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


Top therapists in San Marcos, CA accepting new patients
Find mental healthcare in San Marcos across neighborhoods like Downtown, Palomar Park, and Craven Road. Headway connects you with 8,992 licensed providers offering flexible in-person and virtual sessions. Many clients pay as little as $0 per session with insurance coverage.
I know how heavy life can feel when you’re carrying pain, uncertainty, or self-doubt. But I believe, as a wise old wizard once said, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of places, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” My role is to help you find that light again. I work with Gen Z and Millennial adults facing anxiety, depression, trauma, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and more. Through integrative, culturally responsive care, I combine evidence-based psychiatry with holistic strategies to help you feel heard, supported, and empowered to create a life that aligns with your true self.
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.
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.
If anxiety, depression, or the weight of past trauma has started to feel like it's steering your life instead of you, that's exactly where I do my best work. I'm Erica, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and I think of myself as your therapeutic GPS — you set the destination, and I help you find the route. I work with children, teens, adults, and couples, and I bring genuine respect, real-world knowledge, and yes, some humor to every session, because feeling comfortable with your therapist actually matters for getting better.
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)
My clients are the “overthinkers” in the world...with big feelings that are hard to explain. They feel misunderstood, lonely and isolated while striving to please others at the expense of themselves. They’re exhausted, overworked, and over-stressed, feeling like they’re never enough. They have a vision for life, but aren’t sure how to bring it together, especially after a life-changing event. They're also eager for change.
Does this sound like you? If so, I warmly welcome you to my practice.
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.
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
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.
About our therapists located within 20 miles of San Marcos, CA



- 100%Anxiety
- 94%Relationship issues
- 91%Stress management
- 88%Depression
- 85%Family issues

- 97%Aetna
- 85%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 71%Anthem Blue Cross California
- 53%Cigna
- 44%Blue Shield of California

- 94%English
- 12%Spanish
- 3%American Sign Language
- 3%Cantonese
- 3%Mandarin

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

- 62%Woman
- 38%Man

- 41%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 24%Clinical Psychologist
- 18%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 12%Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
- 3%Medical Doctor

- 100%Individual therapy
- 50%Family therapy
- 38%Couples therapy
- 26%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 San Marcos
Searching for therapists in San Marcos starts with finding someone whose background fits what you want support with. Therapists may focus on concerns like anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, grief, trauma, or life transitions. As you compare options, look for training and listed specialties that match your needs, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, couples counseling, or family therapy. A therapist’s profile can also show how they describe their approach, what sessions may involve, and which concerns they commonly support.
In a smaller city like San Marcos, local in-person openings may vary by neighborhood, schedule, and specialty. Virtual therapy can expand your options while still letting you work with a therapist licensed in California. When narrowing your search, consider appointment availability, whether a therapist is accepting new patients, and whether they offer a free phone consultation. Reading bios before booking can help you compare communication style, therapy approach, and experience with concerns that matter to you.
Therapy in San Marcos 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 begin. Headway helps you search for therapists who accept insurance, see estimated out-of-pocket costs before booking, and choose between in-person and virtual care. You can browse therapists in San Marcos, 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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