

- 100%Individual therapy
- 32%Family therapy
- 19%Child or adolescent therapy
- 15%Couples 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 El Cajon
Searching for therapists in El Cajon starts with knowing what kind of support you want. You may be looking for help with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, trauma, or life transitions. As you compare therapists, look for listed specialties, therapy styles, and experience that match your needs. Provider bios can also show whether a therapist uses approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, or trauma-informed care.
In a smaller city like El Cajon, nearby in-person options may vary by neighborhood, schedule, and specialty. Virtual therapy can expand your choices while still connecting you with a therapist licensed in California. As you narrow your search, consider appointment times, whether the therapist is accepting new patients, and whether they offer a free phone consultation. Reading profiles before booking can help you understand how each therapist describes their style, session structure, and areas of focus.
Therapy in El Cajon can be a significant expense without insurance. Using in-network insurance is one of the most reliable ways to reduce session costs. Headway makes it easier to compare therapists who accept a wide range of insurance plans, check estimated out-of-pocket costs before booking, and choose between in-person and virtual care. You can browse therapists, review bios, and book directly when you’re ready.
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