Find a therapist in San Diego, CA — covered by insurance


Top therapists in San Diego, CA accepting new patients
Seeking therapy in San Diego? Access 8,384 providers across neighborhoods including Mission Hills, Ocean Beach, and Hillcrest. Headway supports talk therapy and medication management with sessions available as soon as next day, often covered by insurance.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of New Orleans. As an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, I help clients navigate intimacy, identity, and relationships with sensitivity and respect, always honoring your values, culture, and lived experience.
Hi, I’m a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I offer a supportive and judgment-free space to help you manage anxiety, depression, ADHD, eating disorders, and mood disorders. I work with children, adolescents, and adults using evidence-based care that’s tailored to your needs. My goal is to help you feel seen, heard, and empowered within the family. Let’s walk this journey together, one step at a time.
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’ve been working as a therapist since 2014 and bring over a decade of experience supporting people through life’s challenges and transitions. I hold a bachelor’s degree in both psychology and human development and a master’s degree in clinical counseling psychology. I have extensive experience with anxiety, depression, trauma, relational stress, and identity and life-stage concerns and transitions. At the core of my work is a belief in the healing power of genuine human connection.
Whatever brought you here, you don’t have to figure it out alone. With over 12 years of experience supporting individuals and families, I’ve seen how much can shift when someone finally feels truly heard. Whether you’re working through something specific or simply feel ready for change, I’d be honored to walk alongside you and your loved ones on the path forward.
Hello, I'm Cristina. I help people who struggle with high functioning anxiety, people-pleasing, and constant overthinking, even when they appear to have things together on the outside. I also work with those who find themselves questioning their relationships, struggling to set boundaries, or navigating major life transitions such as new relationships, marriage, or becoming a parent.
As a bilingual therapist, I work with teens, young adults, and adults who want to better understand the patterns shaping their anxiety, relationships, and sense of self. Together, we focus on building stronger self-awareness, clearer boundaries, and greater confidence in your decisions so you can move forward with more clarity and self-trust.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, and I have really wanted to build
something of my own for a long time. Going into private practice was not an impulsive decision. It is something I have thought about carefully, and I am committed to making it work well for the people I work with. My background includes clinical work with adults and families
across a range of settings from psychiatric hospitals, to non profits and private practice. I am based in the Coachella Valley and serve clients throughout
California via telehealth. I am also in the process of establishing an in-person office here in the
valley, because I know how hard it can be to find consistent, quality mental health care locally.
I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. I also work with people dealing with chronic stress, relationship challenges, and the kind of emotional weight that builds up when life keeps asking more of you than you feel you have to give. I have a
particular connection to working with Latino and bicultural clients, single parents, and people who are navigating coparenting and the identity shifts that come with it.
Just joined Headway. I'm excited to be here. I love my work with clients. My goal is to uplift my clients toward being their best confident purposeful selves.
Specialties: Self-Esteem, Boundaries, Awareness, Positivity, Spiritual Growth, Work & Life Challenges
With your interest, this is what we are able to do together:
"Sierra Forest is a talented and empathic therapist who has the ability to help people change and transform their lives."
Bob Shelby, LMFT, John F Kennedy University
You are welcome here. Let’s find your path to inner peace and personal growth. I offer a safe space where you can explore your feelings and thoughts, overcome challenges, and develop your full potential. Whether you're feeling anxiety or going through any of life transitions, I'm here to support you on your journey. Take your first step towards a happier, healthier you.
My goal is to create a space where you feel seen, understood, and supported. I believe mental wellness is an essential part of overall health, and that healing begins by moving from survival to thriving through nervous system regulation, processing past experiences, and strengthening the mind-body connection. Meaningful change and healing happens within a strong therapeutic relationship built on trust, authenticity, and collaboration. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, addiction, performance anxiety, work-related stress... or simply feeling overwhelmed by life's demands, we'll work together to build insight, process difficult experiences when appropriate, develop practical coping skills, and create meaningful, lasting change.
Some seasons of life ask more of you than you ever expected, and somewhere along the way you stopped feeling like yourself. I work with teens, parents, and adults who are moving through anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, and the heavy stretches that come with big life transitions. I care deeply about supporting LGBTQIA+ and transgender clients, and families who want to understand and show up for one another a little better. So much of this work is simply remembering that you do not have to carry any of it alone.
About our therapists located within 20 miles of San Diego, CA



- 99%Anxiety
- 96%Depression
- 92%Stress management
- 91%Relationship issues
- 75%Trauma

- 99%Aetna
- 70%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 63%Anthem Blue Cross California
- 53%Cigna
- 47%Providence Health Plan

- 92%English
- 22%Spanish
- 4%French
- 3%Arabic
- 1%Farsi

- 95%In-person or online
- 5%In-person only

- 68%Woman
- 32%Man

- 55%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 21%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 13%Clinical Psychologist
- 11%Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

- 100%Individual therapy
- 37%Family therapy
- 24%Couples therapy
- 18%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 an Anxiety Therapist in San Diego
Searching for therapists in San Diego starts with knowing what kind of support fits your needs. A San Diego therapist may help with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, grief, trauma, or life transitions. As you compare options, look for a therapist whose listed specialties and approach match what you want to address. Some profiles mention methods like cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or acceptance and commitment therapy, while others focus on areas like couples counseling in San Diego, identity-affirming care, or support for specific life stages.
San Diego has many therapists across neighborhoods like Hillcrest, Mission Hills, North Park, La Jolla, and Ocean Beach, which can make the search broad rather than simple. Consider whether you prefer an office near home, work, or school, or whether virtual sessions fit your schedule better. You can also narrow your search by appointment availability, whether a therapist is accepting new clients, and whether they offer a free phone consultation. Reading therapist profiles before booking can help you understand their communication style, session structure, and experience with concerns that matter to you.
Therapy in San Diego can be a significant expense without insurance. Using in-network insurance is one of the most reliable ways to reduce session costs and understand what you may pay before care begins. Headway helps you search for therapists in San Diego, CA, compare profiles, see estimated out-of-pocket costs, and book directly when you are ready. Nationally, Headway partners with 70+ insurance plans, and you can enter your plan details to confirm coverage for your location and specific benefits.
If you're experiencing or worried about violence, threats, or coercion in your relationship, couples therapy isn't usually the right starting point — individual support is safer. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788\) can help you think through next steps.
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