Find a therapist in Santa Monica, CA — covered by insurance


Top therapists in Santa Monica, CA accepting new patients
Mental health care in Santa Monica is accessible through Headway's network of 8,580 providers. Whether you're in Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, West LA, or beyond, find compassionate support through virtual or in-person sessions covered by insurance with copays starting at $0.
Shana Bujake is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California. She specializes in working with individuals who are recovering from narcissistic abuse, navigating life transitions, or struggling with relationship challenges and self-worth.
With a strong background in trauma-informed care, she provides a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their emotions, gain clarity, and develop healthier ways of relating to themselves and others. Her work is deeply rooted in helping clients build resilience and create meaningful change in their lives.
As a licensed therapist with both an MSW and a PhD in clinical practice and research, I bring a depth of academic knowledge and real-world experience to my work with individuals and couples. My approach is rooted in compassion, collaboration, and evidence-based strategies tailored to meet each client’s unique needs.
I specialize in helping people navigate life transitions, relationship challenges, emotional resilience, and self-exploration. Whether you're seeking personal growth or looking to strengthen your connection with a partner, my goal is to create a safe, affirming space where meaningful insight and change can emerge.
Making the decision to start therapy is a profound investment of your time, energy, and vulnerability. If you are looking for a blank-slate clinician who simply nods and listens, we might not be the best fit. I offer a highly engaged, malleable, and unflinching partnership.
My approach is rooted in the belief that while the work of untangling our lives is deeply structural, the room itself doesn't always have to feel heavy. I bring a grounded warmth to my practice—which means knowing how to sit quietly in the gravity of a difficult truth, but also knowing when to break the tension, exhale, and find the light in the sheer complexity of being human. I won’t just sit in silence while you do all the heavy lifting; I am an active collaborator who adapts to exactly where you are.
Dr. Bacher is a holistic, trauma-informed psychologist with over 15 years experience working at many of the top residential treatment centers in the U.S. and Europe. He specializes in working with individuals who struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, relationship issues, and addiction. Dr. Bacher completed his undergraduate work in Psychology at Georgetown University, and his Masters and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University. His dissertation research focused on Positive Psychology--specifically meaning making--and how to cultivate positive strengths in individuals.
Susanna is committed to an integrative, dynamic, and holistic approach that emphasizes the importance of a strong therapeutic alliance in the healing process. She believes that with the right motivation and the willingness to engage in meaningful work, individuals can achieve their personal and emotional goals. Susanna’s clinical expertise covers a broad spectrum, including trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, addiction, and issues related to relationships and families.
Having been in therapy myself, I've experienced firsthand its positive impact, helping me overcome my anxiety and equipping me with practical tools I still use today. I understand that repeatedly answering 'How does that make you feel?' can be frustrating. Drawing from my personal experience both as a therapy client and practitioner in a treatment center setting, I bring energy into my sessions and build momentum to help clients get unstuck and face their Anxiety & OCD with confidence.
I’m Emmanuel Garcia, a Mexican American therapist, first-generation college graduate, and founder of Radiate Hope Therapy. I specialize in supporting adults and adolescents navigating trauma, substance use, identity struggles, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Many of the people I work with feel weighed down by emotions or uncertain about their direction, especially during sobriety or recovery.
Growing up, I witnessed how mental health was often stigmatized and silenced, especially for men in Latino communities. I know how isolating that silence can feel. My own journey through therapy and recovery taught me that true strength isn’t in staying quiet, it’s in showing up for yourself and beginning to heal. That lived experience shapes the empathy, understanding, and care I bring to every session.
Welcome, I'm glad you're here. I’m a warm and compassionate therapist with several years of experience working in mental health. I hold a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and work with people who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply wanting to understand themselves more deeply. I take a collaborative approach, tailoring our sessions to your unique needs and goals. My priority is creating a space where you feel supported, seen, and safe to explore whatever comes up.
I’m a licensed clinical psychologist with a PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School and a master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. I provide individual therapy to adults from a culturally informed and collaborative perspective. My clinical experience includes providing individual therapy and psychological assessments to children, adolescents, and adults across community mental health and group practice settings. I work with individuals with a variety of presenting problems including anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relational difficulties, identity challenges, stress management concerns, and cultural and ethnic issues.
Before entering the mental health field, I worked in community-based roles within the nonprofit and education sectors, including three years working with children and families in Kuwait. These experiences have strengthened my ability to connect with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and foster an accepting, adaptable therapeutic approach tailored to each client’s unique needs.
I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist with a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. I also hold a degree in Mind-Body Psychology and am trained in clinical hypnotherapy. Before becoming a therapist, I spent over a decade working in digital marketing, which gives me unique insight into the stressors of fast-paced careers, identity development, and the challenge of balancing ambition with well-being.
I’ve worked with a diverse range of clients, including women navigating heartbreak or life transitions, professionals seeking purpose, and individuals healing from trauma, anxiety, or people-pleasing patterns. I’m passionate about helping people live with more intention and emotional freedom.
Therapy is personal, and I do my best to meet people where they are—with curiosity, compassion, and care. As someone who’s done a lot of personal healing work myself, I understand how vulnerable it can feel to ask for help. My goal is to create a space where you can be real, be seen, and make meaningful changes at your own pace.
About our therapists located within 20 miles of Santa Monica, CA



- 99%Anxiety
- 92%Relationship issues
- 91%Depression
- 85%Family issues
- 81%Stress management

- 98%Aetna
- 62%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 58%Anthem Blue Cross California
- 49%Providence Health Plan
- 46%Cigna

- 97%English
- 14%Spanish
- 8%Farsi
- 3%Armenian
- 2%Arabic

- 98%In-person or online
- 2%In-person only

- 72%Woman
- 26%Man
- 2%Non-binary

- 59%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 18%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 11%Clinical Psychologist
- 8%Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
- 4%Nurse Practitioner

- 100%Individual therapy
- 34%Family therapy
- 29%Couples therapy
- 13%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 Mental Health Therapist in Santa Monica
Searching for therapists in Santa Monica starts with finding someone whose training matches the kind of support you want. Therapists may focus on concerns like anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, work stress, or life transitions. As you compare options, look for specialties and approaches that match your needs, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, trauma-informed care, or couples counseling. A therapist’s profile can also show how they describe their style, what to expect in sessions, and who they commonly work with.
In a smaller local market like Santa Monica, your best-fit therapist may be nearby, or they may offer virtual appointments from another part of California. In-person care may be easier if you want an office near your home, work, or regular route through Santa Monica, West LA, Brentwood, or Pacific Palisades. Virtual care can expand your options if you need more schedule flexibility or want to compare more therapists who are licensed in California. Before booking, check whether the therapist is accepting new patients, has appointment times that fit your calendar, offers a free phone consultation, and explains their approach clearly in their bio.
Therapy in Santa Monica can be a significant investment without insurance. Using in-network insurance is one of the most reliable ways to reduce session costs and make ongoing care easier to plan for. Headway helps you search for therapists who are accepting new patients, confirm your insurance details, and see an estimated out-of-pocket cost before you book. You can browse profiles, compare virtual and in-person availability, and book directly when you’re ready.
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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